Biological

Classification
Why and how do we group
living things?
RECALL:

The Big MOULD BIRD CONIFER

Five
Can you sort the living things
into three groups and name MOSS YEAST ELEPHANT

the kingdom for each one?

TULIP FROG MUSHROOM

RECALL:

The Big Five Can you sort the living things into three
groups and name the kingdom for each one?

ANSWER KEY

• neither a plant nor an animal

Fungi • get food from organic matter
• release spores
YEAST MOULD MUSHROOM

• animals
Animalia • have backbones
• have the ability to move
ELEPHANT BIRD FROG

• plants
Plantae • produce their own food
• stay in one place
CONIFER MOSS TULIP
 • Recall why we classify
living things

Today, • Describe the significance

of Carl Linnaeus’ work

you’ll be • Identify common

features and group living
things
able to • Review and understand
the role of a
classification key
 Why do we classify?
We classify living things in groups...

1 2 3
To make the study of To clearly communicate To explore how various
organisms easier about living things with living things are related to
people despite language each other
differences
 Who is Carl KINGDOM

Linnaeus? PHYLUM

CLASS
He developed a system of
classifying living things, which ORDER
became the basis of classification
and naming systems today. FAMILY

His system has seven levels. GENUS

These levels are constantly being
refined by scientists today.
SPECIES
 Who is Carl
Linnaeus?

He started the binomial

(two-part) naming system.

Each living thing has a name

consisting of two Latin words: the A lion’s scientific name is
genus and the species name.
GENUS Panthera leo SPECIES
Using the Linnaean Classification

KINGDOM ANIMALIA

PHYLUM CHORDATA
Carl Linnaeus’ system
consists of a hierarchy of CLASS MAMMALIA
groups, from broad to more
specific ones. ORDER PRIMATE

FAMILY HOMINIDAE
Let’s take a look at how
human beings are classified. GENUS HOMO

SPECIES SAPIENS
 Naming
Plants and
Animals
Name your favourite plants and
animals. Can you find out their
scientific names?

Share your answers with

your peers.
 How do we classify?

What are the shared characteristics

The grouping of organisms is
between a humpback whale and a
based on their shared
chimpanzee?
observable characteristics.

Scientists have also been using

genetic data to know whether
a living thing is related to
another.
A CLOSER LOOK: GROUP 1

Animalia SPIDER BEETLE CRAB

Can you identify at least three

common observable GROUP 2
characteristics for each
group of organisms?
SNAKE LIZARD TURTLE

GROUP 3

TIGER GREY SEAL HARE

 Can you identify at least three
A CLOSER LOOK:
common observable

Kingdom Animalia characteristics for each

group of organisms?

ANSWER KEY

• external skeleton
Invertebrates • absence of backbone
• jointed legs
SPIDER BEETLE CRAB

• have scales
Reptiles • cold-blooded
• lay eggs
SNAKE LIZARD TURTLE

• warm-blooded
• fur or hair
Mammals • produce milk to feed young
• have backbones
TIGER GREY SEAL HARE
Classification VERTEBRATE
CAN YOU CREATE A
CLASSIFICATION KEY FROM

Using a Key
THE LIVING THINGS SHOWN
Does it have fur?
EARLIER?

YES NO

MAMMAL Does it have feathers?

A classification key (an
example is a dichotomous YES NO

key) is a set of questions and

answers used to identify and BIRD Does it have scales?

classify a living thing.

NO YES

It resembles a branching
AMPHIBIAN Can it live out of the water long?
flowchart, making it helpful
in identifying closely related NO YES
organisms.
FISH REPTILE
 Review
Classification refers to organising or grouping living
things according to their shared features.

Importance History Method

We classify to make it easier to Carl Linnaeus’ work on Scientists classify living things
study organisms and their classification and naming based on their observable
relationships. organisms is still being used features and genetic data with
and refined today. the help of some tools, such as
a classification key.
 Backyard
Beings
Explore a designated green space at
home, school or a nearby park. List all
the living things you can find.

Next, create two classification posters

in Canva: one using the five-kingdom
classification and the other using your
own animal classification key.

GET READY TO SHARE YOUR WORK WITH THE CLASS!

Resource
Page
Use these icons and
illustrations in your Canva
Presentation. Happy
designing! Don’t forget to
delete this page before
presenting.
TRY THIS BACKGROUND FOR ONLINE CLASS.
*Please delete this section before downloading.
 Press these keys while
on Present mode!

B for blur
C for confetti
D for a drumroll

M for mic drop

O for bubbles
Q for quiet

U for unveil Any number from 0-9 for a timer