Community and Communication Weeks: 3

/ Science
Lesson Plan
Teacher:
8th Grade Science Teacher / Grade:
8th Grade
Lesson Title:
Classifying the Colonies
STRANDS
Biodiversity and Change
Embedded Inquiry
LESSON OVERVIEW / Summary of the task, challenge, investigation, career-related scenario, problem, or community link.
In this unit students will be reading about classifications and adaptations of anything, generally, and of organisms specifically. The unit will start with a focus on classification and using dichotomous keys. In science students will work on a project to help establish a school arboretum. During the culminating event students will create a key to the 13 original colonies, present this information in the form of a commercial, and learn how the language of classification relates to mathematical proofs. Students will have opportunities to investigate classifications and the history of classifications and use that information to further solidify their finding regarding colonization in America. For the second part of this unit students will be learning about adaptations of organisms. Students will investigate specific adaptations in plants and animals and how adaptations may occur. Students will learn specifically about endemic species that occurred in the 13 original colonies. They will present this information in a mock newscast that will tie together proofs from math, presentation skills from language arts, and culminate the social studies unit on the 13 original colonies.
MOTIVATOR / Hook for the week unit or supplemental resources used throughout the week. (PBL scenarios, video clips, websites, literature)
Day 1: “100 Greatest Scientific Discoveries: Classification”
The hook on day one will be a short video describing classification as one of the 100 greatest scientific discoveries. It discusses why classification is important and how it has changed the face of modern science. Here is a link to the Classification Video.
Day 9: “Adaptations Doppelganger”
This will serve as the hook for the adaptations portion of the unit. The teacher will bring in any human tools that mimic animal adaptations such as swim fins, coats, camo clothing, binoculars, etc. Students must brainstorm an animal that has the adaptation and why it may need that adaptation to survive.
DAY /
Objectives
(I can….) /

Materials & Resources

/

Instructional Procedures

/ Differentiated
Instruction /

Assessment

1 / I can explain why and how organisms are classified.
I can list the eight levels of classification.
I can explain scientific names. / Superhero Images
Classification Presentation
Blank Tree Diagram
Paper and Pencils
(See Appendix B) / Essential Question(s):
1. How can I identify various criteria used to classify organisms into groups?
2. How can I use a simple classification key to identify a specific organism? / Remediation:
Heterogeneous grouping
Provide a handout or digital copy of the notes
Limit choices by only giving students frog, kangaroo, and human for the branching diagram
Enrichment:
Students can also be given Platypus and Elephant during the branching diagram activity
Students can be grouped as peer tutors. / Formative Assessment:
Branching Diagram
Pneumonic Creation
In-class questioning
Summative Assessment:
End of unit Assessment (See Appendix A)
Set: Put a picture of Spiderman, Batman, Superman, and Wolverine on the board. Have students classify the superheroes. Have them list similarities and differences of each superhero.
Teaching Strategy(s):
  1. Start with a brief teacher led discussion of the definition of classification and why classify? Eventually settle on one definition as a class.
  2. Next, lead into a brief presentation on the history of different classifications, branching diagrams, and the currently accepted classification method including the 8 levels of classification. Introduce the term taxonomy. Have students take notes on during the classification presentation.
  3. After showing students a branching diagram during the presentation, have them create a branching diagram with the following animals: Fish, Frog, Snake, Kangaroo, Rabbit, and Human.
Summarizing Strategy:Students will create a pneumonic to help remember the different levels of classification. Re-show the slide from the presentation with the 8 levels of classification and have students create the pneumonic. Have student pairs and share their creations. Have the class vote on a favorite.
Homework: Students will need to bring a picture of their pet or a favorite pet. The picture can be digital, print or even hand drawn. The name of the pet should be on the back.
2 / I can Identify various criteria used to classify organisms into groups.
I can Use a simple classification key to identify an unknown organism. / Pictures of Students’ pets (or some teacher examples)
“What Tree is that” publication or online tree key
Dichotomous Key Presentation
Tree leaves and branches
Simplified Dichotomous Key Activity
(See Appendix C) / Essential Question(s):
  1. How can I identify various criteria used to classify organisms into groups?
  2. How can I use a simple classification key to identify a specific organism?
/ Intervention:
Students can be given a copy of the notes on the Dichotomous Keys.
Students will be grouped to allow peer tutoring and collaboration.
Students can be given a simplified key activity if leaves are difficult or students are allergic. (See Appendix C)
Enrichment:
Students can be given more difficult leaves to key, such as Ash, Buckeye, or 2 different Oaks. / Formative Assessment:
Identification of trees
Dichotomous key to pets
Closure activity to Pet key
Performance Assessment:
Observations of students demonstrating how to use a dichotomous key.
Summative Assessment:
End of unit assessment (See Appendix A)
Commercial Project
Set: Students should have pictures of pets with the name of the pet on the back. Ask the students how we can identify which pet is yours? (Answers will vary but should include color, size, type of animal, etc). Tell students they are going to create a key to identify their pet.
Teaching Strategy(s):
  1. Start the lesson with a short presentation on how to use and create a dichotomous key. Students should take notes during the presentation.
  2. Students will then participate in a hands-on identification activity be identifying trees from around the school property.
  3. First demonstrate how to use the key by keying an example.
  4. Then have the students identify trees from around the property of the school. Be sure they are distinct (such as a pine, maple, ginko, or holly). Have them identify the tree form the print key or online key. (Students should have prior knowledge of plant key terminology. If this is not possible, use a key to something more familiar, such as mammals.)
  5. Students will then work to create a key to the pets. Put all the pictures up on the board. Have them create a list of characteristics for each of the pets (color, size, type, etc) and relate this back to the hook. The key must ask questions where there are 2 possible answers. All the pets should fit in one of these two groups. The goal is to create a key so that any pet can be identified.
Summarizing Strategy: Once all students are done creating a key, students will trade keys and take turns identifying a pet. The goal should be to match a name with a pet. This can be checked because the names will be on the back of the pictures.
3 / I can explain how classification developed as greater numbers of organisms became known.
I can describe the three domains.
I can describe the four kingdoms in the domain Eukarya. / Hook Pictures
Domains and Kingdoms Presentation
Internet access
iPad or Laptop
Mind Map app, Microsoft word, or Prezi
Classification Project Handout
Classification Project Evaluation
(See Appendix D) / Essential Question(s):
  1. How can I identify various criteria used to classify organisms into groups?
  2. How can I use a simple classification key to identify a specific organism?
/ Intervention:
Students can be paired with a peer tutor for the research project.
Students can be given a printed or digital copy of the notes.
Enrichment:
Students can serve as a peer tutor.
Students can be assigned an organism that would be more difficult to classify, such as Archae or Bacteria. / Formative Assessment:
Gallery Walk
Organism brainstorming
Organism project
Performance Assessment:
Observations during researching
Summative Assessment:
End of unit assessment (See Appendix A)
Set:Put on a board a picture of a person, a redwood, a euglena, and a Mushroom. Ask the students how all these things are related.
Teaching Strategy(s):
  1. Have all students brainstorm a list of everyorganism they can think of. After 1 minute of individual brainstorming, have students begin to name organisms. Start placing them into different categories according to the three domains of Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya and the four main kingdoms underEukarya of Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
  2. This activity will lead into a short presentation on the 3 domains and the 4 Kingdoms under Eukarya. The presentation includes characteristics of each group and why or how they are different.
  3. Students will next work on an individual research project. They will all select one organism, find a picture of the organism, find the complete classification of the organism from Domain down to Species, and then they will create a mind map depicting this information about the organism. For details about the project refer to the project handout under materials and resources.
Summarizing Strategy: Digital Gallery Walk. Each student will display his or her mind map creation. They will then walk around the room and choose two other presentations to peer evaluate using the evaluation sheet in the materials.
Homework: Complete the Individual Classification Project if there is not time in class to complete the activity.
4 / I explain what an arboretum is and why it is important to a community.
I can identify certain criteria used to classify organisms.
I can collect samples and document pertinent information in a lab notebook. / iPads or computer
Apple TV
Arboretum Presentation
Arboretum Project Description
Collections bags (grocery bags)
Pruners
Gardening gloves (optional)
(See Appendix E) / Essential Question(s):
  1. How can I use appropriate tools to gather and organize data?
  2. How can I identify various criteria used to classify organisms into groups?
  3. How can I use a simple classification key to identify a specific organism?
/ Intervention:
Students can be given a copy of the presentation.
Students can be grouped to utilize peer tutors
Students can be assigned trees that will be easier to identify in future lessons (tulip poplar or evergreens).
Enrichment:
Students can identify more than the required 2 trees.
Students can be assigned trees that will be more difficult to identify (Oaks, Maples).
Students can be grouped and used as peer tutors. / Formative Assessment:
What is an Arboretum research
Observations during closure sharing time
Lab notebook observations
Summative Assessment:
End of unit assessment (See Appendix A)
½ Project Day – See Unit Plan
Colonial Commercial Project– Planning
Set: What is an arboretum? Post the website for a local arboretum and have students explore and answer the question.
Teaching Strategy(s):
  1. Introduce the School Arboretum project. The project information can be found in the materials and resources.
  2. This lesson will serve as an introduction to an arboretum. Start the lesson by having students share what they discovered from the hook. This can lead into a brief presentation about an arboretum. It would be good to highlight a local arboretum.
  3. Students will then travel outside to explore the trees located on the school property. Divide the students into groups of 2. Each group will be responsible for collecting a sample from at least 2 different trees. Students will also note the location of the tree, the habitat, and the growth habit of the entire tree. Students will only collect and store the samples for the first day.
Summarizing Strategy:Have students take a guess as to what the tree they collected might be. Have each group pair with another group and share about the tree they collected including where it was found and how it grows. Have them share their best guess as to the type of tree.
5 / I can identify an unknown organism using a classification key
I can research and find reliable information.
I can use appropriate tools to gather and organize data. / iPads or computer
Apple TV
“What Tree is That” print or online version
Arboretum Project Description
Plant samples collected from previous day.
Arboretum Application
(See Appendix F) / Essential Question(s):
  1. How can I use appropriate tools to gather and organize data?
  2. How can I identify various criteria used to classify organisms into groups?
  3. How can I use a simple classification key to identify a specific organism?
/ Intervention:
Students can be given a copy of the presentation.
Students can be grouped to utilize peer tutors.
Students can be assigned trees that will be easier to identify in future lessons (tulip poplar or evergreens).
Enrichment:
Students can identify more than the required 2 trees.
Students can be assigned trees that will be more difficult to identify (oaks or maples).
Students can be grouped and used as peer tutors. / Formative Assessment:
Arboretum evaluations
Arboretum application analysis
Research
Performance Assessment:
Dichotomous key use
Summative Assessment:
End of unit assessment (See Appendix A)
Arboretum Plaques
Set:Display some pictures of different arboretums located throughout the state. Ask students to make a list of things they like and don’t like about the different arboretums.
Teaching Strategy(s):Students will continue with the Arboretum project.
  1. Today will serve as the identification day. Students will begin to key out the tree samples they collected from the previous day. During this time the teacher will circulate around the room to provide assistance and to evaluate student performance with a dichotomous key.
  2. Once students have identified the tree, they must then research some information about the given species. They are going to design an interpretive sign that will be places in front of the tree. It must include the common name and scientific name. It can also include leaf shape, fun facts, range maps, or any other useful information.
  3. Students must also place the tree they identified on a map of the school grounds. There will be one map displayed in the room and students will place a mark where their tree is located. They must also number the mark so they know which tree is theirs.
Summarizing Strategy:Display the Application to become certified as an arboretum on the board. Students should read through the steps and identify what needs to still be done to become a certified arboretum.
6 / I can effectively translate classification information to common language.
I can use appropriate tools to gather and organize data. / iPads or computer
Apple TV
Design App or graph paper and colored pencils
Arboretum Project Description
Plant samples collected from previous day.
Arboretum map
(See Appendix F) / Essential Question(s):
  1. How can I use appropriate tools to gather and organize data?
  2. How can I identify various criteria used to classify organisms into groups?
  3. How can I use a simple classification key to identify a specific organism?
/ Intervention:
Students can be given a list of websites relating to STEM or be asked to find less than 5
Students can be grouped to utilize peer tutors
Students can be given a copy of the presentation
Enrichment:
Students can locate more than 5 sites and they can actually begin collecting data from the most reliable sites. / Formative Assessment:
Likes and Dislikes hook
Master species list
Observation and questioning during activity
Performance Assessment:
Arboretum Tour
Summative Assessment:
End of unit assessment (See Appendix A)
Plaque Design
Brochure
Set:Show the students several interpretive sign designs. Similar to the previous day, have them create a list of likes and dislikes. This will be used later in the lesson when they create their own interpretive signs. (Do a Google images search for interpretive signs and scroll through the images)
Teaching Strategy(s):
  1. Students will finish all classification activities and add their plants to a master species list. The species list will include an assigned number for each tree, genus, species, and common name.
  2. Students will also design a plaque that will be placed in front of their tree(s). The plaque must include the common name, the scientific name, 2 interesting facts about the tree, an outline drawing of the fruits, flowers, and leaves and a habitat map.
  3. Students will also help to design a brochure for the arboretum. The brochure will include the map creates in class the previous day as well as general information about the arboretum and any trees of particular note.
Summarizing Strategy:As a closure for the Arboretum activity, students will take a tour of the arboretum. If time permits students can also give tours to other students at the school.