Our science unit this trimester is based in Life Science. Currently, students are learning about how life is classified.  To kick off this learning, the class worked on it’s own classification system by grouping animals by their similarities.  Students took turns placing animals on the board – closer to animals with more shared characteristics, and farther from animals that were different.  It was quite a challenge, and there were a lot of disagreements (as scientists in the field will attest to!), but the students supported their ideas with lots of evidence!

After spending time on our system, we began learning about the classification and taxonomy system widely agreed upon and used today for animals. Students are taking the same animals we used for the original activity and walking them through the process of identifying their Kingdom (animalia) – Phylum- Class- Order- Family – Genus- Species.  Be ready to have your animal knowledge tested at our trimester 3 celebration!