Taxonomy of Living Things

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

• Can you imagine walking into a grocery store to buy an apple and finding the produce all piled together like this?

*various fruits and vegetables mixed together at a market

• How hard would it be to find the apple without organization?

Grocery stores are organized to help shoppers find what they need easily. Similarly, scientists have developed a system to help organize all living creatures.

The system of defining groups of organisms based on similar structures and characteristics is called taxonomy.

Today, we use a sophisticated taxonomic structure that includes eight distinct levels of organization. These classify all living creatures using common characteristics, functions, and structures.

As you explore the taxonomic hierarchy, use Cornell Notes to record what you learn. Follow these steps and check out How to Take Cornell Notes.

1. Fold a sheet of paper half longways, like a hot dog.

2. Put note questions on the left-hand side of the fold and the answers on the right-hand side.

3. The note questions will be given to you in the lesson, but you might have to find the answers by completing lesson activities.

Note Question 1

• What levels of organization do scientists use in today's classification system?

There are eight levels, ranging from one species to the largest group, a domain.

Note Question 2

• How are taxonomic levels different from one another?

To answer this, draw the following graphic organizer on your paper.

Explore Taxonomy and Classification of living organisms - AQA to fill in important information for each classification level to complete notes for this question.

Note Question 3

• What is an example of an organism's taxonomic classification?

The video below shows you taxonomic hierarchy through an interesting example and provides a way to remember the levels.

• Do you see how every living organism is classified using the same system of organization?

This allows scientists all over the world to be able to speak a common language about living creatures. It allows scientists to speak specifically about individual species and discuss larger groups like phyla and classes.

• What did you learn about how organisms are classified?
• Why do scientists need to classify living things?

In the Got It? section, explore a cool interactive and research the taxonomic hierarchy of a living organism.