Modeling the Creation of a Dichotomous Key

EXPLORATION

UPPER ELEMENTARY  |  SCIENCE

Modeling the Creation of a Dichotomous Key

Students will classify organisms into groups and relate the determined groups with how and why scientists use classification.

Time

45 Minutes

Setting

Inside

Collection Group

WHICH PLANT IS WHICH?

 

Standards

• S5L1. Students will classify organisms into groups and relate the determined  groups with how and why scientists use classification.
  • b. Demonstrate how plants are sorted into groups

Materials

• Chart paper and markers

Procedures

1. Model the development of a dichotomous key using one shoe from each student. Separate the shoes into two groups by a defining characteristic using opposing statements (or a yes/no question), then subdivide each group in the same way until there is only one shoe in each category.
2. Create a branching chart to document the way that the shoes were sorted then test the chart by using one shoe to start from the top answering the questions to see if it ends up in the same final category.

Explorations in this Collection

Sort Plants by the Creation of a Dichotomous Key

Searching for Secret Specimens

Searching for Observable Plant Characteristics