Classification with Pictures

Students learn taxonomy through presenting a project to the class.

A lesson plan for grades 9–12 Science

By Lemuel Lamb

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Learning outcomes

The student will demonstrate an understanding of morphology based classification.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

5 days

Materials/resources

• The teacher should teach the section on Taxonomy prior to assigning the activity.
• The student will need a Biology textbook; reference materials; a source of animal pictures (these may come from old books, magazines, etc. They may also be drawn. Photocopies are allowed.)
• Although you may allot some class time, the student will do most of the project outside of class (I try to include a weekend within the time given).
• All addition materials will be based on the method of presentation the student chooses.

Technology resources

The technology needs will vary from student to student. Some students may find the need for a computer, the Internet, a printer, and a copier. Others may want an overhead for their presentation.

Pre-activities

The teacher should first teach the section on Taxonomy.

Activities

The procedures will vary and depends upon your organization and presentation of the subject. Some version of the following should be common to all projects:

1. You should choose a specific animal to classify. (e.g. bear is general while polar bear is specific)
2. Research the 7 taxa names of your chosen ’specific’ animal.
3. Collect pictures of a large assortment of animals. (You will need several pictures of several of the animals.)
4. You should divide your project into 7 sections (one for each taxon) and decide on a creative presentation.
5. Make sure you have a picture of the animal you have chosen to put in each of the seven sections.
6. Start by putting pictures of the required animals in the Kingdom section with your chosen animal. (A minimum of 25 pictures are required in your kingdom.)
7. Next, put a picture of your chosen animal and other animals that share it’s phylum in the phylum section. These animals should come from those pictured in your kingdom section. (The number of pictures in this and the remaining taxa should decrease in each section until you have only one picture in the species section) H. Repeat the above for each of the following taxa. (The pictures in the taxon you are working on should come from the previous taxon.)

Components and Grading: The following criteria will be used to grade your project:

• Project: the project itself is worth 2/3’s of your total grade. This grade will be broken down this way:
  1. # of pictures and phyla represented in the kingdom. You should have a minimum of 25 pictures in your kingdom. Also make sure you have at least one picture of an animal from each of the following 9 phyla represented in your kingdom: Porifera; Cnidaria; Platyhelminthes; Nematoda; Annelida; Mollusca; Echinodermata; Arthropoda; Chordata—up to 30 points
  2. Correct taxonomic names—up to 25 points
  3. Correct grouping of animals in each taxa—up to 30 points
  4. Originality of presentation—up to 15 points
• Report: (1/3 of your total grade)
  1. Your report must be typed. It should include information on your animal. You should cover such things as its habitat, its description; its diet, etc.
  2. Your report should also cover your animal’s taxonomic information (kingdom, phylum, etc).
  3. Be sure to follow proper taxonomic conventions.

See rubric for more grading details

Assessment

NAME: ____________________________________________
DATE: ____________

ANIMAL CLASSIFIED: _______________________________

PROJECT TURNED IN ON TIME: YES _____ NO _____

If late, how many days late? _____

Deduction: ____ points or ____ letter grade(s)

(turn in this entire rubric with your project)
*******************************************************
TAXONOMY PROJECT EVALUATION

COMPONENTS AND GRADING:

A. PROJECT
Components Possible Points

1. # Pictures and phyla present 30 (-2pts. for each missing phyla; -1 for each
missing picture below the 25 minimum in the kingdom)

2. Taxonomic names 25 (3pts. for each correct taxa name; 4 pt. bonus for all seven)

3. Proper taxa groupings 30 (-3pts for each misplaced animal)

4. Presentation’s originality 15 (Neatness and appearance) Total = _____ x 2=_____

B. REPORT (1/3 of total grade)

1. Typed/grammar up to 25 (-25pts if not type; -3pts per grammatical error on typed paper)

2. Information on animal up to 25(Should tell relevant facts about the animal’s life, habitat, diet, etc.: teacher’s judgement involved)

3. Taxonomic information up to 25
(should contain all the scientific taxa names
for your animals: -3 for each one omitted)

4. Proper conventions used up to 25 (The rules for written taxonomic names should be followed: - 3pts for each error)
Total = _____ x 1 = _____ + _____ (from project)=
_______ /3 = Final Grade _________

COMMENTS (if any):

Supplemental information

Although this project can be done with any kingdom, animal structures and similarities show up much better in pictures. Students also seem to have a better understanding of animal structures.

Related websites

N/A

Comments

This plan works best with upper level students. I use it mainly with Adv. Biology students although I have used it with General Biology students.