This unit introduces students to the diversity of life on Earth and the scientific principles used to classify and organize living organisms. Students explore the hierarchical system of taxonomy, the use of binomial nomenclature, and the distinctions between the three domains and major kingdoms of life. The unit emphasizes the evolutionary relationships between organisms and introduces the use of tools such as cladograms and phylogenetic trees to represent shared ancestry and divergence. Students will develop an understanding of how genetic and morphological data inform modern classification systems and appreciate the importance of biodiversity in ecosystems.
Learning targets
Students will be able to independently use their learning to...
AO1: Knowledge and Understanding
- Define biodiversity and explain its importance in ecosystems
- Describe the hierarchical levels of biological classification from domain to species
- Explain how binomial nomenclature is used to name species consistently across the scientific community
- Identify characteristics of the three domains of life (Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya)
- Distinguish between the six major biological kingdoms and describe representative organisms
- Explain how evolutionary theory supports the classification of living organisms
- Describe how genetic and structural evidence informs modern classification systems
- Explain the ecological and scientific value of biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem stability
AO2: Handling Information and Problem-Solving
- Analyze the similarities and differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms
- Interpret and construct basic cladograms to show evolutionary relationships
- Classify organisms into the correct taxonomic levels using observable characteristics and/or genetic data
- Evaluate how scientific classification has changed over time with new discoveries
- Use a dichotomous key to identify unknown organisms
AO3: Experimental Skills and Observations
- Use microscopes or images to observe and compare structural features across different domains or kingdoms
- Investigate and record the diversity of life in a local environment (e.g., schoolyard biodiversity survey)
- Apply fieldwork skills to sample, identify, and classify living organisms based on visible traits
- Reflect on the use of scientific evidence to revise taxonomic groupings (e.g., reclassification of protists or archaea)