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Final Attachment 1 - Making A Dichotomous Key

The document provides step-by-step instructions for creating a dichotomous key: 1) Display pictures of organisms and have students identify characteristics to divide them into two groups 2) Continue dividing pictures into two new groups based on additional characteristics until only one organism remains 3) Repeat steps for other organisms until all are identified and the branching key is complete 4) Add numbers to the branches to create a written key identifying organisms based on their characteristics.

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143 views

Final Attachment 1 - Making A Dichotomous Key

The document provides step-by-step instructions for creating a dichotomous key: 1) Display pictures of organisms and have students identify characteristics to divide them into two groups 2) Continue dividing pictures into two new groups based on additional characteristics until only one organism remains 3) Repeat steps for other organisms until all are identified and the branching key is complete 4) Add numbers to the branches to create a written key identifying organisms based on their characteristics.

Uploaded by

ega
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Attachment 1, “Classification 1: Making a Dichotomous

Key”
Step-by-step directions to making a dichotomous key
1. Display ten pictures of different plants and animals that are as detailed as possible and that show
the complete organism, rather than just a partial or head shot. Ask students to pick a characteristic that
could divide the displayed organisms into two groups. The characteristic should be easily observed in
the picture, not a type of behavior. The two choices for groups should be opposites. For example:
“scales or no scales,” rather than “scales or feathers.” Physically divide the pictures into the two groups,
based on that characteristic, and draw the “branch” for that part of the key.

Scales No Scales

2. Choose the pictures from one side of the branch (for example: all organisms that have scales.) Ask
students to pick a characteristic that divides the organisms in that group into an additional two groups.
Physically divide the pictures into the two groups based on the new characteristic and draw the
“branch” for that part of the key.

Scales No Scales

Legs No Legs

3. Continue down one side of the branching key until only one organism remains. Enter the name of
the organism when down to the final thing.

Scales No Scales

Legs No Legs (Bull Snake)

Shell (Turtle) No Shell (Lizard)


4. Follow the same procedure on the other side of the “branching key.” The Key is complete when
all organisms have been identified.

Scales No Scales

Legs No Legs Feathers No Feathers


(Bull Snake) (Elephant)

Shell No Shell White Head No White Head


(Turtle) (Lizard) (Bald Eagle) (Robin)

5. Add numbers to the branching key by putting a number at the juncture of any choice of
characteristics, in order to get the information needed to complete the written part of the
key.

Scales 1 No Scales

Legs 2 No Legs Feathers 4 No Feathers


(Bull Snake) (Elephant)

Shell 3 No Shell White Head 5 No White Head


(Turtle) (Lizard) (Bald Eagle) (Robin)
6. Create the written key by following the numbers put beside each characteristic. Key is complete
when all organisms have been identified.

1. Scales ………………………………..Go to 2
No scales……………………………. Go to 4

2. Legs…………………………………..Go to 3
No Legs………………………………Bull
Snake

3. Shell ………………………………… Turtle


No Shell…………………………….. Lizard

4. Feathers………………………………Go to 5
No
feathers…………………………..Elephant

5. White Head………………………….. Bald Eagle


No White Head……………………… Robin

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