Plant and Animal Classification
5th Grade Georgia Standards of Excellence
Life Science
S5L1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to group organisms using scientific classification procedures.
a. Develop a model that illustrates how animals are sorted into groups (vertebrate and invertebrate) and how vertebrates are sorted into groups (fish, amphibian, reptile, bird, and mammal) using data from multiple sources.
b. Develop a model that illustrates how plants are sorted into groups (seed producers, non-seed producers) using data from multiple sources.
5th Grade Georgia Standards of Excellence
Life Science
S5L1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to group organisms using scientific classification procedures.
a. Develop a model that illustrates how animals are sorted into groups (vertebrate and invertebrate) and how vertebrates are sorted into groups (fish, amphibian, reptile, bird, and mammal) using data from multiple sources.
b. Develop a model that illustrates how plants are sorted into groups (seed producers, non-seed producers) using data from multiple sources.
Plant Classification
Plants need water to survive. One way that scientists classify plants is by the way they transport water. A plant can either be vascular (has tubes to carry water throughout the plant) or non vascular(has no true roots).
Nonvascular plants lack a water-transport system.
They have no tissues
They must live near water because they absorb the water from their surroundings.
They DO NOT have true roots.
Vascular plants have tissues that act like tubes to transport water through the plants. They have roots, stems, and leaves.
Vascular Plants can be broken down into whether they are seed producing (angiosperms) or non seed producing (gymnosperms).
Gymnosperms are vascular plants that produce seeds but DO NOT produce flowers and fruits.
REMEMBER: Gym (Jim) is a guy who doesn't like flowers.
Angiosperms are vascular plants that produce flowers and fruits.
REMEMBER: Angi is a female who LOVES flowers.
Nonvascular plants lack a water-transport system.
They have no tissues
They must live near water because they absorb the water from their surroundings.
They DO NOT have true roots.
Vascular plants have tissues that act like tubes to transport water through the plants. They have roots, stems, and leaves.
Vascular Plants can be broken down into whether they are seed producing (angiosperms) or non seed producing (gymnosperms).
Gymnosperms are vascular plants that produce seeds but DO NOT produce flowers and fruits.
REMEMBER: Gym (Jim) is a guy who doesn't like flowers.
Angiosperms are vascular plants that produce flowers and fruits.
REMEMBER: Angi is a female who LOVES flowers.
Animal Classification
Animal Classification
There are at least five million species on Earth, and some scientists believe there could be double that number. A species is a group of animals that are more like each other than they are like any other group of animals. A way of sorting through all those species is to organize them by similar properties, or characteristics. This process is called classification.
The animal kingdom is first broken down into vertebrate (has a backbone or spine) and invertebrate (does not have a backbone or spine).
The following is a list of properties for each group of animals.
Mammals
There are at least five million species on Earth, and some scientists believe there could be double that number. A species is a group of animals that are more like each other than they are like any other group of animals. A way of sorting through all those species is to organize them by similar properties, or characteristics. This process is called classification.
The animal kingdom is first broken down into vertebrate (has a backbone or spine) and invertebrate (does not have a backbone or spine).
The following is a list of properties for each group of animals.
Mammals
- give birth to their young and feed them with milk.
- have hair on at least part of their body.
- have four limbs with digits ending in claws, nails, or hooves (except whales).
- breathe with lungs.
- are warm-blooded.
- lay eggs with a hard shell.
- are covered with feathers.
- have a beak.
- have two legs.
- have two wings used for flying (ostriches and penguins are flightless).
- have hollow bones.
- are warm-blooded.
- lay eggs with leathery shells or give birth to fully-formed young.
- breathe with lungs.
- are covered with scales.
- have no legs or four legs with clawed toes.
- are cold-blooded.
- lay eggs, usually in a jelly-like mass in water.
- breathe with lungs, gills, and/or their skin.
- have smooth skin without coverings.
- have four legs without claws or nails on toes.
- are cold-blooded.
- have three body parts: head, thorax and abdomen.
- have a single pair of antennae on the head.
- have three pairs of legs originating from the thorax.
- often have wings and can fly.
- lay eggs without shells in water.
- breathe with gills.
- are covered with scales or smooth, leathery skin.
- have fins but no legs or toes.
- are cold-blooded.
Plant and Animal Classification Website Links
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Plant Classification
Visit the StudyJams sites below to learn more about plant classification.
Plants with Seeds
Gymnosperms: Cones Seeds in Cones
Angiosperms: Seeds in Fruit
Plants Without Seeds
Mosses and Ferns
Biology for Kids Plant Classification
Plant Classification for Kids
QUIA Plant Classification Review
Quizlet Plant Classification Review
Animal Classification
Kid's Corner - Animal Classification
Animal Diversity
Classifying Organisms
Animal Classification "A Touch of Class"
Learning Haven Classifying Animals
Classification of Living Things
Animal Classification Game
Zoo Atlanta
PBS Animal Classification
Georgia Aquarium
Animal Classification Quizlet
Vertebrate and Invertebrate power point
Mystery Animal Google