Five Kingdoms of Life — Classification

Life classifies. Animals move and eat; plants photosynthesize; fungi decompose; protists are single-celled eukaryotes; monera are bacteria. Indirect aim: biology, taxonomy, preparation for evolutionary tree.

• Framework: Montessori
• Unit: Cultural Studies
• Learning area: Zoology Classification
• Level: Ages 7-9

Objectives

• Identify five kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Monera
• Classify living things across kingdoms
• Understand cellular basis of classification
• Update to six-kingdom system

Materials

• Five Kingdoms chart
• Specimens (moss, mushroom, pond water)
• Microscope
• Classification cards

Instructions

1. Present kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, Monera. 2. Examples: dog, oak, mushroom, amoeba, E. coli. 3. Microscope pond water: find protists. 4. Cellular basis: single-cell vs multi; with vs without nucleus. 5. Modern six-kingdom: split Monera into Bacteria and Archaea. 6. Three-domain system (newer): Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya. 7. Classify local specimens. 8. File.

Educator tip

Classification is provisional. Science updates. Show the evolution of the system.

Assessment

Observe kingdom identification and classification skill.

More from Cultural Studies

• Parts of a Tree — Roots to Canopy
• Photosynthesis — How Plants Make Food
• Earth's Magnetic Field
• Evolution — Natural Selection
• Composer Study — Vivaldi
• Philosophy — Introduction to Ethics
• Globe: Land and Water
• Puzzle Map: Continents