Classification Keys

Test yourself

Using Classification Keys to Group Living Things

We can use keys to help decide how to identify different living things.

Classification key

A classification key is a series of questions about the characteristics of living things.

Uses of classification keys

We use classification keys to group new species by their characteristics.

Classification key

You can use this classification key to classify different living things.
You can find out what a living thing is classified as by answering 'yes' or 'no' questions and following the arrows.

1Year 3: Plants

1.1Types of Plants

1.1.1Flowering & Non-flowering Plants

1.2Parts of a Plant

1.2.1Roots

1.2.2What do Roots do?

1.2.3Stem

1.2.4Leaves

1.2.5How Leaves Make Food

1.2.6Flowers

1.3Pollination

1.3.1Pollination

1.3.2Pollination by Insects

1.3.3Pollination by the Wind

1.4Seeds

1.4.1Types of Seeds

1.4.2Dispersing Seeds

2Year 3: Animals (Including Humans)

2.1Food

2.1.1The Need for Food

2.1.2Food Groups

2.1.3Carbohydrates

2.1.4Proteins

2.1.5Dairy

2.1.6Fruit & Vegetables

2.1.7Fats

2.1.8Junk Food

2.2Skeletons & Muscles

2.2.1Skeletons & Muscles

2.2.2Healthy Bones

3Year 3: Rocks

3.1Rocks on Earth

3.1.1Rocks

3.1.2Fossils

4Year 3: Light

4.1What is Light?

4.1.1Light as Energy

4.1.2Reflections

4.1.3Sunlight

4.1.4Shadows

5Year 3: Forces & Magnets

5.1Forces

5.1.1What is a Force?

5.1.2Contact & Non-Contact Forces

5.1.3Testing Magnetic Materials

5.1.4Attracting & Repelling Magnets

5.1.5Uses of Magnets

6Year 4: Living Things & Their Habitats

6.1Grouping Animals

6.1.1Biodiversity & Classification

6.1.2Grouping Animals

6.2Vertebrates

6.2.1Vertebrates

6.2.2Mammals

6.2.3Reptiles

6.2.4Fish

6.2.5Amphibians

6.2.6Birds

6.3Invertebrates

6.3.1Invertebrates

6.3.2Insects

6.3.3Spiders

6.3.4Slugs & Snails

6.3.5Worms

6.4Grouping Plants

6.4.1Grouping Plants

6.4.2Flowering Plants

6.4.3Non-Flowering Plants

6.5Classification Keys

6.5.1Classification Keys

6.6Environmental Change

6.6.1Positive Impact of Humans on the Environment

6.6.2Negative Impact of Humans: Deforestation

6.6.3Negative Impact of Humans: Litter

6.6.4Negative Impact of Humans: Overpopulation

7Year 4: Animals, Including Humans

7.1Teeth

7.1.1Why Do We Need Teeth?

7.1.2'Baby' Teeth

7.1.3Adult Teeth

7.1.4Incisors

7.1.5Canines

7.1.6Premolars

7.1.7Molars

7.2Digestion

7.2.1What is Digestion?

7.2.2The Digestive System - The Mouth

7.2.3The Digestive System - The Stomach

7.2.4The Digestive System - The Small Intestines

7.2.5The Digestive System - The Large Intestines

7.3Food Chains

7.3.1What are Food Chains?

7.3.2Producers, Predators & Prey

7.3.3Herbivores & Carnivores

8Year 4: States of Matter

8.1The 3 States of Matter

8.1.1States of Matter

8.1.2Changes of State

8.2The Water Cycle

8.2.1The Water Cycle

8.2.2Evaporation at Different Temperatures

9Year 4: Sound

9.1How Do I Hear?

9.1.1What is Sound?

9.1.2Sound Travels to Your Ear

9.2Pitch

9.2.1Pitch

9.3Volume

9.3.1Volume

9.3.2How Distance Affect Volume

10Year 4: Electricity

10.1Uses of Electricity

10.1.1What Uses Electricity?

10.2Conductors & Insulators

10.2.1Electrical Conductors

10.2.2Electrical Insulators

10.3Making Circuits

10.3.1What is a Circuit?

10.3.2Complete Circuits

10.3.3Electrical Safety

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