Classification Explorer

What it is

A nature notebook full of original drawings: ladybugs, spiders, frogs, ferns, mushrooms and more. Young explorers sort picture cards into labeled bins one trait at a time (feathers or no feathers, 6 legs or 8), then into plants, animals and fungi, animals with and without a backbone, and the vertebrate classes. Next they follow yes-or-no keys to name mystery living things. Older explorers sort the vertebrate classes and invertebrate groups (with surprises like bats, whales, penguins and sea stars), read longer keys and finally build their own dichotomous keys: choose a question, decide which living things answer yes, split the group and repeat until every living thing has its own name. Any key that works is accepted, and every level is checked against a reviewed trait table.

What children learn

Classifying organisms by observable traits (legs, body coverings, wings, shells, fins); the three big groups (plants, animals, fungi); vertebrates and invertebrates; the five vertebrate classes and common invertebrate groups; and using and building dichotomous keys with clear yes-or-no questions.

What it teaches

• Classify living things
• Dichotomous keys