1. Classification of Living Things

2. Learning intention for unit
Characteristics of living organisms
Classification of living organisms
The hierarchical classification system
Binomial system of naming species
Simple dichotomous key

3. Success criteria of unit (I can…)
list and describe the characteristics of organisms
define the terms nutrition, excretion, respiration, sensitivity, reproduction, growth and movement
outline the use of a hierarchical classification system for living organisms
classify living organisms into kingdoms, orders, classes, families, genera and species
define and describe the binomial system of naming species
construct dichotomous keys
use simple dichotomous keys based on easily identifiable features.

4. Revision quiz
List the 8 characteristics that are needed to be classified as being living
Define Biology
Explain why we need to classify things
List 3 areas of study within Biology.
Classify the following as living, non-living or dead;
A leaf that is on a tree
A log that is lying on the forest floor
A fire
A human

5. How do we know if something is ‘living’?
All living things are characterised as being able to do seven things
These are usually remembered by the mnemonic MRS NERG M R S N E G
Can you guess what these letters stand for?

6. The 8 characteristics of Living Things
Movement – Animals move to find food and keep away from predators, plants move to face the light
Reproduction – the ability to produce offspring to keep the species in existence
Sensitivity – responding and reacting to the environment
Nutrition – Animals need food for respiration, plants need minerals from the soil
Excretion – Getting rid of waste
Respiration – Turning food into energy
Growth – Growing larger and stronger  becoming adult size
cells

7. Task
You have three minutes to classify the following fruit in anyway way you wish in your work book.

8. Binomial Scientific name
All organisms have a ‘two’ (binomial) part scientific name. e.g. Homo sapiens
The first part a binomial scientific name is the generic name or the name of the genus in which the organism belongs to. And always has a capital name.
The second part of the name always begins with a lowercase letter and identifies the particular member that belongs to the genus, this is known as the specific name.

9. Advantages of the scientific name
Common names vary from language to language, scientific names are universal.
Sometimes the same common name applies to different organisms.

10. Classification why?
If you have ever been to a library, you will know how much easier it is to find a book on a particular subject if the books are arranged in subject groups. When the librarian has a new book to add to the library, he or she will group it with books on a similar topic, according to a classification system.

11. CLASSIFICATION helps us to impose order and a general plan on the diversity of living things. Scientists have always tried to organize and classify the objects, including living organisms, around them. Classification can be defined as grouping organisms according to their structural similarities.
This means that organisms that share similar features are placed in one group. These groups are arranged from the largest group of organisms to the smallest group of organisms.

12. Materials used for identification
You can identify a species using the following materials
The whole species
Parts of the species
Genetic material
Indirect evidence

13. Classification of Living Things
Everything that is living can be sorted into these 5 kingdoms
Kingdom Moneran
Protist Kingdom
Animal Kingdom
Fungi Kingdom
Plant Kingdom

14. Kingdom Moneran Tiny, single-celled organisms Do not have a nucleus
E.g. bacteria

15. Protist Kingdom Single-celled organisms with a nucleus
Live in damp places of water
E.g. amoeba

16. Fungi Kingdom Body is made up of a network of threads called hyphae
E.g moulds, mushrooms

17. Plant Kingdom Multicellular – made up of lots of cells
Make their own food by photosynthesis
Lots of examples: flowering plants / non-flowering plants

18. Animal Kingdom Multicellular – made up of may specialised cells
Cannot make own food
Can be further classified into vertebrates and non-vertebrates then into classes such as amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals

19. Classification goes beyond kingdom level
All kingdoms can be broken in small groups according common characteristics.
A detail classification should includes the following steps in the ladder.
Phylum – Second highest classification it covers different groups with a common physical characteristics.
Class – Grouped families according a shared attribute. (mammals)
Order– How the a class group survive? (carnivorous, herbivorous)
Family – Taxonomic group containing one or more genera.
Genus – The second smallest group
Species –Smallest group whose members can interbreed.
The science of classifying things is called Taxonomy.

21. The five kingdoms
Complete the table

22. Classification keys
Circular key
Dichotomous key
Field guide

23. Circular key
Circular keys can also be used to unlock identity. To read this type of key you start in the middle and work outwards, choosing one of the options in each layer. The final layer provides you with the solution of the organism’s identity. Carefully observe the dinosaurs on this page and consider features that could be used to separate them into groups. Consider how you could use these features in the design of a circular key that would enable each individual to be identified.

24. Dichotomous key
Dichotomous keys provide choices at each branch (dichotomous = ‘cutting in two’). Features such as size, colour, behaviour and habitat are not good for classification because they can change throughout the life of the organism. It is better to use the presence or absence of structural features or differences in these features.

25. Field guide
Field guides are a commonly used type of reference book to help people identify organisms. These guides are specially designed to assist you in ‘on-the-spot’ identification. They often contain brief written descriptions and pictures and are small enough to take outside when you are observing wildlife. There are also a number of electronic ‘field guide’ databases available.

26. Read and complete questions

27. Task
You are to create a creature. Every one must start their creature using a Styrofoam ball. You must also give your creature a name.
You will be getting into groups and creating a Dichotomous key based on your creatures and create a poster, then you will present you key to the class.