Modified from mrdocsonlinelab.com
Name: _________________________ Period: __________ Date: __________
LAB: Kingdom of Candy
Objective: The purpose of this lab is to better understand how living organisms are classified
Instructions: You are to construct an identification key and a dichotomous key for “The Kingdom of Candy.” Read the
background information then follow the procedures that follow.
Background:
Classification is the process of grouping objects or information based on similarities. The system of biological
classification was invented by Carlous Linnaeus. This system, called binomial nomenclature, is based on
evolutionary relationships between different species. All species are divided into several taxonomic categories.
IN order from most general to most specific, the categories are Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family,
Genus, & Species. A species’ name is base biological name consists of the genus (capitalized) followed by the
species (lowercase) and are typed in italics. (EXAMPLES: Humans are Homo sapiens and Lynx are Lynx rufus.)
Biological names are in Latin because Latin is a dead language and does not undergo changes like other
languages.
A dichotomous key is a series of paired questions that refer to structural features. The answer to each question
leads the reader to a different pair of questions each time until a definite classification can be made. The
questions are designed to continually separate the subjects based on their structural differences.
Materials:
1 Set of Candy (10 Species)
1 Dichotomous Key Template (Attached)
1 Identification Chart Template (Attached)
Procedure:
1.
Obtain a set of candy containing 10 different pieces. Each piece will be treated as a separate species.
2.
Sort the candy in related groups based on structural similarities. (EXAMPLES: Made with chocolate and
not. Fruit flavored and not. Chewy and hard.)
3.
Construct an identification key for the candy. Draw a detailed picture of each piece.
4.
Name each “species” of candy with a biological name. (HINT: The names should be 2 words (a genus
and a species) and should “sound” Latin.)
5.
Construct a dichotomous key to identify each “species” of candy. (The first question has already been
written for you.)
6.
Test your dichotomous key to make sure that it works.
7.
Have another group test your dichotomous key and identification key to make sure it works.
(Initials of “Check Team” Members: _______________
_______________)
Grade: _____/10
Modified from mrdocsonlinelab.com
Name: _________________________ Period: __________ Date: __________
Identification Chart Template
(Draw each “species” of candy in an individual and put its “biological name” in the box below it.)
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Grade: _____/10
Modified from mrdocsonlinelab.com
Name: _________________________ Period: __________ Date: __________
Dichotomous Key Template
(Write the question pairs in the boxes to the left and the corresponding direction to the right. USE PENCIL!!!)
1.
Candy is made with chocolate.
…go to # 2.
Candy is NOT made of chocolate.
…go to # _____.
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Grade: _____/10