Classification of living organisms: plants and animals
Lessons 16–18 · 3 lessons · K. T. Suyarov, Z. B. Sangirova, M. T. Umaraliyeva, S. G‘. Xasanova, M. K. Yuldasheva, D. T. Hasanova. Natural Science, Grade 6 (new edition). Republican Education Centre, 2022
16
Classification of living organisms
Textbook, pp. 37–38
GoalExplain classification and systematics, the idea of a species and the rule of binomial (two-part) naming.
New words
classification (sorting organisms into groups by similarity) · klassifikatsiyasystematics (the science of describing and classifying organisms) · sistematikaspecies · turbinomial nomenclature (two-part naming) · binar nomenklatura
Explanation
Living things on Earth are very diverse, so to study them more easily we sort them into groups. Sorting organisms into groups by their shared features is called classification; the science that describes and classifies organisms is systematics. All living organisms are made of cells and show nutrition, breathing, excretion, response to stimuli, reproduction, growth and development. A group of organisms with similar external and internal structure is a species: for example poplar, willow and apricot are different species. Plant species that are close in origin are united into genera (turkum), animal species into genera (urug‘). In science each species has a two-part name (binomial nomenclature): for plants the species and genus name, for animals the species and genus name. This system was introduced in the 18th century by the Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus. Languages differ, but the scientific name is the same everywhere, so scientists understand each other.
Worked examples
Tulipa greigii and the red tulip are different species but both belong to the tulip genus. The brown bear and the polar bear belong to the bear genus but are separate species.
Sort classroom objects: writing tools (pencil, pen), furniture (desk, chair), school instruments (ruler, compass). Grouping makes finding things easier – and it works the same for living nature.
Class activity
“Sort into groups” game: pupils sort 12–15 picture cards of plants and animals by a feature they choose (habitat, feeding, body covering) and say which feature they used. Then regroup using another feature and compare. Safety: only paper cards are used.
Practice
1
What is classification? And systematics?
Classification is sorting organisms into groups by shared features; systematics is the science that describes and classifies them.
2
What is a species?
A group of organisms with similar external and internal structure, habitat and environment.
3
Into which unit are species combined in plants and in animals?
In plants – a genus (turkum); in animals – a genus (urug‘).
4
Why is it useful that a scientific name has two parts and is the same in every country?
Because common names differ between languages; a scientific name identifies the organism exactly and helps scientists understand each other.