Category: Taxonomy

Dichotomous Key Activity

 

Dichotomous Key Activity

 

Directions: Give each of the following creatures a name. You may want to print this out before you proceed.

 

1. ________________

5. _________________

8. ___________________

2. ________________

4. __________________

6. __________________

9. ___________________

3. __________________

7. _________________

10. __________________

 

 

Alien Invasion

 

Alien Invasion

Help! Aliens have landed on Earth from another planet. Before scientists can release the aliens, they want to identify and classify them. Use the dichotomous key on the next page to identify these creatures.

 

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

 

   A Key to Alien Creatures:

 

1.a. The creature has a large wide head…………………………………….go to 2
b. The creature has a small narrow head……………………………….go to 11
2.a. It has 3 eyes ……………………………………………………………………………..go to 3
b. It has 2 eyes …………………………………………………………………………….go to 7
3.a. There is a star in the middle of its chest………………………….go to 4
b. There is no star in the middle of its chest ………………………go to 6
4.a. The creature has hair spikes ………………………………………..Broadus hairus
b. The creature has no hair spikes…………………………………………..go to 5
5.a. The bottom of the creature is arch-shaped ……………Broadus archus
b. The bottom of the creature is M-shaped ……………….Broadus emmus
6.a. The creature has an arch-shaped bottom ……………….Broadus plainus
b. The creature has an M-shaped bottom……………………Broadus tritops
7.a. The creature has hairy spikes ……………………………………………go to 8
b. The creature has no spikes…………………………………………………go to 10
8.a. There is a star in the middle of its body ………………..Broadus hairystarus
b. The is no star in the middle of its body ………………………..go to 9
9.a. The creature has an arch shaped bottom ……………….Broadus hairyemmus
b. The creature has an M shaped bottom ……………………Broadus kiferus
10.a. The body is symmetrical ………………………………………………Broadus walter
b. The body is not symmetrical……………………………………….Broadus anderson
11.a. The creature has no antennae ……………………………………….go to 12
b. The creature has antennae …………………………………………….go to 14
12.a. There are spikes on the face ………………………………….Narrowus wolfus
b. There are no spikes on the face ………………………………….go to 13
13.a. The creature has no spike anywhere ……………………Narrowus blankus
b. There are spikes on the right leg ………………………..Narrowus starboardus
14.a. The creature has 2 eyes…………………………………………………go to 15
b. The creature has 1 eye……………………………………………Narrowus cyclops
15.a. The creature has a mouth……………………………………………..go to 16
b. The creature has no mouth…………………………………………..go to 17
16.a. There are spikes on the left leg ………………………..Narrowus portus
b. There are no spikes at all ………………………………….Narrowus plainus
17.a. The creature has spikes ………………………………………………go to 18
b. The creature has no spikes ……………………………..Narrowus georginia
18.a. There are spikes on the head …………………………………..go to 19
b. There are spikes on the right leg……………………..Narrowus montanian
19.a. There are spikes covering the face ……………….Narrowus beardus
b. There are spikes only on the outside edge of head ……Narrowus fuzzus

 


Return to Earth

Alien Taxonomy Project

 

Alien Taxonomy

 

In the year 2525:

Humans, after hundreds of years of constant effort, have successfully polluted all bodies of water on Earth. As a result, almost all previously known species of plants, animals, and other life forms have become extinct. Through natural selection, genetic engineering, and selective breeding programs, a portion of the Earth has been successfully repopulated. The following organisms are all that remain:

  1. Photosynthetic humanoids with green chlorophyll-containing hair (autotrophs)
  2. Chemosynthetic dolphin-like organisms who derive their energy for food production from the contaminants in the water (autotrophs)
  3. Aquatic humanoids who work on the dolphin’s aquaculture farms (heterotrophic)
  4. Aqua wheat, a heterotrophic crop grown by the dolphins that feeds on bacteria
  5. Legless, photosynthetic humanoid space travelers with arm-like tentacles that visit the Earth every 6 weeks
  6. Anaerobic humanoids designed for space living, but when on Earth for space training, they must wear deoxygenated space suits (heterotrophs)
  7. Cockroach-like organisms that feed on humanoid and dolphin excrement (Decomposers)
  8. Heterotrophic giant squids that feed on humanoids & dolphins
  9. Green-skinned, photosynthetic rats
  10. Parasitic mosquitoes that feed on humanoids

Your Assignment:

As an alien taxonomist, it is your responsibility to classify these existing organisms.

  1. Create Latin-sounding Genus and species names for each organism. Remember that the species name should reflect a characteristic of the organism.
  2. Create a taxonomic scheme for each organism including a kingdom, phylum, and the genus and species name you created. Use only two kingdoms that you create. Be sure to also include the number of the organism with the scheme
  3. Illustrate your interpretation of each organism’s appearance including all the characteristics given to you.  All illustrations should be numbered and colored on a single sheet of unlined paper.
  4. Prepare a dichotomous key using the scientific names for these organisms so that your fellow aliens can also identify them when they come to Earth for summer vacations. 
  5. Make a cover sheet with your name, date, and period and paper clip your sheets together.

 

CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE COPY OF ACTIVITY & WORKSHEET

Evaluation Webquest Classification

Evaluation

Students will be evaluated as a group in the areas listed in the rubric.

Beginning

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Exemplary

4

Score
Classify plants and animals according to internal and external features using a developed classification systems, organized using a flow chart. Classification of a total of 6 out of 10 living organisms (that includes the created living things) correctly with 6 flow charts.Classification of a total of 7 out of 10 living organisms (that includes the created living organisms) correctly with 6 legible and easy to follow flow charts. Classification of a total of 8 out of 10 living organisms (that includes the created living organisms) correctly with 6 legible and easy to follow flow charts and 1 flow chart that combines all 6 flow charts. Classification of a total of 9 or 10 living organisms correctly with 6 flow charts that are easy to follow  and 1 flowchart that combines all 6 flow charts and is easy to follow.
Poster of new living thing that communicates what the new living thing looks like.
Poster that includes:  

1)a picture of an original living thing
2)a description of five characteristics listed

A poster that includes:  

1) a picture of an original living thing

2)a  description of six  characteristics listed in an organized fashion

3)few spelling errors

A poster that includes

1)a picture of an original living thing

2) a  description of six or more characteristics listed in an organized fashion

3) no spelling errors.

4)easy to read
A poster that includes:

1) a picture of an original living thing2) a description of six or more characteristics listed in an organized fashion

3) no spelling errors.

4) good artistic design.

Presentation of classification findings and new living thing

 1)Information presented relevant and in a logical order

2)One media used for presentation effectively

1)Information presented relevant and in a logical order

2)Two media forms used for presentation excluding video effectively.

1)Information presented relevant and in a logical order

2)Video used for presentation media effectively.

 

1)Information presented relevant and in a logical order

2)Two media forms used for presentation including video effectively.
Work
co-operatively
in a group

 

1)Work
co-operatively using information technology skillsOR

2)Demonstrate ability to collaborate to develop a group display.

1)Work co-operatively using information technology skills

AND

2)Demonstrate ability to collaborate to develop a group display with satisfactory results

1)Work co-operatively using information technology skills

AND

2)Demonstrate ability to collaborate to develop a group display
with average results

1)Work co-operatively using information technology skills

AND

2)Demonstrate ability to collaborate to develop a group display with  above average results

Group
self-evaluation

 

Worked together though some problems
(had disagreements)		Worked together with a few problems
(only minor disagreements)		Worked together and every one had input into decisions though a few problemsWorked well together, no problems and everyone had input into decisions.

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