Dichotomous Classification Keys: Science Students Love Them!

Dichotomous classification keys are often used in field guides to help the user quickly and easily identify trees, flowers, insects, frogs, etc.  They are also a very effective teaching tool in our science classrooms.  They can be used to teach scientific terms and characteristics of any type of living organism.  But I think one of the most important uses in our classroom is the fact that they reinforce observation skills, and strengthen problem solving and critical thinking in our students.

I receive many requests for classification keys on different topics.  Over the years, I have developed quite a few activities that use the dichotomous classification key.  

My newest is called "Dichotomous Key to the Genus Smiley."  In this simple key, students first learn how to use a dichotomous key.  But the best part of this activity is that students are also required to develop their own dichotomous key to key out 6 different insects.  This requires a higher level of thinking and problem solving that provides excellent practice of these skills for our students.

Dichotomous Key to the Genus "Smiley"

Additional products that use the dichotomous classification key are:

Dichotomous Key to a CRAZY Animal Kindgom

Freebie!  This is one of my favorites: Dichotomous Key to Holiday Giving and Community Service

Let's Build a Cladogram!

Let's Learn to Use and Build a Dichotomous Key!

Lab: Use of Dichotomous Key in Classification

Click here to view all of my classification/taxonomy products.

Matter and Change Task Cards

Provide great review and reinforcement using these "Matter and Change" task cards!

I freely admit that I am relatively new to the development and use of task cards for my high school classes.  But in the last year, I have become a convert and a die-hard fan.  I have used many review and reinforcement techniques when teaching my students and preparing them for a final assessment, but for some reason, my students have really taken to the use of these task cards.  My favorite method of use is to set up stations in the lab and have the students rotate through the stations.  My kids like this method, mostly because of the physical nature of the activity.  They have to sit in a desk all day long, so my students are very happy when I allow them to be up and moving about the room.

Another reason I think this technique is so successful is that each card has only one task or question.  For students who quickly become overwhelmed by TMI (too much information), the task cards are manageable and very goal oriented.

This particular set of task cards covers the topic of "Matter and Change" and are currently being used by the physical science and chemistry classes at my school.  The cards cover the following:

There is a varying range of difficulty in the set of 64 cards. For our physical science classes, we pulled out and used the easier task cards, and for our chemistry classes, we included the more difficult cards.  By picking and choosing, we are able to create the perfect and most appropriate review for any given class of students.










Preparation time is a minimum.  The task cards are printed 4 to a page. Simply print, cut the cards apart, laminate the cards, and you are ready to go.  I like knowing that I will be able to use the same cards year after year.

We are now nearing the end of our first grading period and we have a 9-week exam coming up.  I love having multiple sets of task cards on all the different topics for review purposes.  I keep them stored in plastic boxes and have the students select the set they feel they need to review the most.  I also provide before and after school tutoring sessions.  Task cards are fabulous for tutoring!

Click on any of the photos/pictures above to see the listing for these task cards in my TeachersPayTeachers.com store.

Task cards on other topics can be viewed by clicking this link.

I hope you are having a great school year!

Need Help with Organization? Try "The Ultimate Science Teacher Binder!"

An organized teacher is a happy teacher!

I have learned so many things in my 30 years of teaching, but probably the most important lesson has been in the area of organization.  A school day for a teacher is a harried and frenzied day under the best of circumstances.  From the moment we enter the school house door, we are bombarded with questions, requests, emails, phone call messages, announcements over the PA system, upset children, happy children, sick children, overly excited children, meetings, more meetings, IEP's, notes from parents, and let's not forget the GAZILLION papers that cross our desk in the course of just one day!!  Oh yeah, we also have to teach the students something, don't we?  So let's not forget the lesson planning, the xeroxing of materials, the studying we must do to be prepared, the incorporation of Common Core standards into the lesson, the designing and setup of the lab activity, the re-teaching, the differentiation of the lesson to meet the needs of each individual student ........ and many in the public community think we are overpaid!!

It is a wonder we survive the day!! Early on in my teaching career I realized that if I was not highly organized each and every day, I would never survive in this profession. I had two things going for me already..... I LOVE kids, and I LOVE biology and chemistry.  But, as a kid right out of college, I did struggle a bit with organization.  Now fast forward thirty years later .... Every single aspect of my day is super organized and planned.  Now when the unexpected happens during the day (which happens every single day, right?) it is not a total disruption.  If I am organized then the disruptions are just minor ripples in the day that do not turn into catastrophes.

I continue to learn more organizational techniques each day, and am constantly looking for ways to make my school day run more efficiently.  I have attempted to pass along my experience and organizational techniques along to you in my "Ultimate Binder for Science Teachers."

The "Ultimate Binder for Science Teachers" is packed full of forms, tables, organizers, and calendars to help you get organized and stay organized.  There are over 100 pages included in this product.  The pages look best when printed in color, but look fantastic if printed in black and white.  Use these pages to start your teacher binder, or you can add these pages to your already existing binder.

All forms are completely editable!!  You can print them out and write on them, or you can type on them before printing.  I have included the Word documents so that you can edit them to meet your specific needs.














I use a binder like this every day.  I love a little fun/color on each page for my own entertainment.  Pages are colorful, attractive and include science-themed clipart.

The binder will last you your entire teaching career.  Reprint pages each year to include new students, new plans, etc.

Benefits Include:

• No need to spend money buying a new teacher binder from the office supply store each year.
• Use this binder year after year.
• Simply reprint the pages you need for the next year.
• Only print out the pages you need.
• Print in color or in black/white.
• Completely editable:  Make it the perfect binder for YOU!
• Includes Word documents:  Write on them or type on them.
• Calendars will be updated each year.  You download the updates for free.
• Each form is accompanied by a “Read Me!” document that explains how you can best use the form.

What is included in this Science Teacher Binder?

I have divided all of the pages in this product into the following categories.  Under each heading is a list of forms and pages that are included.

Forms Related to Science Teaching:

•  Lab Inventory Form – 2 versions
•  I Need to Order these Lab Supplies for Next Year!
•  Purchase Order Form
•  My Favorite Labs – 2 versions
•  Lab Safety Contract
•  Lab Station Assignments
•  Lab Fee Payment
•  Lab Manual Payment

Calendars:
•  My Year At A Glance
•  My Month At A Glance
•  My Week At A Glance – 2 versions
•  Monthly Calendars With Important Dates in Science History

Grading and Lesson Planning:
•  Unit Plan Organizer
•  Lesson Planning Grids – 3 Versions
•  Grade Recording Sheets

Meetings:
•  Professional Learning Community (PLC) Minutes – 3 versions
•  Faculty Meeting Notes
•  Science Department Meetings

Getting Organized:
•  Textbooks
•  Student Rosters
•  Locker Assignments – 2 versions
•  Parent Contact Logs
•  Student Information Form

•  Final Failure List
•  Exam Exemption List
•  College Recommendation Forms
•  Interactive Seating Charts – 2 versions.  You can move and edit the seats to look just like your classroom set up.
•  My To-Do List

Substitute Lesson Planning:
•  Three-page document for you to leave for your substitute teacher.  Includes a page for general daily information, a page for specific daily assignments, and a recording page for the sub to leave notes for your return.
•  Comes in three different versions:  Plain black and white, Color male science teacher clipart, and Color female science teacher clipart.

Cute and Fun!
•  Sets of Teacher Note Cards for writing thank you notes, notes of encouragement, jobs well done, etc.  All cards have clip art with a science theme.
•  Hall Passes (Science Themed)

Cover Pages and Section Dividers:
•  There are 10 science themed cover pages for you to choose from for the front of your notebook.
•  There is a section divider for each of the above categories.

Each form in the binder is accompanied by a "Read Me!" file for that form.  In the "read me" file I have described how I use the form in my classroom, and how it might best serve you.

Here is a freebie for you!  One of the forms that I use all the time is the "Lab Inventory Form."  We are required to turn in our lab inventory every single year.  This has become an easy task for me.  I invested time in completing a very complete and organized list of lab supplies.  Now all I have to do is add the new items I buy each year, and delete the items that get used up or broken each year.  You can grab my lab inventory form from my TpT store for free.

Thanks for visiting my blog, and I hope you have a very successful and ORGANIZED school year!

How to Teach Experimental Design in Science: Helping Students Design a Scientific Experiment

🔬 How to Teach Students to Design an Experiment

How do you teach students how to design an experiment from start to finish? Teaching experimental design can feel overwhelming, but with the right instruction and simple starter labs, students can successfully plan, carry out, and analyze their own scientific investigations.

Learning how to design an experiment is one of the most important science skills students will develop. However, guiding students through writing procedures, identifying variables, designing data tables, and drawing conclusions takes intentional instruction and practice.

If your students need structured support before designing their own experiment, my Scientific Method PowerPoint and Notes set provides guided instruction and practice with variables, controls, and hypothesis writing. It is designed to build the foundation students need before moving into student designed labs.

Many teachers wonder what the first step is when designing an experiment. Before students can design a scientific experiment independently, they must understand variables, controls, and how to structure a lab investigation.

Why Teaching Experimental Design Matters

Students must move beyond memorizing the steps of the scientific method. They need to apply those steps to real problems. When students design their own experiment, they develop critical thinking, problem solving, and analytical skills that extend far beyond one lab activity.

Teaching experimental design does take time. It requires modeling, structured practice, and patience. But the payoff is worth it. When students can independently design and carry out an experiment, they demonstrate true understanding of scientific thinking.

Teaching the Scientific Method Before Students Design the Experiment

Before students design their own experiment, they must understand how the scientific method works in practice. Starting with a simple experiment design helps students focus on structure rather than complex content.

Students should be able to:

• Identify independent and dependent variables

• Recognize control groups

• Explain constants

• Write a testable hypothesis

• Analyze data

If your students need structured instruction before moving into student-designed labs, a guided lesson on applying the scientific method can provide that foundation. Direct instruction combined with practice examples builds the confidence students need before they begin working independently.  If your students need structured instruction before designing their own experiment, this Scientific Method PowerPoint and Notes Set provides guided instruction and practice with variables, controls, and hypothesis writing.

Teach Students How to Write a Clear and Repeatable Lab Procedure

One of the most overlooked parts of experimental design is writing a clear and repeatable procedure.

Before asking students to design a full experiment, have them practice writing step-by-step lab instructions.

A simple and engaging activity is to give students building materials such as:

• Legos

• Jenga blocks

• Tinker toys

• Gumdrops and toothpicks

• Pipe cleaners

• Paper clips

  

  
  

Students build a structure and then write detail instructions explaining how to recreate it. Their partner follows only the written procedure to attempt to rebuild the structure

This activity highlights:

• The importance of clarity

• The need for precise language

• The value of sequential organization

• Why vague instructions cause experimental error

Once students see how difficult it is to follow unclear directions, they better understand why strong procedures matter in science. This activity, Can You Write a Clear and Concise Lab Procedure, is perfect for this instructional step.

Start With a Simple Student Designed Experiment Lab

When students are ready to design their own experiment, start simple.

For our first student-designed investigation, students tested the effect of different quantities of water on radish seed germination.

This topic works well because:

• Variables are limited

• The procedure is manageable

• Results appear quickly

• No advanced background knowledge is required

Radish seeds germinate within 24 hours, allowing students to collect data over several days and observe measurable differences. The first time I tried this, I was surprised at how quickly the radish seeds germinated. Within 24 hours, my students were already arguing about which group had the strongest results.

What Students Must Include When Designing an Experiment

When students design their own experiment, they must complete each of the following components:

• State a testable hypothesis

• Write a detailed procedure

• Identify the independent variable

• Identify the dependent variable

• Describe the control group

• Explain experimental groups

• Identify constants

• Design a data table

• Create a graph

• Form a conclusion based on collected data

Providing this checklist helps students organize their thinking and ensures that all critical elements of experimental design are included.

Student Designed Experiment Lab Activities for Your Classroom

If you are looking for more ways to incorporate student-designed investigations into your classroom, here are a few additional lab activities:

• The Student Designed Lab

• Measuring the Heart Rate in Daphnia

• Making Coacervates

Each of these labs provides structured guidance while still allowing students to take ownership of the experimental design process.

Final Thoughts on Teaching Experimental Design

Teaching students how to design an experiment is not a quick lesson. It requires modeling, guided practice, and gradual release of responsibility. However, when students are given the opportunity to plan and carry out their own investigations, they develop confidence and true scientific understanding.

Experimental design is a skill that students will carry with them far beyond your classroom. Whether you are teaching middle school or high school, structured practice in experiment design builds long-term scientific reasoning skills.

Looking for more information on a ready-to-use student designed experiment lab activity? Read my post on implementing a full student designed lab in your classroom.

Frequently Asked Questions About Teaching Experimental Design

What is the first step when teaching students to design an experiment?

The first step is ensuring students understand the scientific method and can identify independent and dependent variables, control groups, and constants. Before students design a scientific experiment independently, they need structured instruction and guided practice.

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How do you help students design a simple experiment?

Start with a simple experiment design that limits variables and focuses on structure. Choose a topic that does not require advanced background knowledge so students can concentrate on writing procedures, identifying variables, and organizing data.

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What should students include when designing a scientific experiment?

Students should include a testable hypothesis, detailed procedure, identified variables, control group, constants, data table, graph, and conclusion based on collected data.

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Why is experimental design important in science class?

Teaching experimental design helps students develop critical thinking, problem solving, and analytical skills. When students design their own experiments, they move from following directions to thinking like scientists.

Middle School Bundle of Products!! Great for Back to School!

Are you really ready for Back to School?  So many things to plan for... reading, writing, math, science, social studies, the arts!  Well, I have teamed up with some other amazing sellers and Educents to help you get ready with this amazing deal!

27 Back to School items for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade range students!  

Here's my contribution the bundle:

Cell Structure and Function PowerPoint with Notes for Teacher and Student

This product is perfect for any biology or life science class.  The lessons cover all aspects of cell structure and function.  Great photographs and fun graphics keep the students engaged.

All together there are over 900 pages in this bundle to keep your student/s learning throughout the year!   

Check out all the other great bloggers and what they are offering by clicking on their links below!

Click here to head on over to Educents to take advantage of this limited time bundle to get your 6th, 7th, and 8th graders ready for success!

Significant Digits Help!

What can you do when kids don't get it?

Each year when I teach significant digits to my chemistry classes, I feel like I am banging my head against a wall!  Most of my students will diligently learn the rules for determining the number of significant digits in a measurement.   They can look at 50.00 and tell me that it has 4 significant digits.  But I always get the feeling that some of them never really understand why they are learning these rules and what they mean.

In an effort to help my students grasp the concept, I started doing this significant digit lab each year.  The materials list is super simple: a wood block, three different balances, and three different rulers.  Students begin by measuring the length, width and height of their wood block using a diagram of three different rulers.

They are frustrated by the first ruler.  They don't like having to estimate!  I quickly get the students to understand that the first ruler has only one significant digit, the second ruler has two, and the third ruler has 3.  They use the measured length, width, and height to determine the volume.

Next students get the mass of their wood block using three different balances.

Now that the volume and the mass is known, students must calculate the density of the wood block to one significant digit, two significant digits, and three significant digits.  We then calculate the percent error, using our three-significant-digit density as the true value.  Wow!  Kids quickly realize how important significant digits are to a measurement.

Throw in an additional page of practice problems on rounding and calculating with significant digits, and I'll call this day a success!  I hope you are off to a great school year.  I'd love to hear your ideas on significant digits!

Common Core Back-to-School eBooks!

The Common Core State Standards Back-to-School eBooks

Packed with Tips and Freebies!

Welcome back to school, teachers!  Many of us have already started back to school, and many of you will soon join us. The implementation of Common Core standards is weighing heavily on many teachers as we return to the classroom this fall.

These Common Core eBooks are just the ticket to help you get started. Over the summer, over 200 teacher/authors submitted pages for the eBooks.  There are 8 different eBooks, each one specific to a certain grade range and subject area.

The woman behind the idea is my good friend, Tracee Orman.  She has spent countless hours contacting teachers, organizing, and directing the publication of these 8 fantastic eBooks.

What will you find in the eBook?

Each teacher in the eBook submitted a single page.  Each page has a tip for implementing the Common Core standards, and most importantly, each page contains a link to a free CCSS lesson.  

So let's get started! There are 8 different eBooks.  Below are the links to each. Please download and share with your friends and fellow teachers.

We hope you have a great school year!

Click on the pictures below to download your FREE eBook.