Classification
Unit 1, theme 2
Life on our planet
Learning objectives
• What is classification?
• Why are organisms classified?
• How can we classify organisms?
Classification
• Means sorting things into groups
• Based on similar features
• Think how a supermarket is organised
Question
• What does ‘classify’ mean?
How are living organisms classified?
• Living organisms classified into taxonomic
groups.
• Introduced by Carl Linnaeus, 300 years ago
• There are 7 groups
• Kingdom to species
Who first started the
idea of classifying?
Carl Linnaeus was one
of the first person who
started the idea of
classifying. Carl was
also called the Father
of Taxonomy. He
received this name
because of his system
for naming, ranking,
and classifying
organisms. His system
is still used today by
many scientists.
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/scienceenvironment-14616161
Ways to classify living things
• The main groups of living things include
• Plants – make their own food by
photosynthesis
• Animals – can’t make their own food
• Microbes – includes fungi and single cells
Question
• What is the main characteristic of the plant
Kingdom?
Animal kingdom
• Divided into 2 groups
• Vertebrates – animals with a backbone
• Invertebrates – animals without a backbone
Question
• What is the difference between a vertebrate
and an invertebrate ?
Vertebrate groups
characteristics
Vertebrates
Mammals Birds
Fish
Reptiles
Amphibians
Blood
Warm
blooded
Warm
blooded
Cold
blooded
Cold
blooded
Cold
blooded
Reproduction
Live
young
Lay hard
shelled eggs
Lay eggs in
water
Lay soft
shelled eggs
Lay jellycoated eggs
in water
Skin covering
Have hair
Have
feathers
Have wet
scales
Have dry
scales
Have moist
skin
Why classify organisms?
1. To name and identify species
2. To predict characteristics
3. To find evolutionary links
Did you know?
• Two thirds of all living species are insects
• Only 1% of all animal species are actually
larger than a bumble bee!
Key points
• Classification sorts things that share similar
features into groups.
• Organisms are classified into groups to aid
naming and identification.
• Organisms are classified into groups based on
their physical characteristics.
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/wha
t-makes-a-bird-a-bird/2474.html
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/vari
ation-in-nature/4902.html