Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classify the Microbes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students classify microorganisms into categories based on their characteristics. Pupils use a taxonomic key to identify organisms. They classify certain bacteria, protists, and viruses using a classification or taxonmic key.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Animals Kingdom

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students are introduced to the classification system of animals. In groups, they set up an aquarium in which they must maintain throughout the year. They also observe earthworms and how they react to various stimuli and research the...
PPT
Curated OER

Taxonomy - The Science of Naming Organisms

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Carolus Linnaeus designed the binomial nomenclature system of naming organisms that is still in use more than 200 years later. By viewing this PowerPoint, upcoming biologists learn how to use it. They are also introduced to the hierarchy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creative Classroom Creatures

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils are introduced to the five kingdoms and discover why there is a need for a classification system. Using the internet, they examine how scientific names are created and practice putting animals into their correct classification....
Lesson Plan
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NOAA

Plankton

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Dive into the world of plankton. The 17th installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program introduces different types of plankton. Young scientists then use what they have learned to classify...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification and Identification

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students, after exploring and analyzing diagrammatic and taxonomic keys and their association to marine sciences, identify and classify objects and organisms based on visual attributes/characteristics. They research and create their own...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

In a Class of Their Own

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars explore taxonomy and how birds are classified in this scientific system. They use this knowledge to create entries for a field guide to birds that can be used to identify different species.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Creature Classification

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Learners develop a Taxonomic Key for marine invertebrates from pictures they are given after practicing together with common objects, such as shoes. They then compare their key to a provided Ocean Invertebrates Taxonomic Key.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Creature Classification

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students develop their own system for classifying a group of objects or organisms using observed similarities and differences. They investigate the process of scientific classification, and explain how marine organisms are classified by...
Worksheet
Curated OER

What is Classification?

For Students 9th - 12th
In this classification worksheet, learners describe the difference between Homo erectus and Homo sapiens. Then they define taxonomy and explain what was wrong with Aristotle's method of classification. Students also describe their...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Taxonomy and the World of Microorganisms and Viruses

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
In this taxonomy learning exercise, students understand how organisms are classified using Linnaeus' system. Students classify organisms as either plant or animal. This learning exercise has 24 fill in the blank and 6 matching questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Fun with Fictitious Animals

For Students 6th - 12th
How can one differentiate between a dweezlebub and nessie? Use this fictitious creature dichotomous key to find out! Biologists of all ages will enjoy this creative way to learn about classification, including a chance to draw the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Identifying an Earthworm

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students navigate the Internet to learn to identify Earthworms. In this taxonomy lesson, students explore species of earthworms finding their characteristics and using photographs to identify the species. Students research information to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kingdom Animalia ~ A Look at the Five Major Classes

For Teachers 7th
Biological taxonomy masters examine the five main classes under phylum chordata. Pupils compare and contrast the identifying characteristics of the various organisms. They explain why taxonomy is important in classifying organisms. You...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diversity And Adaptations Of Organisms

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study how and why animals are classified into eight groups in the animal kingdom. They work together to identify organisms. They use the key to determine the phylum for the included problems.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Classifying Critters

For Students 4th - 5th
In this classifying critters worksheet, students read a 1 page article on classifying living organisms and then answer 10 true or false, short answer, multiple choice or fill in the blank questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taxonomy Project

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students act as a taxonomist and, given a certain situation, classify existing organisms.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Taxonomy

For Students 9th - 10th
For this biology worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle with 39 questions on taxonomy. They identify the different classification systems used in biology.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plant Life

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine different categories of plant life and their roles as producers of food and oxygen for other organisms. They study the evolution of plants from simple organisms to very complex ones. They look at the different...
Unit Plan
Vision Learning

Visionlearning: Biology: Taxonomy I: What's in a Name

For Students 9th - 10th
Instructional module focusing on biological classification. Discussion includes Carolus Linnaeus' taxonomic classification system for organizing and classifying living things. Site also includes an interactive practice quiz and links...
Unit Plan
Vision Learning

Visionlearning: Biology: Taxonomy Ii: Ruling Names of Giants

For Students 9th - 10th
Instructional module focusing on binomial nomenclature. Discussion includes Carolus Linnaeus' taxonomic classification system for naming all species. Site also includes an interactive practice quiz and links relating to the topic.
Activity
My Science Site

Middle School Science: Shoe Classification Lab [Pdf]

For Students 4th - 7th
This concise worksheet site will enable students to learn how to create a classification system and to understand the reasons for classification in science. Requires Adobe Reader.
Handout
Other

Southwest Tennessee Community College: Classification of Organisms

For Students 9th - 10th
College-level instructor's notes describing taxonomy. Explanations and images give a chronological history of the science of classifying organisms.
Handout
The Franklin Institute

The Franklin Institute: Living Things Families

For Students 9th - 10th
What do centipedes and crabs have in common? What's so special about a backbone? Check this site out from The Franklin Institute if you are interested in biology and classification.