Classification &
Dichotomous Key
Goals:
I can list the taxonomic classification
levels in order
I can recognize a properly written
scientific name
 I can use a dichotomous key to classify
and name organisms
8 Major Categories of Classification
• Species is the most specific
Dear
King
Phillip
Came
Over
For
Good
Soup
6th Grade Review
6.12C Recognize that the broadest taxonomic
classification of living organisms is divided
into currently recognized Domains
• All living things are classified into taxonomic
groups: the largest and broadest umbrella is
the domain
• The 3 Domains for the Taxonomic
Classification of Living Things are as follows:
– Archaea – live in extreme environments, onecelled critters = unicellular
– Bacteria – most are decomposers, some cause
disease (also called Eubacteria)
– Eukaryota – protists, fungi, plants & animals
6th Grade Review
6.12D Identify the basic characteristics of organisms, including
prokaryotic or eukaryotic, unicellular or multicellular, autotrophic
or heterotrophic, and mode of reproduction that further classify
them in the currently recognized Kingdoms
• There are currently 6 kingdoms – organisms are placed into the
kingdoms based on the number and type of cells they have, and
their nutritional needs.
• The 6 Kingdoms of living things (some are unicellular and/or
multicellular) are as follows:




Archaebacteria – unicellular, prokaryotic
Eubacteria – unicellular, prokaryotic
Fungi – unicellular or multicellular (heterotrophic) and eukaryotic
Protists – unicellular or multicellular (autotrophic, heterotrophic)
and eukaryotic
 Plants – multicellular (autotrophic) and eukaryotic
 Animals – multicellular (heterotrophic) and eukaryotic
• Plant cells are termed autotrophic – plants are producers: make
their own food through photosynthesis
• Animal cells are heterotrophic-animals are consumers
Taxonomy Classification
• Taxonomy – the science of classifying (naming) organisms
• Binomial Nomenclature
– developed by Carolus Linnaeus
– 2-word naming system (genus and species)
• Examples:
–
–
–
–
–
Felis concolor (mountain lion)
Ursus arctos (brown bear)
Homo sapiens (humans)
Panthera leo (lion)
Panthera tigris (tiger)
• Recognize and properly write a scientific name: Homo sapiens, or
Homo sapiens, or H. sapiens
–
–
–
–
–
1st word is Capitalized –Genus
2nd word is lowercase —species
Underline
Italicize
Abbreviate the genus (first name) (P. tigris or P. leo)
Dichotomous Key
• Use a dichotomous key to identify or to
distinguish one type of organism or object from
another. (2 choices – yes/no for each trait)
• The branches can show who is most closely
related to whom.
Shoe Dichotomous Key
1.
1a
a. This shoe covers the toes
completely……………..…go to 2
b. This shoe does NOT cover the toes
completely………………..go to 3
1b
Shoe Dichotomous Key
1.
a. This shoe covers the toes
completely……go to 2
b. This shoe does NOT cover the toes
completely……go to 3
1a
1b
Shoe Dichotomous Key
2.
a. This shoe is black and white……go to 4
b. This shoe has color……………….…Shoe dill
2a
2b
Shoe Dichotomous Key
2.
a. This shoe is black and white……go to 4
b. This shoe has color……………….…Shoe dill
2a
2b
Shoe Dichotomous Key
3.
a. This shoe is flat……………Shoe march
b. This shoe is NOT flat……Shoe helvey
3a
3b
Shoe Dichotomous Key
3.
a. This shoe is flat……………Shoe march
b. This shoe is NOT flat……Shoe helvey
3a
3b
Shoe Dichotomous Key
4.
a. This shoe covers the ankle……Shoe Kiser
b. This shoe does NOT cover the ankle…Shoe
Jones
4a
4b
Shoe Dichotomous Key
4.
a. This shoe covers the ankle……Shoe Kiser
b. This shoe does NOT cover the ankle…Shoe
Jones
4a
4b
Dichotomous Key Activities
A
Lady Bug Dichotomous Key
B
1. a. If the lady bug has feather like
antennas….go to 2
b. If the lady bug has knob antennas…..go to 4
2. a. Spotted wings present…… Ladea ashley
b. Solid wings present……….. go to 3
C
3. a. Has six legs…………………………..Ladea kaley
b. Has 4 legs…………………………...Ladea jessica
4. a. Solid abdomen present…. Ladea elena
b. Stripes on abdomen………go to 5
5. a. Spotted wings……Ladea rachel
b. Solid wings……..…Ladea allison
D
E
F
Leaf Dichotomous Key
1. a. If the leaf has many smaller leaves on it, called
leaflets…….go to 2
b. If the leaf does NOT have any leaflets…..go to 3
2. a. If the leaflets are rounded…… Robinia
pseudoacacia
b. If the leaflets are pointed……. Fraxinus
pennsylvanica
3. a. If leaf veins are singular…………………………..go to 4
b. If the leaf veins have multiple branches….go to 5
4. a. If the leaf edges are pointed …. Castanea
dentata
b. If the leaf edges are rounded …Quercus stellata
5. a. If leaf is fat and round…Populus tremuloides
b. If the leaf is shaped like a hand …Acer
saccharinum
A
Alien Dichotomous Key
B
1. a. Alien with antennae………………….go to 2
b. Alien with without hair..…..go to 3
2. a. Alien with mouth……………….Alienus
robert
b. Alien without mouth…………Alienus
george
3. a. Alien with 2 eyes …… Alienus jack
b. Alien with 3 eyes……. go to 4
4. a. Alien with splatter chest…. Alienus sam
b. Alien without splatter…Alienus bob
C
D
E
Taxonomic Classification & Scientific Names
1. Come up with your own way to remember the 8 major
categories of classification in order. (Explain it.)
2. Explain 3 ways of writing a scientific name for an
organism. (Be specific)
3. What is the most diverse taxonomic level?
4. What is the most specific taxonomic level?
5. Explain which organisms (A-D) are the closest related?
Explain.
6. Which organism (A-D) is least like the others? Explain.
7. List the current domains of taxonomic classification.
8. List the current kingdoms of taxonomic classification.
A
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum/
Division
Chordata
B
C
D
Animalia
Animalia
Animalia
Chordata
Chordata
Chordata
Class
Mammalia Mammalia Mammalia Aves
Order
Primate
Family
Homindae Felidae
Felidae
Anatidae
Genus
Homo
Panthera
Panthera
Anas
Species
sapiens
leo
tigris
acuta
Carnivora
Carnivora Anseriformes
Answer Key
Lady Bug Dichotomous Key
1. a. If the lady bug has feather like
antennas….go to 2
b. If the lady bug has knob antennas…..go to 4
2. a. Spotted wings present…… Ladea ashley
b. Solid wings present……….. go to 3
A
B
F
C
E
b. Has 4 legs…………………………...Ladea jessica C
3. a. Has six legs…………………………..Ladea kaley
4. a. Solid abdomen present…. Ladea elena
b. Stripes on abdomen………go to 5
A
b. Solid wings……..…Ladea allison B
5. a. Spotted wings……Ladea rachel
D
D
E
F
Leaf Dichotomous Key
1. a. If the leaf has many smaller leaves on it, called
leaflets…….go to 2
b. If the leaf does NOT have any leaflets…..go to 3
2. a. If the leaflets are rounded…… Robinia
pseudoacacia
D
b. If the leaflets are pointed……. Fraxinus
pennsylvanica
C
3. a. If leaf veins are singular…………………………..go to 4
b. If the leaf veins have multiple branches….go to 5
4. a. If the leaf edges are pointed …. Castanea
dentata
E
b. If the leaf edges are rounded …Quercus stellata
5. a. If leaf is fat and round…Populus tremuloides
b. If the leaf is shaped like a hand …Acer
saccharinum
F
B
A
Alien Dichotomous Key
A
1. a. Alien with antennae ………………….go to 2
b. Alien with without hair..…..go to 3
B
2. a. Alien with mouth……………….Alienus
E
robert
b. Alien without mouth…………Alienus
george
C
C
3. a. Alien with 2 eyes …… Alienus jack
b. Alien with 3 eyes……. go to 4
D
B
E
4. a. Alien with splatter chest…. Alienus sam
b. Alien without splatter…Alienus bob
A
D
Taxonomic Classification & Scientific Names
1. Come up with your own way to remember the 8 major categories
of classification in order. (Explain it.) answers vary Explain (domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species)
2. Explain 3 ways of writing a scientific name for an organism. (Be
specific) italicized, underline, abbreviate the genus and write out
the species – in all the 1st letter of the genus is capitalized and
nothing else
3. What is the most diverse taxonomic level? domain
4. What is the most specific taxonomic level? species
5. Explain which organisms (A-D) are the closest related? Explain. B
and C – they share the same genus
6. Which organism (A-D) is least like the others? Explain. D, all the
others share the same class
7. List the current domains of taxonomic classification. Archaea,
Bacteria, Eukaryota
8. List the current kingdoms of taxonomic classification.
Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Fungi, Protists, Plants, Animals
A
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum/
Division
Chordata
B
C
D
Animalia
Animalia
Animalia
Chordata
Chordata
Chordata
Class
Mammalia Mammalia Mammalia Aves
Order
Primate
Family
Homindae Felidae
Felidae
Anatidae
Genus
Homo
Panthera
Panthera
Anas
Species
sapiens
leo
tigris
acuta
Carnivora
Carnivora Anseriformes
Try Making your own Dichotomous
Key
• You can use objects in the room or draw your
own pictures.
• Use at least 6 objects.