Y6 Exploring Classification in Science

Today in Year 6 Science, we investigated how and why scientists classify living things. We examined a wide range of organisms, identified their observable characteristics and developed our own systems for grouping them. We then compared our ideas with scientific groups such as plants, animals, fungi, microorganisms, vertebrates and invertebrates.

We learned that classification systems have developed as scientific knowledge has grown. Early systems grouped living things mainly by their appearance and where they lived. In the 18th century, Carl Linnaeus developed a more organised system and introduced specific naming, which gives every species a two-part scientific name. We also discussed how scientists now use evidence from DNA to understand how organisms are related.