Classifying Organisms 6th Grade WebQuest Introduction Introduction Task Task Process Process Resources Resources.

Classifying Organisms6th

Grade WebQues

t

Introduction

Task

Process

Resources

Introduction

Suppose you have only 10 minutes to run into a supermarket to get what you needed to make one of your very favorite meals. Could you do it?

In most supermarkets this would be an easy task. Why?

How would this task change if the items you were looking for were randomly placed around the store?

Introduction continued

• Just like items are grouped in the grocery store, biologists have organized living things with similarities into groups so that the organisms are easier to study.

• This process is called classification.

Task

Working with a partner, you will:1. learn how organisms are classified2.understand how organisms are given

a scientific name3.research the distinguishing

characteristics of the six kingdomsAs you explore keep the following

questions in mind:

Task, continued

• Why do scientists classify?• What are the major levels of classification?• What is binomial nomenclature?• What are the six different kingdoms that

are generally recognized by scientists today?

• What are the characteristics and some examples of organisms from the six kingdoms?

Process

• Carefully follow the directions for each section.

• Answer all questions on the web quest guide and kingdom chart provided.

Why Do Scientists Classify?

Classification – grouping/organizing things based on their similarities. Biologists use classification so that organisms are easier to study. Classification also shows relationships between organisms.

The scientific study of how living things are classified is called taxonomy.

On your web quest guide, define classification and explain why biologists classify.

Classify Organisms Based on Physical Features

• How might you classify a sunflower, a robin, a lizard, a blue jay, a butterfly and a maple tree? Complete the table on your web guide.

Plants Animals

What characteristics may have been used to group these beetles?

Write answers on your paper.

1.2.3.4.5.6.

Classify Organisms Based on Physical Features

Levels of Classification

Organisms are grouped by their shared characteristics.

Based on this diagram, which level of classification is the most specific? Answer on your guide.

Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Understanding Classification

#18

Conant St.

Deerfield

Massachusetts

Westwood

Imagine a room filled with everybody from the state of Massachusetts. There may be some people from Westwood.

There may be some people from your neighborhood.There may be some people that live on your street.

You will be the only one that lives in your house.

The most generalgroup you belong to is the state.

The most specific group you belong to isthe house.

The more levels you share with others, the more you have in

common.

Levels of Classification

On your paper, write the levels of classification in order. Can you come up with a mnemonic device to help you remember the

order? Here is mine:Dangerous Kings Play Chess On Fat Guys Stomachs

Binomial Nomenclature

• Carl Linnaeus was a naturalist who devised a system of naming organisms. Linnaeus placed organisms in groups based on their observable features. Each organism has a unique, two-part scientific name.

• Carl Linnaeus – 1707-1778

Scientific Name vs. Common Name

• two-part name to each species - binomial nomenclature (e.g. Canis lupus, gray wolf)

– The first name, the genus, covers a group of related species

– The second name refers to a species within a genus

- Written in Latin, since it never changes

- Common names can change from country to country

Scientific Names

• How many things do you notice about the way the scientific name below is written? Record your answers on your guide.

Bufo americanus

Human Classification

Using this diagram, what is the scientific name for human beings?

Homo sapiens•Which means wise man.

Kingdoms

• Grouping organisms into kingdoms is based on several factors:– Presence or absence of a nucleus

•What are the two vocabulary terms that apply here? Answer on your guide.

– Made of one cell or made of many cells•What are the two vocabulary terms

that apply here? Answer on your guide.

– How organisms get their food.•What are the two vocabulary terms

that apply here? Answer on your guide.

Kingdoms

• Six different kingdoms of organisms are generally recognized by scientists today– Eubacteria– Archaea– Protists– Fungi– Plants– Animals

Kingdoms, continued

Kingdoms, continued

STOP

Please look over the web quest guide and the kingdoms chart. Did you fully complete them to the best of your ability? •If your answer is “NO”, then please move back through the web quest to answer all the questions. •If your answer is “YES”, you may continue and explore some of the characteristics of animal and plant phyla.

Recognize Examples of Major Animal Phyla

Use the following websites to unscramble major animal phyla and answer the questions that follow. Write the words and answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Animal Phyla, cont.

Use the following websites to unscramble major animal phyla and answer the questions that follow. Write the words and answers on paper.

Recognize Examples of Major Plant Phyla

Use the following websites to unscramble major plant phyla and answer the questions that follow. Write the words and answers on paper.