Classification+of+Living+Things


 * CLASSIFICATION STATION**


 * Scientists have identified nearly 2 million different organisms on our planet. Some scientists have estimated that more than 40 milIion organisms have yet to be discovered and identified. In order to make sense of this vast nu****mber of organisms, a system had to be developed to group living things according to similarities in characteristics. The first and broadest category to which an organism belongs is the domain. The smallest and most unique category is the species. In this unit, you will discover how organisms are classified, who developed our current classification system, and how to classify organisms using a dichotomous key.**

**Activity One** This [|University of Hawaii site] gives general background information on classification. On the first page, define the terms in the box by filling in the blanks in questions 1 through 9. If you don't know what some of the terms are, Google them. **Read the remaining information. Answer the following questions:**
 * 1) Who developed the classification system that we currently use?
 * 2) What is this system called?
 * 3) Why is it necessary for classification systems to change over time?
 * 4) In the 1990s, what were the five kingdoms recognized by most scientists?
 * 5) What happened in 2006 that changed our current system?
 * 6) What mnemonic device can be used to remember the order of classification?
 * 7) To which classification categories do all the animals in the table on page 4 belong?
 * 8) Why are they all classed as animals?
 * 9) Which of the animals are in the same phylum and class?
 * 10) Which two animals are the most closely related? What criteria have you used for your answer?
 * 11) Of what does an organism's scientific name consist?
 * 12) Now answer the five questions on pages 4 and 5. Write the questions and the answers.

**Activity Two**

Log on to this [|classification] site. Answer the following questions:
 * 1) **What types of living things inhabit Domain Eubacteria?**
 * 2) **Which kinds of organisms inhabit Domain Archaea?**
 * 3) **Describe the characteristics of the organisms in each kingdom of Domain Eukarya (or Eukaryota).**
 * 4) **Classify a human from the broadest category to the narrowest.**

Activity Three
 * You will be given a worksheet for this activity. Log on to the [|KidZone] portion of ScienceSpot. Navigate through the sites by clicking on the titles on your worksheet.**

Activity Four **Now it's your turn to identify objects using a classification tool called a dichotomous key.**

**Vocabulary for this unit:** > > >
 * [|**dichotomous**]
 * [|**key**]
 * [|**classification**]


 * [|This site] gives basic information on dichotomous keys and how to construct one.**


 * Give a scientific name to the critters on this [|Creature Features] site. Your teacher will give you a worksheet to go along with the website.**


 * Now identify these [|Pamishan] inhabitants. You will have a worksheet for this activity also.**

**And last, but certainly not least, you will use your wizarding skills to identify Bernie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Mmmmmm, such delicious flavors: sardine, booger, ear wax, and vomit, all my personal favorites.**

Just for fun, play the [|Animal Classification Game.]

**Activity Five** ** Construct your own dichotomous key using [|this website]. You must construct a key that uses all ten objects that you are classifying. This activity is due Wednesday, August 25. **
 * Extra Credit**

*Activity Six*  Test Test Friday, August 27, 2010 Part of the test will be in a question-and-answer format and part will be a dichotomous key that you must complete.

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