Whilst keys are most commonly used in the field of biology for identifying organisms, students can practice the concept of keys with a variety of objects. You may find it useful to use familiar examples in the first instance, before moving on to identifying unfamiliar objects/organisms. Introduce a simple dichotomous key for pupils to use. They then follow the corresponding path to the next set of statements until they reach an identification. The user must choose which statement in the pair best describes the object or organism. Dichotomous keys consist of a series of pairs of statements (couplets) or questions, each of which describes a characteristic of the object or organism being identified. Provide examples of dichotomous keys and discuss how they are structured.
They should understand that that animals and plants are grouped according to their observable features. Before you startīefore you start, it’s important that students have been introduced to the concept of classification in science.
#Dichotomous key biology how to#
This blog post looks at how to introduce and use dichotomous keys successfully in your science lessons with upper elementary or primary (Key Stage 2) children. They also develop critical thinking skills. By breaking down the characteristics of different species, students understand the process of identifying unknown animals and plants. Teaching dichotomous keys in science lessons can be a fun and engaging way to re-introduce students to the concept of taxonomy and identification.
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