Description
A super fun up-and-moving activity to review the use of Dichotomous Keys! Small QR codes will ‘infect’ them with one of eight types of bacteria. A partner scans their QR code to see an image of the bacteria. Students must use the Bacteria Dichotomous Key to diagnose their disease! The included worksheet gives them space to record their own bacteria infection, as well as four of their classmates.
This activity is always a hit in my own classroom! Easy to set up and a fun way to review dichotomous keys!
Cellphones have built-in QR code readers. You can also use any laptop with a camera by gong to a website like this free QR code scanner: https://www.the-qrcode-generator.com/scan
Resource includes:
- Full Teaching guide
- Eight QR Codes linked to eight different types of bacteria – some of the bacteria are antibiotic resistant!
- Easy to read Dichotomous Key
- Student Sheet to record the types of bacteria they identify
- Answer Key
Click here to see a preview of the Fun Dichotomous Key Activity!
What some happy teachers are saying about the Fun Dichotomous Key Activity:
Used this with my visually impaired/blind middle school students. Adapted the bacteria images to be tactile instead of using the QR code, but the activity itself worked fine with or without the fun tech aspect behind it. All of them really enjoyed it! Especially the students whose bacteria was ‘buttermilk’ and not a deadly disease 🙂 – Emily R. January 9, 2019
My 9th grade biology students loved this activity. We practiced with a free minions dichotomous key activity and then moved onto this. I taped the QR codes to the bottom of their chairs ahead of time and they loved finding them and, of course, being able to use their phones to see their bacteria. – Jennifer H. March 6, 2020
Quick and easy activity to get kids up and moving! – Keely C. February 25, 2020
Great resource. The students really enjoyed the activity. – Kimberly T. April 6, 2022
