week 3 - week 4
topic 2.1 introduction to classification
To assist students in understanding classification I have attached a link to the class PowerPoint presentation for students to use as study notes. Students are welcome to print the presentation (I suggest print with three slides shown on each page with note lines on the sides) and bring them into class to form part of their study notes.
To assist students I have also included some scanned pages from the class textbook that students can use as part of their study. There are also some topic questions that students can complete to assist their learning
What is classification
![Picture](/uploads/7/9/9/2/79928630/730654926.jpg?370)
Everything around us where it is living or non living is classified into groups to make identifying particular items easier. In this topic we will look into what the definitions of classification are and how we can classify things.
Classification Definition
Classification is the process of putting things into groups. Organisms are sorted into groups according to features they have in common.
Classification shows evolutionary links between different organisms which is useful when they can look very different
Students will be given a set of buttons that have different shapes representing living and non living things as well as different colours and will be asked to put the buttons into as many different groups as possible. This exercise will show students that there is not only one way to group something but can be hundreds of different groups that can be used to group the buttons.
What is a Taxonomist
Scientists who specialise in grouping and naming living things are known as taxonomists and the science of grouping and naming things is called Taxonomy
Classification Definition
Classification is the process of putting things into groups. Organisms are sorted into groups according to features they have in common.
Classification shows evolutionary links between different organisms which is useful when they can look very different
Students will be given a set of buttons that have different shapes representing living and non living things as well as different colours and will be asked to put the buttons into as many different groups as possible. This exercise will show students that there is not only one way to group something but can be hundreds of different groups that can be used to group the buttons.
What is a Taxonomist
Scientists who specialise in grouping and naming living things are known as taxonomists and the science of grouping and naming things is called Taxonomy
dichotomous keys
The name of the key that we will be using to identify unknown organisms is called a dichotomous key.
Dichotomous keys are used to classify and identify organisms by the use of questions based on physical appearance with yes or no answers.
There are two types of dichotomous keys. The first is a flow chart key as shown below:
Dichotomous keys are used to classify and identify organisms by the use of questions based on physical appearance with yes or no answers.
There are two types of dichotomous keys. The first is a flow chart key as shown below:
The second type of dichotmous key is a nested key where the questions are in the form of a table or written form. An example is shown below:
In class students will be given lots of opportunities to understand and be able to complete both types of dichotomous keys. There will be a series of fun worksheets that students will be expected to complete. Worksheets will have time to complete worksheets in class but students who fail to finish them will be expected to complete them for homework. Worksheets may be collected by the teacher to check for understanding. Students will be notified when they will be expected to complete worksheets.
Copies of worksheets and worksheets answers will be put onto this site to assist students in their learning
Copies of worksheets and worksheets answers will be put onto this site to assist students in their learning