Classifying Life into Kingdoms

Lab Brief #6

🎯 Your mission

Understand the idea. Then look for it everywhere.

⚡ The twist

Every species solves the same problem differently.

What you'll learn

Scientists classify living things into groups based on shared features, starting with broad kingdoms such as animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. Every organism also receives a two-part scientific name, like Homo sapiens for humans.

Key words

cell
The tiny building block that makes up all living things.
DNA
The tiny code inside living things that tells them how to grow.

Make a hypothesis first

Before you watch: what do you think it'll do?

Say your guess out loud — then find out if you were right.

Step 1 of 4 · Read

Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.

Step 2 of 4 · Do

Collect and classify 10 organisms from your yard into kingdoms, phyla, or groups. Use a dichotomous key if available.

Step 3 of 4 · Observe

Draw a detailed diagram of what you observe.

Step 4 of 4 · Record

Write a conclusion: what did your results show? Did they match your prediction?

Question 1 of 3

What organism produces food at the base of most food chains?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 2 of 3

What are the stages of a butterfly's life cycle in order?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Question 3 of 3

What do plants need to make food through photosynthesis?

How sure are you?😐 maybe

Mind = blown

🐙 An octopus has 9 brains and 3 hearts.

Nice work!

You got 0 of 3 right.

Next: The Human Circulatory System All lessons

🎯

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✨ More to explore

🌍 Where you see this in real life: This is why plants grow toward windows and why scabs form.

🏆 Stretch challenge (try it this week): Watch a plant or pet for 5 minutes today and write down what you noticed.

👨‍👩‍👧 For the dinner table: “Tell me something you noticed about your own body today.”

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