Introduction to Animals
Life Science - Middle School
Six Kingdoms of Life
Multimedia Lesson
Classification
Presentation
Six Kingdoms Overview
Presentation
Animals
Presentation
Owl Pellet Dissection
Virtual Lab
Classifying Organisms
Virtual Lab
Food Webs
Interactive
Kingdom Identification
Interactive
Introduction to Animals
Study Guide
Introduction to Animals
Quiz
Introduction to Animals
Flash Cards
Introduction to Animals
Worksheet
Introduction to Animals
Game
Introduction to Animals
Vocabulary List
Vertebrates
Flip Chart
Animal Life Cycles
Flip Chart
Animal Kingdom
Flip Chart
Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Flip Chart
Study Guide Introduction to Animals
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INTRODUCTION TO ANIMALS What Is an Animal? Scientists have discovered over a million different species of animals on our planet. The species that fit into the animal group are similar in that they have many cells and that they obtain food by eating other organisms. Other characteristics that animals share are that they are able to move around their environment and they reproduce sexually. Structure of Animals As we said, all animals are multicellular organisms. Most animals have cells that are grouped together to form tissue. As we learned in Topic 11, tissues are similar cells that serve a specific function. For example muscles allow us to lift objects and move around. If tissue were to group together they could form an organ. An organ is a group of tissues that perform a specific job that is more complex than each individual tissue’s specific job. Your bones are organs made up of blood, nerve tissue, and bone tissue. When organs work together for similar functions, they are a system. All of the bones in your body work together as an organ system. Your bones are part of the organ system called your skeletal system. All animals are heterotrophs or consumers, meaning that they don’t create their own food. An animal’s food can either be another animal, plants, or organisms in another Kingdom. Reproduction is normally completed sexually. As we already learned, sexual reproduction is when two parent sex cells come together to form a new organism. Some animals are capable of reproducing asexually. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
An organism called a hydra forms a bud, which breaks off and forms another individual organism that is identical to the parent. Adaptations Some scientists believe that organisms adapted to have the ability to move so that they could catch their food, reproduce, and escape predators. There are some animal species that do not move around their environment during every stage of their life. The majority do move at some point during their life. An oyster is an organism that swims when it is a larvae until it finds a surface to attach itself to where it will remain for the rest of its life. Functions of Animals Animals have three needs within their environments: oxygen, food, and water. In order to release the energy stored in food, the animal must have oxygen. There are animal species that get oxygen from the air and there are animal species that get their oxygen from water. Food gives animals the materials that are necessary for growth and the energy to complete daily functions. Water allows chemical reactions to take place. The breakdown of food would not be able to take place without water. Animal Adaptations An animal must also be able to respond to the environment that it lives in. Whether running away from prey or finding food, an animal must continue to become better adapted to its environment. Animals have adapted to feed on different types of food. There are animals that eat only animals (carnivores), animals that eat only plants (herbivores), and animals that eat both plants and animals (omnivores). Carnivores: Most carnivores are predators that will hunt and kill other animals for food. These animals have adapted to capture the prey they feed on. A cheetah hunts for its food by stalking its prey and then quickly running it down. The cheetah adaptations are fast speed, excellent eye sight, excellent hearing, and sharp claws. Most carnivores have sharp and pointed teeth to help stab and cut their prey. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
Herbivores: Cows, pandas, and horses have adapted to the food that they eat by growing teeth that are broad with long, flat surfaces to help them grind the plant material down. Omnivores: Humans, bears, and foxes are examples of omnivores. Animals have also adapted to avoiding their predators. Lesson Checkpoint: What is an adaptation to avoiding predators? These animals have developed shells like a turtle, spray foul smelling liquids like a skunk, and play dead like opossums. Classifying Animals There are about 35 different groups of animals in the animal kingdom. An important characteristic of classifying animals is whether or not the species has a backbone. If an animal species has a backbone, it is called a vertebrate. If an animal species does not have a backbone, it is called an invertebrate. Mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles are all vertebrates. Insects, worms, snails, and jellyfishes are all examples of invertebrates. Approximately 95% of animal species are invertebrates. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
Animal Symmetry If you have ever looked into a mirror, you will notice that you could draw a line down the center of your face and the arrangement of facial structures will be balanced. This is called symmetry and it is another important characteristic of the majority of animals. The line that could be drawn is called lines of symmetry. There are two different types of symmetry: bilateral and radial symmetry. Bilateral symmetry is if you were to draw a line of symmetry, the two halves would be nearly identical or mirror images. Radial symmetry occurs in an organism where you can draw many lines of symmetry that go through a central point. Try to picture drawing a line of symmetry through an apple pie. Notice that you would be able to draw a line of symmetry through the pie anywhere as long as the line went through the center point. Note the starfish below. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
Animals that have radial symmetry share many different characteristics, including living in water, not having a front or back end, and not being able to move or moving slowly. Animals like sponges do not show any symmetry. This is called asymmetry and the animals that have this type of symmetry are usually organisms with simple body plans like sponges. Complex animals have either radial or bilateral symmetry. Bilateral Symmetry Advantages Animals that have bilateral symmetry are more complex than animals that are asymmetrical or have radial symmetry. These animals have a distinct front and back end that helps the animal to move and sense the environment. Types of Animal Behavior Animals have many different types of behavior. Behavior is all of the actions that an animal performs. Most of the behaviors that an animal performs help it to survive or reproduce. There is a stimulus and a response to all behaviors. A stimulus is a signal that causes an organism to respond in a specific way. A response is the organism’s reaction to the stimulus. Some animals know how to perform a certain behavior by instinct. Instinct is performing a behavior without being taught how to do it. Other behaviors need to be learned. Learning is when a behavior changes due to experiences. Learning can take place many different ways depending on the situation. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.
Table Of Contents: Six Kingdoms of Life
1. Classification
2.1. Why Do Scientists Classify Organisms?
There are millions of types of organisms that live on Earth. A classification system helps scientists study, record and share information about organisms in a systematic and useful way.
2.2. How Are Organisms Classified?
The science of classification is called taxonomy. Organisms are classified according to shared characteristics such as cell structure, physical appearance, how they obtain food and method of reproduction.
2.3. DNA Technology and Classification
DNA technology is also playing a role in classification. The study of gene sequences and mutations has enabled scientists to understand the evolutionary relationships between different organisms.
2.4. Levels of Classification
There are seven levels of classification—kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species.
2.5. Scientific Name
Each organism is identified by its scientific name, which includes the genus and species. For example, humans are called Homo sapiens.
2. Six Kingdoms Overview
3.1. What Are the Six Kingdoms?
All organisms are classified into six different kingdoms—archaebacteria, eubacteria, protists, fungi, plants and animals.
3.2. Archaebacteria and Eubacteria
From an evolutionary perspective, archaebacteria and eubacteria are the simplest organisms, having evolved billions of years ago.
3.3. Protists
Protists are more complex organisms with a variety of characteristics. Scientists believe that protists evolved from bacteria.
3.4. Fungi, Plants and Animals
Fungi, plants and animals all evolved from different types of protists.
3. Archaebacteria and Eubacteria
4.1. Characteristics of Bacteria
Bacteria are simple unicellular organisms that can be found in nearly every environment on Earth. All bacteria are prokaryotic—they do not have a true nucleus or organelles with membranes.
4.2. Two Bacterial Groups
DNA studies suggest that there are two distinct groups of bacteria. Therefore bacteria are divided into two kingdoms—archaebacteria and eubacteria.
4.3. Where Are Archaebacteria Found?
Some archaebacteria are found in extreme environments, such as hot springs and salt lakes, while other species live in the ocean and soil.
4.4. Where Are Eubacteria Found?
Eubacteria are more common than archaebacteria and are found in soil, water and our bodies.
4.5. Beneficial and Harmful Bacteria
Archaebacteria and eubacteria are diverse kingdoms of organisms that contribute to oxygen production, food production, decomposition, medical applications and biotechnology. Some bacteria are harmful and cause disease.
4. Protists
5.1. Characteristics of Protists
Protists are eukaryotic organisms that have a true nucleus and membrane-bound organelles. They typically live in or near water and can be unicellular or multicellular.
5.2. Variety of Protists
The protist kingdom includes organisms that are not classified as plants, animals or fungi. Protists are difficult to categorize because there is a wide variation of characteristics among species.
5.3. Protist Groups
Protists are often grouped according to whether they are animal-like, plant-like or fungus-like.
5.4. Protozoa
Animal-like protists are known as protozoa. They are single-celled organisms that move to find food. Amoeba and paramecium are classified as protozoa.
5.5. Algae
Plant-like protists, called algae, contain chloroplasts and make their own food by the process of photosynthesis. They are primarily found in fresh water. Examples include volvox, euglena and spirogyra.
5.6. Fungus-Like Protists
Fungus-like protists are heterotrophs that feed on decomposing matter. They reproduce using spores. Water molds, downy mildew and slime molds are fungus-like protists.
5. Pause and Interact
6.1. Review
Use the whiteboard text tool to complete the activity.
6. Fungi
7.1. Characteristics of Fungi
Fungi are heterotrophic eukaryotes that absorb nutrients from decomposing matter. Most are multicellular, but some, like yeast, are unicellular.
7.2. Parts of a Fungus
The bodies of most fungi are composed of filaments called hyphae. These hyphae grow into a large mass of cells called mycelium.
7.3. Fungus Reproduction
Most fungi reproduce using spores. Fungi are classified into three groups according to their sexual reproductive structures—zygote, sac and club fungi.
7.4. Beneficial Fungi
Many fungi are beneficial organisms, contributing to the recycling of nutrients, food production and medical advances.
7.5. Harmful Fungi
There are some fungi that are harmful and cause disease in animals and plants.
7. Plants
8.1. Plant Characteristics
Plants are multicellular eukaryotes that live primarily on land. They are autotrophic, obtaining energy through photosynthesis.
8.2. Cellulose and Chloroplasts
Plant cells are distinct because they have cell walls composed of cellulose. Chloroplasts inside the cells contain the pigment chlorophyll that is needed for photosynthesis.
8.3. How Are Plants Classified?
Plants are classified according to whether they have vascular systems, produce seeds and develop flowers.
8.4. Nonvascular Plants
Nonvascular plants absorb water and nutrients directly from their surroundings. They are seedless and are considered to be the most ancient land plants. Examples include liverworts, mosses and hornworts.
8.5. Seedless Vascular Plants
Ferns, club mosses and horsetails are seedless vascular plants that reproduce using spores. The vascular tissues, xylem and phloem, carry water and nutrients throughout the plant.
8.6. Gymnosperms
Gymnosperms are vascular plants that produce seeds, but do not have flowers. The seeds of most gymnosperms develop in the scales of cones.
8.7. Angiosperms
Angiosperms are flowering vascular plants that produce seeds inside a fruit.
8. Pause and Interact
9.1. Review
Use the whiteboard tools to complete the activity.
9. Animals
10.1. Animal Characteristics
All organisms in the animal kingdom are multicellular heterotrophs, and their cells lack cell walls. Most animals reproduce sexually, have some type of nervous system and are capable of movement.
10.2. Major Animal Groups
There are over 1.5 million known species of animals. This branching tree shows how major animal groups are possibly related.
10.3. Invertebrates
Invertebrates are animals without backbones. These animals live in water and on land. They account for over 95% of the known animal species.
10.4. Invertebrate Groups
Some of the major groups of invertebrates include sponges, worms, mollusks, echinoderms, cnidarians and arthropods.
10.5. Vertebrates
Vertebrates have a spinal cord encased by protective vertebrae. They also have an endoskeleton that is composed of cartilage or bone. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals are all vertebrates.
10. Pause and Interact
11.1. Kingdom Identification
Drag and drop each organism into the correct kingdom.
11. Vocabulary Review
12.1. Six Kingdoms of Life Vocabulary Matching
All organisms in the animal kingdom are multicellular heterotrophs, and their cells lack cell walls. Most animals reproduce sexually, have some type of nervous system and are capable of movement.
12. Virtual Investigation
13.1. Classifying Organisms
In this virtual investigation you will classify several organisms according to their distinguishing characteristics. Use the information provided and your knowledge of the six kingdoms to help identify each organism.
13. Assessment
14.1. Six Kingdoms of Life
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