Experiment 1: Classification of Common Objects
1. Did you find that the items grouped together as you worked down the flow chart had similar characteristics in terms of their appearance? What about function?
2. Do you feel that the questions asked were appropriate? What questions would you have asked? What objects would be grouped together with your system?
3. Pick 10 household items (e.g. spoon, book, paper clip, etc.) and design a taxonomic classification system to categorize them.
4. Can you devise a different classification system for the objects used in this experiment that would distinguish each in as many, or fewer steps?
Experiment 2: Classification of Organisms
Questions
1. Did this series of questions correctly organize each organism? Why or why not?
2. What additional questions would you ask to further categorize the items within the kingdoms (hint: think about other organisms in the kingdom and what makes them different than the examples used here)?
3. Do you feel that the questions asked were appropriate? What questions would you have asked?