Time: 20minutes Materials

Parasite Phenomenon
Time: 20minutes
Materials:

Glue	Collection of random objects (buttons, nuts, leaves, seeds, shells, or pattern blocks)	Scissors	Handout
Copy Paper	Pencils

Directions

1. 
   Write the headings vertebrates and invertebrates on the board. Have students name examples for each heading. If no one suggests it, write parasites under the invertebrates heading. Then, make another chart for parasites with two categories: ectoparasites (those that live outside the host) and endoparasites (those that live inside). Have the students name examples of each.
   
2. 
   Now distribute a collection of random objects to each group of students. Have them work together to organize the objects according to characteristics (like shape and size) that they have in common. Ask students to make as many groups as they can.
   
3. 
   Give each group of students a copy of the parasite handout and have them cut out all the parasite pictures.
   
4. 
   The students should sort the parasites into groups by similar characteristics. They can glue them to a blank piece of paper in the groups they made and label the groups.
   
5. 
   Characteristics used to sort parasites could be:
   
   1. 
      Parasite sucks blood
      
   2. 
      Parasite lives inside or outside the host
      
   3. 
      Parasite has legs or no legs
      
   4. 
      Parasite has one body section only or more than one body section
      
   5. 
      Parasite is a one celled animal or parasite has more than one cell
      
6. 
   Students can then try further dividing their groups into subgroups.
   

Discussion
How did classification help us learn more about animals?