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Name:______Class: ______Date: ____

The Classification of Living Things

Introduction: As you know, organisms can be classified according to the 5 Kingdom System, or the more recent 3 Domain System. Still, there are other ways that could be used to classify organisms. This activity looks at some different classification methods, used to provide us with specific information about the organism, for example what it eats or even its structure.

Procedure: There are 3 stations that need to be completed in this activity. You may start at any station. Be sure to fill in your work sheet in the appropriate sections as you move from station to station:

  • Station 1: From Cell to Organism
  1. The following terms apply to many of the organisms that are found at this station. To help you complete the “Practical Lab Survey” below, please write definitions for the following words in the spaces provided:

(a)Heterotroph: ______.

(b)Autotroph:

______.

(c)Vertebrate:

______.

(d)Invertebrate:

______.

(e)Producer:

______.

(f)Primary (first level) consumer:

______.

(g)Secondary (second level) consumer:

______.

(h)Decomposer:

______.

  1. There are 12 specimens of various organisms on the lab bench in front of you. Carefully exam the specimens and complete the “Practical Lab Survey” below. Please refer to the definitions above, the diagram called “The Classification of Living Things” and thelaminated posters to assist you in completing the survey.

Name of Specimen / Plant / Heterotroph / Autotroph / Animal / Vertebrate / Invertebrate / Cell / Unicellular / Multicellular / Tissue / Organ / System / Organism / Micro-organism / Producer / Primary
Consumer / Secondary
Consumer / Decomposer
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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10.
11.
12.
  • Station 2: Skullduggery!

You will find three types of animal skulls at this station. Examine the teeth in each skull. The teeth in an animal skull can tell us whether theanimal was a carnivore (meat eater), herbivore (plant eater)or an omnivore (meat and plant eater). These categories serve as a very convenient way to classify animals, based on their diet. Other features of the skulls, including the structure of the nose and the position of the eyes may also help you to decide what categories these skulls fit into. Please refer to copies of the handout called “Wildlife Skull Activities”, to assist you.

  1. Based on your observations and conclusions, classify the animals (skulls),by placing a checkmark in the appropriate categories in the table below:

Skull / Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Predator / Prey
#1
#2
#3
  1. In your opinion, do you think that naming this section, “Skullduggery”, was a good or bad choice. Please write your opinion, with an explanation, in the space below:

______.

  • Station 3: Bacterial Shapes
  1. Another way to classify organisms is to sort them by shape. Microbiologists use 3 categories for this purpose; cocci (spheres), bacilli (rods), and spirilli (spirals). Examine the slide of bacteria on each microscope. Using the table below record the shape, and prepare a sketch to represent each bacterium. Refer to the laminated posterscalled “Bacteria”, located on the lab bench, to assist you.

Name of Bacterium / Shape / Sketch

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  1. Does the scientific name help to identify the shape of bacteria? Explain with the use of examples from this lab.

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