The Soring Challenge: Classification & Taxonomy

How do we decide what belongs together?

Students are introduced to classification and taxonomy through an engaging, low-stakes sorting challenge that sparks curiosity and critical thinking. Working in small groups, students are given a picture of various household items (including familiar, unfamiliar, and ambiguous examples) and are asked to sort them into categories using any criteria they choose. As groups work, the teacher circulates, prompting students to explain and justify their reasoning (e.g., “Why did you group these together?” or “What characteristics mattered most?”). Groups then briefly share their sorting systems, highlighting similarities and differences between approaches. This activity activates prior knowledge, surfaces misconceptions, and naturally leads to the essential question of the lesson: Why do scientists need a universal system for classifying living things? It sets the stage for formal taxonomy by emphasizing patterns, shared characteristics, and the importance of agreed-upon criteria—key foundations for biological classification.