The five kingdoms of living things
Look at the cells of fifteen living things, from curd bacteria and amoeba to yarsagumba, rhododendron and frogs, find out how each gets its food, and sort them into the five kingdoms.
Core concept
Living things are classified into five kingdoms by their cells (one or many, with or without a nucleus) and how they get their food
Topic: Classification
Scientists sort all living things into five big groups called kingdoms, using two questions: what are their cell: The tiny building block that every living thing is made of. All key words like, and how do they get food? Monera are single cells with no proper nucleus, such as the bacteria that turn milk into curd. Protista are single cells that do have a nucleus, such as amoeba and euglena in pond water. Fungi, such as mushrooms, yeast and mould, cannot make their own food; they absorb it from what they grow on. Plants have many cells with cell walls and make their own food by photosynthesis: How green plants make their own food from light, water and carbon dioxide. All key words. Animals have many cells without cell walls and take in food.
What you will learn
- Name the five kingdoms of living things.
- Classify organisms using their cells and how they get food.
- Explain why fungi are not plants.
- Give Nepali examples of organisms from each kingdom.
Before you start
- Know that living things are made of cells, and that plant cells have cell walls.
Materials
- Pictures of the organisms; a mushroom, some curd and a slice of mouldy bread if you have them
Equipment
- A hand lens and, if possible, a microscope with prepared slides
Procedure
- Pick an organism card and look at its cells and how it gets food.
- Do this for at least eight organisms.
- Sort every organism into its kingdom.