Wildlife Conservation Center Aquarium 10th Grade:
Taxonomy
o Grade level- 10th grade
o Learning standard-
S2e- Demonstrates understanding of evolution, diversity
and adaptations of organisms.
S4a- Demonstrates understanding of big ideas and
unifying concepts.
o Time requirements-Approximately 45 minutes
preparation and 135 minutes class time.
o Topic covered in this lesson - Taxonomy
o Pre- visit
- Purpose- Students will learn about taxonomy and will create their own method
of classification for materials provided.
- Objectives-
a) Students will understand and apply the concept
of taxonomy.
b) Students will identify common characteristics
that will enable them to develop their own method of classification.
- Materials Required
a) Assorted materials of different sizes, shapes,
colors and textures.
b) Pictures of different phylum.
-Procedure
1) Divide your students in-groups of four. Give
each group a set of varied materials.
2) Ask the students to brainstorm about categories
that can be used to divide the materials.
3) Students will be asked to answer the following
questions:
- How many categories did you come up with?
- What were the advantages and disadvantages of
each system of classification?
4) Ask them to make a chart to present their data
to the rest of the class.
5) Once the activity is completed introduce the
following concepts and vocabulary words:
a) Taxonomy
b) Animal kingdom
c) Phylum
d) Phylum Cordata
e) Phylum Porifera
f) Phylum Cnidaria
g) Phylum Arthropod
h) Phylum Mollusca
o Visit-
During the visit students will be asked to make
observations about the animals they see. In addition they will be asked to
guess the group to which the animals belong. Their predictions should be based
on the material they
learned in class.
o Post visit-
-Assessment- Students will be graded based on the criteria they used to classify
their animals and how consistent they were on their classification method.
-Extensions and suggested homework assignments-
Students will be asked to make posters with the animals they observed and
the groups to which the animals belong.
o Possible questions that may be brought up-
1) What are the characteristics used to classify
the phylum in this discussion? (Porifera, Cnidaria, Anthropoid, etc)
2) What is the difference between compound and simple
eyes?
MSTEP
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