Science Week Beginning Monday 8 th June 2020

Science – Week Beginning Monday 8 th June 2020 Life on Earth In this week’s science session, the children will be learning about the diversity of life on Earth, why and how they are classified. They will learn : • Understand the 7 characteristics of a living thing • Living things can be grouped in a variety of ways. • Know that scientists are able to classify living things by closely observing them.

What is the difference between living and non-living things ?

What makes a living thing?

Although all living things look different to each other even if they are the same species, there are 7 things that all living things do. These 7 things are called life processes. A thing is only living if it does all 7 of these life processes. Take a look at this animation: https: //www. bbc. co. uk/bitesize/clips/zg 7 s 39 q

All living things move. Animals move their body. From big movements like a jump, to small movements like a wink. Plants turn, or grow, towards the light.

All living things reproduce. Animals have babies. New plants grow from seeds.

All living things are sensitive. Living things are sensitive to their surroundings. Animals react to changes in the temperature around them. Plants grow towards sunlight and send their roots deeper if they need to find more water.

All living things need nutrition. Living things need food for energy. Plants make their own food using energy from the sun. Animals eat plants and/or other animals.

All living things excrete. Plants and animals both need to get rid of waste gas and water. Animals also need to get rid of other waste products.

All living things respire. What will you use your energy for today? Plants and animals use oxygen in the air to turn food into energy.

All living things grow. Young animals grow into adults and plant seedlings grown in to mature plants.

M – movement R – reproduction S – sensitivity N – nutrition E – excretion R – respiration G - growth

Now it’s your turn … • To demonstrate your learning please complete Activity 1 – Sorting living and non-living things

Diversity of Life The diversity of life on earth is huge, and all these different species keep our planet functioning by regulating our climate, providing us with food, water and oxygen, as well as allowing us to enjoy some astounding natural beauty. Do you know the names of any of these living organisms ?

How many species are there on Earth? • Nobody actually knows! • Estimates range between 3 - 100 million different species. • Latest prediction: = 8. 7 million ‘Mr Burns’ beaked toad (Rhinella sp. nov. ) Discovered 2010 • Scientists have described around 1. 75 million species, so there are lots of species still to find!

Species Discovery Scientists are finding new species all the time. • Some scientists plan expeditions to remote and unexplored places to try and discover species that have never been seen before. • In tropical rainforests, scientists can discover hundreds of potential new insect species in a single tree! Long-nosed tree frog (Discovered 2011) • Most (but not all) newly discovered species are small, from microscopic bacteria to insects and other small organisms. Why do you think this might be? Caquetá titi monkey (Discovered 2008)

Why do scientists want to find new species? • Humans depend on plants, animals and healthy ecosystems for fresh air, clean water, food and many other ‘services’. • Finding new species could lead to the discovery of new ways that plants, animals, and even bacteria can be useful to humans in future, for example in medicines or as a new crop for food.

CLASSIFICATION Sorting this large number of species into groups based on similarities helps people to know which living thing is being talked about. Scientists can be sure they are investigating the same species. This is known as classification. All plants and animals can be divided into groups by looking at the similarities and differences between them.

Now it’s your turn … Activity 2 - Choose your favourite • Animal • Plant Draw a labelled diagram of each. Tell me about the kind of habitat you would find them in and anything special about them and explain why you like them so much.

Classifying Plants • Plants can be sorted or classified as either FLOWERING or NON-FLOWERING PLANTS

Classifying animals Animals can be divided into two main groups by looking at the similarities and differences between them. Animals that have a backbone are called vertebrates. Animals that don't have a backbone are called invertebrates. Vertebrates Please watch this animation and complete the quiz on the webpage: https: //www. bbc. co. uk/bitesize/topics/zn 22 pv 4/articles/zp 6 g 7 p 3 Invertebrates Please watch this animation: https: //www. bbc. co. uk/bitesize/topics/zn 22 pv 4/articles/z 8 mbqhv

We can classify animals into two main groups: vertebrates invertebrates Have a backbone Do not have a backbone We are going to use the x-ray machine to see if some animals are vertebrates or invertebrates

Our first animal is a cat. Do you think a cat is a vertebrate? Click on the cats to x-ray them!

What about this fish? Do you think a fish is a vertebrate? Click on the fish to x-ray it!

What about this snail? Do you think a snail is a vertebrate? Click on the snail to x-ray it!

What about this dinosaur? Do you think dinosaurs were vertebrates? Click on the dinosaur to xray it!

What about this jellyfish? Do you think a jellyfish is a vertebrate? Click on the jellyfish to x-ray it!

What about this eagle? Do you think an eagle is a vertebrate? Click on the eagle to x-ray it!

What about this worm? Do you think a worm is a vertebrate? Click on the worm to x-ray it!

What about this frog? Do you think a frog is a vertebrate? Click on the frog to x-ray it!

What about people like you and me? Do you think a human is a vertebrate? Click on the children to x-ray them!

Yes, a cat has a backbone, so it is a vertebrate Click here to carry on

Yes, a fish has a backbone, so it is a vertebrate Click here to carry on

No, a snail has no backbone, so it is an invertebrate Click here to carry on

Yes, this dinosaur had a backbone, so it was a vertebrate Click here to carry on

No, a jellyfish has no backbone, so it is an invertebrate Click here to carry on

Yes, an eagle has a backbone, so it is a vertebrate Click here to carry on

No, a worm has no backbone, so it is an invertebrate Click here to carry on

Yes, a frog has a backbone, so it is a vertebrate Click here to carry on

Yes, a human has a backbone, so it is a vertebrate Click here to carry on

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN … Activity 3 – Vertebrates and Invertebrates – Draw a simple sorting chart, use the column headings VERTEBRATES or INVERTEBRATES then look at the animals on the cards and decide to which group they belong. Simply write the name of the animal in the correct column.