Using Unity to Organize Diversity

Part B

Objectives...

• In the last presentation, we grouped a variety of nuts and bolts into classification trees.

• In this presentation, we will explore classification with a unique assignment.

• Our Objective:o To simulate the process of scientific

classification and understand how classification has evolved historically.

Life on another planet...

http://forum.xbox365.com/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=014602;p=2 – Retrieved 10/22/08

The Expedition...

• Imagine it’s the year 2525. A planet similar to Earth has recently been found in a newly identified solar system in another galaxy.

• We have sent a space probe with a molecular transport beam to this planet to beam back a variety of different living creatures.

http://simplebrowser.blogspot.com/2008/02/ulysses-probe-near-to-end.html - Retrieved 10/22/08

The Discovery...

• We excitedly study the data and find, to our surprise, that there is life on this planet!

• As scientists, we carefully examine the structure of each of the living creatures beamed down to Earth.

• The creatures look like nothing we have ever seen!

The Task...

• After looking over the shocking collection of life forms, we realize as scientists that we need to classify these creatures.

• Ultimately, we want to have a sense of how these alien creatures are related to one another.

http://www.pd.astro.it/education/PlanetV/planetarium/L15_14S.html - Retrieved 10/22/08

The Instructions...

• Click on the Alien assignment document. • Print-out the assignment sheet• Cut-out the individual aliens leaving the number

attached to the alien. (if you don’t want to print, use the 2nd page where you can move the aliens on a word document).

• Organize the cards into groups based on the similarities and differences you observe ... spots, hands, eyes, head shape, etc.

• In your lab notebook, draw a classification tree based on your groupings.

• Take your time! These creatures are very STRANGE!

Your classification tree will look like this...

Your choice

You can choose to use either the dichotomous Tree format (on the left) or the dichotomous list. Pick one…

1a.1b.2a.2b.3a.3b.4a.4c.*** if you need a, b and c, that’s fine.

OR

What should be in your journal?

• Make sure that each grouping in your tree shares something in common!

• Write one phrase in each level explaining the characteristic you used to determine each level.

• Then Reflect…o What characteristics did you

use?o Why did you choose these?o What challenges did you face?

In the discussion board…

• Post your classification Tree or Dichotomous key in the discussion forum.

• Look to see what classification systems your peers made.

• Are their classifications the same as yours? Why or why not?

• What did you learn from this activity?

• What is the most obvious characteristic you could use to divide up your initial pile of critters?

How does this relate to the 5 kingdoms you learned about?

• What types of characteristics do you think scientists used to construct the 5 kingdom classification?

• Could you construct a classification tree that would support the 5 kingdom system? How?