Classification

The History of Organization

Aristotle 384-322 BCInterested in biological classification.

Patterns in nature.

Carl Linnaeus1707-1778 ACE

Father ofBiological

Classification!

Binomial Nomenclature

Two-word naming system– Genus

• Noun, Capitalized, Underlined or Italicized

– Species• Descriptive, Lower Case,

Underlined or Italicized

Common name: Robin

• Erithacus rubicula

• Turdus migratorus

Common name: Black and Polar Bear

Ursus americanus

Ursus maritimus

The Science of Classification

Scientist who classify ororganize organisms (animals and plants)

are called taxonomists.

Taxonomists study taxonomy.

What is Classification?

Classification arranges objects, ideas, or information

into groups by finding common

traits or characteristics.

Engage Activity: Classification

• Get to a table, take a baggy and classify the items into 2 groups.

• Write down the characteristics for each group.• Split those groups into 2 groups.• Write down the common characteristics for

those new groups.

Share - compare with the group next to you.

Are your groups: the same, similar or different?

In order to make their job easier, scientists classify living things into groups, based on how they are the same, and how they are different.

Cladograms are used to…

• Organize organisms based on evolutionary relationships.

In other words…• who is related to who

and where did we come from…

On your paper:

K-

P-

C-

O-

F-

G-

s-

Groups are also arranged in hierarchical order.

Hierarchical Classification

• Taxonomic categories– Kingdom (big) King– Phylum Philip– Class Came– Order Over– Family For– Genus Grape– Species (small) Soda

Binomial Nomenclature!

Activity - Mnemonic

On the KPCOFGS of paper, create your own sentence to help you remember the order of

classification.

my example:

King Philip Come Over For Grape Soda

What are Dichotomous Keys?

• a method for determining the identity of something (like the name of a butterfly, a plant, a lichen, or a rock) by going through a series of choices that leads the user to the correct name of the item.

• Dichotomous means "divided in two parts".

Using a dichotomous keyAt each step of the process of using the key, the user is

given two choices; each alternative leads to another question until the item is identified.

1a. If the leaves are flat….go to question 4. 1b. If the leaves are needle-like….go to question 2.2a. Are the needles in a bunch? Go to question 52b. Are they spread along the branch?“…pine tree

Eventually, when enough questions have been answered, the identity of the tree is revealed.

Activity –Using a Dichotomous Key

Classify the Crazy Creatures

New Discoveries

Questions

How can you answer these questions?

Why is Taxonomy Important?

Unknown species discovered.

New fossil Uncovered.

Exit Ticket

Alphabet Soup

On a separate sheet of paper, create a sentence of something you learned today that must begin with your letter.