2/23/15 Starter: Application/Connection: Sports Dichotomous Key Exit: 2/23/15 Practice: Paste Notes here Dichotomous Keys notes Summarize what you learned in the lab. Why do you think a classification system is important? Dichotomous Keys notes
1 Starter 2. Notes 3. Activity February AGENDA B.8A Define taxonomy and recognize the importance of a standardized taxonomic system to the scientific community ELPS. c1C, c1E
Date Lecture/ Activity/ Lab Page 2/12 Ordering Fossils Activity /13 Evidence of Fossils /17 Test Review /19-20 Classification Table of Contents
A dichotomous key is a tool that scientists can use to identify an unknown organism or specimen.
Examples include… insects
trees
rocks
and shells.
The word dichotomous means “divided in means “divided in two parts.”
Characteristics of a Dichotomous Key Dichotomous Key
Consists of a series of two part Consists of a series of two part statements that describe the characteristics of a specimen.
The user is presented The user is presented with two choices.
As the user makes a choice, they are led to a new branch of the key.
In the end, the user is led to the name of the specimen. In the end, the user is led to the name of the specimen.
Constructing a Dichotomous Key
Separate the Separate thespecimens into two groups based on one characteristic.
Example: A deck of playing cards could be separated into black cards and red cards.
Continue to separate the groups until each specimen has its own set of characteristics. Continue to separate the groups until each specimen has its own set of characteristics.
Example: Red cards can be separated into hearts / diamonds, then picture / number cards then male / female cards, etc.
Make the choice a positive one – for example, something “is” instead of “is not.”
Example: 2a.Black card is a spade…….4 2b.Black card is a club……….5 4a.Spade is a picture card…6 4b.Spade is a number card…7 6a.Picture card is male……….8 6b.Picture card is female…..9
Start both choices in a pair with the same word.Start both choices in a pair with the same word.
Example: 2a.Red card is a heart……….4 2b.Red card is a diamond……5
Start the next pairStart the next pair with different words.
Example: 2a.Red card is a heart……….4 2b.Red card is a diamond……5 4a.Heart is picture card…….6 4b.Heart is number card…….7 6a.Picture card is male……….8 6b.Picture card is female……9
There should be one less step than the total number of specimens to be identified.
5/13/13 Starter: Connection/exit: 5/13/13 Practice/Application: Paste Review sheet here when done Dichotomous Keys notes List the five features that describe living things.