Classification Webquest

Surveying Animalia Attributes

What makes a worm a worm?  Why isn’t a ringworm a worm? Is a sponge an animal? All of these questions can be answered through taxonomy, the science of naming and classifying organisms. Taxonomy arranges organisms into groups based on similarities.  The most inclusive level in the taxonomic hierarchy is a kingdom which can be subdivided into phyla.  The phyla can in turn be separated into smaller groups called classes. A class can be subdivided into families and a family into genuses.  A genus can be split into smaller groups called species. 

Purpose

In this webquest you will explore the classification system currently used to sort and categorize living organisms. You will focus on the kingdom Animalia and its diverse set of members as you explore the various levels at which organisms can be classified. You will be assigned a specific organism to investigate as you explore the classification system. 

Materials

computer with internet access and power point capabilities	blank summary chart
data disk	Blank identification card
preserved sample of your assigned organism
Safety Alert 1. Parental approval for internet access must be on file in order to use the internet. 2. School policy for internet use must be followed at all times during this activity.

 

 

 

 

Procedure

Part 1: Understanding classification

1. Visit the following websites to answer the questions 1-4 on Part 1 of your student answer page:

       a. http://anthro.palomar.edu/animal/animal_1.htm

             a.                  a.     http://www.seaworld.org/just-for-teachers/guides/diversity-of-life/animalia.html

             b.                  b.     http://www.sidwell.edu/us/science/vlb5/Labs/Classification_Lab/classification_lab.html

             c.                  c.     http://www.hrw.com/science/onlinese/modbio/pdfs/hm2ne1092.pdf

             d.                  d.     http://jrscience.wcp.muohio.edu/lab/TaxonomyLab.html

             e.                  e.     http://web.bio.utk.edu/guffey/Biodiversitysite/Taxonomy/Taxonomy.html

               f.                    f.     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suborder

 

   2.      2.   Research sites such as these to determine the traits used to separate organisms into kingdoms.  Use the information to complete item 5 on the student answer page.

http://www.sidwell.edu/us/science/vlb5/Labs/Classification_Lab/classification_lab.html#background

http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artmay98/classif.html

Part II: Classifying a Specific Organism

3.  Obtain the name of an organism to classify from your teacher.

   4.      4.   Use the following websites to locate the information needed to fill out Data Table 1 based on your assigned organism. In addition to these sites, it may be necessary to perform a keyword search in order to locate the class, order, family, genus and species names.

             a.                  a.     http://www.sidwell.edu/us/science/vlb5/Labs/Classification_Lab/Eukarya/Animalia/

             b.                  b.     http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/zoolab/Table_of_Contents/table_of_contents.htm

             c.                  c.     http://cas.bellarmine.edu/tietjen/images/general_overview_of_animal_phyla.htm

 

 

Part III: Preparing an Identification Card

   5.      5.   Fill out an identification card on your organism.  Write clearly so that others may read your writing. 

   6.      6.   Submit your card to your teacher for approval. 

Part IV: Survey Lab

   7.      7.   Once the information on your card is approved, place the card by the corresponding preserved specimen.

   8.      8.   Rotate through the labeled specimens as directed by your teacher.

   9.      9.   Use the information provided on the information cards completed by the other groups in the class to complete the summary chart.

10.   10.   Complete the conclusion questions on the student answer page.