- home
- Living Things and their Habitats
Living Things and their Habitats
Pupils should be taught to:
• describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics, and based on similarities and differences, including micro-organisms, plants and animals;
• give reasons for classifying plants and animals based on specific characteristics.
Y6 Living Things and Their Habitats; Micro-organisms
Resource Details
A PowerPoint presentation used to introduce pupils to micro-organisms, the range of different organisms and how they behave and can be classified. Pupils also learn how micro-organism can be both harmful and helpful. The PowerPoint can be used at the beginning of the topic or during it to stimulate scientific discussions, ideas and theories.
View ResourceY6 Classifying and Grouping Plants
Resource Details
Pupils learn that plants can be grouped in a variety of ways and that one of these ways depends on how the plant disperses its seeds. Pupils then group plants according to the way they disperse their seeds (a cut and paste activity).
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including micro-organisms, plants and animals
- NaG - pupils should build on their learning about grouping living things in Year 4 by looking at the classification system in more detail
- WS - pupils might work scientifically by: devising classification systems and keys to identify some animals and plants in the immediate environment
Y6 Difficult to Classify Animals
Resource Details
Pupils classify a range of common animals using a key. They then try to classify a range of animals that do not necessarily follow common classification criteria. Pupils can use reference books and/or the internet to help them with their research.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - identify and name a variety of living things (plants and animals) in the local and wider environment, using classification keys to assign them to groups
- WS - pupils should use straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings
Y6 Grouping Animals
Resource Details
Pupils cut and paste a range of animals into their correct animal group on the sheet provided. Pupils can use reference books and/or the internet to carry out your research to help with grouping.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including micro-organisms, plants and animals
- NaG - pupils should classify animals into vertebrates (reptiles, fish, amphibians, birds and mammals) and commonly found invertebrates (e.g. insects, spiders, snails, worms); discuss reasons why living things are placed in one group and not another
Y6 Classifying Animals
Resource Details
Pupils look at a range of living creatures and decide how could they be separated into groups?
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including micro-organisms, plants and animals
- NaG - pupils should build on their learning about grouping living things in Year 4 by looking at the classification system in more detail
- WS - pupils might work scientifically by: devising classification systems and keys to identify some animals and plants in the immediate environment
Y6 Classification Key
Resource Details
Pupils use a classification key to help them place a number of animals into their correct groups (a cut and paste activity).
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including micro-organisms, plants and animals
- NaG - pupils should classify animals into vertebrates (reptiles, fish, amphibians, birds and mammals) and commonly found invertebrates (e.g. insects, spiders, snails, worms)
Y6 The Four Common Plant Groups
Resource Details
Pupils learn that their are four basic plant groups and that these include, mosses/liverworts, ferns/horsetails, conifers, flowering plants. Pupils also learn how to identify and group these plants.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including micro-organisms, plants and animals
- NaG - pupils should build on their learning about grouping living things in Year 4 by looking at the classification system in more detail
- WS - pupils might work scientifically by: devising classification systems and keys to identify some animals and plants in the immediate environment
Y6 Classifying and Grouping Plants
Resource Details
Pupils learn that plants can be grouped in a variety of ways and that one of these ways depends on how the plant disperses its seeds. Pupils then group a number of plants depending on how they disperse their seeds.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including micro-organisms, plants and animals
- NaG - pupils should build on their learning about grouping living things in Year 4 by looking at the classification system in more detail
- WS - pupils might work scientifically by: devising classification systems and keys to identify some animals and plants in the immediate environment
Y6 Classifying Animals Using a Key
Resource Details
Pupils learn how to sort and group animals using a classification key.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including micro-organisms, plants and animals
- NaG - pupils should classify animals into vertebrates (reptiles, fish, amphibians, birds and mammals) and commonly found invertebrates (e.g. insects, spiders, snails, worms)
Y6 Different Types of Skeleton
Resource Details
Pupils learn that animals can be grouped according to their skeletons and that there are three types of skeleton. They learn that these skeletons are called endoskeletons, exoskeletons and hydrostatic skeletons.
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including micro-organisms, plants and animals
- NaG - pupils should classify animals into vertebrates (reptiles, fish, amphibians, birds and mammals) and commonly found invertebrates (e.g. insects, spiders, snails, worms); discuss reasons why living things are placed in one group and not another
Y6 Classifying Animals: Vertebrate or Invertebrate?
Resource Details
Pupils learn that a vertebrate is an animal that has a bony skeleton and a backbone and that an invertebrate is an animal that does not have a bony skeleton or a backbone. They learn how to group these animals into three groups and that these groups are called endoskeletons, exoskeletons and hydrostatic skeletons.
View ResourceLearning Objectives:
- PoS - describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including micro-organisms, plants and animals
- NaG - through direct observations where possible, pupils should classify animals into commonly found invertebrates (such as insects, spiders, snails, worms) and vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals)
- WS - pupils should use classification systems and keys to identify some animals and plants in the immediate environment; they could research unfamiliar animals and plants from a broad range of other habitats and decide where they belong in the classification system
Y6 Classifying Animals
Resource Details
Pupils group and match animals, including insects, into their recognised animal groups using the correct headings and animal group descriptions (a cut and paste activity).
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including micro-organisms, plants and animals
- NaG - pupils should classify animals into vertebrates (reptiles, fish, amphibians, birds and mammals) and commonly found invertebrates (e.g. insects, spiders, snails, worms); discuss reasons why living things are placed in one group and not another
Y6 Classifying and Grouping Animals
Resource Details
Pupils place animals into their correct animal group according to their observable features (a cut and paste activity).
Learning Objectives:
- PoS - describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including micro-organisms, plants and animals
- NaG - pupils should classify animals into vertebrates (reptiles, fish, amphibians, birds and mammals) and commonly found invertebrates (e.g. insects, spiders, snails, worms); discuss reasons why living things are placed in one group and not another