Science

1. Chapter 6 Life’s
Classification and structure
• Lesson 1 Classifying Living things
(Grade VI)

2. Classification of Living Things

3. Scientific terminologies:
1. Autotrophs
2. Heterotrophs
3. Habitat
4. Binomial nomenclature
5. taxon

4.  Scientists estimate that there are over 10
million species of organisms on Earth.
 Taxonomists--biologists who specialize in
identifying and classifying life on our
planet--have named approximately 1.7
million species so far.
 Each year, about 13,000 new species are
added to the list of known organisms.

5. So, how do
scientists classify
(organize) all
these millions of
species?

6. What is Classification?
 Classification is the grouping of
living organisms according to
similar structures and functions.

7. Early classification systems
 Aristotle grouped animals
according to the way they
moved

8. The modern classification
system : Binomial Method
 Kingdom
 Phylum
 Class
 Order
 Family
 Genus
 Species
Developed by Carl Linnaeus
Consists of 7 levels:

10. Characteristics of Living organisms
1. Living things are made of cells.
2. Living things are organized.
3. Living things grow and develop.
4. Living things respond to their environment.
5. Living things reproduce.
6. Living things use energy.

12. Helpful way to remember the 7
levels
King Play Chess on
Fine Grained Sand .

13. Binomial Method:
 Developed by Carolus Linnaeus
 Two-name system:
• First name is the organism’s
genus
• Second name is the organism’s
species

14. What rules are used to write
scientific names?
 The first letter of the genus is ALWAYS
capitalized
 The first letter of the species is NEVER
capitalized
 Scientific names of organisms are
always italicized or underlined

15. Using the Classification System
Field guides help identify organisms.
-they highlight differences between similar
organisms (like trees)
Taxonomic Key (Dichotomous Key)
-paired statements that describe the
physical characteristics of different
organisms

16. Taxonomic Key
 1a Fruits occur singly ....................................................... Go to 3
 1b Fruits occur in clusters of two or more ......................... Go to 2
 2a Fruits are round ....................................................... Grapes
 2b Fruits are elongate ................................................... Bananas
 3a Thick skin that separates easily from flesh .............Oranges
 3b Thin skin that adheres to flesh .............................. Go to 4
 4a More than one seed per fruit ............................ Apples
 4b One seed per fruit ............................................ Go to 5
 5a Skin covered with velvety hairs .................... Peaches
 5b Skin smooth, without hairs ........................... Plums
What steps would you use to identify a peach?