Classification
EQ: How can I use a
classification key to figure
out unknown organisms?
SPI 0807.5.1
What is CLASSIFICATION?
• Classification- organizing living things
based on their similarities.
• Scientists classify living and extinct
organisms to make them easier to study.
8 Levels of Classification
DOMAIN
KINGDOM
PHYLUM
CLASS
ORDER
FAMILY
GENUS
SPECIES
Did
King
Phillip
Come
Over
For
Good
Spaghetti
Taxonomy
• Taxonomy- the science of classifying
organisms.
** Scientists use various diagrams to
classify organisms.
A branching diagram can show the relationships
between organisms.
Organisms that
are more closely
related are
closer together
on the diagram.
1. Which animal is most similar to the chimp?
2. Which has claws or nails?
3. Which animal has feathers?
Scientific Names
• When living things are classified, they get a
scientific name.
• Scientific names are usually Latin or Greek.
• The scientific name is the same everywhere
in the world.
Asian Elephant
Scientific Name:
Elephas maximus
*The scientific name
is always the genus
and species name
together.
Elephas maximus
• The genus is always written first and is always
capitalized.
• The species name is second and is always
lower case.
• The scientific name (the entire name) is
always italicized or underlined.
Tyrannosaurus rex
Ever heard of a
DICHOTOMOUS KEY?
• Scientists use a DICHOTOMOUS KEY
to identify unknown organisms.
• Turn to page 52!
QUIZ
1. How should a scientific name always
be written?
2. What are the 8 levels of classification?
3. Which plant is least similar to the hibiscus?
4. Which plant has tissues that transport
materials?
5. Which plant has seeds?
6. Bird W
7. Bird X
8. Bird Y
9. Bird Z
Your task:
1. Create your own
branching diagram
with at least 5
animals. Write 5
questions that can be
answered using your
branching diagram.
OR
2. Create your own
dichotomous key
using the worksheet
given.
Your diagram must
be colored!!!