Senior Phase
Grade 7: Biodiversity – classification of all living things
Subject
Natural
Sciences
CAPS requirements
Grade 7 Term 1
Biodiversity.
Classification of living
things: plants, animals,
micro-organisms and their
habitats make up the total
biodiversity of the earth.
Knowledge
Biodiversity.
Relevant
Vocabulary.
Ecosystem.
The importance of
biodiversity.
Skills
Share knowledge of what is known about diversity.
Watch a video and then explain the meaning of the vocabulary
words.
Learn about the classification system which places living organisms
into five Kingdoms.
Visit a nearby ecosystem and observe the biodiversity.
Classify the living organisms seen in the ecosystem according to
the five Kingdoms.
Classify animals into vertebrate and invertebrate.
Classify animals into herbivore, carnivore and omnivore.
Discusses the importance of biodiversity.
Resources
Dictionary, worksheet, YouTube video: Biodiversity - from “The Wild Classroom”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGxJArebKoc
Information on conducting a debate: http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson304b.shtml
Grade 7 Term 1: Natural Sciences: Life and Living: Biodiversity
GRADE 7
Lesson plan
Background
This lesson introduces the learners to the term ‘biodiversity’. The term ‘biodiversity’ comes from the words biological and diversity. All
plants, animals, micro-organisms and their habitats, make up the biodiversity of the earth. Living organisms are sorted and classified
according to their shared characteristics. Scientists have grouped the organisms into a classification system and the five main groups (called
Kingdoms) of living organisms include Bacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plants and Animals. The learners will investigate biodiversity in a nearby
ecosystem and then focus on the animal Kingdom and how it is classified.
Vocabulary
biodiversity, habitats, organisms, micro-organisms, classified, classification system, species, Kingdoms, bacteria, protista, fungi, vertebrates,
invertebrates, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores
Teacher preparation before starting
Before teaching this activity, ensure you are familiar with the definitions and the concepts and that you have worked through the activities
the learners will be asked to work through.
Main Activity
Discuss the various vocabulary terms listed under ‘vocabulary’ that will be used in this lesson and reinforce the vocabulary that the
learners are unfamiliar with.
Once the students have grasped the concept of classification of all living things into five Kingdoms, visit a nearby ecosystem such as a
backyard or field or park with the learners and allow them to record their observations of the different organisms discovered there. Allow
them to classify what they have discovered into the five Kingdoms.
Encourage the learners to create a mind map of the classification of animals, giving at least three examples of each classification. Animals
can be classified into vertebrates and invertebrates, herbivores, carnivores and omnivores.
The learners examine the pictures on the worksheet and make a list of the animals shown, and classify them accordingly. They use the
template shown but work in their class work books.
End the lesson with a class discussion ‘Do you think it is important to protect our biodiversity and conserve different species of animals?’
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Teaching the Activity
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Begin by finding out what the learners know about the term ‘biodiversity’.
concept of
biodiversity
fully thINGs
by means of
a
short YouTube video to set the scene: Biodiversity - from “The Wild Classroom”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGxJArebKoc
Use the content of the video to explain the meaning of the different vocabulary words for this lesson. Establish the fact of the five
Kingdoms of living organisms with the learners.
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Objectives
Learners will:
l Learn how to classify living organisms into one of the five Kingdoms
l Explore a nearby ecosystem and classify the living things found there into one of the five Kingdoms
l Classify the animal Kingdom into vertebrate and invertebrate, and then again into herbivore, carnivore and omnivore
l Discuss the importance of protecting our biodiversity and conserving different species of animals
Worksheet link
The instruction part of this lesson is the worksheet entitled Biodiversity ‘Classification of all living things’.
Expanded opportunity
The discussion at the end of the lesson could be replaced with a debate on the topic. Information on ways of conducting a debate in the
classroom can be found at the website listed in the resources section.
Assessment Criteria
Did the learner classify living organisms into five Kingdoms?
Did the learner visit a nearby ecosystem and record which of the five Kingdoms of living things are discovered there?
Did the learner classify the animal Kingdom into vertebrate and invertebrate, and then again into herbivore, carnivore and omnivore?
Did the learner discuss the importance of protecting our biodiversity and conserving different species of animals?
Informal assessment
Record each learner’s progress on your specified recording sheet.
Assessment rubric
Rating code
Description of competence
Outstanding achievement
6
Meritorious achievement
5
Substantial achievement
4
Adequate achievement
3
Moderate achievement
2
Elementary achievement
1
Not achieved
7
GRADE 7
Grade 7 Term 1: Natural Sciences: Life and Living: Biodiversity
Lesson plan continued
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Old Mutual GENERIC LOGO - DO GREat thINGs BlaCK
Name:
Activity 1: Visit a nearby ecosystem
Visit a nearby ecosystem (e.g. backyard, field, park) and record your observations
about the different organisms you discover there. Which of the five Kingdoms do
they belong to?
Classification of animals
Let’s look at 1. Animals can be classified into vertebrates classifying
and invertebrates. Vertebrates are animals
animals.
with a framework of bones inside their bodies.
These give shape to the body and enable the animal to
move. Examples are mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish.
Invertebrates are animals without bones. Water or a hard cover
on the outside of the body enables the animals to move. Examples are snails,
earthworms, crabs, spiders and insects.
2. Animals can also be classified according to
what they eat. Herbivores eat plants,
Old Mutual GENERIC LOGO - DO GREat thINGs BlaCK
carnivores eat meat and omnivores eat meat and plants.
e.g. man
mammal
Invertebrate
type
-
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Herbivore
Carnivore
-
Omnivore
Yes
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Vertebrate
type
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Animal
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Activity 2: Classify these animals according to their classifications
Look at the pictures on the following page. Make a list of the animals as shown in
the table below and classify them accordingly.
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Background knowledge - classification
Did you know
of living things
that South Africa
The term ‘biodiversity’ comes from the
has the third
words biological and diversity. All plants,
highest level of
animals, micro-organisms and their
biodiversity in the
habitats make up the total biodiversity of
world?
the Earth. Living organisms are sorted and
classified according to their shared characteristics. Scientists have
grouped the organisms into a classification system, and the five main
groups (called Kingdoms) of living organisms include Bacteria,
Protista, Fungi, Plants and Animals.
Grade 7 Term 1: Natural Sciences: Life and Living: Biodiversity
GRADE 7
Classification of all living things
Vertebrate
type
Invertebrate
type
Herbivore
Carnivore
Omnivore
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Activity 3: Discussion
Why do you think it is important to protect our biodiversity and conserve different
species of animals?
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Old Mutual GENERIC LOGO - DO GREat thINGs BlaCK
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© e-classroom 2013
Grade 7 Term 1: Natural Sciences: Life and Living: Biodiversity
Animal
GRADE 7
Classification of all living things