Year 6 - Science
Grouping micro-organisms
Why we group and classify living things
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit covers the classification of living things, including micro-organisms, plants, and animals, based on observable characteristics. It explores reasons for classification and focuses on planning scientific enquiries, recording data, presenting findings, and evaluating scientific evidence.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to group micro-organisms based on similarities and differences.
Key Notes
- Scientists group micro-organisms to make it easier to identify, name and learn about them.
- There are different groups of micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria and fungi, with different structures and shapes.
- Micro-organisms can be harmful or helpful.
- It is important to classify and group micro-organisms so that we can understand their uses and treatments.
Vocabulary To Learn
- micro-organism: A micro-organism is a very tiny living thing.
- bacteria: Bacteria are a type of micro-organism that can be found in all natural environments.
- virus: Viruses are a type of micro-organism.
- fungi: Fungi are organisms that include moulds, mushrooms, and yeasts. They feed on organic matter, usually from dead things.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may think that all micro-organisms are harmful and will cause us to become ill.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Scientists group micro-organisms to make it easier to identify, name and learn about them. There are different groups of micro-organisms such as viruses, bacteria and fungi, with different structures and shapes.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'micro-organism'
A micro-organism is a very tiny living thing. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may think that all micro-organisms are harmful and will cause us to become ill. Correction: Explain that, while some micro-organisms can cause us harm, there are also many that are beneficial, such as those used in food production, water treatment or those living inside our digestive system.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Carl Linnaeus and classification Study Guide
- Comparing characteristics of living things Study Guide
- Discovering and naming new species Study Guide
- Growing yeast: do and review (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Growing yeast: plan (non-statutory) Study Guide
- How and why we group animals Study Guide
- How and why we group plants Study Guide
- Micro-organisms are living things Study Guide
- Micro-organisms living on food: plan and do (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Micro-organisms living on food: review (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Microorganisms that help us (non-statutory) Study Guide
- The 5 Rs (non-statutory Climate Change & Sustainability) Study Guide
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