7.11A: Identification of Organisms
Organisms and Environments
Using the Web Surfing Science websites your teacher has assigned to you, complete
the following online treasure hunt.
Part I: Dichotomous Keys
Click on “What is a Key?” to answer the following questions.
1. Why would you use a dichotomous key? ________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2. What does dichotomous mean? _______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
3. How does a dichotomous key work? ___________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Click on “How to Make a Key” to answer the following questions.
4. What is the first step in making a dichotomous key? _______________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5. What is the second step? ____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
6. How many choices should one have at each decision point of the key? ________________
After viewing the sample dichotomous key, click on the “Interactive Key” and complete the
activity.
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7.11A: Identification of Organisms
Organisms and Environments
Part II: Identify a Tree
On the left-handed side of the screen, scroll down to the section titled “Choose a Tree to
Identify”. Pick three numbers from the website. Click on each number and use the key to
identify the trees.
1. Number ________________ Organism _________________________________________
2. Number ________________ Organism _________________________________________
3. Number ________________ Organism _________________________________________
Part III: Identifying Pond Organisms
Click on the words “Aquatic Critter Key Game”. Print the page and choose three different
organisms to identify. Click on “Aquatic Critter Key” and choose START to begin.
1. Organism 1 ______________________________________________________________
2. Organism 2 ______________________________________________________________
3. Organism 3 ______________________________________________________________
Part IV: Identify a Fish
Use the key to identify the nine fish shown.
1. ________________________________
2. ________________________________
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
3. ________________________________
4. ________________________________
5. ________________________________
6. ________________________________
7. ________________________________
8. ________________________________
9. ________________________________
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