Name ____________________________________ Date __________ Class ___________________
SKILLS INTRODUCTION
Classifying
Insects
Can you imagine shopping for a CD in a store that kept
its recordings in a single, huge pile? Chances are youd
take your business to a place that classified CDs into
groups, such as rock, rap, country, and other categories.
Classifying is organizing objects and events into
groups according to a system, or organizing idea. The
most simple type of classification system uses two
groups, one that has a certain property and another
that does not. Other systems may begin with three or
more groups.
First Level
Have
wings
No
wings
Second Level
Wings
fold
over
body
Wings
do not
fold
over
body
No
antennae
Have
antennae
Example 1: Plants With Wood; Plants Without Wood (simplest system
using two groups)
Example 2: Locations at Sea Level, Locations Above Sea Level; Locations
Below Sea Level (three groups based on one idea)
Many classification systems, like the one in the diagram above, have more
than one level. Each of the first-level groups in the system is further classified into
smaller categories based on new organizing ideas.
In science, objects and processes can be classified in different ways. Scientists
choose the system that best suits their purpose. They may classify to organize
objects, such as the chemicals stored in a laboratory. They also classify to help simplify and make sense of the natural world. Good classification systems make
finding information easier. They also help to clarify the relationships among the
things being classified.
Tips for Classifying
Carefully observe the group of objects to be classified. Identify similarities and
differences among the objects.
Choose a characteristic that some of the objects share. Using this characteristic
as the organizing idea, place the objects into groups.
Examine the groups and decide if they can be further classified. Each round of
further classification may need a different organizing idea.
Checkpoint
Develop a classification system for your clothes that has at least
two levels. Write a word or phrase that shows the organizing idea for each grouping.
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Name ____________________________________ Date __________ Class ___________________
SKILLS PRACTICE
Classifying
The 8 rows of illustrations that follow contain 32 animals. (The illustrations are
not drawn to scale.) There are many different ways to classify these animals. As
you try out various organizing ideas, dont be discouraged if you have to revise
some of those ideas.
Use the illustrations to answer the questions on page 19.
1.
Bluebird
Alligator
2.
Chicken
Cow
Earthworm
Eel
Frog
Goose
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QQ
,
Q
,
Q
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QQQ
,,
QQ
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QQQ
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QQQ
,,
QQ
Deer
Duck
,,
QQ
,,,
QQQ
,,,
QQQ
,,
QQ
Q
,
,,,
QQQ
Q,
,,
QQ
,
Q
,
Q
QQ
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,
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,
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,
,
Q
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,
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,
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,
Q
3.
Elephant
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Fly
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Name ____________________________________ Date __________ Class ___________________
Classifying (continued)
4.
,,,,,,
QQQQQQ
,,,,,,
QQQQQQ
,,,
QQQ
,,,
QQQ
Grasshopper
Guppy
Hawk
Jellyfish
5.
Lizard
Monkey
Octopus
Ostrich
Pig
Ray
Robin
Salamander
Salmon
Seal
Shark
Sheep
Tiger
Tortoise
Tuna
Turtle
6.
7.
8.
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Name ____________________________________ Date __________ Class ___________________
Classifying (continued)
Use the illustrations on pages 17 and 18 to answer the following questions. Write your
answers on the back of this page or on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Develop a classification system for the animals that contains just 2 groups.
Give a name to each group, and classify the animals according to this system.
2. Develop a classification system for the animals that uses 35 groups. Give a
name to each group, and classify the animals according to this system.
3. Develop a classification system for the animals that contains 2 levels. You can
use one of your systems from Questions 1 and 2, or develop a new system. Use
a diagram to show all the groups in your system.
4. Classify the animals according to the system that you developed in Question 3.
(Hint: You may want to use a data table to organize your lists.)
5. Suppose that you are designing a zoo. Your goal is to prepare exhibits that will
be easy to maintain. Would you use any of your classification systems from
Questions 14 to plan the zoo? Explain.
6. Think About It Which of the classification systems that you developed in
Questions 14 would help you learn the most new information about animals?
Explain.
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Page 16
