Is It a Cactus? (Preteens and Tweens)
In this one-time class, students will encounter a number of plants that may or may not be cacti and, after guessing, the truth will be revealed.
Melinda Dooley
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:(87)
What's included
1 live meeting
55 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
In this game-show style class, students will be presented with plants that may or may not be cacti, and asked to decide. After every learner has had a guess, the identity of the plant - and whether or not it is a true cactus - will be revealed. This class is a great introduction to botanical taxonomy, or how plants are classified and grouped, and introduces the concept of convergent evolution - or how unrelated organisms develop similar characteristics. Learners will gain skills in cactus identification, and learn to recognize common lookalikes. Class Photo by Scott Webb from Pexels.
Learning Goals
Students will learn defining characteristics of true cacti, and to recognize common lookalikes.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
In my classes, evolution is an accepted fact (well, as accepted as gravity).
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Sources
I use both live plants and readily-available images. Taxonomy is confirmed via www.itis.gov.
Joined July, 2020
4.8
87reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I've been collecting true and false cacti ever since I was a graduate student in West Texas, and using them as teaching aids practically since then. Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$15
per classMeets once
55 min
Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
1-7 learners per class
