Classification of living organisms (AQA GCSE)

This engaging lesson introduces the classification system developed by Carl Linnaeus as well as the three-domain system developed by Carl Woese. The PowerPoint and accompanying resources (which contain exam-style questions) have been planned to cover the content of specification point 6.4 of the AQA GCSE biology and combined science specifications.

The lesson begins with an introduction of the key term, population, and describes the biological meaning of this commonly-used word. The first of several prior knowledge checks then challenges the students on their knowledge of chromosome numbers in gametes following meiosis as well as zygotes and this introduces the hinny as the offspring of a horse and donkey. Students will learn that as the hinny is infertile, this explains why the horse and donkey are not members of the same species.

The binomial name using the genus and species for a modern-day human is discussed before a quick quiz is then used to introduce the classification taxa that come above the genus. A series of 3 exam-style questions will challenge the students on their understanding of the 7 taxa and the naming system, and the answers are embedded into the PowerPoint to allow students to assess their work.

The remainder of the lesson describes the three-domain system that was developed following improvements in scientific equipment such as microscopes.