Classification Simulation Lab



Virtual Lab: Classification



Question: How are living things classified into groups?

Introduction

Today most scientists classify all living organisms into six major groups, called kingdoms. These six kingdoms are Archaebacteia, Eubacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plant, and Animal. Each of the six kingdoms has a unique set of characteristics that identify its members. These characteristics include the number of cells, whether or not those cells have nuclei, the organism’s ability to move from place to place (locomotion), and whether the organism makes its own food or obtains if from other organisms (nutrition).

A kingdom may share one or more of these characteristics, but the set of characteristics that define each kingdom is unique. For example, members of both the Plant and Animal kingdoms have many cells with nuclei, but only animals have all of these characteristics of the Animal kingdom: they move from one place to another, eat food for energy, and have many cells with nuclei.

Purpose

To classify organisms into kingdoms based on their physical and behavioural characteristics.

Objective

• Compare and contrast the six kingdoms of living things according to their physical and behavioural similarities and differences.

• Correctly identify the kingdom classifications of a variety of organisms.

Materials

Computer and Internet access.

Procedure:

1. Click and drag an organism from the upper right of the screen down to the magnifying glass. The organism’s scientific name/common name, enlarged image, and information about the organism will appear.

2. Click the pinned notes on the kingdom boxes to see information about the kingdoms. Use this information to classify the organism you selected into its correct kingdom.

3. Drag the organism into the kingdom where you think it belongs. Click the “Check” button to see if you have classified the organism correctly. If a yellow box appears around the organism, re-examine the organism and the characteristics for the kingdoms and drag the organism to another kingdom. Click the “Check” button to verify your selection. Repeat the process until you have correctly classified the organism.

4. Once you have correctly classified the organism, you are to record the organism’s (1) scientific name/common name, (2) number of cells, (3) types of cells, (4) locomotion, (5) nutrition, and (6) kingdom in the data table below.

5. Repeat the process until you have identified all 16 different organisms (at least one organisms in each kingdom). You may have to “Reset” the page more than once because sometimes the organisms is repeated in the selection.

6. Once you have finished your classification process, complete the conclusion questions.

7. Data Table: Six Kingdoms of Living Things

# |Scientific Name |# of cells |Type of Cells |Locomotion |Nutrition |Kingdom | | |Common Name | | | | | | |1 | | | | | |Archaebacteria | | | | | | | | | |2 | | | |Some |Some make food; some obtain food | | | | | | | | | | |3 | |One | | |Some make food; some obtain food | | | | | | | | | | |4 | | | | | |Eubacteria | | | | | | | | | |5 | |One |No nuclei | | | | | | | | | | | | |6 | | |No nuclei | |Some make food; some obtain food | | | | | | | | | | |7 | | | | | |Protists | | | | | | | | | |8 | | |Has nucleus |Some | | | | | | | | | | | |9 | |One or many | | |Some make food; some obtain food | | | | | | | | | | |10 | | | | | |Plants | | | | | | | | | |11 | | |Has nuclei and cell walls | | | | | | | | | | | | |12 | | | | | |Animals | | | | | | | | | |13 | |Many |Has nuclei | | | | | | | | | | | | |14 | | | | | |Fungi | | | | | | | | | |15 | | | |None | | | | | | | | | | | |16 | | |Has nuclei | | | | | | | | | | | | |

Conclusion

1. Many people organize books, videos, and CDs in their homes to make it easier to find what they’re looking for. Describe another type of classification system you have seen or used.

2. How are animals and plants different? How are they similar the same? Be specific!

a. Differences:

i. Plants –

ii. Animals –

b. Similarities:

i.

3. Working as an assistant in a laboratory, you discover an organism that you believe might be a new species of plants or fungus. What are some differences between the plants and fungi, and what clues might help you classify this organism?

a. Differences:

i. Plants –

ii. Fungi –

b. Clues to classify the organism?

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