Year 7 are learning how scientists identify organisms with dichotomous keys, ahead of pond dipping next month. The teacher has turned the department's pond key into a PowerPoint slideshow: each slide asks one question, such as "Does it have six legs?" or "Does it have a shell?", and the Yes and No buttons are hyperlinks to the next question, ending on a slide that names the animal. Pairs take ten numbered photographs, including a water boatman, a pond skater, a freshwater shrimp, a water louse, a ramshorn snail and a caddisfly larva, and run each one through the key, writing the name and the route of questions in their books. The teacher checks answers with the class at the end and asks two pairs to explain where the key could mislead them, such as a caddisfly larva hidden inside its case.
Tools: PowerPoint Nine ideas for your own version in Generate
This page is one of a growing set of PICRAT examples by cell, subject and grade. Page maintained by Andy Perryer.