Classifying Organisms
6th Grade
WebQuest
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 classified
2. understand how organisms are given a
scientific name
3. research the distinguishing
characteristics of the six kingdoms
As 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
Classify Organisms Based on Physical
Features
What characteristics
may have been
used to group these
beetles?
Write answers on your
paper.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Levels of Classification
Organisms are
grouped by their
shared
characteristics.
Species
Genus
Family
Order
Class
Phylum
Based on this
diagram, which
level of
classification
is the most
specific?
Answer on your
guide.
Kingdom
Understanding Classification
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.
Massachusetts
Westwood
Deerfield
Conant St.
#18
The most general
group you belong to is the state.
The most specific group you belong to is
the house.
The more levels you share with others,
the more you have in
common.
Levels of Classification
• Click on the following link to learn more about the levels
of classification. Press play and then you will have to
LOGIN and enter the following information:
• Username: westwoodps_6 Password: brainpop
• Click on play the movie. Return to this web quest when
you are done.
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
Go to the following websites to find out the
main characteristics of these kingdoms.
Fill in the appropriate information on your
Kingdoms chart. Feel free to use the
textbooks provided or follow the additional
links within the page as well.
Kingdoms, continued
• Now that you have found some good
information, follow the link below to hear a
brief summary of the 6 Kingdoms
Take the quiz too!
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.
ardcinsnia
__________________
1. List 3 examples of this phyla.
lolukssm
____________________
2. Name the 3 groupings of this phyla.
neadilsn
_______________________
3. How many species of this phyla are there?
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.
doarhrtops
_________________
4. This phyla is the first animal group to have _______ legs.
mrdehciones
____________________
5. This phyla generally have ____ arms and dwell at the bottom of oceans’
levels.
etacohrds
____________________
6. Animal groups in this phyla include _____, _____, _____, ______and
_____.
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.
smoses
_____________
1. This plant phyla are found in _____ areas and do not grow vertically too high but
can spread out to be a yard long.
ofrescni
______________
2. This plant phyla bears ______, instead of real fruits.
nrsfe
_______________
3. This plant phyla can mostly be found in ________ _______ _________.
woflrnige
alpsnt
_________ ________
4. The four basic parts of this plant phyla are ______, _______, _______, and
_______.