Biology Corner
The Biology Corner: Dichotomous Key
Here's a great dichotomous key for beginners. Use gremlin-like creatures to learn how to use more taxonomic keys.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Classifying Conundrum
In this activity, 4th graders will identify plant characteristics from different environments.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Creation of Dichotomous Keys From a Bio Blitz
An outdoor lab where middle schoolers investigate the environment and decide a method of survey to identify trees in their area. To finish the exercise they will create a dichotomous key of the ten they identified.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Using and Creating a Dichotomous Key
Students will investigate classification through a sorting activity and discus real-life evidence of classifying objects.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Introduction to Dichotomous Keys
This lesson serves as an introduction to the classification of plants and animals or trees. Students will investigate how to classify objects based on their similarities and differences. They will use technical writing to explain their...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Identifying Plant Family Characteristics
Students make observations of similarities and differences between three types of garden plants to determine why they are grouped together in one plant family.
PBS
Nova Teachers: Treasures of the Great Barrier Reef: Classroom Activity
This activity involves having students classify nine fish according to various physical characteristics. They can also develop a key to identify the fish.
Other
O. Henry Middle School: Texas Native Plant Dichotomous Key [Pdf]
A key for classifying Texas native plants. Observe the characteristics of a plant and make choices as you work through the key to find out its binomial name.
Other
Siemens Science Day: Life Science: The Key to It All
In this hands-on science activity, students will create their own unique creatures as well as dichotomous keys so that classmates can identify the creature.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Abc Book of Fauna
This lesson is to provide students the opportunity to explore the various types of fauna (animals) found in the various biomes throughout the world.
Environmental Education for Kids
Eek!: Water Critter Key Life in a Pond
Use this interactive key to identify a critter that you found in the water. Expand it to full-screen for the best experience.
Oregon State University
Oregon State University: Dichotomous Key
An excellent starting point. Get a good description of what the dichotomous key for tree identification is and then directions for using it to identify trees.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Jewel of the Earth
Collect and analyze organisms and use a dichotomous key to identify and classify the organisms. Research the evolutionary history of organisms.
Other
Villanova University: Constructing a Dichotomous Key
This exercise provides information on how to construct a dichotomous key using geometrical shapes. Another exercise shows how a key can be constructed based on traits in a classroom group.
Other
Amateur Entomologists' Society: Bug Identification
This resource allows users to complete bug identification.