Taxonomy Activity LESSON PLAN (INQUIRY)

Teacher: Julie Koshy

Subject: Biology

Standard:
S1.C3.PO5. Describe the levels of organization of living things from cells, through tissues,
organs, organ systems,
organisms, populations, and communities to ecosystems.
Objective (Explicit):

Describe the hierarchy used to classify living organisms.

Sub-objectives, SWBAT:
State the taxonomic classifications.
Determine the correct order of the classification groups.
Evidence of Mastery:
Students will complete the taxonomy handout with an accuracy of 8/10 to show
mastery.
Key vocabulary: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order,
family, genus, species, taxonomy, & binomial nomenclature.

Materials:projector, projector screen, taxonomy

activity handouts, taxonomy PowerPoint, &
taxonomy PowerNotes.

Explore

Engage/Set: We have described different types of living organisms that live in an ecosystem. Today we will go over
how scientists have categorized living organisms and refer to them.
Teacher Will:
Hand out taxonomy activity handouts. Instruct
students to not begin sorting the taxonomic levels
until told to do so. Describe the task. Walk around
the room checking the order of the taxonomic
groups.

Student Will:
Pay attention to the description of the task and
ask questions if more clarification is needed.
Work in groups to determine which
classification is larger and put the taxonomy in order
from largest group to the smallest.

Explain

Co-Teaching Configuration/Differentiation
ELL students can be given verbal directions as well as written to give more comprehensible input.

Teacher Will:
Explain that the taxonomic levels are created
based on specific characteristics by using the
taxonomy PowerPoint.

Student Will:
Listen to the description of the taxonomic
system and take notes.

Elaborate

Co-Teaching Configuration/Differentiation
Students who have difficulty writing may use a computer to make their tables and graph electronically.
Teacher Will:
Student Will:
Students will determine the correct order based Complete the taxonomy handout.
on the characteristics of each group for each
organism.
Co-Teaching Configuration/Differentiation
ELL students can be given another sheet that provides them with sentence starters so they know how to

frame their complete sentences.

Evaluate: The students will complete the taxonomy handout, which will be used to gauge the students ability to apply
the concept of a hierarchy and classification being more exclusive.