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Taxonomy Lab
Submitted by: Julia M.
Recommended Grade Level(s):
Appropriate for: Grade 9
Teaching Topics & Concepts:
Biology, classification and naming organisms, genus, species.
Time Requirements:
Activity Time: 1 day in class, 1 week (to include a weekend) for photography
Standards:
NGSS: HS-LS1-2, HS-LS4-1, SL.11-12.5, WHST.9-12.7, WHST.9-12.9
Introduction:
• This lab is designed to help you become familiar with scientific names and the classification scheme biologists use
to understand organisms. This branch of biology that deals with classifying and naming organisms is called taxonomy.
• The modern system of classification began in 1758 when a Swedish doctor/botanist introduced the binomial system of
nomenclature (based upon two names). Carl von Linne, better known in the style of his own naming system as Carolus
Linnaeus, published his concept of binomial nomenclature in the tenth edition of his book, Systema Naturae. This system
used two Latin names—genus and species—for each species of organism. Binomial names are either italicized or underlined.
The first letter of the Genus name is capitalized, but the species is always writing in lowercase (ie. Genus species or Genus
species). After the genus name has been written out once, it may be abbreviated in writing as G. species of G. Species.
• In addition to assigning a unique name to each species, Linnaeus recognized a need for placing organisms into groups
based on their similarities. These similarities were first based solely on the appearances and behaviors of organisms;
now, however, they are also based on genetic similarities by using DNA. As a result, some species were reclassified. The
classification originally divided all life forms into two major kingdoms. (Animalia and Plantae). Recently, though, biologists
have added a new category above the kingdom, known as domain, and have expanded the kingdoms to six (Animalia,
Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Bacteria, and Archaea).
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