Classification and Taxonomy

We've just gotten into Classification and Taxonomy. You know. Kings play chess on fine glass stools?

I found this activity really made classification levels more apparent. What it did was ask students to take a deck of cards into two colors, then two suits, then values within each color and suit. As the levels of classification got broader, the number of individuals in each got less and less as well.

Photo Credit: Goldie's Room

From this we made taxonomic key using some leaves around the school campus. Our first attempt so naturally there were some questions in the taxonomic process that need refinement, but that's learning!