Small Groups
Students will place organisms into the correct classification and justify their reasoning.
Optional:
In 1753, Carolus Linnaeus, a scientist from Sweden, created the first known system to classify all known living things in that time period. Linnaeus divided all living organisms into two large groups known as kingdoms: Plantae and Animalia. Since then more and more organisms have been identified and the classification system has grown. Recent studies suggest five kingdoms: Plantae, Animalia, Fungi, Protista and Monera.
Remember not to tell the students what groups the organisms go into. Students must be able to place them into groups and justify their reasoning. As long as a student can state the common characteristic for their group and create a scheme for it, then they have learned to classify.
1. Use science process and thinking skills
3. Understand science concepts and principles
Pre-Assessment/Invitation to Learn
Give the students an opportunity to classify objects such as buttons, cereal, Chex Party Mix, shoes, or potato chips. Let the students classify the objects into groups and have them describe their reasoning. Remember the students must be able to include all objects and a reason for their decisions. This can be done as a class using a chalkboard or overhead.
Instructional Procedure
Lives in Wetlands | Lives in Desert | Lives in Forest |
• bulrush • cattails • beaver • frog • salamanders • muskrat • catfish • carp • trout |
• prickly pear cactus • sagebrush • jackrabbit • cottontail rabbit • coyote • deer mouse • kangaroo rat • red-tailed hawk • gopher snake • rattlesnake • desert tortoise • lizard • pinyon jay |
• mule deer • elk • moose • cougar • bobcat • barn owl • red fox • lark/robin • magpie • crow • spruce • fir • quaking aspen • cottonwood |
Mammals | Birds | Reptiles |
• jackrabbit • cottontail rabbit • red fox • coyote • mule deer • elk/moose • cougar • bobcat • deermouse • kangaroo rat • muskrat • beaver |
• red-tailed hawk • barn owl • lark • robin • pinyon jay • magpie • crow |
• gopher snake • rattlesnake • lizard • tortoise |
Insects | Fish | |
• grasshopper • ant • moth • butterfly • housefly • bee • wasp • pill bug • millipede |
• carp • trout • catfish |
Language Arts-
Science-
Homework & Family Connections
As a family, find some objects they can classify: tools; a can of miscellaneous
nuts, bolts, nails, and screws; toys; shoes; etc. Have students share what they
classified in class.