Wizard Taxonomy: Magical Beasts and How to Classify Them

Do magical creatures fit neatly into the taxonomic structures we've designed?

In this class, we'll discuss and critically examine the magical creatures found in wizardry. We'll attempt the biological classification of magical plants and animals. We'll study the traits and behaviors of different groups of living things, and how these groups are divided into categories for biologists to study. We'll learn the usefulness of cladograms for classification (as well as the downfalls of the current classification system). We will also explore the mythological inspirations for some of these creatures.

Students will also try their hand at designing at least three of their own fantastic creatures, including brainstorming how their beast compares to a real living thing.

▬▬▬▬▬▬ VIDEOS, ACTIVITIES, AND MORE ▬▬▬▬▬▬

• This course has ten parts to it. Each part consists of a downloadable video presentation (between 40 and 50 minutes long) hosted on Google Drive, along with some resources and project ideas to expand the students’ understanding.

• In a regular school setting, these materials are ideal for reverse instruction or a flipped classroom unit. For instance, you can assign the video recording to watch at home for homework, and then use the extension activities for class projects. The recordings also work well for sub days and much-needed sanity days!

• If you are using these materials in a home school setting, you could choose to do one part per day or one part per week, doing the projects as time allows. Feel free to have your child email me at lauren.rae.ard@gmail.com, if they have any questions or want to share what they’ve done with the materials.

• This unit also includes a link to my notes and Prezi presentation I use throughout the course, in case you want to give some of the presentation, or expand on the material yourself. Please keep in mind that the video may not match up exactly with the notes and lecture materials, because I do alter and add to my notes as time goes on.

▬▬▬▬▬▬ COURSE OUTLINE ▬▬▬▬▬▬

Part 1: Criteria for "life," non-living creatures in the wizard world, introduction to taxonomy. Creatures included: animated magical objects, ghosts, zombies, poltergeists, boggarts, etc.

Part 2: Kingdoms of life, plant kingdom, fungi kingdom. Plants and Fungi included: toadstools, mistletoe, dittany, mandrakes, etc.

Part 3: Phyla of the animal kingdom, phylum Mollusca, phylum Annelida (molluscs, squid, worms). Creatures included: chitons, slugs, giant squids, tardigrades, etc.

Part 4: Phylum Arthropoda (insects, spiders, crabs, lobsters, etc.). Creatures included: stick insects, doxies, giant dung beetles, amblypigis, crabs, etc.

Part 5: Intro to phylum Chordata, class Pisces, class Amphibia (fish and amphibians). Creatures included: zouwu, hippocampus, kelpie, merpeople, ramora, sea serpents, fire salamander, kappa, etc.

Part 6: Class Reptilia (reptiles). Creatures included: dragons, chupacabra, basilisk, horned serpent, etc.

Part 7: Class Aves (birds). Creatures included: ravens, snallygaster, basan rooster, owl, griffin, hippogriff, thunderbird, etc.

Part 8: Intro to Class Mammalia, order Carnivora (hoofed mammals and large carnivores). Creatures included: badger, hodag, cerberus, werewolf, chimera, manticore, wampus cat, etc.

Part 9: Order Artiodactyla, order Perrisodactyla, order Primates (monkeys, apes, humanoid magical creatures). Creatures included: leucrotta, winged horses, centaur, unicorn, yeti, pixie, fairy, gnome, leprechaun, goblin, redcap, etc.

Part 10: All other mammal orders, unclassified mammals, miscellaneous creatures. Creatures included: duckbilled platypus, echidna, marsupials, rabbit, elephant, aardvark, sloth, etc.