Carl Linnaeus and classification
I can describe the work of Carl Linnaeus and his contribution to how we classify living things.
Carl Linnaeus and classification
I can describe the work of Carl Linnaeus and his contribution to how we classify living things.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Taxonomy is the science of naming, describing and grouping all living things.
- Scientists have improved classification of organisms over time as they've been able to make more accurate observations.
- Carl Linnaeus is most famous for creating a system of naming living things.
- His ideas on classification have influenced generations of biologists during, and after, his own lifetime.
- His system for naming and classifying living things is still used today.
Common misconception
Pupils may think that animals are classified according to their habitat, for example aquatic animals, or by their method of movement, for example creeping animals.
Explain that Aristotle classified animals into water, air and land groups, but there are problems with this method, e.g. this would put birds, bees and bats in the same group. Use the examples in the lesson to make clear the correct groupings.
Keywords
Scientist - A scientist is a person who learns about science and carries out enquiries.
Organism - An organism is a living thing.
Taxonomy - Taxonomy is the science of naming, describing and grouping all living things.
Classify - To classify things is to sort them into groups.
Carl Linnaeus - Carl Linnaeus was a Swedish botanist and taxonomist who created a scientific naming system for living things.
Equipment
Large paper for Task A would be helpful. Access to the internet and books for research.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
birds
mammals
insects
molluscs
fish
Exit quiz
6 Questions
