Cryptozoology Dichotomous Key: Cryptids, Monsters, Spooks, And Ghouls

This Cryptozoology Dichotomous Key is a great secondary science Halloween activity or end-of-year wrap-up when the AP Biology or state exams finish. We all know how antsy high school students get when Halloween comes around, you can keep them focused and using academic language while still feeling the festivities of autumn. The Cryptozoology identification guide resource encourages students to read carefully and look for synonyms.

The students will be entertained while reading about the physical characteristics, origins, and folklore of 30 cryptids. The dichotomous key's cryptid summaries and pictures are a mixture of reality and myth. Students are given 30 organisms they need to identify using the dichotomous statements.

This classification activity can be used in its PDF format to upload to a secure classroom website and have the students use laptops or iPads to go through the pictures with their dichotomous key and answer sheet in hand. Displaying the pictures of organisms in a colorful PDF allows for students to see more details without the loss of clarity and color which happens so often with photocopied dichotomous keys.

As an instructor, you may choose to use the Cryptid PowerPoint for whole-class instruction and work through the dichotomous key with all your students participating. This works well with smaller classes, tutoring sessions, or as an enrichment activity for the gifted population.

If you do not have a class website or the technology for your students you can still use this dichotomous key successfully. The slides can be printed out as task cards. You can organize and place little groups of organisms around the room and have the students move from center to center classifying the organisms. This is a great variation for hyper students to keep them moving while learning.

This activity has quite a few different ways it can be implemented into your classroom I hope you find a method that will work best for your class. I have also included some extension ideas and a world map if you would like to see where cryptid legends can be found worldwide. Please come back to leave feedback for your TpT credit.

Other dichotomous keys available:

Protist / Protozoa Dichotomous Key

Dichotomous Key: Carnivorous, Poisonous, and Curious Plants Ppt or Task Card

Classifying Organisms: Dichotomous Key PowerPoint

Desert Plants Dichotomous Key Bundle

GREAT FOR IN ANY STATE

Texas Biology TEK 8

(8) Science concepts. The student knows that taxonomy is a branching classification based on the shared characteristics of organisms and can change as new discoveries are made. The student is expected to:

(A) define taxonomy and recognize the importance of a standardized taxonomic system to the scientific community;

(B) categorize organisms using a hierarchical classification system based on similarities and differences shared among groups; and

(C) compare characteristics of taxonomic groups, including archaea, bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals.

NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS

3-LS3-1. Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that plants and animals have traits inherited from parents and that variation of these traits exists in a group of similar organisms. [Clarification Statement: Patterns are the similarities and differences in traits shared between offspring and their parents, or among siblings. Emphasis is on organisms other than humans.]