APS Science 2011
APS Science Curriculum Unit Planner
Grade Level/Subject: Grade 7 Life Science
Classification
Stage 1: Desired Results
Enduring Understanding
Classification helps to organize the world around us.
Correlations
Unifying Understanding
Humans use science to organize their understanding of the natural
world.
LS.4
The student will investigate and understand how organisms can
VA SOL
be classified. Key concepts include
a) the distinguishing characteristics of domains of organisms;
b) the distinguishing characteristics of kingdoms of organisms;
c) the distinguishing characteristics of major animal phyla and
plant divisions; and
d) the characteristics that define a species.
NSES (grade level)
AAAS Atlas
C
The Nature of Science: Scientific Inquiry
The Living Environment: Biological Evolution
Essential Questions
 Why do biologists classify living things?
 Is classification necessary?
 How do you develop a system of classification?
 What are the qualifications for classification?
Knowledge and Skills
Students should know:
 Classification requires the use of criteria for grouping similar organisms.
 The criteria now used for grouping are different from those used in the past.
 The most effective classification systems use a decision tree (a dichotomous key) that can be
answered yes/no.
 Criteria may include both directly observable and chemically detectable characteristics.
 There have been major contributors and developments to classification schemes.
 Relationships and interactions exist between the kingdoms.
Students should be able to:
 Sort a group of objects using several criteria, so that each object is uniquely identified.
 Explain or show how the criteria can be used to create a grouping key or flow chart.
 Design and use a dichotomous key.
 Understand the basis and format for a scientific name
 Compare and contrast the six kingdoms
 Discuss how and why classification schemes have changed, and why they continue to change.
 Explain how classification schemes have changed.
APS Science 2011


Recognize binomial nomenclature
Explain how organisms interact and influence each other
Stage 2: Assessment Evidence
Prior Knowledge and Skills
 Students should be aware of the use and utility of grouping systems in the community, such as
organizational plans used in: stores, libraries, schools, local government agencies, Internet search
engines, etc.
 Students should understand that grouping processes, such as classification, are really identification
processes; i.e., processes that distinguish one thing from another.
 The kingdoms taught in elementary schools.
 Terms for classifying life: prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic, unicellular vs. multicellular, autotrophic vs.
heterotrophic
Formative Assessment
Summative Assessment
 Lab activities;
 Objective Test: history, terminology and
current principles
 Quizzes;

Practical Exam (Part 1): 1) Using a
 Group project(s)
Classification Key
 SOL Quiz questions developed by WMS PLC
 Group Project Presentation
(coming soon)
 Development of a Dichotomous Key
Stage 3: Learning Plan
References to Adopted Materials
 PH Science Explorer: Life Science - Chapter 2 (Living Things): Section 2 (Classifying Organisms)
pp. 42-49
 FOSS: Diversity of Life Resources – pp. 16-17 (Taxonomy) & p. 65 (Kingdoms) are useful but
refers to a 5-kingdom system
Suggested Investigations
 The adopted text contains the following Lab Zone activities: Discover Activity (p. 42), Skills Activity
(p.47) and At-Home Activity (p.49). Also the TE contains a Build Inquiry (p. 46).
 Microscope views of bacteria and protists
 Insect Metamorphosis PBL
 Flower dissection
 Animal examples
 Fungus dissection
 Creating a dichotomous key of a collection of living organisms
 Protists in food Top Chef competition.
Outdoor Education Applications
 Other classification activities might include student collections (seeds or leaves are easy) followed
by creation of classification criteria and grouping.
Resources
Web Sites (Search Entry: “Biological Classification”)
 www.bioedonline.org/slides/slide01.cfm (advanced, but informative PowerPoint)
 http://www.brighthub.com/science/medical/articles/3147.aspx (past, present & future)
 http://www.babylon.com/definition/biological_classification/English (Wiki definition – good!)
 NSTA Learn Center – www.nsta.org
APS Science 2011
 Explorelearning.com
Videos
 None
Online clips
 Science Investigations: Life Science: Investigating Bacteria, Plants and Other
Organisms/Classification of Organisms (6-8) (4:24), Discovery Streaming (Search Entry:
“Classification”)
 Classification of Living Things (27:00) (Discovery Streaming)
 Darwin’s Journey
Field Trips
 The Outdoor Lab Grade 7 Science Activity Module includes a component on classification
 Smithsonian Naturalist Center (Leesburg, VA)
 National Museum of Natural History (Washington, D.C.) Houses an excellent exhibit of mammalian
biodiversity.
Other
 An Origin of Species – class seminar