Mitchell 1
Lesson Plan: Binomial Nomenclature
David B. Mitchell
Binomial Nomenclature Lesson Plan
Terminal Objective:
Students will describe in writing the difference between genus and species.
Language Objective:
Listening & Speaking ELL V Delivery of Oral Communication 14. Explain, argue, or defend scientific or historical
conclusions, theories, and ideas.
Curriculum Standard:
Strand 4 Concept 4 PO 6: Analyze, using a biological classification system (i.e. cladistics, phylogeny, morphology, DNA
analysis), the degree of relatedness among various species.
Time / Bloom’s / Sub-objectives / Teaching Strategies / Active Student Participation5 min. / Comprehension / 1. Recognize that common names for living things are problematic. / 1. Bellwork: Students will try to answer the puzzler. / - Each student will write down what they think the answer to the bellwork might be.
- Non-volunteers will be called on to share answers.
10 min. / Knowledge / 2. Recall why we need a system of classification and the history of the system. / 2. Prior Knowledge: We will discuss concepts we already covered such as why we need a classification system and who popularized it. / - Students will highlight/mark the concepts that are from the notes they previously took.
Intermittent Closure: In a short paragraph students will summarize what we have learned about the system of classification.
12 min. / Application / 3. Discuss in writing the specific mechanics of the binomial nomenclature and be able to describe the different parts of a species name. / 3. Lecture: Direct instruction from a PowerPoint discussing binomial nomenclature, scientific names, and the mechanics of using them. / - Students will take notes during the binomial nomenclature lecture.
Int. Closure: We will label/diagram the genus and specific name of 4 different species.
15 min. / Synthesis / 4. Given 5 items, students will write their own species names for each of the items and provide a defense for their decision. / 4. Activity: We will complete a mini-lab on scientific names. / - In groups of 2-3, students will provide “scientific names” for various types of candy. The names can be made up but students will be provided with a list of terms they might want to use as well as having access to a root word dictionary. After naming the candy, the students will provide justification for the names they chose.
8 min. / Evaluation / 5. Describe in writing the difference between genus and species. / 5. Final closure: We will summarize what we learned and complete an exit slip. / - Students will use their own piece of paper and will identify the genus and specific name of two species and describe how genus and species differ.
HW: Read chapter 18-1 pages 446 to 449
Materials:
PowerPoint (includes bellwork, review, direct instruction material, and exit slip instructions)
“Scientific Names”: Candy Classification lab
7-10 types of candy such as Swedish Fish, Sour Patch Kids, Snickers, Milky Way, 3 Musketeers, M&Ms, Skittles, and Kit Kats
Example scientific names handout
“Scientific Names”: Candy Classification
As we have learned, there are two parts to an organism’s name: the genus and the specific name. This is known as binomial nomenclature and we have Linnaeus to thank its popularity. As we’ve also discussed, the Linnaean system of classification only applies to living things. However, for this class period we are going to work with non-living things: CANDY!
In groups of 2-3 you will name 5 of the various types of candy based on their characteristics. In reality species names are derived from Latin but for this lab we will be making up our own genera (plural for genus) and specific name in addition to using some suggestions that Mr. Mitchell provides.
Complete the table with your group:
Candy (Common name) / “Scientific name” (Genus species) / JustificationExamples of made-up terms you may want to use in your “scientific names”:
Characteristic / Possible nameChocolate / chocolatus, chocolaty, chocolata, chocolatos
Gummy/Chewy / gummyo, gummia, gummybis, chewia, chewus
Crunchy / crunchikus, chrunchia, crunche
Contains nuts / nuttia, nutterus
Contains caramel / caramelia, caramelos
Examples of Latin and Greek names you can modify or include are on the board.
Latin/Greek word / Meaningamericana / from America
brevis / short
canadensis / from Canadian
chinensis / from China
chroma / color
dulcis, glycys / sweet
edulis / edible
gigantea / giant
grandis, macro, magna, mega / large
maxima / biggest
mega / large
mexicana / from Mexico
minima or micro / small
minor / smaller
nanos / dwarf
versicolor / many-colored
viscosa / sticky
vulgaris / common