Biological classification2

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This lesson is designed for students in the seventh grade and above. The
students will learn the levels of biological classification and methods by which
scientists group organisms into this system.

Materials Needed:

You will need to have 4 or 5 "kingdoms" (see explanation below) consisting of a
wide variety of items. For instance, if you chose the "kingdom" of shells, you
should have clam shells, scallops, conches, mollusks, oysters, fresh water
shells, salt water shells, cold water and warm water shells. Here are some
other suggestions: food (both human and animal), pictures of clothing (men's,
women's, children's, shoes, etc.), pictures of structures (warehouses, office
buildings, homes), "hard things" (rocks and metallic items), small plastic
animals, toys, postcards of art, or jewelry.


Strategy:

1. Prepare a handout with definitions of the levels of classifications.

Kingdom:
The highest category into which organisms are classified.

Phylum:
A category used in the classification that consists of one or several similar or
closely related classes. You may also use DIVISION.

Class:
One or several similar or closely related orders. Similar classes are grouped
into PHYLUM.

Order:
One or several similar or closely related families. Similar orders form a
CLASS.

Family:
One or several similar or closely related genera. Similar families are grouped
into an ORDER. The names are usually determined from a type genus (Cactus,
Equus) that is characteristic of the whole family.

Genus (pl. genera):
A number of similar or closely related species. The common name of an organism
is sometimes identical to the genus, e.g. Lilium = lily. Similar genera are
grouped into a FAMILY.

Species:
A group of similar individuals that can breed and produce fertile offspring.
Similar and related species are grouped into a GENUS. Within certain groups,
species may not mate and will under different selection pressures develop
different characteristics form the main population. This is called a
subspecies.

2. Explain that this classification system is arranged to resemble a "tree."
You may illustrate this with houses, shoes, music--something that is
immediately familiar to your students.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Biological
• classification