Classification keys | Science | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

Which features do these living things have in common?
- They are all animals.
- They are all green. ✓
- They are all mammals.
- They are all parts of plants. ✓
- They are all types of leaves. ✓
In which groups can a lizard, a swan and a deer belong to?
- birds
- non-living things
- living things ✓
- plants
- animals ✓
Match the animals to the correct animal group.
- mammal
  
  ⇔
  
  cow ✓
- amphibian
  
  ⇔
  
  frog ✓
- reptile
  
  ⇔
  
  snake ✓
- fish
  
  ⇔
  
  shark ✓
- bird
  
  ⇔
  
  penguin ✓
Which of these are observable characteristics of a tree?
- How big it is. ✓
- What it needs to grow.
- How old it is.
- The colour of its leaves. ✓
- The shape of its leaves. ✓
What is it called when we sort objects or living things into groups?
- multiplication
- naming
- mixing
- identifying
- classification ✓
How might a scientist record objects they have classified?
- A list of equipment.
- A Venn diagram. ✓
- A prediction.
- A Carroll diagram. ✓

Exit quiz

Which groups could the object in the image below belong to?
- cars ✓
- has wheels ✓
- bicycles
- red ✓
- opaque windows
Objects can be classified based on their similarities and ______.
- 'differences.' ✓
What kind of diagram is this?
- Venn diagram
- sorting hoop
- classification key ✓
- Carroll diagram
The yes/no questions in a classification key are layered, each answer leads to a new ______.
- ' question' ✓
Scientists use classification keys based on an object's ______ characteristics.
- 'observable' ✓
Look at the classification key, which group does a teddy bear standing up, that has dark brown fur, belong to?
- Izzy's bears ✓
- Aisha's bears
- Neither group

Worksheet

Presentation

Video

Lesson Details

Key learning points

Objects can be classified based on their similarities and differences.
You can use a classification key to help decide which group something belongs to.
The questions on a classification key are layered, each answer leads to a new question.
Scientists use observable characteristics to identify unknown objects through a series of yes/no questions.
Scientists use classification keys based on observable characteristics.

Common misconception

Children may ask questions that don't have a yes or no answer.

Keep reminding the children that their questions need to have a yes/no answer and that this is how a classification key works to help us to group and identify unknown objects.

Keywords

Group - To group things is to put similar things together.
Classification key - Classification keys are diagrams which help us identify objects using yes/no questions.
Identify - To identify something is to be able to name it correctly.
Yes/no questions - A yes/no question is a type of sentence that asks something and is answered with only yes or no.
Observable characteristics - An observable characteristic is a feature or property of something that we can see or use our other senses to observe.