Classification of Living Things Station Lab - MS

This modular, student-led activity will keep your middle school students engaged while exploring classification and the characteristics of living organisms. With everything included, you’ll save a ton of prep time while empowering students to take ownership of their learning.

In this interactive lab, students will identify and compare the characteristics of Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya, gaining a deeper understanding of how scientists classify living things into the major Domains. Perfect for in-class or virtual learning, this resource helps students make real-world connections in life science.

Texas Teachers: This station lab aligns with the 2017 TEKS (not updated for the 2021 TEKS).

Differentiated, Modular, and Student-Led

Each station lab includes eight differentiated activities plus a bonus challenge station for early finishers. Teachers facilitate while students work independently or in small groups—creating a student-centered learning environment that promotes inquiry, analysis, and creativity.

All signage, task cards, and resources are included. The Explore It! station may require a few simple classroom materials you already have on hand.

The Stations

Input Stations – Build Understanding

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or digital drag-and-drop activity in PowerPoint/Google Slides

• Read It! – Differentiated reading passages (English & Spanish) with vocabulary and comprehension questions

• Research It! – Website-based activities with visuals and guiding questions

• Watch It! – Short video with discussion or reflection prompts

Output Stations – Show Understanding

• Organize It! – Printable or digital card sorts/manipulatives

• Illustrate It! – Students draw or model classification systems visually

• Write It! – Open-ended short-answer prompts

• Assess It! – Task cards + vocabulary-in-context activity

Bonus Station – Challenge It!
Fun extension activities such as crosswords, games, and mini-projects for advanced learners and early finishers

Virtual & In-Class Flexibility

This station lab is fully compatible with Google Slides and PowerPoint, making it simple to use in both traditional and digital classrooms.

Why Teachers Love It

• Differentiated for all learners

• Multimodal activities that engage every learning style

• Flexible for print or digital learning

• Minimal prep required

This resource is also part of the Classification 5E Lesson Plan, which includes editable presentations, interactive notebooks, student-choice projects, assessments, and more!

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.