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Sockmonkey Science

Resources for Elementary and Middle School Science Teachers in Texas and Beyond

Classifying Organisms: Teaching Taxonomic Classification

By the time my students reach sixth grade, they have been practicing classifying objects by physical properties for YEARS. Shape, color, smell, texture, mass, density, magnetism, luster…We actively sort things into categories based on similar characteristics as a means of identification. However, without FAIL, when we begin learning about the classification of life, my students struggle to wrap their brain around the concept. I have been experimenting for several years with ways to increase understanding, and I feel like I have finally made some progress on teaching taxonomic classification.

Need some amazing ideas for teaching adaptations? Look here!

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Academic Vocabulary

The first change I have made is extending this unit of information from three weeks to four weeks, ensuring my students have a firm grasp of the scientific vocabulary . Students must have knowledge of cell structure , methods of reproduction, and acquisition of nutrients to understand the most basic levels of classification- Domains and Kingdoms.

In Texas, 6th grade academics only focus on these two taxa, but I have found it impractical to expect students to understand the bigger picture without at least SOME exposure to the entire system. So while our focus is on the top two levels, our practice activities include learning about the other taxa as well.

Recalling Prior Knowledge

As I mentioned, most students have had some exposure to classifying matter based on physical properties for many years–even if they don’t realize it! During small group discussions, I always start with simple examples of ways we have classified things based on physical properties in the past, like relative density (sink or float?). This allows students to recall prior knowledge and come up with more examples of their own. Then we move into putting more complex groups into a taxonomic system.

For example, instead of immediately attempting to classify life, we first create a simple system to classify our school into different levels, from biggest to smallest group. Level 1 (domain) – Teachers, Staff, and Students. Level 2 (kingdom)  – Subject (Teachers), Grade Levels (Teachers), Position (Staff), Grade Level (Students)… I like to see how far the students get with this before their heads start to explode!

Graphic Organizers

Graphic organizers are extremely useful in helping students attain mastery of taxonomy. We use several during the unit. After trying quite a few different things, I finally think I have gotten the formula right. Here are three organizers I have found the most beneficial.

Taxonomy Pyramid

My students start with the basic, upside-down pyramid organizer early in the first week once we have covered the necessary vocabulary. This allows an introduction to the entire scientific classification system (not just the Domains and Kingdoms). They keep it in their science journal to reference throughout the unit.

It also provides an understanding of how the system works–from largest number of organisms to smallest and from broadest common characteristics to most specific. The version of this graphic organizer I recently created can be found here.

Classification Mobile

I will admit, this is an activity I didn’t plan on doing this year. It was one of those mornings I walked into class and tossed my lesson plan out the door. Lucky for me, because I was blown away by the student output for this activity! I highly recommend trying it out in your classroom. I wrote up the project sheet after the fact so I would have it for next year, but you can get the FREE instructions and rubric here !

All you need are some flashcards and paperclips to create this mobile, and it is way more stimulating than simply copying the information down into boxes! Students must choose an organism, then research the taxonomy, scientific name, and determine the following: eukaryotic or prokaryotic, single- or multi-cellular, autotrophic or heterotrophic, and the method of reproduction.

Faux Dichotomous Key

While I do think sixth grade is a bit too early to introduce a dichotomous key, they are most certainly capable of creating a system of categorization based on similar characteristics.

I use a color coded, mind map style graphic organizer as an example for students to create their own taxonomy. I find having a pre-made worksheet for this activity limits them and forces them to come up with one solution, when that may not be the case. I also tend to swap out the objects occasionally to see what works best, though I think I have finally settled on feathers. Leading me to the next suggestion for…

Feather Taxonomy

The previously mentioned graphic organizer is used to categorize feathers. I don’t know what it is exactly, but the students LOVE the feathers. Heck, I LOVE feathers. At the very least, it is a memorable manipulative to help student retention. I have had students come back from years past and tell me how much this activity helped them understand the concept as they advanced to more complex topics like real dichotomous keys.

The students work in teams of 2-3. Each team gets a random bag of feathers (that is actually carefully curated by me for simultaneous diversity and ease of classification). I show them the example of the faux dichotomous key and explain how to use it. Then they are free to organize the feathers in any logical system.

Bonus tip: You will have a few groups who get it quickly. If they finish too early, challenge them to create a different system.

Once upon a time I was a crafter, so I happened to have a TON of feathers. If you don’t have any, Amazon offers a great selection . Buttons are another fun option for this.

Spectacular Species

I consider this my capstone for the unit. The grand finale! You may notice I do lots of projects…but only because my students have always responded so well to them.

For this particular project, students have “discovered” a new species, and they must document it for the scientific community. The new organism must be illustrated, given a scientific name (binomial nomenclature) and common name, and classified according to the taxonomic system. I encourage students to make sure their creation has SOME characteristics in common with another living thing so they have a basis for researching it’s taxonomy.

You can check out the entire project (and unit of activities!) here in my store.

Taxonomy is difficult to teach the first time students are introduced to the concept, but hopefully these resources and activity ideas will help increase your student comprehension and mastery!

Looking for dichotomous key activities for older students? Try this!

NEXT: Thinking about a class pet? Make sure you’re ready!

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Published by Sockmonkey Science

My name is Mary and I am the mother of two amazing little boys. When I am not changing diapers, I teach elementary science. I have worked at a small charter school for the last five years and been fortunate to be part of a school that is supportive of science education. I will complete my M. Ed. later this year. View all posts by Sockmonkey Science

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The Biology Corner

Biology Teaching Resources

Practice with Taxonomy

Though Next Generation Science Standards does not emphasize the memorizing of major groups anymore, students can benefit from learning the basics of how animals are classified. Taxonomy is often introduced with evolution, where students learn how to analyze phylogenetic trees and create cladograms .

This worksheet is a simple reinforcement exercise that covers the six kingdoms and the classification system developed by Carolus Linnaeus. I teach my students to learn this system with the mnemonic “ K ing P hilip C ame O ver F or G reat S oup” though there are many other versions. Each letter corresponds with a level of classification: Kingdom, Phylym, Class, Order, Family Genus, Species. You can add “darling” to the front of the sentence if you also want to include DOMAIN.

What I’ve found is that students can memorize this sequence, but they struggle with the actual concepts. Many will not be able to explain why there are more individual species within a class than there are within an order. Hierarchies can be difficult. I often uses boxes of varies sizes to show how each level fits into the next one.

My slides for classification are shown below. They are Google slides and can be edited if you make a copy.

Shannan Muskopf

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17 Engaging Taxonomy Activities 

March 10, 2023 //  by  Mike Dave Ayeni

There are millions of new species and organisms living on Earth that have yet to be identified; in addition to the millions of species that already have been! Today, scientists have found ways to classify these organisms, such as the Binomial Nomenclature, according to their similarities and differences. However, putting the suitable organism in the right group can at times, be difficult. We have listed 17 taxonomy activities to help you improve your student’s skills and abilities to classify life!

1. Drag and Drop 

This activity is an easy one that can help you increase your student’s knowledge of the diversity of life. It involves a graphic organizer that allows them to compare and contrast kingdoms. At the end of the activity, they can engage with the open-ended section that allows them to answer more in-depth questions.

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

2. Building a Cladogram

Building a cladogram is perfect if you’re looking for the perfect classification activity for younger biology students! Making your own cladogram is simple with paper and a pen. A line is drawn and animals with related features are put together on the line. A cladogram clearly shows the distinct and similar characteristics of different species.

3. Animal Sorting and Classification 

This enjoyable activity teaches students how to place the correct animal in the correct group easily. Animal sorting and classification also greatly increase little learners’ observation skills and vocabulary!

Learn More: Totschooling

4. Mix and Match Taxonomy Activity

In this activity, students must group different organisms under the correct kingdom. This is an excellent way to increase their speed and accuracy in identifying organisms that belong together. 

Learn More: Amy Brown Science

5. Taxonomy Task Cards

Taxonomy task cards contain directions on how to carry out the different tasks based on a taxonomy that makes learning the classification of life interesting. For example, a child will pick a card that says they should list out what makes a tiger similar to a cat and different from a dog. 

Learn More: Bond with James

6. Classification Maze

A classification maze is a great way to increase your understanding of classifying organisms. Building a classification maze shows how organisms of the same species are related to one another and how they differ from organisms of other species.

Learn More: Pinterest

7. Montessori Animal Classification

This Montessori animal classification activity tasks learners with using cards to differentiate between vertebrates and non-vertebrates. It’s an excellent activity for learning the key concepts surrounding vertebrates and invertebrates.

Learn More: Living Montessori

8. Match the Animal Tracks

In this activity, different footprints are displayed, and the task is to trace the track to the right animal. It is an interesting activity that may seem difficult, but it helps students increase their knowledge of specific animals.  

9. Taxonomy Board Game

Learn about taxonomy and animal kingdoms most engagingly- by utilizing a fun game board. Learners will progress through the board by correctly answering several question cards. 

Learn More: Twinkl

10. Taxonomy Chart

Building a taxonomy chart entails placing the correct organism in its correct taxonomic rank at the level of the group it belongs to.

Learn More: EdrawMax

11. Animal Bingo

The main goal of animal bingo is to have the same clips of animals in the same vertical or horizontal line. It is an interesting classification activity that anyone can engage in. Animals of the same species or with the same characteristics are depicted and arranged in the same line

Learn More: Hungry SciANNtist

12. Crossword Puzzle

Classification crossword puzzles are a fantastic resource for students to learn more about the various organisms present in a group. It also increases their vocabulary about such organisms. 

13. The Jeopardy-Style Taxonomy Game

Introducing a Jeopardy-style review game in the classroom greatly increases student participation and engagement in taxonomy learning. The game contains two sections: one is the question section, and the other is the answer section. Students take a question from the question section and place it in the answer section. 

Learn More: Super Teacher Tools

14. Identifying the Alien

These are excellent, cooperative activities that students can use to learn about taxonomy at a higher level. Sheets of different organisms are displayed, and they must identify the odd ones out. 

15. Mnemonic 

Mnemonics are a great learning technique where students will take the first letter of all the words they want to remember and create a sentence for easy recall. 

Learn More: Woo! Jr.

16. Taxonomy Word Search

This is a great activity for early finishers and those looking for something fun to enjoy at home. The words that must be found are scattered in all directions and may overlap with other words. 

Learn More: WordMint

17. Bloom’s Taxonomy

Bloom’s taxonomy graphically illustrates taxonomy to help students remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, and then apply what is learned in taxonomy. Have students design their own charts to bind learning to memory! 

Learn More: iStock

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Bright in the Middle

Rigorous and Fun Science Activities

7 WOW Ideas to Teach Taxonomy Classification of Living Things

Life Science , Middle School Science , Teaching Living Organisms , WOW Factor Lessons

Do you teach taxonomy classification of living things lessons? This can be a lot of fun, especially if you use the WOW Factor !

The classification of living things is just one of those foundational things that students learn in life science. Our Earth is made up of so many organisms with so much diversity. They must be organized in some way.

What’s cool is that the way that things are organized continues to change.

In this post, I share different ways that you can introduce the taxonomy of living things. Second, I share an interactive lesson that dives in a little deeper into the 8 levels of classifying living things. Finally, I share some WIDEN strategies to help your students expand their knowledge on this topic!

Let’s get started!

Introducing Taxonomy and Classification of Living Things

If you know me and have been following my ultimate list of WOW Factor ideas , you know that I believe in student buy-in and getting them excited about learning a topic. Whether you are introducing a phenomena, having a discussion, or doing an activity, WONDER strategies will help your students become internally motivated to learn. Here are three ideas that you can try! Choose one of more of these taxonomy classification of living things WONDER strategies!

Leaf Collection Phenomena

One of the best practices in science education is introducing phenomena to your students and referring back to it and adjusting ideas as students learn more about the topic. When learning about the classification of living things, you can introduce leaf diversity to your students and pose questions.

• Collect a variety of different leaves from different plant species. Make sure they look different in color, size, texture, etc. If you don’t have access to these leaves, you can print off pictures.
• Set them up on a table or create a display.
• Introduce these leaves to your students. Tell them to examine the leaves closely. Note any unique features. You can have them write down their observations on a piece of paper or in their notebook.
• Ask students questions such as: What do you notice about the leaves? Do you see any similarities or differences? Why do you think there are different shapes and sizes of leaves?
• As students think about these questions, have them to talk with a partner, and then discuss their answers as a class.
• Introduce the idea of classifying living things. Ask students how they would categorize these leaves.

Have you ever heard of the SEEK app by iNaturalist ? It’s an app to identify and explore plants and animals in your area.

Users can point their smartphone or tablet camera at the organism and take a photo. The app attempts to identify the species, and it does a great job.

It also brings up organisms that may be around the area.

In addition, there are challenges to explore. There really is a lot to this app.

• Make sure that students have access to this app, whether it be on their own phone or if the school has tablets you can use.
• Take students outside and let them take pictures of some organisms.
• Once student come back inside, have them to look at each of the species and see what they notice. They’ll see a blurb, a range map, the taxonomy, iNaturalist observations, seasonality, and similar species. They may notice some other things as well!
• Discuss as a class!

Alien Organism Classification

Here’s another activity to get your students excited about the classification of living things. Before learning about that “real-life stuff”. Give them a chance to think about classification in a different way.

• The day before, tell students to create a drawing of an alien. Don’t give them any parameters. It can be whatever they think an alien looks like. Have them to color it too!
• You should have a set of 20-30ish cards, depending on how many students are in your class. If you have multiple classes, you can choose for just one of your classes to do this to save time.
• Make copies and create sets of the “alien cards”.
• Put students into groups and give each group a set of alien cards.
• Tell students to organize them!

After students finish, relate this to how scientists had to do the same thing (organize organisms), but it was on a MUCH larger scale.

You can also print some alien clipart to save time as well!

Students will create their own classification of living things chart (well aliens).

Classification of Living Things Interactive Lesson

I love interactive lessons . They are a great way to dive deeper into a topic and explore phenomena in the beginning stages. Interactive lessons are designed to help students learn the content using the 7steps to help students retain information and reduce overwhelm by reducing cognitive load.

Inside the lesson, there is middle school level content with embedded activities that students can work through to help them process the content. They are a lot of fun, and students love them (and teachers too!).

In this Classification of Living Things Interactive Lesson , students learn about the characteristics of living things, taxonomy, the 8 levels of classifying organisms: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species, and an example of classifying a lion. There is so much more included as well.

Inside of the content, there are embedded questions and activities including a KWL, drag-and-drop activities, exploring resources online, creating a classification of living things mnemonic, and much more!

You can find this resource in the Bright in the Middle Shop .

You can also find this on TPT !

Taxonomy Classification of Living Things WIDEN Activities

WIDENing student knowledge is important to go above and beyond state standards as well as just continuing to explore phenomena and adjust ideas as needed. Here are three ideas that you can try with your students. You can choose do one, two, or all three!

Skip the worksheet on classification of living things and try these!

Classification and Organism of Their Choice

Inside of the interactive lesson , there is an opportunity for students to pick an organism of their choice and classify it.

You can take it a step further.

Students can choose the same organism, or choose another one. Maybe they can choose their favorite celebrity’s favorite animal! Supposedly Taylor Swift’s favorite animal is cats!

• Once students have chosen a favorite animal, they can look up its taxonomy.
• From there, students can create a poster (can just be computer-sized paper) that represents the 8 levels of classification of that organism.
• Have students present to the class or you can display these pieces of scientific artwork in your classroom!

Learn about Dichotomous Keys

Maybe you want to explore dichotomous keys?

You can show your students this Amoeba Sisters video of Dichotomous Keys .

Here’s a fun lesson to explore by the National Park Service.

Classification of Mystery Organism

If you are looking for a lab activity to go with this lesson, here’s a good one. Students will classify “mystery” organisms into taxonomic group based on their share characteristics.

Do a classification of living things quick check and begin!

You will need: different organisms like insects, leaves, shells, etc. (or probably just pictures of them), microscopes, and hand lens. The organisms should have distinct characteristics.

• Provide students with a set of mystery organisms.
• Tell students to carefully observe each mystery organism and record their observations. Tell them to provide details such as shape, number of legs, patterns, color, or and other unique characteristics.
• After collecting observations and data, ask students to classify them. They can work in their groups to decide on classification criteria. They should use the 8 levels of classification system.
• After they believe they have the correct categories, discuss it as a class. You can also have students present their findings.

Which classification of living things assignment is right for your classroom?

Help your students master science content!

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