Classification Topic

Living and Non-Living Things

This science revision note aims to help your child:

– Read the flow chart.

– classify living and non-living things (what characteristics to look out for?)

– Identify the relevant characteristics

– proper scientific keywords to explain the concepts clearly.

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MUST-KNOW about classification things:

– How to read a classifying chart. When classifying things, read from top to bottom. Watch the video below to understand how a classification chart is constructed.

– Identifying characteristics of the thing/object.

Question

Study the classification chart below.

This is animal X:

Which group A, B, C or D does animal X belong to? Explain your answer.

STEP 1

Identify animal X and its characteristics.

• Does animal X have scales?
• Can animal X fly?

STEP 2

Trace the chart and identify which group animal X falls into.

FINALLY, put your answer together

Question: Which group A, B, C or D does animal X belong to? Explain your answer.

Group C. Animal X is a grasshopper. Animal X and the animals in group C do not have scales and can fly. 

Common mistakes

Wrong answer: Group A and C. Both animal X and the animals in groups A and C can fly

Teachers’ comments: Incomplete picture of the classification chart. Do remember to read the classification chart from the top! 

Here’s another example!

This time around, we are comparing living and non-living things.

Question

Greg grouped four items into two groups (A and B), with two items in each group.

Greg suggested some headings (1, 2, 3, 4) for the groups:

(a) Greg’s teacher told him one of his suggestions was wrong. Which pair of headings (1, 2, 3, 4) is wrong? Why is it wrong?

(b) Using the correct headings that he suggested, Greg wanted to add an elephant into one of the groups. He realised that he could classify the elephant into either of the groups, depending on which headings he used.

(i) If he placed the elephant into Group A, which pair(s) of headings can he use?

(ii) If he placed the elephant into Group B, which pair(s) of headings can he use?

PART (a)

STEP 1

Greg’s teacher told him that one of his suggestions was wrong. Which pair of headings (1, 2, 3, 4) is wrong? Why is it wrong?

Look at each of the headings and determine if they are correct or wrong.

PAIR 1

• Group A: As seen in the images, both the table and the chair have four legs –> this heading is correct
• Group B: Both the eagle and penguin have two legs –> this heading is correct

PAIR 2

• Group A: The table and chair are non-living things, meaning they cannot move on their own –> this heading is wrong
• Group B: The eagle and penguin are living things, meaning they can move on their own –> this heading is wrong

(Note: even though you have already found your answer, make sure to check the rest of the pairs still to ensure that your answer is correct!)

PAIR 3

• Group A: The table and chair are non-living things, meaning they do not respond to changes –> this heading is correct
• Group B: The eagle and penguin are living things, meaning they respond to changes –> this heading is correct

PAIR 4

• Group A: The table and chair are non-living things, meaning they cannot reproduce –> this heading is correct
• Group B: The eagle and penguin are living things, meaning they can reproduce –> this heading is correct

Hence, only Pair 2 is wrong.

FINALLY, put your answer together

Question: Greg’s teacher told him one of his suggestions was wrong. Which pair of headings (1, 2, 3, 4) is wrong? Why is it wrong?

Answer: Pair 2 is wrong. This is because the table and chair are non-living things, meaning they cannot move on their own, while the eagle and penguin are living things, meaning they can move on their own.

Common mistakes

Incomplete answer: Pair 2 is wrong. This is because the table and chair cannot move on their own, while the eagle and penguin can move on their own.

Teachers’ comments: This is not wrong, but you did not explain why the table and chair cannot move on their own while the eagle and penguin can move on their own. You need to include the keywords living thing and non-living thing in order to clearly explain your answer.

PART (b)

Using the correct headings that he suggested, Greg wanted to add an elephant into one of the groups. He realised that he could classify the elephant into either of the groups, depending on which headings he used.

(i) If he placed the elephant into Group A, which pair(s) of headings can he use?

(ii) If he placed the elephant into Group B, which pair(s) of headings can he use?

STEP 1

Let’s recap the three correct headings that Greg suggested.

STEP 2

Look at each of the pairs of headings and determine if an elephant belongs in Group A or Group B.

Pair 1

• As seen in the diagram above, the elephant has four legs –> It can be classified into Group A

Pair 2

• An elephant is a living thing, so it responds to changes –> It can be classified into Group B

Pair 3

• An elephant is a living thing, so it can reproduce –> It can be classified into Group B

FINALLY, put your answer together

Question: (i) If he placed the elephant into Group A, which pair(s) of headings can he use?

Answer: If he placed the elephant into Group A, he can use Pair 1.

Question: (i) If he placed the elephant into Group B, which pair(s) of headings can he use?

Answer: If he placed the elephant into Group B, he can use Pair 2 and 3.

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