Wizard Taxonomy: Fantastic Beasts and How to Classify Them
Class experience
US Grade 5 - 8
Do magical creatures fit neatly into the taxonomic structures muggle scientists have 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...
10 lessons//10 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1What is Life? What is Taxonomy?Criteria for "life," non-living creatures in the wizard world, introduction to taxonomy. Creatures included: animated magical objects, ghosts, zombies, poltergeists, boggarts, etc.Week 2Lesson 2Kingdoms, Plants, and FungiExploring the kingdoms of life, with a focus on the plant kingdom and fungi kingdom. Let's find out what magical creatures might fit in these kingdoms! Plants and Fungi included: toadstools, mistletoe, dittany, mandrakes, etc.Week 3Lesson 3Phyla - Especially the Weird Ones!Phyla of the animal kingdom, phylum Mollusca, phylum Annelida (molluscs, squid, worms), and all the "weird" phyla that no one usually thinks about! Creatures included: chitons, slugs, giant squids, tardigrades, etc.Week 4Lesson 4Creepy CrawliesPhylum Arthropoda (insects, spiders, crabs, lobsters, etc.). Creatures included: stick insects, doxies, giant dung beetles, amblypigis, crabs, etc.Week 5Lesson 5Magical Water CreaturesIntro to phylum Chordata, class Pisces, class Amphibia (fish and amphibians). Creatures included: zouwu, hippocampus, kelpie, merpeople, ramora, sea serpents, fire salamander, kappa, etc.Week 6Lesson 6Reptiles, Dinosaurs, and Dragons!Introduction to the "Class" in taxonomy with Class Reptilia (reptiles) Creatures included: dragons, chupacabra, basilisk, horned serpent, etc.Week 7Lesson 7Fantastic Flying ThingsClass Aves (birds). Creatures included: ravens, snallygaster, basan rooster, owl, griffin, hippogriff, thunderbird, and many more!Week 8Lesson 8Mammals Part 1 (Lots of Fangs!)Intro to Class Mammalia, order Carnivora (hoofed mammals and large carnivores). Creatures included: badger, hodag, cerberus, werewolf, chimera, manticore, wampus cat, etc.Week 9Lesson 9Mammals Part 2: Hooves and HumansOrder 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.Week 10Lesson 10Mammals Part 3: Cuddly CrittersAll other mammal orders, unclassified mammals, miscellaneous creatures. Creatures included: duckbilled platypus, echidna, marsupials, rabbit, elephant, aardvark, sloth, etc. Includes a review of "What is life?" while we cover some magical creatures that don't fit neatly into any taxonomic category.
By the end of the course, students should be able to: ♦ Explain the basics of Biological Classification Systems. ♦ Understand how DNA, fossils, and evolutionary lines are all building blocks of modern taxonomy. ♦ Describe the characteristics of specific kingdoms, phyla, classes, and orders of living things. ♦ Explain the limitations of using a taxonomic system to classify fictional/magical creatures. ♦ Describe the weaknesses of our current taxonomic system. ♦ Define these terms: monophyletic, paraphyletic, polyphyletic.
I am a certified science teacher in the state of Arizona, with more than a decade of experience teaching children. My classes are offered in a lecture format, so your child can participate to his or her comfort level.
Outschool is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., owner of the Harry Potter® mark and related Harry Potter marks.
💰 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬 💰 I offer a "pay what you can afford" discount for all flex classes. After you enroll, send me a message from the section you signed up for. I can then apply a partial refund to match the amount you need; it can be any amount! 🎓...
Flex Class
$11
weekly or $110 for 10 weeks10 weeks
Completed by 39 learners
No live video meetings
Ages 10-15