5/6/26 Classifying Living Things

Classifying Living Things

May 7, 2025

start

Today We Will...

• Discuss how scientists classify animals into groups according to their characteristics.
• Explore different animal groups.
• Discover how plants grow, make their own food, and reproduce.

yupipiruli

Learning Objectives

• We can explain why scientists use a system for classifying animals and plants.
• We can name the parts of the classification system.
• We can describe how animals are classified.
• We can describe how plants are classified.
• We can identify the parts of a plant and their functions.
• We can explain how plants reproduce.

Standards

Warm Up - Mystery Creature

Can you guess this mystery creature given the following characteristics?

• It has big feet, long ears, and a long tail.

• It has powerful back legs and can jump fast and high.

• It is more active at night.

Mystery Creature

• All kangaroos have short hair, powerful hind legs, small front legs, big feet and a long tail. They have excellent hearing and keen eyesight.

• They have long faces, large ears, and a very long tail that helps them balance when leaping long distances.

Words to Know

taxonomy

organism

classification

putting things into groups based on how they are alike

any living thing

scientific process of classifying living things

What is Classification?

Classification is the process of grouping organisms based on shared characteristics. Scientists use classification to organize and understand the millions of organisms on Earth. Let’s watch to learn more!

Meet Carolus Linnaeus

• Know as the Father of Taxonomy

• Taxonomy is the scientific process of classifying living organisms that scientists still use today

The Hierarchy of Life

• All living are classified from broadest or largest to most specific categories

• Each level becomes more precise in describing organisms' characteristics

Memory Trick

5 Kingdoms

Animals: Backbones or No Backbones?

Vertebrate Riddles: What Am I?

mammal

• I drink milk when I’m a baby.
• I have hair or fur—sometimes wavy.
• Warm-blooded and smart, I do my part.
• What group am I from, right from the start?

bird

fish

reptile

amphibian

Vertebrate Riddles: What Am I?

mammal

• I have feathers and wings, I chirp and I sing.
• Some of us fly and some of us don't.
• I lay eggs, that’s true—now guess, will you?

reptile

fish

amphibian

bird

Vertebrate Riddles: What Am I?

reptile

• I live in water and breathe through gills.
• I swim around with watery skills.
• My body’s covered in shiny scales.
• I don’t have feet or furry tails.

bird

mammal

fish

amphibian

Vertebrate Riddles: What Am I?

mammal

• I crawl on land or sometimes swim, better yet.
• My skin is dry and never wet.
• I lay eggs, cold-blooded too,
• What group do I belong to? I know. Do you?

bird

fish

reptile

amphibian

Vertebrate Riddles: What Am I?

bird

• I start my life in water, no lie,
• But later I jump and live on land that is dry.
• Moist skin, no scales, I’m kind of slick.
• Guess my group, and do it quick!

mammal

amphibian

fish

reptile

Trivia Time!

• Insects make up the largest group of animals.

Mammals

Amphibians

Birds

Fish

Reptiles

The World of Plants

Observe: What do you see? What do you think? What do you wonder?

What Makes a Good Question?

Remember! We use observations to ask questions.

Your Turn!

Classifying Plants

Why might it be helpful to sort plants?

Plants: Roots or No Roots?

• Plants are also organized into two groups.
• Vascular plants have roots.
• Nonvascular plants have no roots.

Can you think of another way to organize them into even smaller groups?

Examples

Plants: Spores or Seeds?

• After determining if they have roots or no roots, they are grouped into plants that produce spores and plants that produce seeds.

Examples

Plants: Flowering or Non Flowering?

• Finally, if the plant produces seeds, then it is determined if it is a flowering plant or non flowering plant.

Do you have a favorite flower?

Examples

Let's Put It All Together!

Trivia Time!

plants that produce flowers and fruit

cone-bearing plants that bear naked seeds

Plant Systems and Parts

Do You Know?

Plants Make Their Own Food

Why is planting trees and plants good for the environment?

What makes plants green?

How Do Plants Reproduce?

Stamen - Male Part

• Anther
• Filment

Pistil - Female Part

• Stigma
• Style
• Ovary

Exit Ticket

Dear King Phillip Came Over For Good Spaghetti

After class, see if you can you come up with your own mnemonic device to help you remember the order of taxonomy.

• 4.7.4.B. Know that adaptations are important for survival.

• 3.3.4.A. Know the similarities and differences of living things.

• 3.3.4.B. Know that living things are made up of parts that have specific functions.

• 3.1.4.A1 Classify plants and animals according to the physical characteristics that they share.

• 3.1.4.A2 Describe the different resources that plants and animals need to live.

Today, we are going to learn more about Animals and Plants. They fall into the Eukarya Domain.