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.
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
- 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.
- 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.
