ARTHROPOD DICHOTOMOUS KEY

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Georgia Performance Standards Framework for Science – GRADE 7

Georgia Department of Education Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools

SCIENCEy GRADE 7 y ARTHROPOD DICHOTOMOUS KEY JULY 2008 y Page 1 of 3

ARTHROPOD DICHOTOMOUS KEY

Standards (Content and Characteristics): Content Standards:

S7L1. Students will investigate the diversity of living organisms and how they can be compared scientifically. a. Demonstrate the process for the development of a dichotomous key.

b. Classify organisms based on physical characteristics using a dichotomous key of the six kingdom system (archaebacteria, eubacteria, protists, fungi, plants and animals).

Habits of Mind:

S7CS6. Students will communicate scientific ideas and activities clearly.

a. Organize scientific information using appropriate simple tables, charts, and graphs, and identify relationships they reveal. S7CS8. Students will investigate the characteristics of scientific knowledge and how that knowledge is achieved.

a. When similar investigations give different results, the scientific challenge is to judge whether the differences are trivial or significant, which often requires further study. Even with similar results, scientists may wait until further investigation has been repeated many times before accepting the results as meaningful.

S7CS9. Students will investigate the features and process of scientific inquiry.

d. Scientists often collaborate to design research. To prevent this bias, scientists conduct independent studies of the same questions.

g. The ethics of science require that special care must be taken and used for human subjects and animals in scientific research. Scientists must adhere to the appropriate rules and guidelines when conducting research.

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Georgia Performance Standards Framework for SCIENCE – GRADE 7

Enduring Understanding:

Dichotomous keys are made of paired and opposite statements that allow the reader to identify an organism.

Essential Questions: How can we create a dichotomous key for arthropods?

ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES Outcome /

Performance Expectations:

Students will create a dichotomous key for arthropods.

General Teacher Instructions:

I. Teaching and Learning Strategy: Creating a Dichotomous Key 1. Give groups of two students various pictures of arthropods.

2. Challenge each group to create a dichotomous key for these arthropods.

3. Give students a dichotomous key rubric to follow when creating their own key.

II. Assessment One:

1. Instruct groups of students to trade dichotomous keys with another group. 2. Tell students to key out the lobster to test this key out.

• Did students create different or similar keys? • Were some keys more affective than others? • Would students change anything about their keys?

• Scientists also create different, yet viable procedures for the same problems/tasks.

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Georgia Performance Standards Framework for SCIENCE – GRADE 7

Assessment Two:

1. Use the dichotomous key rubric to assess each group of students’ ability to make a dichotomous key.

Materials Needed:

• One set of the pictures of arthropods per group of students • One Petri dish or plastic baggy per group of students • Dichotomous Key Rubric

Safety Precautions:

1. Inform students to handle animals with care, and return the animals after they are observed.

Task with Student Directions:

I. Teaching and Learning Strategy: Creating a Dichotomous Key 1. Work with your partner.

2. Use the pictures of arthropods to create a dichotomous key. 3. Use the dichotomous key rubric to guide you in this activity. II. Assessment One:

1. Trade keys with another group.

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Back

Arthropods

Lobster

Spotted Snake Millipede

Black Widow Spider

Blue Crab Red Velvet Ant Monarch Butterfly

Garden Centipede

Shrimp

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Back

DICHOTOMOUS KEY RUBRIC

Dichotomous Key Rubric Student name:

1. Statements are paired. 15 pts

2. Statements are opposite. 15 pts

3. Statements incorporate scientific vocabulary. 10 pts

4. Classmates could effectively use your key to identify unknown arthropods.

50 pts

5. The key is legible and neat. 10 pts

Dichotomous Key Rubric Student name:

50 pts