Classification
BIO 101 Lab 10
Lab Write-Up
For the classification part you will collect material in groups of two. Then everyone on a single lab table will work together. Each of you should write up your own lab report based on the results your group got. For the microscope part each of you will work alone.
Briefly describe what you did, the results you got, and your interpretation of those results. Did anything surprise you? Evaluate the experiment. Do you think this would work in the classroom? If so at what level? If not, why not? Would you make any changes in the exercise?
Background -
Scientists and others regularly classify things in order to study and work with them. Today we will experiment with various methods of classification.
Categories
Pick one of the following categories:
Take a plastic grocery bag and with your partner go outside and gather 10 items that fit one of the above categories.
Ground rules
Bring your bag indoors and lay out your items on the table.
Use the pocket microscopes to look at your items in more detail.
When everyone is back in the classroom, discuss with the other teams different ways of classification. Select at least five different ways to classify all the items and count how many of all the items on your table fit in each category. For example, you could choose firmness. Twelve items were hard, seven were firm, three were soft and five were squishy. Then classify according to shape or color or something else. You don't need to name each of your items, just count how many fit in each category.
Did you have unique or interesting items? Select the most interesting item that the two of you found and share it with the rest of the class.
Microscopy
Take one of the pocket microscopes home. Make a list of at least 10
items that you looked at. For each, indicate which of the following applies:
A. It was a big version of what I could see without the microscope. In other words it
was what I expected. B. It was less interesting than what I could see without the microscope. For example a
plastic bag is usually boring under a microscope. C. Wow! I never expected to see this. Do the poppyseed test for an example. Return the microscopes next week along with your lab reports.
Saint Xavier University, Dale Fast, Lab for Teachers
Last updated 23 March 1999 fast@sxu.edu