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6th Grade Science
Name:
Date:
Advisory:
The Six Kingdoms
Directions:
The passage that you are about to read introduces a new topic within the
upcoming unit on organisms. This passage describes how scientists classify or
group organisms by their characteristics.
As you read circle any new vocabulary words, then answer the questions that
follow each kingdom.
T
oday, the system of classification includes six kingdoms: archaebacteria,
eubacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals.
Organisms are placed into kingdoms based on their type of cells, their ability to make
food, and the number of cells in their bodies.
Archaebacteria:
The name archaebacteria means “ancient
bacteria.”Archaebacteria can be either autotrophs
(create their own energy) or heterotrophs (get
energy by eating other living or dead organisms)
and live only in places without oxygen.
Archaebacteria don’t have a nucleus. A nucleus is a
dense area in a cell that contains information for the
cell (DNA)— the chemical instructions that direct the cell’s activities. In prokaryotes, DNA is
scattered throughout the cell. Archaebacteria are usually harmless to humans and live in extreme
environments like at the bottom of the ocean, in hot springs and in the acids of your digestive
system!
Based on the passage, what does the word “autotroph” mean?
__________________________________________________
Based on the passage, what does the word “heterotrophs” mean?
Eubacteria:
Bacteria belong to the kingdom known as
Eubacteria. Eubacteria are unicellular and
don’t have nuclei in their cells. Some
eubacteria are autotrophs while others are heterotrophs. Even
though they are similar to archaebacteria, eubacteria are
classified in their own kingdom because they are made of different chemicals than
archaebacteria. Some eubacteria are dangerous and can cause infections like strep throat,
however, most of them are either harmless or actually helpful, by helping your body break down
food.
Based on the passage, what do you think the word “unicellular” means?
Protists:
Slime molds, amoebas, algae and paramecium are all examples
of protists. The protist kingdom is sometimes called the “odds and
ends” kingdom because its members are so different
from one another. Protists can be autotrophs or
heterotrophs. Although many protists are unicellular (made of one cell), some
are multicellular (made of more than one
cell). Some protists can have chloroplasts,
others don’t. However, all protist cells
contain a nucleus, some types even have an
extra nucleus called a “micronucleus.”
Based on the passage, what do you think the word “micronucleus” means?
Fungi:
Mushrooms, molds, mildew, and yeast are
all fungi. Most fungi are multicellular and
all of their cells have nuclei and cell walls
(but no chloroplasts). A few, such as yeast,
are unicellular. Fungi are found almost
everywhere on land, but only a few live in fresh water. All fungi are heterotrophs. Most fungi
feed on dead or decaying organisms. When they do this, it looks like they are growing on their
food (look at the ant).
Why don’t fungi need chloroplasts?
Plants:
Plants are all multicellular organisms whose cells
have nuclei. The plant kingdom includes a variety of
organisms. All plants are autotrophs. Plants feed almost all of
the heterotrophs on Earth. All plants have cell walls and chloroplasts.
Considering what you know about chloroplast, explain why a plant could be classified as an
autotroph.
Animals:
All animals are multicellular organisms whose cells have nuclei. All
animals are heterotrophs. Animals have different adaptations that allow them to
find food, capture it, eat it, and digest it. Members of
the animal kingdom are found in diverse
environments on earth. Animals can live
deep in the ocean, fly in the air, crawl
along the desert, climb trees, and for
almost every animal and plant alive, there is an animal that eats it.
Explain why animals are classified as heterotrophs.