Resources required

• A selection of slides/OHTs of living things - some very diverse and some similar.
  
• OHT of organization of Kingdoms, Phyla, Classes, Order, Family, Genus and Species (use mnemonics like 'King Peter Called Out For Genuine Scientists').
  
• OHT of taxonomic names for humans.

Learning activity

• Show the class a selection of slides of various living things. Do they know what they are? What are they called?
  
• Carry out a short quiz afterwards about the organisms. This should raise problems talking about them unless you use their names.
  
• Show a few of the slides again and ask the class to think of names for these organisms. Ask them to record them in their books and then ask individuals to talk about their named organism. Discuss the problems encountered.
  
• Explain that classification is essential to biology because there are so many different living things. They would be impossible to sort out unless they were put into manageable groups. Discuss how this could be done.
  
• Show the OHT of the taxa used today. Go through this for modern humans (Animalia, Chordata, Mammalia, Primates, Hominidae, Homo sapiens). Students should record the information in their books.

Learning outcomes

• Explain the need for a universal classification system.
  
• Describe the taxa used.
  
• Name the major groupings for Homo sapiens.

Extension work

Investigation of the origin of the Latin terms (eg. sapiens = thinking).

Homework

Devise a mnemonic for the taxa.

Special needs

Higher. The classification of other primates.
Lower. Constructing a chart/diagram of animals that lay eggs or have live babies, e.g. cows, sheep, dogs/chickens, robins, alligators and turtles.