You Will Need
Provided Resources
- Living things poem
- MRS NERG explanation sheet
- MRS NERG PowerPoint
Additional Resources
- Large sheets of paper (some for rough work, some for posters)
Become experts in the use of classification keys to help group, identify and name a variety of living things. Learn about the 7 characteristics of a living thing (MRS NERG/MRS GREN). Sort living things in a number of ways and make a dichotomous classification key to identify local invertebrates. Make observational drawings and a large-scale group drawing of an insect. Finally, demonstrate your knowledge of classification keys to a young invited audience.
Become an expert in the 7 characteristics of a living thing. Make a poster and explain life processes to younger children. Sort living things in a variety of ways.
Science Objectives
i) Recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways.
ii) Explore and use classification keys to help group, identify and name a variety of living things in their local and wider environment.
Working Scientifically
Provided Resources
Additional Resources
Teaching
Activities
Investigation - sorting, classifying and idendifying
Ask relevant questions about living things and their habitats and begin to group them.
Vocabulary
Alive, dead, never been alive, movement, reproduction, sensitivity, nutrition, excretion, respiration, growth, habitat, local
Take a trip within the local environment, observe habitats and record the different living things you find.
Science Objectives
i) Explore and use classification keys to help group, identify and name a variety of living things in their local and wider environment.
Working Scientifically
Extended Writing Opportunities
Non-chronological writing: Write a newspaper article, for the Nature column, about your observations during your trip within the local environment.
Provided Resources
Additional Resources
Weblinks
Leaf identification PDF from www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
Spotter sheet downloads from www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
Instructions for safe and considerate collection methods for insects (Pg.3) from www.forestryengland.uk
Minibeast identification from www.science-resources.co.uk
Teaching
Activities
Investigation - exploring, sorting, classifying and identifying
Observe local habitats and record living things they see around them.
Vocabulary
Habitat, living thing, alive, dead, never been alive, plant, animal, insect, local, natural, man-made, observation, record, vertebrate, invertebrate, arachnid, question
Look carefully at features of the living things you found in the local area. Make a branching database to sort and identify the local invertebrates. This can be linked to a mathematics block on statistics and data handling.
Science Objectives
i) Recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways.
ii) Explore and use classification keys to help group, identify and name a variety of living things in their local and wider environment.
Working Scientifically
Other Curriculum Areas
Computing (This session can cover some computing objectives if appropriate software is available )
Extended Writing Opportunities
Biography: Research some key facts about Carl Linnaeus and write a short biography about him explaining his importance.
Provided Resources
Additional Resources
Weblinks
Explains different animal classes from www.kidzone.ws
Clip about classification of living things from www.bbc.co.uk
Minibeast id from www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
Leaf identification PDF from www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
Software programme that creates branching data from www.flexible.co.uk
New species of jellyfish from http://news.nationalgeographic.com
New species of mantis from www.eurekalert.org
New species of frog from www.theguardian.com
Teaching
Activities
Investigation - sorting, classifying and identifying
Create a branching database to sort and identify local invertebrates.
Vocabulary
Classify, sort, group, similar, different, branching database, identify, variety, question, explore, key
Use a branching database/dichotomous classification key. Make accurate observational drawings of an invertebrate found in the local environment.
Science Objectives
i) Recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways.
ii) Explore and use classification keys to help group, identify and name a variety of living things in their local and wider environment.
Working Scientifically
Other Curriculum Areas
Art
Provided Resources
Additional Resources
Weblinks
Levon Bliss site, watch the film (play in bottom left) from http://microsculpture.net/
Teaching
Activities
Investigation - classifying and identifying
Make close observational drawings and large-scale drawings. Understand that tiny details of features help with classification.
Vocabulary
Observation, details, identify, classify, invertebrate
Make a group large-scale drawing of an insect. Understand that accurate knowledge of the features of living things is vital to classification. Test your knowledge of classification by playing a game.
Science Objectives
i) Recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways.
ii) Explore and use classification keys to help group, identify and name a variety of living things in their local and wider environment.
Working Scientifically
1. Record findings using simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts and tables.
Other Curriculum Areas
Art
Provided Resources
Additional Resources
Weblinks
Levon Biss website from http://microsculpture.net/
Classification game from www.bbc.co.uk
Classification game from http://sciencenetlinks.com
Teaching
Activities
Vocabulary
Observation, classify, detail
Write a branching database for a variety of living things. Test your classification key by playing ‘Guess Who?' Demonstrate your learning to younger children.
Science Objectives
i) Recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways.
ii) Explore and use classification keys to help group, identify and name a variety of living things in their local and wider environment.
Working Scientifically
Other Curriculum Areas
English
Provided Resources
Weblinks
Leaf ID PDF from www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
Teaching
Activities
Investigation - researching and analysing secondary sources, classifying and identifying
Write a branching database for a variety of living things in the wider environment.
Vocabulary
Question, classify, group, teach
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