Classification of living organisms

Class: 6ème, 5ème.

Lesson: Classement des êtres vivants/Definitions d'un être vivant

Rationale: An exercise to show the differences between living organisms and non living organisms and between plants and animals.

Materials:

rock

a glass of water

candle/matches

insect (real or a picture)

flower

fish (live or make a stuffed one with paper)

metal rod (science kit)

rock salt

Procedure:

1. Put all of the objects on a table.

2. Write "A" on one side of the board and "B" on the other.

3. Put the fish in group A.

4. Now ask a student to pick another object that belongs in the same group as the fish and have him state why they are in the same group.

5. Have the students divide the rest of the objects into two groups on the basis of the common characteristic.

6. It may take a couple trials before the students divide the objects into living and nonliving. For example, they may divide the objects by utility.

7. Have the students give the caracteristics of living organisms.

8. Next write the following list of organisms in the center of the board.

mousse	cafard
bœuf	maïs
fougère	escargot
criquet	champignon
manguier	singe
levure	ténia
manioc	homme

9. Have the students divide the organisms into groups "X" and "Y".

10. Ask the students to give a name for each group and to give the characteristics of plants and animals.

Source: B. Cole