Classifications

Biological Classification: Sorting Life on Earth

Help students make sense of the living world through this engaging Year 7–8 resource focused on biological classification.

Through a structured presentation and accompanying handouts, students explore how and why scientists group living organisms, and how classification helps us identify species, understand relationships, and determine whether organisms may be useful or harmful.

Students examine the key features used to classify animals,  including cell type, body covering, skeleton structure, reproduction, and movement, and learn how living things are organised into the five kingdoms: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plants and Animals. They investigate how each kingdom is further divided into phylum, class, order, family, genus and species, building an understanding of how scientists organise biodiversity.

The course also explores the concept of species, including interbreeding and fertile offspring, using familiar examples such as domestic cats, lions, and tigers to illustrate how hybrid animals differ from true species.

This resource strengthens scientific vocabulary, analytical thinking, and students’ understanding of how classification underpins ecology, evolution, and biodiversity studies.

🧩 What students will learn 

• Understand why scientists classify living things and how classification helps us identify and compare organisms
• Learn the key features used to classify animals (cell type, body covering, skeleton, reproduction and movement
• Explore the five kingdoms of life and how organisms are grouped into phylum, class, order, family, genus and species
• Understand what defines a species, including interbreeding and fertile offspring
• Strengthen scientific vocabulary and analytical thinking through real-world examples

✅ Recommended Learning Levels

Activities are currently designed for Years 7–8.