Something observable is something that we can see or describe using our senses.

A characteristic is a feature or quality of something that we can use to help identify it.

We compare things by looking at what is the same and what is different.

A similarity is something two or more objects have in common.

A difference between two objects or things is something that is not similar or the same about them.

Comparing characteristics of living things

Science

In this Why we group and classify living things unit, pupils learn about why we classify plants and animals based on specific characteristics. In the Species and classification unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn more about the identification and classification of organisms, including at the cellular level.

In the Living things and the environment unit, pupils learnt to recognise that living things can be grouped in a variety of ways. In this Why we group and classify living things unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to give reasons for classifying plants and animals based on specific characteristics

Why we group and classify living things

we look at the similarities and differences

Anything can be compared to another thing. What do we do when we compare things to each other?

Jun compares these two animals. Which of these is a difference between them?

Laura compares these two animals. Which of these is a similarity between them? 

The features of a living thing that we can see or describe using our senses are called {{}} characteristics.

Which of these are observable characteristics of this plant?

Why might scientists compare living things to each other?

something that is not the same between things

Match the word to the correct definition.

Match the sense organ to the sense we use it for.

Why might Laura be the odd one out of these three children?

we look at it closely, sometimes using more than one of our senses

we sort it into a group with other similar things

Which two of these can all living things do?

Starter Quiz