8th Grade Science
Classification
 Classification is the grouping of things according to
characteristics
 The science of classifying organisms is known as
taxonomy
Early Classification Systems
 Aristotle grouped animals according to the way they
moved
 John Ray was the first to use the term “species”
Binomial
Nomenclature
 Developed by Linnaeus
 Two-name system
 Each organism has a Genus and a species name
What is a scientific name?
 Combination of the genus and species name of an
organism
 Scientific names of organisms are always italicized or
underlined
 Genus is Capitalized and underlined
 Species name is lower-case and underlined
Ursus americanus
American Black Bear
Canis domesticus
Canis lupus
Seven classification groups of living
things
Kingdom
Family
Phylum
Genus
Class
Species
Order
5 Kingdoms of Organisms
 Kingdom Animalia
 All Animals
 Kingdom Plantae
 All Plants
 Kingdom Fungi
 Contains Fungus
 Kingdom Protista
 Contains Protists
 Kingdom Bacteria
 Contains Bacteria
Kingdom Animalia
 Divided into Vertebrates and Invertebrates
 Vertebrates are animals with a backbone
 Invertebrates are animals without a backbone
 Eukaryotic (cells have a nucleus)
 Mobile (can move around)
 Heterotrophic (cannot make their own food)
 Multicellular
Invertebrates
 All belong to Kingdom
Animalia
 Phylum Annelida
 Earthworms (segmented
bodies)
 Phylum Porifera
 Sea sponges
 Molluska
 Clams, Oysters, Snails
 Echinodermata
 Starfish and anemonies
Kingdom Plantae
 All eukaryotic,
multicellular, autotrophic,
sessile organisms
 Produce their own food
from sunlight and carbon
dioxide
 Common Phyla:
Bryophyte Pteridophyte Coniferophytes
(Moss)
(Fern)
(Pine Trees)
 Bryophyta (mosses)
 Pteridophyta (ferns)
 Coniferophyta (conifers,
like pine trees)
 Angiospermophyta
(angiosperms, like
flowering plants)
Angiosperm;
Dicot
Angiosperm;
Monocot
Kingdom Fungi
 All eukaryotic,
multicellular,
heterotrophic, sessile
organisms
 Includes: molds,
mushrooms, lichens
Kingdom Protista
 Includes All Protists:
 Eukaryotic
 Unicellular
 Animal-Like Protists
(protozoans)
 Pseudopodia, Cilia, Flagella
 Examples: Amoeba,
Paramecia, Giardia
 Plant-Like Protists (autotrophic)
 Euglenoids, Dinoflagellates,
Green/Red/Brown Algae
 Fungus-Like Protists
 Examples: Water molds, slime
molds
Kingdom Bacteria
 Unicellular
 Prokaryotic
 Some bacteria are good
for us. They help with
digestion and
decomposition. Other
kids are harmful.
Dichotomous Key
 Uses a series of steps to classify organisms based on
defining characteristics.
 Used to help identify unknown object or organism.
 Works by asking yes or no questions whose answers
lead the reader to the correct taxa (scientific name) for
the organism.
Dichotomous Keys
1a. Organism has 4 legs
Go to # 2
1b. Organism has more than 4 legs Go to # 20
2a. Organism has a tail
Go to # 3
2b. Organism has no tail
Go to # 35
3a. Organism has stripes
Bengal Tiger
3b. Organism has no stripes
African Lion
 Try this one:
1a. Organism walks on all 4 legs (quadruped)
2
1b. Organism walks on 2 legs (biped)
8
2a. Organism has visible fur
3
2b. Organism has no visible fur
20
3a. Organism lives in warm climates
7
3b. Organism lives in cold climates
4
4a. Organism has brown or black fur
Ursus americanus
4b. Organism has white fur
Ursus maritimus