Welcome to the Kingdom Name:
Date:
Background: Scientist have created classification systems in order to put organisms into groups for easier study
and to observe relationships between each other. One
of the most common scheme has five Kingdoms
(highest level) which include Animalia, Protista,
Plantae, Monera, and Fugi. Historically Protista
became a “dumping ground” for organisms that did not
fit into any other kingdom. Today, a six kingdom
classification scheme is used. Animalia, Protista,
Plantae, and Fungi are still present, but Monera can be
split into Eubacteria and Archaebacteria. We can
furthermore, we can group Protista, Plantae, Fungi,
and Animalia into a larger group called a Domain
because of some similar characteristics.
Activity: Below are a series of organisms. We are going to start with the traditional five-kingdom system since we
will spend more time on the bacterial kingdoms later.
1. Fill in Table One below with all of the organisms given.
Human Pine Tree Mushroom Bluebird Crocodile
Chrysanthemum Bacteria Algae Yeast Euglena
Mildew Spider Fern Streptomyces Paramecium
E. coli Staphylococcus Mold Amoeba Grass
2. Based on what you know about the organisms and their structural features, begin to write down what
common characteristics are seen in each kingdom. Include all your ideas in Table Two. (Do worry – this
doesn’t have to be perfect, yet)
3. Use the picture cards to help!
Table One - Examples
Animalia Plantae Fungi Protista Monera
Table Two - Characteristics
Animalia Plantae Fungi Protista Monera
Welcome to the Kingdom (Day One) – Teacher Notes
Step One: Begin with warm-up questions based on Classification. Samples include
1. What do a shoe, shirt, baseball hat, and shorts have in common? How are they different?
2. What is the benefit of classifying things?
3. Describe how classification is used in a store such as Target or Meijers.
Students should identify several importances of classification, but make sure they identify classification is
most important to bring order to a large group. Stores classify products into categories such as beauty,
clothing, home products, food, etc. (5 minutes)
Step Two: Read intro paragraph to the assignment. Students should have basic knowledge of Kingdoms from an
intro Biology course.
Step Three: Break up into pairs and work on activity. Students each need their own handout and one set of
pictures. Picture packets include one of every organism listed with #1. Give students 15 – 20 minutes to work on
table one and two.
Step Four: On the chalkboard, write out the five kingdoms. Put the class into five groups (about 4 students in
each group) and assign them one kingdom. Give each group several index cards and tape. Have each group write
down the organisms they think belong in their kingdom and tape them to the chalkboard under their heading. As a
class discus what characteristics they have decided can be assigned to each kingdom. Make sure students have
identified major characteristics such as number of cells, how they eat, etc. Students should keep assignment in
their notebook to receive credit for assignment at end of unit.
Step Five: Homework
- Students are to read pages 510 – 516, and 522 – 523.
- Using any type of resource, adjust the characteristics you have brainstormed.
*Pop quiz at beginning of day two over reading.
Answers for activity
Table One - Examples
Animalia Plantae Fungi Protista Monera
Human Pine Tree Mold Ameoba Bacteria
Crocodile Fern Mildew Euglena E. coli
Bluebird Grass Mushroom Paramecium Streptomyces
Spider Chrysanthemum Yeast Staphylococcus
Algea
Table Two - Characteristics
Animalia Plantae Fungi Protista Monera
Multicellular Multicellular Multicellular (some Unicellular Unicellular
Heterotrophic Autotrophic unicellular) Eukaryotic Cell Walls
Eukaryotic Eukaryotic Eukaryotic Auto and Prokaryotic
Heterotrophic Heterotrophic Auto and
Heterotrophic