CECsci.

168

TITLE: Donut Sort

AUTHOR: Beckianne D. Kilkenny,Cornelius Elementary

School; Cornelius, OR

GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT: 3rd up.

Classification, Dichotomous Key

OVERVIEW:
This activity is the product of consistent requests received
on Family Science evaluations for donuts to be served at the
classes! Since we had done one entire evening class
sorting, classifying and constructing dichotomous keys, it
became a natural review and culmination activity for our
Family Science program. It's also a big hit in the
classroom!

PURPOSE:
This is the clearest and easiest road to understanding
construction of a dichotomous Key that I have found.

OBJECTIVE(s): Learners will:

1.) Identify properties of donuts.
2.) Use properties to distinguish donut similarities and
differences.
3.) Construct a Key that places every donut in its own
category according to its properties.
4.) Identify each donut according to the Key.
5.) Eat their donuts!

Perquisite Skills.
1.) Knowledge of properties.
2.) Exposure to dichotomous keys and how they are
used is a good idea!

RESOURCES/MATERIALS:
6 distinctly different donuts (for a group of 6 learners)
6 sandwich bags
1 blank dichotomous sheet per person

ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:

Before class:
Put each donut in its own baggie.
Prepare the ditto.

Introduction:
Briefly review what a property is. Hold up one donut and
orally list properties that might pertain such as shape,
size, color, coating, etc.

Best Shot:
Have each person pick a donut and put their name on the
baggie in a permanent felt pen. Then have the group lay all
the donuts out in front of them and name one property they
can use to divide the donuts into two piles.
For the sake of clarity make one pile 'that which has the
property' and the other one 'that which doesn't'. For
example in this group of donuts :

*********************************************************
creme raised raised maple twist cruller
bismarck choc.ice sugar bar choc.ice
John Katie Sheila Michael Shirley Paul
*********************************************************

They could be separated into round and non-round.

*********************************************************
Round
Bismark Raised choc. Raised Sugar Cruller
*********************************************************

*********************************************************
Non-Round
Maple Bar Twist
*********************************************************

File in 1A and 1B on the dichotomous key as

1A not round
1B round

Next take either group and divide it again by one property.

For example take the not round into twist or no twist. Fill
in 2A and 2B on the dichotomous key/

2A not round twist (Shirley's)

2B not round not twist (Michael's)

As soon as you've gone as far as necessary to identify an

individual donut then name whose it is.

Continue until all donuts have their own individual

category. Learners must name all the characteristics to
"key out" their donut before they can have it to eat. The
key might look like this:

Donuts
1A not round 1B round
2A twist 2B not twist 3A no holes 3B holes
Shirley's Michael's John's

4A choc.ice 4B not choc.ice

Sheila

5A ruffled 5B not ruffled

Paul's Katie's

Donut Key
1A not round
1B round
2A not round, twisted (Shirley's)
2B not round, not twisted (Michael's)
3A round, no hole (John's)
3B round, hole
4A round, hole, choc. iced
4B round, hole, not choc. iced (Sheila's)
5A round, hole, choc. iced, ruffled (Paul's)
5B round, hole, choc. iced, not ruffled (Katie's)

** Note **
Any property may be used to make each new classification.
There are many right answers as long as each division is
made according to just one property and states it in terms
of that property; for instance:

Green --- Not Green

Have fun and enjoy your donuts!

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:

Family Science available form N.W. Equals Portland, OR has a
good unit on constructing and understanding dichotomous
keys.