Understanding the Classification of Living Things Biology SS 1 First Term Lesson Notes Week 3

Lesson Note: Classification of Living Things

Subject: Biology
Class: SS1
Term: First Term
Week: 3
Age: 15-16 years

Topic: Classification of Living Things
Sub-topic: Kingdoms Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia
Duration: 1 hour

Behavioural Objectives:

• Students should be able to identify and describe the characteristics of the five kingdoms of living things.
• Students should classify organisms based on their characteristics.
• Students should understand the importance of classification in biology.

Keywords: Classification, Kingdoms, Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia

Set Induction:
Begin the lesson by asking students to name different types of living organisms they encounter daily. Write their responses on the board and highlight the diversity of life forms.

Entry Behaviour:
Students should have prior knowledge of basic biological concepts, including the definition of living things and some examples.

Learning Resources and Materials:

• Textbooks: “Classic Practical Biology for Senior Secondary Schools”
• Projector and slides with images of organisms
• Charts illustrating the classification of living things

Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge:
Review the characteristics of living things discussed in the previous lesson, such as movement, growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli.

Embedded Core Skills:

• Critical thinking
• Collaborative learning
• Communication skills

Learning Materials:

• Diagrams of different organisms
• Classification charts

Reference Books:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• Classic Practical Biology for Senior Secondary Schools by Nneka N. Ekechukwu

Instructional Materials:

• PowerPoint slides
• Handouts with classification tables

Content

Classification of Living Things:

1. Kingdom Monera:
   • Characteristics: Prokaryotic, unicellular, can be motile or non-motile.
   • Examples: Bacteria and blue-green algae.
2. Kingdom Protista:
   • Characteristics: Eukaryotic, mostly unicellular with a complex cell structure.
   • Examples: Amoeba and Chlamydomonas.
3. Kingdom Fungi:
   • Characteristics: Eukaryotic, non-motile, composed of hyphae containing nuclei.
   • Examples: Moulds, mushrooms, and Rhizopus.
4. Kingdom Plantae:
   • Characteristics: Eukaryotic, non-motile, contains chlorophyll for photosynthesis.
   • Examples: Ferns, oil palms, and yam plants.
5. Kingdom Animalia:
   • Characteristics: Eukaryotic, multicellular, motile, heterotrophic organisms.
   • Examples: Frogs, monkeys, and cows.

Evaluation

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions:

1. Kingdom Monera includes __________ organisms. (a) eukaryotic (b) prokaryotic (c) multicellular (d) autotrophic
2. __________ is an example of a protist. (a) Mushroom (b) Amoeba (c) Bacteria (d) Palm tree
3. Fungi are primarily __________ organisms. (a) motile (b) unicellular (c) non-motile (d) multicellular
4. Kingdom Plantae contains organisms that perform __________. (a) fermentation (b) photosynthesis (c) respiration (d) digestion
5. The basic unit of life in the kingdom Animalia is the __________. (a) cell (b) tissue (c) organ (d) system
6. __________ is not a characteristic of kingdom Fungi. (a) Eukaryotic (b) Non-motile (c) Autotrophic (d) Multicellular
7. The organisms in kingdom Monera lack a __________. (a) nucleus (b) membrane (c) cytoplasm (d) ribosome
8. __________ is a common example of a plant. (a) Euglena (b) Blue-green algae (c) Yam (d) Bacteria
9. Organisms in kingdom Animalia are usually __________. (a) autotrophic (b) multicellular (c) unicellular (d) prokaryotic
10. The study of living things is called __________. (a) Ecology (b) Biology (c) Zoology (d) Botany
11. Protists are mainly __________ organisms. (a) multicellular (b) prokaryotic (c) unicellular (d) autotrophic
12. __________ are non-motile organisms composed of hyphae. (a) Fungi (b) Plants (c) Animals (d) Monera
13. The kingdom that includes bacteria is called __________. (a) Plantae (b) Animalia (c) Protista (d) Monera
14. __________ organisms can carry out photosynthesis. (a) Fungi (b) Animals (c) Plants (d) Monera
15. The smallest unit of classification is the __________. (a) Kingdom (b) Phylum (c) Species (d) Genus

Class Activity Discussion

FAQs with Answers:

1. Q: What is classification in biology?
   A: Classification is the process of organizing living things into groups based on shared characteristics.
2. Q: Why is the kingdom Monera important?
   A: It includes bacteria, which play crucial roles in nutrient cycling and decomposing organic matter.
3. Q: How do protists differ from fungi?
   A: Protists can be both unicellular and multicellular, while fungi are mainly multicellular and non-motile.
4. Q: What are some characteristics of plants?
   A: Plants are eukaryotic, autotrophic, and contain chlorophyll for photosynthesis.
5. Q: What type of organisms are included in the kingdom Animalia?
   A: Animals are multicellular, motile, and heterotrophic.
6. Q: Can fungi perform photosynthesis?
   A: No, fungi are heterotrophic and cannot perform photosynthesis.
7. Q: What is the main difference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?
   A: Prokaryotic cells do not have a defined nucleus, while eukaryotic cells do.
8. Q: Give an example of a unicellular organism.
   A: Amoeba is an example of a unicellular organism.
9. Q: What role do plants play in the ecosystem?
   A: Plants produce oxygen and serve as a primary food source for herbivores.
10. Q: How do we classify living things?
    A: We classify living things into kingdoms, phyla, classes, orders, families, genera, and species.
11. Q: What are some examples of fungi?
    A: Moulds, mushrooms, and yeast are examples of fungi.
12. Q: What is a unique feature of kingdom Plantae?
    A: They have chlorophyll and can carry out photosynthesis.
13. Q: What type of nutrition do animals exhibit?
    A: Animals exhibit heterotrophic nutrition.
14. Q: What is the significance of classification?
    A: Classification helps scientists communicate about organisms and understand their relationships.
15. Q: Why are microorganisms important?
    A: They play essential roles in ecosystems, such as decomposing organic matter and nutrient cycling.

Presentation

Step 1: Teacher revises the previous topic on the characteristics of living things.
Step 2: Teacher introduces the new topic on the classification of living things and explains each kingdom in detail.
Step 3: Students contribute their knowledge of organisms, and the teacher provides corrections and additional information.

Activities

Teacher’s Activities:

• Facilitate discussions and answer questions.
• Present visual aids and resources.
• Monitor student participation and understanding.

Learner’s Activities:

• Participate in discussions.
• Complete the fill-in-the-blank evaluation.
• Work in groups to classify different organisms.

Assessment

Evaluation Questions:

1. What is the main characteristic of kingdom Monera?
2. Describe the structure of a typical plant cell.
3. What are the major differences between plants and animals?
4. Explain why fungi are not classified as plants.
5. What type of reproduction occurs in Amoeba?
6. How do you define a eukaryotic cell?
7. Give an example of a unicellular organism.
8. Why is photosynthesis important for life on Earth?
9. What is the significance of classifying organisms?
10. Describe the features of the kingdom Protista.

Conclusion

The teacher will circulate around the classroom to assess students’ understanding by marking their answers and providing necessary feedback to reinforce the lesson on the classification of living things.