Intel

WHAT"S IN YOUR BACKYARD?

Welcome to your online classification project In this project you will become a taxonomist by investigating organisms in your own backyard. There are many organisms 'out there' that you recognize but do not know their names, or anything about them. During this project you will learn not only who these organisms are, but also why, and how scientists classify organisms, and how you can make a dichotomous key of these organisms so that others can identify them in the future.

Task 1 Before you begin this project you will be required to take a short survey to determine how much you already know about this topic, what computer skills you have, and what equipment will be required to complete all the tasks.

[|Pre classification project survey]

Task 2 Take your digital camera into the backyard (or open grounds if you do not have a back yard) and take 20 digital images of different living organisms ten of which may be animals. Upload the pictures to a storage device and bring them to class by the.

Task 3 Use books, parents, teachers, and peers to identify using common names the organisms you have photographed If this fails write down some chacteristics of the organism, and google these characteristics to get some leads using internet resources, [|plant and animal field guide]

Task 4 Share the photograghs you took with three other people. As a group you will pick 20 photographs to work with. EACH PERSON IN THE GROUP MUST CONTRIBUTE 5 PHOTOGRAPHS and only 10 may be animals. Now you are ready to start making your group presentation to share with others. You will make a power point, one slide will be devoted to each organism. On each slide should include the common name, digital image of an organism and description. Later you will be adding the scientific name, complete classification and sounds to the slides. Save your presentation on a storage device until completed when it will be uploaded. Click on the example below to get some idea of how your presentation will look after you get to the end of task 6.



Task 5 It's time to learn about the history of classification how a taxonomist classifiys organisms today. Click on this link [|Classification background information] Linnaeus developed the binomial nomenclature a two part naming system for organisms. These scientific names are the genus and species name for each organism. [|Information about Linnaeus] Click on the link below to determine your understanding of the subject matter. [|Do you understand what you have read?]

Task 6 Use the internet to find out the scientific name and complete classification for each of your organisms. Make a chart in microsoft word similar to the example below. Insert the chart into the slide and fill in the classification information you find about your organisms. The sites below will help you find the scientific names and classification of your organisms. [|scientific name/classification] [|classification info] [|wikipedia]
 * KINGDOM ||  ||
 * PHYLUM ||  ||
 * CLASS ||  ||
 * ORDER ||  ||
 * FAMILY ||  ||
 * GENUS ||  ||
 * SPECIES ||  ||

Task 7 You will now investigate the kingdoms and domains used today in classifying organisms, also the characteristics used to place organisms into different kingdoms. Click the links below http://www.learner.org/courses/essential/life/session2/closer1.html [|Characteristics of domains and kingdoms] [|Compare prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells]

Make a chart to record the characteristics associated with each kingdom Each individual must justify the kingdom in which their five organisms were placed based on criteria listed in the chart. Click on this link to write your kingdom placement justifications. [|Kingdom Placement]

Task 8 You should now write an entry on the discussion page in the wiki describing how you foresee classification systems changing in the future with justifications for your answer. Click on the link below to post your answer. [|Predict have classification might change in the future]

Task 9 Dicothomous keys are instruments used by taxonomists to identify similar unknown organisms. Click on the link to find out how keys are made and used. [|Making a dichotomous key]

Task 10 Time to make your own dichotomous key!!!! Using 10 of your groups organisms (5 may be animals) work out a key which can be used by others. Click on the link below to post your key. [|Dichotomous key]

Task 11 Give your key and 10 photographs to another group, allow them to identify your organisms. When each group has finished identifying your organisms with your key they will send their results to me electronically. Your grade for this part of the project is determined by the success of others using your key.

Task 12 Final assessment

Task 13 Here is the place to reflect on this unit. [|Reflection] 