Title – Wacky People Dichotomous Key

By – Vivian Johnson

Primary Subject – Language Arts

Secondary Subjects – Other

Grade Level – 6 – 12

If you wish to teach a student to really use a key and not jump to the names because they recognize the animal shown in the pictures, this key makes them concentrate on the procedure needed to identify something unknown.

You do need to give some instruction on how to use the key:

The purpose of using the key is to name the creature shown. Stick with one character until the name is reached, then go to the next.

A dichotomous key gives instructions in pairs of statements. With each character, start with the first pair of statements. Decide which description describes your chosen character best and follow the line to the right. There will either be a number or a name. If it is a number, go to the pair of steps with that number, for example, if the number is 3, go to steps 3a and 3b. If the line ends in a name you have identified your character, so write it down by the creature. Continue until each creature has a name. There is only one creature per name, and no creature has two names.

Most of my students have loved doing this, and I have worked with special ed at high school level, regular ed at the junior high level. Should be doable for students who are able to read the words and follow instructions. Enjoy the fun.

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Vivian Johnson

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