Provide the students with a group of items to be grouped, for example shoes. Students should be put into small groups and each student can put one of their shoes into a pile. Have the students remove one shoe and begin by writing a question about characteristics of that shoe. Divide the shoes into two groups based on that characteristic. Write another question for a different characteristic and divide the shoes into two smaller groups. Continue dividing the shoes into smaller groups until there is only one shoe per group. Make a diagram to identify the shoe with a unique name. Then use the diagram to classify the teacher's shoe.
Students can practice the art of classifying using classroom supplies you have in your classroom. To set up the lab, place 10 to12 different school supplies into a paper lunch bag. You will need to set up enough of these for each lab group. Divide the class into pairs and each pair gets a bag. Students sort the pile of school supplies into one large group, the Domain. Once the Domain is named, the pair divide the pile into two or three smaller Kingdoms based on shared characteristics. Continue dividing until the supplies into smaller groups until there are only one or two items per group. Organize the results into a diagram.
Provide students with the characteristics of a mystery organism. Divide the students into small teams and allow time to use the Internet or textbooks to use those characteristics to classify the organism. The students need to begin by first assigning it to a Domain. After Domain, have students determine the Kingdom through the Species. Students create a chart of the classification and include the characteristic used to assign the organism to that group.
Divide students into groups of four to six and each student gets an index card. Students will use an ink pad or can do a rubbing of pencil led on paper to create a fingerprint. Have students use the dominant hand and make two prints, using the index and middle fingers. Students should label each print left or right, and index or middle. Then using a magnifying glass have each group identify the characteristics of fingerprints for example whorls, loops and arches. Students should then classify each fingerprint into different categories, grouping based on similarities.