The document provides instructions for an assignment to classify organisms using a web quest. Students are asked to research the six kingdoms of life and major animal and plant groups, preparing a presentation on their findings. They are directed to online resources to learn about levels of classification from kingdom to species, binomial nomenclature, distinguishing characteristics of kingdoms and phyla, and examples of major animal and plant groups.

1. CLASSIFYING ORGANISMS: a web quest assignment

2. Why classify? Say you have only 10 minutes to run into a supermarket to get what you needed. Could you do it? You would probably head straight to the area where the items were located. But what if you had to shop for the same items in a market where things were randomly placed throughout the store. Where would you begin? You would have to search through a lot of things before you found what you needed! You could be there for a long time! Biologists have organized living things with similarities into groups so that the organisms are easier to study. This process is called classification .

3. ASSIGNMENT In groups of three , you will research the main distinguishing characteristics of the 6 kingdoms and those of animal and plant groups, using the guidelines & activities shown here and the internet. Your task will be to prepare a powerpoint presentation to be uploaded in the blog. Your presentation must have all sources/references (web site links, pages with images or videoclips) and the group members.

4. WHAT TO SEARCH FOR As you explore the web, keep the following questions in mind: Why do scientists classify? What are the major levels of classification? How are organisms classified? What is binomial nomenclature? What are the six different kingdoms of organisms that are generally recognized by scientists today? What are some examples of major animal and plant phyla?

5. Classify Organisms Based on Physical Features How might you classify a sunflower, a kingfisher, a lizard, a ray, and a tree? Copy the table on paper and fill in your answers to include them in your presentation. Animals Plants

6. Levels of Classification KINGDOM PHYLUM / DIVISION CLASS ORDER FAMILY GENUS SPECIES most general least general

7. Understanding Classification Imagine a room filled with people from the province of Buenos Aires . (KINGDOM) There may be some people from the northern area . (PHYLUM) There may be some people who live within 60 km from downtown . (CLASS) There may be some people from your district , e.g. San Isidro. (ORDER) There may be some people from your locality , e.g. Martínez (FAMILY) There may be some people that live on your street . (GENUS) You will be the only one that lives in your house . (SPECIES) The more levels you share with others, the more you have in common.

8. Use this link (or copy & paste it in your browser) to complete this activity. http://www.quia.com/pp/51115.html?AP_rand=463451876 Return to this assignment when you are done.

9. NAMING ORGANISMS Carl von Linne ( Linneus is his latinised name ) devised a system of naming organisms. Linnaeus placed organisms in groups based on their observable features. Each organism has a unique, two-part scientific name. This naming system is called binomial nomenclature or binomial system . Use the pictures below to find their scientific names in the web. After you are done, save them to include them in your presentation as examples.

10. KINGDOMS Any grouping of organisms into kingdoms is based on several factors. Find out how the kingdoms are sorted out. Six different kingdoms of organisms are generally recognized by scientists today Bacteria Archaea Protists Fungi Plants Animals

11. MAJOR ANIMAL GROUPS Go to the following websites and visit other sites to find out what the main characteristics of these kingdoms are. Complete a chart on paper to later include it in your presentation. http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/curr/science/sciber00/7th/classify/sciber/5king2.htm http://student.ccbcmd.edu/courses/bio141/lecguide/unit1/3domain/3domain.html http://www.middleschoolscience.com/cniderians.htm http://www.virted.org/Animals/Mollusks.html http://www.virted.org/Animals/Earthworms.html http://www.virted.org/Animals/Insect.html http://www.virted.org/Animals/Starfish.html http:// www.virted.org/Animals/Chordate.html

12. MAJOR PLANT GROUPS Go to the following web sites or visit your own to find out about the main plant groups. Then fill in the blanks. http:// www.virted.org/Plants/Mosses.html 1. This plant division are found in .................................. areas and do not grow vertically too high but can spread out to be a yard long. http:// www.backyardnature.net/conifers.htm 2. This plant division bears ............................., instead of real fruits. http:// www.virted.org/Plants/Ferns.html 3. This plant division can mostly be found in .................................... http://www.virted.org/Plants/Flower.html 4. The four basic parts of this plant division are .............................., ...................................., ......................... , and ................................

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