Lesson plan
GRADE 7
Senior Phase
Grade 7 Term 1: Natural Sciences: Life and Living: Biodiversity
Grade 7: Biodiversity – classification of all living things
Subject CAPS requirements Knowledge Skills
Natural Grade 7 Term 1 Biodiversity. Share knowledge of what is known about diversity.
Sciences Biodiversity. Watch a video and then explain the meaning of the vocabulary
Relevant words.
Classification of living Vocabulary.
things: plants, animals, Learn about the classification system which places living organisms
micro-organisms and their Ecosystem. into five Kingdoms.
habitats make up the total
biodiversity of the earth. The importance of Visit a nearby ecosystem and observe the biodiversity.
biodiversity. Classify the living organisms seen in the ecosystem according to
the five Kingdoms.
Classify animals into vertebrate and invertebrate.
Classify animals into herbivore, carnivore and omnivore.
Discusses the importance of biodiversity.
Resources
Dictionary, worksheet, YouTube video: Biodiversity - from “The Wild Classroom”: [Link]
Information on conducting a debate: [Link]
Objectives
Learners will:
l Learn how to classify living organisms into one of the five Kingdoms
l Explore a nearby ecosystem and classify the living things found there into one of the five Kingdoms
l Classify the animal Kingdom into vertebrate and invertebrate, and then again into herbivore, carnivore and omnivore
l Discuss the importance of protecting our biodiversity and conserving different species of animals
Background
This lesson introduces the learners to the term ‘biodiversity’. The term ‘biodiversity’ comes from the words biological and diversity. All
plants, animals, micro-organisms and their habitats, make up the biodiversity of the earth. Living organisms are sorted and classified
according to their shared characteristics. Scientists have grouped the organisms into a classification system and the five main groups (called
Kingdoms) of living organisms include Bacteria, Protista, Fungi, Plants and Animals. The learners will investigate biodiversity in a nearby
ecosystem and then focus on the animal Kingdom and how it is classified.
Vocabulary
biodiversity, habitats, organisms, micro-organisms, classified, classification system, species, Kingdoms, bacteria, protista, fungi, vertebrates,
invertebrates, herbivores, carnivores, omnivores
Teacher preparation before starting
Before teaching this activity, ensure you are familiar with the definitions and the concepts and that you have worked through the activities
the learners will be asked to work through.
Teaching the Activity
Begin by finding out what the learners know about the term ‘biodiversity’.
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by means of a
short YouTube video to set the scene: Biodiversity - from “The Wild Classroom”: [Link]
Use the content of the video to explain the meaning of the different vocabulary words for this lesson. Establish the fact of the five
Kingdoms of living organisms with the learners.
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Main Activity
Discuss the various vocabulary terms listed under ‘vocabulary’ that will be used in this lesson and reinforce the vocabulary that the
learners are unfamiliar with.
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Once the students have grasped the concept of classification of all living things into five Kingdoms, visit a nearby ecosystem such as a
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backyard or field or park with the learners and allow them to record their observations of the different organisms discovered there. Allow
them to classify what they have discovered into the five Kingdoms.
Encourage the learners to create a mind map of the classification of animals, giving at least three examples of each classification. Animals
can be classified into vertebrates and invertebrates, herbivores, carnivores and omnivores.
The learners examine the pictures on the worksheet and make a list of the animals shown, and classify them accordingly. They use the
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template shown but work in their class work books.
End the lesson with a class discussion ‘Do you think it is important to protect our biodiversity and conserve different species of animals?’
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[Link]
Lesson plan continued
GRADE 7
Worksheet link
Grade 7 Term 1: Natural Sciences: Life and Living: Biodiversity
The instruction part of this lesson is the worksheet entitled Biodiversity ‘Classification of all living things’.
Expanded opportunity
The discussion at the end of the lesson could be replaced with a debate on the topic. Information on ways of conducting a debate in the
classroom can be found at the website listed in the resources section.
Assessment Criteria
Did the learner classify living organisms into five Kingdoms?
Did the learner visit a nearby ecosystem and record which of the five Kingdoms of living things are discovered there?
Did the learner classify the animal Kingdom into vertebrate and invertebrate, and then again into herbivore, carnivore and omnivore?
Did the learner discuss the importance of protecting our biodiversity and conserving different species of animals?
Informal assessment
Record each learner’s progress on your specified recording sheet.
Assessment rubric
Rating code Description of competence
7 Outstanding achievement
6 Meritorious achievement
5 Substantial achievement
4 Adequate achievement
3 Moderate achievement
2 Elementary achievement
1 Not achieved
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[Link]
Classification of all living things
GRADE 7
Grade 7 Term 1: Natural Sciences: Life and Living: Biodiversity
Name:
Background knowledge - classification Did you know
of living things that South Africa
The term ‘biodiversity’ comes from the has the third
words biological and diversity. All plants, highest level of
animals, micro-organisms and their biodiversity in the
habitats make up the total biodiversity of world?
the Earth. Living organisms are sorted and
classified according to their shared characteristics. Scientists have
grouped the organisms into a classification system, and the five main
groups (called Kingdoms) of living organisms include Bacteria,
Protista, Fungi, Plants and Animals.
Activity 1: Visit a nearby ecosystem
Visit a nearby ecosystem (e.g. backyard, field, park) and record your observations
about the different organisms you discover there. Which of the five Kingdoms do
they belong to?
Let’s look at Classification of animals
classifying 1. Animals can be classified into vertebrates
animals. and invertebrates. Vertebrates are animals
with a framework of bones inside their bodies.
These give shape to the body and enable the animal to move.
Examples are mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish.
Invertebrates are animals without bones. Water or a hard cover on
the outside of the body enables the animals to move. Examples are
snails, earthworms, crabs, spiders and insects.
2. Animals can also be classified according to what they eat. Herbivores eat plants,
carnivores eat meat and omnivores eat meat Oldand plants.
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Activity 2: Classify these animals according to their classifications
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Look at the pictures on the following page. Make a list of the animals as shown in
the table below and classify them accordingly.
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Animal Vertebrate Invertebrate Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore
type type
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e.g. man mammal - - - Yes
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[Link]
Classification of all living things
GRADE 7
Animal Vertebrate Invertebrate Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore
Grade 7 Term 1: Natural Sciences: Life and Living: Biodiversity
type type
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Activity 3: Discussion
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Why do you think it is important to protect our biodiversity and conserve different
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species of animals?
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[Link]
