Name: __________________________
Diversity of Life – Grade 6 Project
Learning Outcomes
- analyses how different organisms adapt to their environments
- distinguishes between life forms as single or multi-celled organisms and belonging to one of five
kingdoms: Plantae, Animalia, Monera, Protista, Fungi
Tasks
Part 1: create a comparison (with two pictures) that compares a living thing with a non living thing
(you need a picture of a living thing and a non living thing to compare) based on four characteristics
that define living things. Also, include the four basic needs that all living things have.
Part 2: create a glossary that gives definitions of all five kingdoms of living things. Each definition
should also include the names of 5 living things that would fit in each kingdom. Extensions: give the
two part Latin name for each living thing you list.
Part 3: create a flow chart that shows the seven categories for classifying living things in each
kingdom that was created by Carolus Linnaeus. Also, follow the path of one living thing in the
Kingdom Animalia and give the names for it in each of the seven categories.
Part 4: create a web that lists five living things from the Kingdom Animalia in the center of five
separate webs. Each web should list 3 or 4 ways that the living things you chose have adapted to fit
into their environment.
Part 5: read the results of an experiment that was focused on animal adaptations (this will be provided
to you by Mr. Gregory). Your job will be to answer the questions that follow the experiment (what
were the variables in the experiment? what are two other examples of variables that could have been
used in the experiment? was the experiment fair? if not, what part was not fair? What changes would
make the experiment more fair?)
Part 6: create a review quiz on classifying living things, the five kingdoms, and adaptions made by
living things. The quiz should have 5 multiple-choice questions (each with 3 incorrect answers and the
one correct answer) and 2 questions that require a short written answer.
What to do for each step:
Part 1: - to start your comparison, choose one living and non living thing to focus your comparison on
- next, look on the internet to find a good example of a picture for your living and non living thing make a rough copy of your comparison on an unlined sheet paper with sketches of your living and non
living thing pictures (make sure you label the 4 characteristics that separate the living thing from the
non living things) – next, add 4 the 4 needs the living things has for survival, and what those might be
for your living thing - show your rough copy to Mr. Gregory - for the good copy, you can print off a
copy of your living and non living thing pictures and cut & paste it on an unlined sheet of paper - be
sure to use a ruler to draw neat, straight lines when labeling characteristics and needs
Part 2: - find a definition of each of the five kingdoms of living things in the text book - make sure
your definitions describe the different characteristics of each kingdom (pg. 30 for example) - title a
page 'glossary' and complete a rough copy with all the words and their definitions - show your rough
copy to Mr. Gregory - if time permits, you can type a good copy out on the computer. Otherwise, you
can print/handwrite a good copy of the glossary on a lined sheet of paper
Part 3: - begin creating a rough copy of a flow chart on an unlined piece of paper by drawing seven
boxes each connected by arrows – the boxes should go up and down, not side to side – inside the seven
boxes, write/print the names of each of the seven categories in the system created by Carolus Linnaeus
– create another set of seven boxes beside the first seven boxes (each box should be directly across
from the first) - choose one living thing from the Kingdom Animalia and write the name of the animal
in the top box – research the Latin names of your chosen living thing at each category – finally, give
the two part Latin name of your chosen living thing - show your rough copy to Mr. Gregory - if you
have time, for the good copy you can use Microsoft word. Otherwise, you can just print/handwrite out
the words
Part 4: - begin creating a rough copy of a web on an unlined piece of paper by putting five circles in
the middle of the paper or papers, with the names of five living things from the Kingdom Animalia draw boxes around the circle in the middle and connect them - each box should describe a way the
living thing has adapted to fit into the environment - show your rough copy to Mr. Gregory - if you
have time, for the good copy you can type out the words and paste them onto your good copy paper.
Otherwise, you can just print/handwrite out the words
Part 5: - read the experiment example given to you by Mr. Gregory on animal adaptations - answer the
questions at the end
Part 6: - begin writing your multiple choice and short answer questions – make a rough copy of all
your questions, complete with an answer key - show your rough copy to Mr. Gregory - if time permits,
you can type a good copy out on the computer. Otherwise, you can print/handwrite a good copy of the
questions on a lined sheet of paper
* 5 questions can be fact type questions, where you can find the answer by looking in the text book.
You should think of three 'close', but wrong questions (don't put silly answers), and then
put the one correct answer
For example: #1 – Which of the following is NOT a basic need of a living thing? A – water B-­‐ air C-­‐ money D-­‐ habitat * 2 questions should make a person write a short answer. For example:
What does symbiosis mean?______________________________________________________
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* You must provide an answer key with your test!