CLASSIFICATIONS OF ORGANISMS

CLASSIFICATIONS LESSON

Directions:

Print the Classifications reading comprehension passage and questions (see below).

Students should read the passage silently, then answer the questions.  Teachers may also use the text as part of a classroom lesson plan.

Lesson Excerpt

There are many organisms in the world. Some organisms share characteristics, while others do not. That is why scientists have classified organisms into various groups. Each group shares similar characteristics. Ancient organisms that relate to modern-day organisms have been grouped similarly. This helps scientists to understand exactly how organisms have evolved over the centuries.

Biologists study both living and dead organisms in order to determine where the organisms should be classified. Based on the characteristics of the organism the biologist will decide which groups of classification the organism fits into. However, not all biologists agree with where an organism is classified. So, ultimately it is up to the biologist, who may consult other biologists, to determine the placement of organisms within a specific classification.

The languages that are used to classify organisms are Latin and Greek. This is because, in ancient times, almost all scholars and scientists spoke both Latin and Greek. Organisms are classified in the seven main groups. Every organism in the world that scientists know about has been classified into all seven groups.

Groups of Classification

The seven groups of classification are:

• Kingdom
• Phylum (Divisions)
• Class
• Order
• Family
• Genus
• Species