1. Activate prior knowledge.
Show students the Classifying Information photo gallery, which shows students at a BioBlitz. Ask: What do you think these students are doing? Explain to students that they are classifying information. List the following sports on the board: baseball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball. Show students the Sports Cards illustration and prompt them to think about similarities and differences. Ask:

  • How many of these use a ball?
  • How many of these use a net?
  • How many of these are played on a court?
  • How many of these use a hoop?

Make sure students recognize that identifying similarities and differences is one way to begin classifying information.

2. Build background.
Explain to students that they can group many things based on characteristics and that something with unique characteristics can be grouped into its own category. Show students the Insect Cards illustration. Ask: Which of these is not an insect? How do you know? Tell students that scientists collect, study, and observe specimens. They record every detail and then compare their observations to existing records. New species are classified according to their similarities and differences to known species. This is called relatedness. New species are then given a unique scientific name.

3. Have students practice classifying information.
Collect a shoe from each person in the class and place the shoes on a table that everyone can see. Ask students to classify the shoes based on shared characteristics, such as type, color, markings, kind of closure, or materials. Ask:

  • How many different ways can you classify the shoes?
  • What characteristic is the most common?
  • What is the least common?

 

4. Have students reflect on their experience.
Ask students to share what they’ve learned about classifying information. Ask: Why do you think scientists use a classification system to better understand life on Earth? Encourage students to answer the question based on their experience with the activity.

Informal Assessment

Ask each student to describe, in his or her own words, what it means to classify. Then ask students to provide one example of classifying information from their daily lives.

Extending the Learning

Explain that scientists name species based on a unique characteristic, where it was found, or who found it. Have students create scientific names for each unique "species" of shoe.

Subjects & Disciplines

  • Biology

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • demonstrate classification skills
  • reflect on their experience and apply that understanding in a new context

Teaching Approach

  • Learning-for-use

Teaching Methods

  • Discussions
  • Hands-on learning

Skills Summary

This activity targets the following skills:

  • Critical Thinking Skills
    • Applying
    • Understanding

Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices

National Science Education Standards

What You’ll Need

Materials You Provide

  • Paper
  • Pencils
  • Pens

Required Technology

  • Internet Access: Optional
  • Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, Projector

Physical Space

  • Classroom

Grouping

  • Large-group instruction

Background Information

A BioBlitz is a way for communities to learn about the biological diversity of a geographical area and to better understand how to protect the species found at that location. In order to undertake a BioBlitz, students need to have a specific set of skills. These skills involve observing natural phenomena, identifying different species of organisms, classifying them into categories, and mapping the data for conservation and management in the future. Scientists use a classification system to identify, name, and better understand living things.

Prior Knowledge

  • None

Recommended Prior Activities

  • None

Vocabulary

bioblitz
Noun

a field study in which groups of scientists and citizens study and inventory all the different kinds of living organisms within a given area.
characteristic
Noun

physical, cultural, or psychological feature of an organism, place, or object.
classify
Verb

to identify or arrange by specific type or characteristic.
observation
Noun

something that is learned from watching and measuring an object or pattern.
relatedness
Noun

being connected by similarities.
scientific name
Noun

the name, usually in Latin, of an organism's genus and species.
species
Noun

group of similar organisms that can reproduce with each other.

Websites

  • Credits

    Media Credits

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    Writer

    Steve Cunha

    Editors

    Audrey Carangelo
    Amy Grossman, National Geographic Society
    Patricia Norris, National Geographic Society
    Christina Riska Simmons

    Expert Reviewers

    Jennell Ives, Wildlife Conservation Society
    Lisa Okazaki, National Park Service

    Sources

    adapted from National Geographic BioBlitz Educator Resource “Classifying Information”

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