2. Explanation
An organism is a
living thing.
There are millions of
different types of
living organisms on
Earth.
Differences between organisms
wildebeest
zebra
ostrich oryx
giraffe
How many different
organisms can you
see in the picture?
3. Explanation
There is enormous variety between different
organisms on Earth. For example:
Differences between organisms
Some organisms
walk on four legs
and are covered in
fur.
Some organisms
can make their own
food.
Some organisms
digest other
organisms to get
food.
4. True False
Justify your answer
True or false?
T F
Check
a
b
They look very similar and have similar names, so
there must not be many differences between them.
A stick and a stick insect are different organisms.
A stick insect has legs for moving around to find food, but a
stick is from a tree that has no legs and makes its own food.
Differences between organisms
a stick
a stick insect
5. Task A
Practice
Create a mind map showing as many differences between
different animals as you can think of.
Include physical and behavioral differences.
Differences between organisms
Differences
between
animals
when it is active
(day/night/dusk)
skin covering
(e.g. fur/feathers)
6. Task A
Feedback
back bone, shell or soft
body
Create a mind map showing as many differences between
different animals as you can think of.
Differences between organisms
Differences
between
animals
when it is active
(day/night/dusk)
lives on land or in
water
type of teeth
direction its eyes face
type of food
eaten
movement
You might have
added:
number of
legs
predator or prey
migrates
hibernat
es
skin covering
(e.g. fur/feathers)
9. Explanation
Organisms in each level
have common features.
Scientists classify organisms into different levels:
Classification
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
In higher levels, there are:
more organisms with
fewer features in common.
In lower levels, there are:
fewer organisms with
more features in common.
11. Explanation
Classification
Animals
The organisms in each kingdom have basic common features, for
example all plants can make their own food.
But they also have many differences in their features for example
some plants are evergreen whilst others are deciduous.
Plants Fungi Bacteria
Firstly, scientists classify organisms into very large groups
called kingdoms. There are kingdoms of:
Protists
12. Check
Less organisms with few similarities in their features.
Which of the statements best describes the organisms in larger
groups such as kingdoms?
Classification
a
b
c
More organisms with many similarities in their features.
More organisms with few similarities in their features.
Less organisms with many similarities in their features.
d
13. Explanation
Organisms within each kingdom are classified into smaller
groups called phyla based on their features.
Classification
Vertebrates Invertebrates
All organisms in the phylum
vertebrates have a backbone.
This includes mammals, birds,
fish, reptiles and amphibians.
In the animal kingdom, the phyla are:
All organisms in the phylum
invertebrates do not have a
backbone. This includes
insects, worms, arachnids and
molluscs.
14. Check
Katie is a marine biologist.
Classification
How would a biologist classify these animals into two phyla?
seagull
sea urchin
jellyfish starfish
fish
She finds these animals:
a
Group the organisms with a
similar feature, e.g. backbone.
b Group the organisms with a
similar habitat.
c Group the organisms with a
similar name.
15. Explanation
Organisms in a phylum are put into classes, grouping organisms
together by general features such as the number of legs they have.
Classification
coelenterates
flat worms
annelid worms
molluscs
arthropods
echinoderms
Invertebrate animals are grouped into the following classes:
16. Explanation
Humans are animals, and can be classified using this
system:
Classification
Kingdom - animal
Phylum - vertebrate (with backbone)
Class - mammals
Order - primates
Family - great apes (hominids)
Genus - human (Homo)
Species - wise (sapiens)
17. Check
Fish have more in
common with birds
than starfish.
Using the chart, which of these
statements are true?
Classification
a
b
c
All animals are
vertebrates.
All insects are
invertebrates.
Jellyfish are a type of
fish.
d
Amphibians
Birds
Fish
Mammals
Reptiles
Jellyfish Molluscs
Starfish Worms
Arachnids Crustaceans
Insects Myriapods
Animals
Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Arthropods
18. Practice
Task B Classification
With a partner, discuss and sort the organisms into groups.
1. How many groups will you sort the organisms into?
2. What is the rule you will use to classify organisms into each group?
3. Add the following labels to your sorted organisms: kingdom, phylum and
class.
fly frog
grass snake slug snail spider
fish
19. Task B
Feedback
Classification
With a partner, discuss and sort the animals.
You might have
sorted them: animals
vertebrates invertebrates
fish reptiles
amphibia
ns
arthropod
s
molluscs
fish grass snake frog fly spider slug snail
kingdom
phylum
class
21. Explanation
Genus and species
As we move through the classification system, we can
group and describe an organism in greater detail.
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
The genus collects
very similar organisms
together. For instance,
all bears have the
genus ‘Ursus’.
Polar bears are a different
species from brown
bears.
22. Explanation
A species is a group of organisms with very similar features that
can reproduce with each other to produce fertile offspring.
Genus and species
Two horses can
reproduce to produce
fertile horses.
Two donkeys can
reproduce to
produce fertile
donkeys.
If a horse and a donkey
reproduce, they produce
an infertile mule because
they are different species.
23. True False
Justify your answer
True or false?
Check
a
b
T F
If a dog and a wolf are bred together, they produce fertile puppies.
Therefore, the dog and wolf are the same species.
Genus and species
Organisms of the same species can reproduce to produce infertile
offspring.
Organisms of the same species can reproduce to produce fertile
offspring.
24. Explanation
All organisms have a binomial name: a genus and species.
Genus and species
Red admiral
butterfly is
Vanessa atalanta
Wild daffodils are
Narcissus
pseudonarcissus
Fly agaric fungus is
Amanita muscaria
25. Explanation
The formatting conventions for genus and species
names are:
Genus and species
Crocodylus nileticus
Genus name has
the first letter
CAPITALISED
Species name is
all in
lower case
Both names are either in
italics or underlined
27. Check
a
b
c
d
Which example correctly shows the binomial genus and
species name for the domestic cat?
Genus and species
Felis Catus
Felis catus
Felis catus
felis Catus
28. Practice
Task C
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus)
and brown bears (Ursus arctos)
are related.
Complete the table to show how
they are classified.
Level Polar Bear Brown Bear
Kingdom
vertebrate vertebrate
Class mammal
Order carnivore
Family ursidae
Ursus
Species
Genus and species
29. Task C
Feedback
Polar bears (Ursus
maritimus) and brown
bears (Ursus arctos) are
related.
Complete the table to
show how they are
classified.
Genus and species
Level Polar Bear Brown Bear
Kingdom
vertebrate vertebrate
Class mammal
Order carnivore
Family ursidae
Ursus
Species
anima
l
anima
l
Phylum
mamm
al
carnivore
ursidae
Genus Ursus
maritimus arctos
30. Summary
● Scientists classify every organism into groups from kingdoms
down to species.
● In larger groups such as kingdoms there are more organisms with
fewer similarities in their features.
● Scientists give each species a binomial name to identify the genus
and species.
● A species is a group of organisms which can reproduce with each
other to produce fertile offspring.
Classification and species
● In classification, the similarities and differences
in organisms’ features are used to classify them
into groups.
