Embedded Files
Introduction
Introduction
In this lesson you will:
learn how scientists classify all living things
use a virtual reality bushwalk to gather information about organisms and then classify them.
Learning intentions and success criteria
Learning intentions and success criteria
Learning intentions
To know some of the groups of microorganisms.
To understand some of the structural features that are used to group living things.
To be able to explain some of the features that help Australian plants and animals adapt to the Australian environment.
Success criteria
I can research and summarise information on the 6 Kingdoms of life.
I can learn about and apply the levels of classification.
I have explored a 3D interactive of an Australian ecosystem, started to classify some of its life and researched some of the adaptations that help this life survive.
Activity 1 - Classifying all living things
Activity 1 - Classifying all living things
Scientists classify all living things into a series of groups, whose characteristics get more and more specific.
The first two groupings we use to classify, that have the most basic characteristics to separate organisms, are Domains and Kingdoms.
There are 3 Domains and 6 Kingdoms of life on Earth (you will sometimes see people refer to there being 4, 5 or 7 kingdoms, as classification can be a heavily debated field of Science…but we will use 6).
Linnaeus, who developed the system of classifying living things, used the Latin language to name groups and individual species. This was because:
Latin is a ‘dead’ language – it is no longer spoken in everyday use so doesn’t change over time
Latin is not the language of any particular country so Linnaeus was not favouring any country by choosing their language.
Interestingly though, many modern languages are derived from Latin. You will see many Latin names in this lesson that are very similar to English words.
The 3 Domains are: Archaea, Bacteria and Eukarya
The 6 kingdoms are: Eubacteria, Archaebacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
(Note: You don’t need to remember these names for this lesson.)
Task 1
Task 1
Use the information from the flashcards to complete the defintions interactive.
Task 2
Task 2
For each the 6 kingdoms:
find out and record the distinguishing features of each kingdom
identify some species that are members of the kingdom.
Use the links below to help you with your research:
Complete the activity using the Characteristics of the six kingdoms Google Doc.
Note: The first one has been completed for you but you will need to research the rest.
Click on the button to open a new tab and view the Google Doc.
Click on the Use Template button to create a copy for you to edit.
Smaller and smaller groups
Smaller and smaller groups
After the domain and kingdom groups, we then classify further by adding more groups. These are:
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species.
Remember that each group has more detailed, specific characteristics and therefore less organisms fit into that group.
Look at how the Red fox is classified. It fits into class Mammalia which includes all the mammals on Earth (around 6000 different types of organisms!) To classify it further we put it into Genus Vulpes whihc contain 12 different species.
To make sure that when we are talking about the Red fox, instead of say the Artic fox or the Fennel fox, everyone know exactly which type of fox we mean, we give the Red fox the name Vulpes vulpes, which include its genus and species name.
Every organism on Earth can be named with this two name (binomial) system.
The genus and species names together form the organism's scientific name (always in italics). The genus name is always first and starts with a capital. The species name is always second and in lower case.
Task 3
Task 3
It can be fun trying to remember these levels of classification by creating a mnemonic.
Watch the Classification video to see an example of a mnemonic.
Create your own.
Research a species you are interested in and find out it's complete classification, from Domain to species.
Answer some questions about the different levels of classification.
Complete the activity using the The levels of classification Google Doc.
Click on the button to open a new tab and view the Google Doc.
Click on the Use Template button to create a copy for you to edit.
Classification
Duration: 7:41
Activity 2 - Virtual bushwalk
Activity 2 - Virtual bushwalk
Use the embedded virtual reality experience to explore the endangered Cumberland Plains woodland at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Mount Annan in NSW.
Head to each of the different locations (little Red icons) and use the question marks icons to explore the organisms that live there.
Take your time to really look around and enjoy the sounds of the bush.
Task
Task
As you explore, create a list of the living things you observe.
Try to identify at least 15 living things.
Collect examples from more than one location.
Once you have finished exploring, complete some activities using the Classifying organisms from an ecosystem Google Doc.
Click on the button to open a new tab and view the Google Doc.
Click on the Use Template button to create a copy for you to edit.
Extension - Further explorations
Extension - Further explorations
Task 1
Task 1
Visit the website: Never Home Alone: The Wild Life of Homes · iNaturalist
Explore the website and catalogue some of the species you have come across in your local setting.
Describe the process you would take to identify an unknown species and how you could be certain what it is?
Task 2
Task 2
Visit the Backyard Species Discovery website. Here you can use social media (ONLY with your parent or guardian permission) to record and share the animals and plants you discover near your home.
Exit slip
Exit slip
Handing in your work
Handing in your work
Don't forget to hand in the work you completed today!
Your teacher will have told you to do one of the following:
Upload any digital documents you created and any photos you took of your written work to your Learning Management system (MS Teams, Google Classroom for example).
Email any digital documents you created and any photos you took of your written work to your teacher.
Make sure you keep any hand written work you did in your exercise book or folder as your teacher may need to see these when you are back in class.
Student reflection
Student reflection
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