A whimsical dichotomous key for Thanksgiving. There are not many things we can do with themes in secondary science classes but this fun dichotomous key just may do the trick. There are 22 traditional Thanksgiving organisms / foods the students need to match to their scientific names.
After the dichotomous key portion you can have the students research the scientific name in order to find the common names. Tell them to beware some of the common names are used more than once.
The dichotomous key with two different answer sheet forms and key. There is a student sheet and extension suggestions.
I usually use this as a cooperative lesson with my students paired up so they can work the dichotomous key together.
This activity can be used in its power point format to upload to a classroom website and have the students use laptops or iPads to go through the pictures with their dichotomous key and answer sheet in hand. Displaying the pictures of organisms in a power point allows for students to see more details without the loss of clarity that happens so often with photocopied dichotomous keys.
As an instructor you may choose to use the power point for whole class instruction and work through the dichotomous key with all your students participating. This works well with smaller classes, tutoring sessions or as an enrichment activity for the gifted population.
If you do not have a class website or technology for you students you can still use this dichotomous key successfully. The slides can be printed out as task cards. I have placed little centers around the room and had the students move from center to center classifying the organisms. I like this activity because it keeps my hyper students in constant motion. Laminating the cards will give you years of use.
An additional option is to simply print a few slides per page. If you are using color copies you would only need a few sets and have the students work cooperatively. The students do not really need to write on anything except for the answer sheet.
This activity has quite a few different ways it can be implemented into your classroom I hope you find a method that will work best for your class. Please come back to leave feedback for your TpT credit and remember to follow me for free monthly gifts.
Great lesson for after state testing or when the kids get antsy before a holiday break!
After the dichotomous key portion you can have the students research the scientific name in order to find the common names. Tell them to beware some of the common names are used more than once.
The dichotomous key with two different answer sheet forms and key. There is a student sheet and extension suggestions.
I usually use this as a cooperative lesson with my students paired up so they can work the dichotomous key together.
This activity can be used in its power point format to upload to a classroom website and have the students use laptops or iPads to go through the pictures with their dichotomous key and answer sheet in hand. Displaying the pictures of organisms in a power point allows for students to see more details without the loss of clarity that happens so often with photocopied dichotomous keys.
As an instructor you may choose to use the power point for whole class instruction and work through the dichotomous key with all your students participating. This works well with smaller classes, tutoring sessions or as an enrichment activity for the gifted population.
If you do not have a class website or technology for you students you can still use this dichotomous key successfully. The slides can be printed out as task cards. I have placed little centers around the room and had the students move from center to center classifying the organisms. I like this activity because it keeps my hyper students in constant motion. Laminating the cards will give you years of use.
An additional option is to simply print a few slides per page. If you are using color copies you would only need a few sets and have the students work cooperatively. The students do not really need to write on anything except for the answer sheet.
This activity has quite a few different ways it can be implemented into your classroom I hope you find a method that will work best for your class. Please come back to leave feedback for your TpT credit and remember to follow me for free monthly gifts.
Great lesson for after state testing or when the kids get antsy before a holiday break!
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Wonderful way to teach the use of dichotomous keys. My middle students enjoyed this activity. I had them use their computers to find definitions for any terms they had not yet learned and also to find the common names of the organisms after the activity.
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