Taxa Mnemonic

Have students work in pairs or groups of three to develop a mnemonic to remember the different taxa involved in taxonomy. To give students some ideas the students can visit https://www.mnemonic-device.com/biology/taxonomy/domain-kingdom-phylum-class-order-family-genus-species/.

 

 

 

 

 

Proper Scientific Name

This activity is designed to reinforce the proper form for scientific names and to address common misconceptions about the specific epithet. The activity involves students working together in groups to identify proper scientific names and improper scientific names. Cut up the different proper and improper scientific names, the instructions and the headings and place in an envelope. Have students than work together to organize the different names into the two different categories.

 

Can be used as an activity centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading a Dichotomous Key

Students will work in a group to identify 5 different insect species using a Dichotomous Key. The students will use the smartbaord to match the scientific name with the picture of the species. When the students believe they are done they can use the self-check functions on the smartbaord to determine if they were correct.

 

Can be used as an activity centre.

 

 

 

 

 

Water Critter Dichotomous Key  

Using laptops students will select different organisms from aquatic ecosystems and use the website http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/watercritter/critterindex.htm to identify them.

 

Can be used as an activity centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making a Dichotomous Key

Students will work with a partner to create a Dichotomous Key for six buttons. Students will create their own choices for the key and will need to identify the characteristics to use.  

 

Can be used as an activity centre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Classification Activity

This activity will focus on the concepts and ideas associated with classifying organism. Cut out the cards in the file below and place students in groups of 4. Have the students work together to classify the different cards into four groups. Following this have students share to the whole class how they classified their cards. After a few groups have shared there should be many different explanations given on to classify the cards into groups of four. Students should begin to recognize that they used different characteristics to classify the cards and this can be used to then lead students to the idea that taxonomy uses these characteristics to classify organisms.  

 

This can be used as an introduction into taxonomy.

 

 

 

 

 

Taxonomy Quiz

Below is a quiz and solutions that can be given to students to assess their knowledge and understanding of taxonomy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Creating a Dichotomous Key – Beetles

Students will work individually or in pairs to create a dichotomous key for 12 beetles. Students will look at pictures of 12 different beetles and create a dichotomous key that another individual could use to identify the each beetle. Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of the dichotomous key and assess the students’ ability to create a dichotomous key. The rubric below can be used to assess the key that the students create.