CLASSIFYING

KPLI SCIENCE MINOR

LESSON NOTES
BY
SYLVESTER SAIMON SIMIN
SMD, KTTC
 WHAT?
• Classifying is a process of grouping objects
according to certain characteristics for a
purpose.
• The basic requirement of any system of
grouping is that it must be useful
• Classification is the process skill central to
concept formation.

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 HOW?
• Binary classification system
– The sets of objects is divided into two subsets on the
basis of whether each object has or does not have a
particular property.

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 BINARY CLASSIFICATION - example

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 BINARY CLASSIFICATION
Observable Properties Yes No
1. Speckled body 1, 5, 6 2, 3, 4

2. Round body 1, 4 2, 3, 5, 6

3. Body with scalloped margin 6 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

4. Striped body 2 1, 3, 4, 5, 6

5. Body with circles 3 1, 2, 4, 5, 6

6. ¾ of tail coiled 4 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

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 HOW?
• Multi-stage classification
– Objects are classified in a binary way repeatedly
creating a hierarchy of sets and subsets

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 Multi-stage classification - Example

Original Set
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Speckled Body Body Not Speckled

1, 5, 6 2, 3, 4

Body Not Round Round Body Striped Body Body Not Striped
5, 6 1 2 3, 4

Body With Body Without Circle On Body No Circles On

Scalloped Margin Scalloped Margin Body
3
6 5 4

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 HOW?
• Serial ordering
– Ordering objects according to the extent to which
they display a particular property.
– Depending upon the purpose of the classification,
objects may be ordered on the basis of size, shape,
color, or a variety of other characteristics.

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 Serial ordering - Example

Bob Ann Joe Bill Amy Melissa Ashley Sam

Shortest Tallest

Height

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 THOUGHT-STARTER FOR CLASSIFYING

• How is this object like that one?

• How are these objects alike? How are they
different?
• Sort these items according to their properties.
• Put these objects in order and explain the order.
• Group these objects by color (size, texture,smell,
taste, sound, etc)
• Classify this set of objects in as many different
ways as you can.

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 ACTIVITY
• List all classifying activities in the Primary
Science School Curriculum. You need to have
the Curriculum Specification for Year 1 – 6 to
do this.
• Select one activity and explain how you are
going to teach the skill of classification to your
students.

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