How can we tell these aliens apart?
We can classify the aliens by their
characteristics.
Head shape
Body shape
# of eyes
Hair
Antennae
Spot on body
Etc…
Your Challenge
 Your group will be given
20 aliens to classify.
 Choose one general
characteristic to
categorize your aliens
into two large groups.
Ex: has ‘abc’ and does
not have ‘abc’.
 Groups do not have to
have the same number
of aliens in each.
 Record your info on the
chart provided.
Decide as a Group
• After you have completed
•
•
•
•
your two groups, split each
group into two new groups.
Choose one characteristic to
separate the first group.
Choose one characteristic to
separate the second group.
You should have 4 groups
when completed.
Continue splitting each group
until you can no longer split
them into new categories
anymore.
Oh NO! I forgot about these aliens!
Where do they go?
Can you tell me where you would put them in your classification
scheme? Start from the beginning of your chart.
Teacher Notes – by Liz LaRosa
 This is the sample lesson that I used for my job interview – I got the
job! http://www.middleschoolscience.com/aliens.ppt
 This ppt slide was made using the following lesson plan:
http://www.microbeworld.org/resources/experiment/pgs1-6.pdf
 The chart that I made and used for this lesson is located at:
http://www.middleschoolscience.com/aliens.pdf
 Aliens were printed onto card stock and numbered from #1-20 and
placed into plastic zip-top baggies. One set per group of students.
 I chose only 2 of the 4 extra aliens to use at the end of the lesson if
time allowed for the students to classify them.
 The lesson was planned to last at least 45 minutes. I was able to
complete most of the lesson, 60 -75 minutes would have allowed me
to finish the lesson.
 I taught this lesson to a 5th grade class of 18 students.
Tips

Discuss classification for a few minutes and ask students for examples.

Ask students for ways to tell the aliens apart, introduce the word characteristics.

Hand out the alien card sets after you have talked about what their challenge will be.

Have the students do their first sort and walk around the classroom and check on
each table.

Make sure that the categories they have are very clear and specific.

When they are ready, ask for what categories they used. Each group may have
something different and that’s OK.

Practice writing the data into the chart, make sure they understand what they have
to do with their information and the alien cards.

Let the students continue to classify their aliens and monitor each group.

When they are done, ask students for some sample categories.

Choose one of the aliens randomly from the set and ask each group how they
classified that alien from start to finish.

Introduce the aliens you “forgot” and give them a few minutes to figure out how to
classify them. Did they fit? Any problems? Etc…

Have each group clean up by placing the aliens back into the baggies and then thank
them for a great class! The kids really were engaged in this lesson plan, it was great!