David B. Mitchell
Binomial Nomenclature Lesson Plan
Terminal Objective:
Students will describe in writing the difference between genus and species.
Language Objective:
Listening & Speaking ELL V Delivery of Oral Communication 14. Explain, argue, or defend scientific or historical
conclusions, theories, and ideas.
Curriculum Standard:
Strand 4 Concept 4 PO 6: Analyze, using a biological classification system (i.e. cladistics, phylogeny, morphology, DNA
analysis), the degree of relatedness among various species.
Time
Bloom’s
5 min.
Comprehension 1. Recognize that common
names for living things are
problematic.
10 min.
Knowledge
12 min.
Application
Sub-objectives
Teaching Strategies
Active Student Participation
1. Bellwork: Students will try to
answer the puzzler.
- Each student will write down what they think the
answer to the bellwork might be.
- Non-volunteers will be called on to share answers.
2. Recall why we need a
2. Prior Knowledge: We will
system of classification and discuss concepts we
the history of the system.
already covered such as why we
need a classification system and
who popularized it.
- Students will highlight/mark the concepts that are
from the notes they previously took.
3. Discuss in writing the
specific mechanics of the
binomial nomenclature
and be able to describe the
different parts of a species
name.
- Students will take notes during the binomial nomenclature lecture.
3. Lecture: Direct instruction
from a PowerPoint discussing
binomial nomenclature, scientific
names, and the mechanics of
using them.
Intermittent Closure: In a short paragraph students
will summarize what we have learned about the
system of classification.
Int. Closure: We will label/diagram the genus and
specific name of 4 different species.
Time
Bloom’s
Sub-objectives
Teaching Strategies
15 min.
Synthesis
4. Given 5 items, students 4. Activity: We will complete a
will write their own species mini-lab on scientific names.
names for each of the items
and provide a defense for
their decision.
- In groups of 2-3, students will provide “scientific
names” for various types of candy. The names can be
made up but students will be provided with a list of
terms they might want to use as well as having access to
a root word dictionary. After naming the candy, the
students will provide justification for the names they
chose.
8 min.
Evaluation
5. Describe in writing the
difference between genus
and species.
- Students will use their own piece of paper and will
identify the genus and specific name of two species and
describe how genus and species differ.
5. Final closure: We will
summarize what we learned and
complete an exit slip.
Active Student Participation
HW: Read chapter 18-1 pages 446 to 449
Materials:
PowerPoint (includes bellwork, review, direct instruction material, and exit slip instructions)
“Scientific Names”: Candy Classification lab
7-10 types of candy such as Swedish Fish, Sour Patch Kids, Snickers, Milky Way, 3 Musketeers, M&Ms, Skittles, and Kit Kats
Example scientific names handout
“Scientific Names”: Candy Classification
As we have learned, there are two parts to an organism’s name: the genus and the specific name. This is known as binomial nomenclature
and we have Linnaeus to thank its popularity. As we’ve also discussed, the Linnaean system of classification only applies to living things. However, for this class period we are going to work with non-living things: CANDY!
In groups of 2-3 you will name 5 of the various types of candy based on their characteristics. In reality species names are derived from
Latin but for this lab we will be making up our own genera (plural for genus) and specific name in addition to using some suggestions that Mr.
Mitchell provides.
Complete the table with your group:
Candy (Common name)
“Scientific name” (Genus species)
Justification
Examples of made-up terms you may want to use in your “scientific names”:
Characteristic
Chocolate
Gummy/Chewy
Crunchy
Contains nuts
Contains caramel
Possible name
chocolatus, chocolaty, chocolata, chocolatos
gummyo, gummia, gummybis, chewia, chewus
crunchikus, chrunchia, crunche
nuttia, nutterus
caramelia, caramelos
Examples of Latin and Greek names you can modify or include are on the board.
Latin/Greek word
americana
brevis
canadensis
chinensis
chroma
dulcis, glycys
edulis
gigantea
grandis, macro, magna, mega
maxima
mega
mexicana
minima or micro
minor
nanos
versicolor
viscosa
vulgaris
Meaning
from America
short
from Canadian
from China
color
sweet
edible
giant
large
biggest
large
from Mexico
small
smaller
dwarf
many-colored
sticky
common