Teacher Discovery Card Classification Information There are millions different kinds plants and animals in the world Each different kind plant and animal is called a species We can group species together according to certain characteristics The diagram below shows how the invertebrates fit into the overall classification tree Living Things KINGDOM Fungi (like plants in many ways but do not contain chlorophyll and do not photosynthesis Fungi feed saprophytically or parasitically) PHYLUM Plants Monera bacteria and blue green algae: (single celled organisms without a nucleus) nimals Invertebrates (no backbones they have an exoskeleton) Protista (single celled organisms containing a nucleus) Vertebrates (have backbones - they have an endoskeleton) Coelenterata Flatworms Roundworms rthropods nnelids Molluscs Sea urchins Others (starfish & jellyfish) (segmented worms (eg snail eg earthworm) slug, octopus) CLSS Crustaceans eg woodlouse, crab, lobster Insects eg beetle, butterfly, bee, earwig, fly rachnids eg spider, scorpion, tick Myriapods centipedes & millipedes Classification terms The largest groups are known as phyla The organisms in each phylum have a structure which is radically different from organisms in any other phylum Organisms in each phylum can be subdivided into classes Organisms in the same class share several common features class can be further subdivided into orders, orders into families, families into genera and finally genera into species general rule thumb is that organisms the same species can interbreed successfully whereas organisms from the same genus but different species, like the rown ear and the Polar ear cannot interbreed Naming a species Every organism is given a scientific name according to an internationally agreed system The name is always in Latin and is either underlined or written in italics It is in two parts The first name indicates the genus and starts with a capital letter, the second is the species and starts with a lower case letter n example classification is given below The large white butterfly - scientific name: Pieris brassicae Kingdom: nimal Phylum: rthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Pieridae Genus: Pieris Species: brassicae
Teacher Discovery Card (cont) Classification Information Using the Classification Cards (suitable for 5-12 year olds) There are six Classification Cards in this pack which can be used as a source information and/or as the basis for different types displays You may want to cover these cards with sticky back plastic to extend their shelf life Using the ug Dials (suitable for 7-12 year olds) There are two ug Dial templates The More about me ug Dial can be used to find out more about several common invertebrates The What group? ug Dial can be used as an aid to classification specific invertebrates and to explore the characteristics common to each phylum or class oth ug Dials are assembled in the same way The templates should be photocopied preferably to size and given to the children who then cut out the dials using the dotted lines as a guide In each case dial fits on top dial and needs to be fixed in place with a paper fastener oth dials may be backed onto card and could be fixed together - the More about me dial on one side and the What group? dial on the other The live or has never been alive? activity (suitable for 5-7 year olds) You may like to introduce younger children to classification using the simple grouping exercise live or has never been alive? with the help Discovery sheets a and b These sheets can be used in a variety ways: Using the live or has never been alive? Discovery sheet c as a basis for their work, each child can colour, cut out and stick the pictures into either the live or Has never been alive boxes on Discovery sheet a s an extension to this activity, the children might draw in some their own choices For a more guided approach, Discovery sheet b can be used as the basis for a cut, paste and record activity The diagrams on Discovery sheet c can be cut out and used like playing cards during a group discussion Whichever approach is used, you should ask the children to consider the following criteria when making their choices: Does it move? Can it be a parent? Does it breathe? Can it grow? Does it need food? Can it be eaten by another living thing? Can it feel things? Extension (suitable for 5-7 year olds) s an extension activity, children might be encouraged to collect their own examples things which are alive or have never been alive, during a nature walk or scavenger hunt and use their findings to create a display
More about me, bug dial Spider utterfly Snail nthropod (Crustacean) nthropod (Insect) social insect Has a sting lack & yellow colouring reathes through gills Most are plant eaters (Herbivores) nthropod (Insect) Earthworm Has a bright red and black coat to warn predators to stay away Eats smaller animals Damp places eg under logs, stones and in leaf litter hive Has wings nthropod (Myriapod) In and around vegetation Several segments (head, thorax abdomen) Moves quickly and has large jaws to catch smaller animals (Carnivore) Has wings Centipede Woodlouse ee Has small bristles on its called chaetae Plant eater (Herbivore) nthropod (Insect) Has hooks and suction pads on its feet to help it grip smooth surfaces Feeds on dead/decaying matter Often close to man-made habitats eg houses (head, thorax, abdomen) 7 Many segments Long thin Damp places eg under logs, stones and in leaf litter Many Many tube like segments Has wings (head, thorax, abdomen) Long, thin, st Moist soil 0 0 parts (head, thorax, abdomen) 4 1 (unsegmented) Damp places eg vegetation, the underside logs and leaf litter Has head with tentacles Plant eater (Herbivore) Move around using a muscular foot nthropod (Insect) Most adults feed on nectar, most caterpillars feed on plants In and around vegetation (especially flowering plants) dult has wings dult has exoskeleton St, sometimes protected by a shell 2 Mollusc Various Some species trap smaller animals by spinning a sticky web nthropod (rachnid) nnelid about me Number Number Habitat ody sections legs Other more Fly What to do Ladybird Carefully cut around each dotted line Put circle on top circle Fix it into place with a paper fastener To use this bug dial Line up the arrow on the ladybird s head with the picture minibeast that you want to find out more about and read f information in the triangle More about me dial Instruction sheet 1
what group? What group? bug dial Starfish & Mollusc unsegmented Sea Urchin Lives thin, only roundworm long, St, unsegmented Ring St flattened, around the mouth in Jelly-like St, tentacles water flatworm each segment Small ring-like made case rthropod legs Hard or Several No outer on segments many exoskeleton pairs bristles St jointed legs up shell Head around unsegmented with tentacles May have foot Moves St Unsegmented 5 a muscular spines or arms Outercoat has on a star the on Roundworm shaped pattern Jellyfish Flatworm nnelid What to do Carefully cut around each dotted line Put circle on top circle Fix it into place with a paper fastener To use this bug dial Look at the minibeast you are studying carefully and write down its main features For instance: How many legs does it have? Does it have a hard or st? Has it got wings? When you have made a list, turn the dial until you find the triangle information which is most like the list you have made Now look at the box opposite which will tell you which group your minibeast belongs to More about me dial Instruction sheet 1
live or has never been alive? Name: Decide which pictures on sheet c show things that are alive and which show things that have never been alive Cut out each picture and stick it into the correct box on this page live I think these things are alive because: Has never been alive I think these things have never been alive because: live or has never been alive? Discovery sheet a
live or has never been alive? Name: Decide which pictures on sheet c show things that are alive and which show things that have never been alive Cut out each picture and stick it into the correct box on this page live I think these things are alive because: Has never been alive I think these things have never been alive because: live or has never been alive? Discovery sheet b
live or has never been alive? SEEDS live or has never been alive? Discovery sheet c