Creating a cladogram

I use this activity in my biology class. It is exciting to see students understand how scientists assign organisms to a taxa. For years, my students have struggled with throwing off the "... See More

I use this activity in my biology class. It is exciting to see students understand how scientists assign organisms to a taxa. For years, my students have struggled with throwing off the "old" way of classifying that they have learned and truly understanding the new method of classification. I love how the author first has her students use the method with which they seem most comfortable. Then she modifies the activity slightly so they can see how the model has changed. After my students finish this activity, they tend to see relationships between living things in a new light.