Year 6 Science Block 6LvH Living Things

and their Habitats

Living things and their habitats (6LvH)

Teacher information
This is intended as useful background knowledge for a teacher addressing this block.
Please scroll to the end for key knowledge and concepts for children

What is classification?
Classification is the way that scientists organise the huge diversity of life on Earth. It
allows them to sort all living things whether they are animals, plants, fungi or tiny
single-cell organisms into groups whose members share a common set of features
that are unique to that group. These features can be seen for example, it might be
an animal that has a backbone or wings or lays eggs, or a plant that bears flowers or
has leaves of a particular appearance. Because there are so many living things, it is
difficult to classify them neatly into groups. In addition, new living things are being
discovered all the time, which may not fit into existing groups, and scientists develop
new ideas about how living things should be grouped (see below). This means that the
classification of living things can change.

Why classify living organisms?

Classification is important for many reasons. It helps scientists to organise the millions
of different living things on Earth so that they can clearly identify organisms and study
them. It helps them understand how organisms are related to each other and how
they have changed over time. Classification is also useful for conservation efforts.

Different levels of classification and naming of species

Living organisms are classified by separating them into different groups and
progressively sub-dividing these groups into smaller and smaller ones in which the
members have more and more features in common and look more and more alike. At
the top level of classification, there are 5 big divisions of living organisms; at the
bottom, there are millions of species. The ranks are: kingdom, phylum, class, order,
family, genus and species ('Keep Plates Clean Or Family Gets Sick'). A species is
known by a two-part Latin name comprised of its genus and its species (the binomial
system of naming, introduced by the 18th century botanist Linnaeus). For example, a
domestic cat belongs to the genus Felis and its species is catus, so its full (or
scientific) name is Felis catus. The common house mouse is called Mus musculus. A
scientific name is important because common names, which are widely used
(especially in plants) because they are easier to remember, are not as precise.

The kingdoms

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Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links, changed such Links
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Year 6 Science Block 6LvH Living Things
and their Habitats

There are 5 kingdoms - plants, animals, fungi, monera and protoctista - although
scientists have not yet agreed whether this is the best number of kingdoms into which
to organise living organisms, so you may see more than 5 kingdoms referred to in
places. Every member of the plant kingdom contains a chemical called chlorophyll
that is green and is used to make food. By contrast, animals are a category of living
organisms that cannot make their own food and rely on other living things for food,
and that are motile. Fungi include moulds, mushrooms and yeast. They are very useful
for food and medicines penicillin is made in moulds, and yeast is used for baking and
brewing. Bacteria constitute the kingdom monera and are a huge and very versatile
group of single-celled organisms that can live anywhere including under the most
extreme conditions of light and heat. Some live inside our gut, others live deep in the
ocean and in the Earth's crust where there is no light. The kingdom protoctista
contains a range of single-celled organisms that also live in many different habitats. It
includes algae, some of which are like plants and can make their own food, others of
which are more like animal or fungal cells. Some protoctista are important human
pathogens, such as the organism called Plasmodium that causes malaria.

The Animal Kingdom - phylum, class, order, family and genus

As examples of the different levels of classification, we can look at how the Animal
Kingdom is divided. The Animal Kingdom is the largest and most diverse of the
kingdoms, with around 1.5 million species. There are about 30 phyla in this kingdom,
but the 9 largest phyla contain the majority of species. One of these is the vertebrates
(animals with backbones); the remaining ones are invertebrates (animals without
backbones). Although vertebrates are the dominant phylum on the planet, they
consist of less than 50,000 known species. The arthropods, a phylum that includes
insects and spiders, is huge and consists of about a million identified species.
According to some estimates, several-fold more species may actually exist.

The vertebrates are divided into five major classes on the basis of the following
features: how the animal takes in oxygen, whether or not it maintains its own
temperature, and how it reproduces. The classes are: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds
and mammals. As a generalisation, the easiest way of determining what class a
vertebrate belongs to is by looking at what covers its body scales, smooth or bumpy
skin, scales, feathers, and fur or hair, respectively.

There are about than 4,800 different species of mammals including the largest
animals on the planet - the great whales. Terrestrial mammals generally have 4 legs,
but some mammals that are adapted for life at sea or in the air (such as bats) have a
different body type. Mammals share many common features. They have a backbone,
a relatively large brain, are warm-blooded (endothermic) meaning that they can
Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively
referred to as the Links) have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William
Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton Trusts knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton
Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links, changed such Links
and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you
use. Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.
Year 6 Science Block 6LvH Living Things
and their Habitats

regulate their body temperature, have hair/fur on their bodies and produce milk to
feed their babies. Mammals are classified into orders, some of which include a wide
range of animals primates, for example, include shrews, lemurs, monkey, apes,
humans and more. Other orders are made up of only one sort of animal the 18
families of bats, the only mammals that can fly, make up one order. Examples of other
orders are rodents (gnawing mammals), whales and porpoises, and marsupials
(pouched mammals). Families and genus are the next levels of classification, with
members sharing an increasing number of features.

The Plant Kingdom

This is the second largest kingdom, with about 400,000 species. It includes the plants
that we are most familiar with the flowering plants - as well as mosses, ferns and
conifers. In the Plant Kingdom, the division of phylum is not generally used and sub-
divisions such as 'subclass' and 'suborder' are common. Plants are classified on the
basis of many observable characteristics, one of which is whether they reproduce via
seeds or spores. The majority of plant species, including flowering plants and conifers,
produce seeds; mosses and ferns produce spores instead. Other characteristics that
are used to classify plants include what the seedling looks like as it appears (whether
it has one or two seed leaves), the seeds, and the structure of the flower. The
flowering plants are a particularly diverse group of plants and most of our food comes
from these plants, including rice, corn, wheat, sugar cane (all types of grasses), and
vegetables and fruits. Flowering plants also provide much of our resources in the form
of wood, paper, fibre (e.g. cotton and hemp), and many medicines.

Species
Each species name describes just one type of living organism. A species is usually
defined as a group made up of individuals that can reproduce. Whilst there is still a lot
of variation within a species, there is less than between species. Humans all belong to
the same species, Homo sapiens. We share many characteristics but our appearance
can vary considerably for example, our eye colour, height, and skin colour. In the
horticultural world, breeding produces plants with particular characteristics, for
example high-yields or seedless fruits. Within a plant species, there may therefore be
different cultivated varieties.
Where do the species names come from? They are often Greek or Latin and describe
the species. For example, the grey squirrel is Sciurus carolinensis. Sciurus is a Latin
word that comes from two Greek words skia meaning shadow, and oura meaning
tail. The name may have originated because the squirrel sits in the shadow of its tail.
Carolinesis refers to the Carolinas (in America), the first place where scientists
documented the species.

Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively
referred to as the Links) have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William
Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton Trusts knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton
Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links, changed such Links
and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you
use. Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.
Year 6 Science Block 6LvH Living Things
and their Habitats

Examples of classifications
The grey squirrel and red squirrel are classified below, with the numbers in brackets
indicating the numbers of different types of animals within that group.

Grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) Animals (1.5m) Chordates (26,000) Mammals

(4,800) Rodents (2,000) Sciurids (270) Sciurus (30) Sciurus carolinensis (1)
[note that the names here have been changed from the Latin/scientific form to the
form we are familiar with e.g. from Animalia to Animals]

Compare the grey squirrel with the red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris:
Animals Chordates Mammals Rodents Sciurids Sciurus Sciurus vulgaris

For humans (Homo sapiens), the classification is: Animals - Chordates - Mammals -
Primates - Hominids -Homo - Homo sapiens
The classification of the common (or seven-spotted) ladybird (Coccinella
septempunctata), using the scientific names of the groups, is:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Coccinellidae
Genus: Coccinella
Species: Coccinella septempunctata
In America, a ladybird is called a ladybug, and in other countries it is called a lady
beetle. But we can tell it is the same species from its scientific name, Coccinella
septempunctata, which comes from the Latin words coccinella meaning bright red,
septem meaning seven, and punctus meaning spot.

The history of the classification system

Aristotle, the Greek scientist and philosopher living around 350BCE, was the first
person to study the living world and produce a classification of life, which has many
similarities to the current system. He grouped animals into genera according to
common features - each genus was much broader than the modern-day genus - and
he distinguished species within the genera. The distinctions between different types of
animals correspond closely to the distinctions we now recognise.
Carl Linnaeus was born in Sweden in 1707. He was very interested in botany but
realised that it was hard to keep track of the specimens because the descriptive
system of naming plants that was around at the time was so unwieldy. A plant's
scientific name could be 20 words long because it provided descriptions in minute
detail about the plant. Recognising how impractical this was, Linnaeus devised a much
Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively
referred to as the Links) have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William
Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton Trusts knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton
Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links, changed such Links
and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you
use. Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.
Year 6 Science Block 6LvH Living Things
and their Habitats

better system the binomial system still based on shared physical characteristics. In
his system, he gave every plant and animal that he knew about two names a genus
name and a species name, in Latin. Linnaeus amassed a huge collection of specimens
over 14,000 plants and 3,000 insects - many of which are 'type' specimens, that is,
the first member of the species to be scientifically described. His basic system, which
has been continually expanded and modified, is the one used today.

Classification and the Tree of life

As well as using physical characteristics to understand how living things are related,
scientists have used another source of information within the last century - genetic. All
living organisms contain the genetic material DNA, which is passed on from one
generation to the next. By analysing the DNA of organisms, it is possible to
understand the relationship between organisms. The evidence from DNA analysis
confirms that all organisms on Earth are genetically related. This genealogical
relationship can be represented as an evolutionary tree, the 'Tree of Life', which is a
branching tree, showing that all life is connected and illustrating how different species
arise from previous species. All the sub-groups of one particular type of organism are
on the same branch and these sub-groups are more closely related to each other than
to organisms on other branches.
For a simple Tree of Life for animals, look at:
http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/animals/animalid/tree.htm
For a much more detailed exploration of the Tree of Life, see the interactive one
available at: http://www.wellcometreeoflife.org/about-tree-of-life/what/

Further Information
There are lots of websites with details about specific animals (and to a lesser extent,
plants); some linked to collections or zoos, which include information about how living
organisms are classified and the features of different life forms. Here are a few
examples:

Oxford University Museum of Natural History has information about classification of

animals: http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/animals/animalid/index.htm

San Diego Zoo has information about different types of animals:

http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals

Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively
referred to as the Links) have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William
Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton Trusts knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton
Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links, changed such Links
and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you
use. Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.
Year 6 Science Block 6LvH Living Things
and their Habitats

The Linnaean Society of London has resources for primary schools, including Fact
Sheets about famous scientists who studied biodiversity and classification:
https://www.linnean.org/education-resources/primary-resources

Archived pages on the BBC website have information about life and the classification
of living organisms: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life

Kew Gardens has 'Discover plants and fungi' pages, which provide information about
more than 400 species including those that are useful to humans:
http://www.kew.org/science-conservation/plants-fungi

Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively
referred to as the Links) have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William
Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton Trusts knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton
Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links, changed such Links
and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you
use. Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.
Year 6 Science Block 6LvH Living Things
and their Habitats

Key knowledge and concepts for children

Year 2
Recognize whether things are alive, dead or have never lived.
Identify different plants and animals and recognize that they are suited to their
different habitats, including micro-habitats.
Recognise how different habitats provide for the basic needs of animals and
plants.
Understand that animals get their food from other animals and/or from plants.
Recognise that a food chain is made of a series of plants and animals that eat
each other and shows how energy is transferred from one organism to another
via food.

Year 4
Recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways that helps us to
study and identify them.
Recognise that classification keys can be used to help group, identify and name
living things.
Recognise that environments can change, often because of human activity, and
that this can affect the survival of living things.

Year 6

Recognise that classification across all living things is based upon observable
characteristics, with organisms in the same group sharing a common set of
characteristics that are unique to that group.
Recognise that classification based on specific characteristics is done for many
reasons:
o To help identify and organise the vast number of different living organisms
o To help understand how living organisms are related to each other and
how they have changed over time
o To help scientists in their conservation efforts.

Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.
The links to the websites and the contents of the web pages associated with such links specified on this list (hereafter collectively
referred to as the Links) have been checked by Hamilton Trust (being the operating name of the registered charity, William
Rowan Hamilton Trust) and to the best of Hamilton Trusts knowledge, are correct and accurate at the time of publication.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other terms and conditions on the Hamilton Trust website, you acknowledge that Hamilton
Trust has no control over such Links and indeed, the owners of such Links may have removed such Links, changed such Links
and/or contents associated with such Links. Therefore, it is your sole responsibility to verify any of the Links which you wish you
use. Hamilton Trust excludes all responsibility and liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any Links.