Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region I
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF ILOCOS NORTE

Science 8
Quarter 4 – Module 5:
Hierarchical Taxonomic
System of Classification

MELC: Classify organisms using the hierarchical

taxonomic system. (S8LT-IVh-20)

Prepared by:

MARK ANTHONY BATILO BALOALOA

JHS Teacher I
Uguis Integrated School
Science 8
Share-A-Resource-Program
Quarter 4 – Module 5: Hierarchical Taxonomic System of Classification
First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Mark Anthony B. Baloaloa
Reviewers / Evaluators: Mildred C. Almazan
Dolores P. Acierto
Mary Ann B. Melchor
Management Team: Joann A. Corpuz EdD, CESO V
School Division Superintendent
Joye D. Madalipay, EdD
Assistant School Division Superintendent
Santiago L. Baoec EdD
OIC, Chief Education Program Supervisor
Jenetrix T. Tumaneng
Education Program Supervisor – LRMDS
Jerry G. Tabrilla EdD
Education Program Supervisor – Science
Ursino C. Pascua
Public School District Supervisor
Division Design & Layout Artist: Jerry M. Burgos

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Office Address: Brgy. 7B, Giron Street, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Telefax: (077) 771-0960
Telephone No.: (077) 770-5963, (077) 600-2605
E-mail Address: [email protected]
 8

Science 8
Quarter 4 – Module 5:
Hierarchical Taxonomic
System of Classification
Introductory Message
This Contextualized Learning Module (CLM) is prepared so that you, our dear
learners, can continue your studies and learn while at home. Activities, questions,
directions, exercises, and discussions are carefully stated for you to understand each
lesson with ease.

This CLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you step-by-
step as you discover and understand the lesson prepared for you.

Pre-test is provided to measure your prior knowledge on the lesson. This will
show you if you need to proceed in completing this module or if you need to ask your
facilitator or your teacher’s assistance for better understanding of the lesson. At the
end of this module, you need to answer the post-test to self-check your learning.
Answer keys are provided for all activities and tests. We trust that you will be honest
in using them.

In addition to the material in the main text, Notes to the Teacher is also
provided to our facilitators and parents for strategies and reminders on how they can
best help you in your home-based learning.

Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on any part
of this CLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises and tests.
Likewise, read the instructions carefully before performing each task.

If you have any question in using this CLM or any difficulty in answering the
tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator.

Thank you.
 What I Need to Know
From Grades 3 to 7 you have studied some of the different organisms and
their easily observable characteristics. You learned about those organisms that you
find around and other places in the country. You were introduced to the cells that
differ in plants and animals. Some of these consists only of a single cell while others
have many. You may also had a chance to look at organisms that are so small and
can be seen only with the microscope.

This module will introduce you to the concept of biodiversity, specifically, the
variety of organisms living on Earth. This will discuss how they are classified and
named. It will describe the different group to which these organisms belong.

This module was designed for you to observe, experience and represent
through drawings and illustrations the different concept that will help gradually
understand the classification of organisms using the hierarchical taxonomic system
is all about.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Classify organisms using the hierarchical taxonomic system. (S8LT-
IVh-20)

Specifically, to achieve the MELC of this lesson, you should be able to:
a. define taxonomy;
b. enumerate and describe the hierarchical classification of organisms;
and
c. give scientific name of organisms applying the binomial
nomenclature.

1
 What I Know

Directions: Read each item carefully. Write only the letter of the correct answer for
each question. Use a separate sheet for your answers.
1. The binomial system of nomenclature was developed by .
a. Carolus Linnaeus
b. Charles Darwin
c. Ernst Haeckel
d. Robert Whittaker
2. What does the familiaris in the scientific name Canis familiaris refer to?
a. Family c. Order
b. Genus d. Species
3. To which of the following do Pinus stobus and Pinus resinosa both belong?
a. Family c. Order
b. Genus d. Species
4. Which of the following is a correctly written scientific name?
a. staphylococcus aureus
b. Staphylococcus Aureus
c. Staphylococcus aureus
d. STAPHYLOCOCCUS Aureus
5. Which does NOT belong to domain Eukarya?
a. Animals c. Fungi
b. E. coli d. Plants
6. What language is used in giving scientific names of organisms?
a. French c. Hebrew
b. Greek d. Latin
7. Which of the following is the least specific classification?
a. Class c. Phylum
b. Genus d. Species
8. Which of the following kingdoms was proposed by Ernst Haeckel in 1866?
a. Animalia c. Fungi
b. Plantae d. Protista
9. What kingdom was proposed by Copeland to separate the prokaryotes?
a. Fungi c. Plantae
b. Monera d. Protista
10. Which of the following statements is true about the five-kingdom scheme
of biological classification?
a. Bacteria and algae are placed in Kingdom Monera.
b. Kingdom Plantae includes all photosynthetic organisms.
c. The simplest members of Kingdom Animalia are the protozoa.
d. Heterotrophic organisms that secrete digestive enzymes to break
down food before absorbing it are classified under Kingdom Fungi.

How did you find the pretest? What was your score? If you got 10 items
correctly, you may not take this module. But if your score is 10 and
below, you must proceed with the module.

2
 Lesson TAXONOMY:
1 Putting Order in Diversity
Life can be found everywhere – under a huge boulder, between crevices of
rocks, near the vents of underwater volcanoes, or even in stagnant water on a
pothole. The diversity of life is truly amazing! Although living things are diverse,
scientists were able to observe relationships among them. In the study of their
physical and molecular structures, scientists were able to discover some bases of
grouping them thus, the branch of biology called taxonomy, evolved.
Taxonomy is a branch of science that deals with naming, describing and
systematic classification of living things. It comes from the Greek words taxis
meaning arrangement, and nomos meaning laws.
Scientists have described and named a total of 1.5 million species. It is
estimated that the total number of species is about 10 million. Life on earth is
constantly evolving and changing slowly over time. Scientists attempt to order the
natural world by grouping and classifying all living organisms. As technologies
improve, so have our systems of classification.

What’s In
Activity 1: Which does not belong to the group?
Direction: Below are groups of living things. Circle the living thing that is most different
in terms of characteristics. Justify your answer by giving at least three characteristics
that make it different.
1. Hen, Pigeon, Ricebird, Turkey, Duck, Crocodile
  

2. Millipede, Earthworm, Fly, Centipede, Spider, Ant

  

3. Milkfish, Frog, Butterfly, Crocodile, Cat

  

4. Mushroom, Algae, Moss, Fern, Pine, Grass

  

5. Bat, Elephant, Monkey, Frog, Tarsier

  

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 What’s New
Activity 2: Characteristics: Similarities vs. Differences
I. Objectives:
1. Observe the characteristics of living things;
2. Make a list of their similarities and differences; and
3. Group similar organisms.

II. Materials:
 Image / List of Organisms
a. Domesticated Cat
b. Dog
c. Bangus (Milkfish)
d. Wolf
e. Lion

III. Procedure
1. Identify the similarities and differences of the organisms.
2. Take note of their similarities and differences.
3. Group the organisms with several similar characteristics.

IV. Results and Observation:

Give at least three characteristics for each organisms.
Organisms Characteristics
a. Domesticated Cat

b. Dog

c. Bangus (Milkfish)

d. Wolf

e. Lion

V. Conclusion
What bases did you use in classifying the organisms assigned to your
group? (Give at least three)

4
 Lesson Schemes of
2 Classification
Carolus Linnaeus, also called Carl Linnaeus and Carl
von Linné was a Swedish botanist and a medical doctor who,
in the 18th century, had published 180 books that describe
plant species in detail. In 1735, Linnaeus published a book
entitled “Systema Naturae” that introduced the scheme of
classifying living things based on structural characteristics.
His scheme known as the Linnaean System was accepted
during his time and is still used today as the basic
framework in the field of taxonomy.
The Linnaean system has two important features: the
classification of living things by level and the binomial
nomenclature.
CAROLUS LINNAEUS
Source:
http://www.britanica.com/biography/
Carolus-Linnaeus

What Is It
Classification of Living Things by Level
For organisms to be studied and information about them shared to those who
need it, scientist grouped them into meaningful classification. The different groups
are ranked from the largest to the smallest group. Large groups include many
organisms with few similarities. Small groups includes few organisms having more
similarities. Organisms which have more similarities would then, be closely related
than those which have less similarities.
Linnaeus introduced the hierarchical classification of living things by level
from the broadest to the most specific: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus,
and species. According to Linnaeus, classifying living things by level reflects the
degree of kinship among organisms.
In the system developed by Linnaeus, the kingdom was the biggest, broadest
group. More recently scientists have added an additional level above the kingdom
called a “domain”.
The domain is the highest taxonomic rank under which organisms are
classified based on fundamental differences in their genetic makeup. The next rank
is kingdom. This ranks is based on an organism’s cellular organization and nutrition
absorption method. A kingdom would be further subdivided into smaller groups.
Each subdivision of a kingdom is called a phyla (singular: phylum) in the animal
kingdom, or a division in the plant kingdom. At this rank, organisms are classified

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based on their basic body structure. Each phylum has several classes. And under
each class lies several orders. Each order has families under it. Under each family
are genera (singular: genus). And each genus is made up of different species. The
species is the most basic unit in the biological classification. Species is a group of
similar individuals capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.

The Different Levels of

DOMAIN
Classification
KINGDOM
Characteristics
PHYLUM / DIVISION become more
specific
CLASS

ORDER
Number of
Organism in each
FAMILY level decreases

GENUS

SPECIES

To remember the order of classification (Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class,

Order, Family, Genus, Species). You can use the mnemonics:
"Dear King Philip Came Over For Good Soup"
The Binomial Nomenclature
The binomial nomenclature is the formal system of giving living things two
names. Binomial means two names. This is done by combining two levels of
classification –– the genus and the species, both names are in Latin. Scientists
speak the same language when referring to living things. Thus, the binomial
nomenclature erases all the confusion brought about by using common names. The
binomial nomenclature forms the organism’s scientific name that is always written
in italics or italicized (underlined if handwritten). The Genus name of the organism
whose first letter is always uppercase and the second name is the species which
starts with a small letter or in lowercase.
Linnaeus chose Latin for his naming system because Latin is an unchanging
language. Its meaning is the same all around the world. The name given to organisms
may be according to who discovered it, the place where it was discovered, or simply
how it looks.

SCIENTIFIC NAME
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 Let us look at some examples of scientific names. The scientific name for the
Philippine Tarsier is Carlito syrichta: with Carlito being the name of the genus, and
syrichta being the name of species. Another example would be Citrus microcarpa, the
scientific name of calamansi. Scientific names may also be shortened. Like in the
case of Eschirichia coli; more commonly known as E. coli. As you can see, the genus
has been shortened to its first letter. Even when shortening scientific names, the
rules must be still followed. Scientific names help scientist communicate and give
descriptive information about species including its evolutionary history.

Calamansi, Citrus microcarpa

Photo Source: https://www.shutterstock.com/search/calamansi+tree

Escherichia coli (abbreviated as E. coli)

Photo Source:
https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/escherichia-coli-e-coli

The Philippine Tarsier, Carlito syrichta

Photo Source:
https://www.britannica.com/animal/tarsier

7
Activity 3: Examine Me: Plants vs Animals
(Modified from the Activity Sheets in Science 8 Quarter 4, Week 4 of Mrs. Maricel R. Viloria)

Direction: Examine the table showing the classification of four organisms. Then
answer the questions below. Write your answers on the space provided.
Level /
House Cat Mountain Lion Domestic Dog Human
Classification
Kingdom Animalia Animalia Animalia Animalia
Phylum Chordata Chordata Chordata Chordata
Class Mammalia Mammalia Mammalia Mammalia
Order Carnivora Carnivora Carnivora Primates
Family Felidae Felidae Canidae Hominidae
Genus Felis Felis Canis Homo
Species domesticus concolor familiaris sapiens

A. Which two organisms are most closely related? Why?

B. What level / classification do all four organisms have in common?

C. Which level / classification includes organisms that have hair or fur and
produce milk?

D. Which level / classification includes animals with backbones?

E. Write the scientific name for each of the organisms above.

a. c.
b. d.

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Direction: Examine the table showing the classification of four organisms. Then
answer the questions below. Write your answers on the space provided.
Level /
Onion Corn Garlic Coconut Tree
Classification
Kingdom Plantae Plantae Plantae Plantae

Division Tracheophyta Tracheophyta Tracheophyta Tracheophyta

Class Magnoliopsida Magnoliopsida Magnoliopsida Magnoliopsida

Order Asparagales Poales Asparagales Arecales

Family Amaryllidaceae Poaceae Amaryllidaceae Arecaceae

Genus Allium Zea Allium Cocos

Species cepa mays sativum nucifera

A. Which organisms are most closely related? Why?

B. What level / classification do all four organisms have in common?

C. Write the scientific name for each of the organisms above.

a. c.
b. d.

What’s More
Carolus Linnaeus, the father of taxonomy, classified organisms as either
plant or animals. This system putting all living things under either Kingdom Plantae
or Kingdom Animalia is known as the two-kingdom scheme of biological classification.
When microscopes were developed in the late 16th century, a new group of
minute organisms that was once invisible to the naked eye was revealed.
Taxonomists tried to fit them into the two kingdom, placing photosynthetic
microorganisms under Kingdom Plantae and heterotrophic single-celled organisms
under Kingdom Animalia. Bacteria, which included both photosynthetic and

9
heterotrophic species, and the heterotrophic fungi were classified under plants
because they possess rigid cell walls.
In 1866, Ernst Haeckel proposed that a third kingdom, named Protista, be
created to accommodate this problematic group of unicellular organisms that
included protozoa, algae, and bacteria. This is known as the three-kingdom scheme
of biological classification.
In 1938, Herbert Copeland proposed the four-kingdom scheme classification
of biological classification, naming Monera as the fourth kingdom to include both
bacteria and blue-green algae (now called cyanobacteria). He pointed out that there
are many fundamental characteristics rarely seen in other organisms but commonly
shared by bacteria and blue-green algae.
The most widely used classification system, however, is that proposed by
Robert Whittaker in the 1950’s, which separates the non-photosynthetic fungi from
the rest of the plant kingdom. Whittaker pointed out that fungi do not produce food
by photosynthesis as plants do, nor ingest food as animals do. They secrete digestive
enzymes to break down food before absorbing it into their cells. The five-kingdom
scheme of biological classification, therefore recognizes five major group of organism,
namely:
1. Kingdom Monera – Prokaryotes
2. Kingdom Fungi – Yeasts and Mushrooms
3. Kingdom Plantae – Green Algae and Land Plants
4. Kingdom Animalia – Metazoans, Protozoa, and Animals
5. Kingdom Protista – Diatoms, Red and Brown Algae
Other scientist, believed that living things should be classified into eight
kingdom. In addition to the Plantae, Animalia and Fungi, the system divided Monera
into two separate kingdoms, Archaebacteria and Eubacteria, and Protista into three
separate kingdoms, Archaezoa, Protozoa and Chromista.
In the 1970’s, advances in molecular biology that permitted comparative
analysis of DNA structures yielded new information that prompted a review of the
five-kingdom system of classification. Carl Woese proposed a six-kingdom
classification system that divided Monera into two kingdom, the Archaebacteria and
Eubacteria, and placed eukaryotic organisms under Kingdoms Plantae, Animalia,
Fungi and Protista. He and Ernst Mayr later advocated the use of a new category
called domain. The three domain system consists of Archaea, Eubacteria, and
Eukarya.

The Six Kingdom Classification

of Life
Photo Source:
https://www2.estrellamountain.edu
/faculty/farabee/biobk/biobookdiversit
y_3.html

10
 Modern taxonomists consider the
phylogeny of an organism when attempting
to classify it. Phylogeny is the evolutionary
history of an organism.
To show the evolutionary relationship
between different groups of organisms,
scientists construct phylogenic trees. A
phylogenetic tree is a family tree that shows
the evolutionary relationships thought to
exist among different groups of organisms.

Phylogenetic Tree – The Animal Kingdom

Photo Source: Amy Brown (aka Science Stuff) Lecture Notes

Traditionally, the morphology (structure) of the organism was the basis for its
classification. Modern taxonomy now takes into account other types of evidence
when attempting to classify an organism.
Modern Taxonomy is based on:
1. Morphology (Structural Similarities)
2. Fossils
3. Cellular Organization
4. Evolutionary Relationships
5. Biochemical Similarities
6. Genetic Similarities
7. Embryological Similarities

History of Systems of Classification

Photo Source: https://www.slideshare.net/rosaliemadayag/taxonomy-39783258

11
 What I Have Learned
Direction: Answer the following questions briefly but substantially.
1. Why do we classify organisms?

2. Why do we use the Scientific Names?

3. How do we classify organisms?

Direction: Complete the table by filling in the contribution of every scientist in the world of
taxonomy.

Scientist / Biologist Contribution to Taxonomy

Carolus Linnaeus

Ernst Haeckel

Herbert Copeland

Robert Whittaker

Carl Woese

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 What I Can Do

The POWER of Taxonomy

(Modified from the Activity Sheets in Science 8 Quarter 4, Week 4 of Mrs. Maricel R. Viloria)

Direction: In the columns below, research for the two organism. Include their
taxonomic classification, any distinct features and place them into their ranks, and
their habitat. Then, identify the things that are similar between the two on the lines
provided. (1 point will be given for every classification)
Organism: Carabao Organism: Rice
Scientific Name: Scientific Name:
Domain: Domain:
Kingdom: Kingdom:
Phylum: Division:
Class: Class:
Order: Order:
Family: Family:
Genus: Genus:
Species: Species:
Defining Characteristics: Defining Characteristics:

What do these organisms have on common?

13
 Assessment
Directions:
Direction: Read each item carefully. Write only the letter of the correct answer for
each question. Use a separate sheet for your answers.
1. The binomial system of nomenclature was developed by .
a. Carolus Linnaeus
b. Charles Darwin
c. Ernst Haeckel
d. Robert Whittaker
2. What does the familiaris in the scientific name Canis familiaris refer to?
a. Family c. Order
b. Genus d. Species
3. To which of the following do Pinus stobus and Pinus resinosa both belong?
a. Family c. Order
b. Genus d. Species
4. Which of the following is a correctly written scientific name?
a. staphylococcus aureus
b. Staphylococcus Aureus
c. Staphylococcus aureus
d. STAPHYLOCOCCUS Aureus
5. Which does NOT belong to domain Eukarya?
a. Animals c. Fungi
b. E. coli d. Plants
6. What language is used in giving scientific names of organisms?
a. French c. Hebrew
b. Greek d. Latin
7. Which of the following is the least specific classification?
e. Class g. Phylum
f. Genus h. Species
8. Which of the following kingdoms was proposed by Ernst Haeckel in 1866?
e. Animalia g. Fungi
f. Plantae h. Protista
9. What kingdom was proposed by Copeland to separate the prokaryotes?
a. Fungi c. Plantae
b. Monera d. Protista
10. Which of the following statements is true about the five-kingdom scheme
of biological classification?
a. Bacteria and algae are placed in Kingdom Monera.
b. Kingdom Plantae includes all photosynthetic organisms.
c. The simplest members of Kingdom Animalia are the protozoa.
d. Heterotrophic organisms that secrete digestive enzymes to break
down food before absorbing it are classified under Kingdom Fungi.

Great job! You are almost done with this module.

14
 Additional Activities
1. Research on at least five local plant or animal species that exist in your local
community. Classify them according to the eight major taxonomic
classification.
Level / a. b. c. d. e.
Classification
Kingdom

Phylum / Division

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

2. Why common name cause confusion?

3. What does a scientific name tells us?

4. Is there a difference in naming animals, plants and microorganisms?

15
 Answer Key

Pretest / Post Test

1. a 6. d
2. d 7. c
3. b 8. d
4. c 9. b
5. b 10. d

Activity 1: Which does not belong to the group?

Answer May Vary

Activity 2: Characteristics: Similarities vs. Differences

Answer May Vary

Activity 3: Examine Me: Plants vs Animals

Table 1: Animals
A. Which organisms are most closely related? Why?
 House cat and Mountain Lion
 They are in the same classification until GENUS level.
B. What level / classification do all four organisms have in common?
 Kingdom
 Phylum
 Class
C. Which level / classification includes organisms that have hair or fur and
produce milk?
 Class (Mammalia)
D. Which level / classification includes animals with backbones?
 Phylum (Chordata)
E. Write the scientific name for each of the organisms above.
a. Felis domesticus
b. Felis concolor
c. Canis familiaris
d. Homo sapiens

Table 2: Plants
A. Which organisms are most closely related? Why?
 Garlic and Onion
 They are in the same classification until GENUS level.
B. What level / classification do all four organisms have in common?
 Class (Magnoliopsida)
C. Write the scientific name for each of the organisms above.
a. Allium cepa
b. Zea mays
c. Allium sativum
d. Cocos nucifera

16
References:
Books
 Science 8 Learner’s Module, Department of Education, Republic of the
Philippines, ISBN: 978-971-9990-72-7
 You and the Natural World Science, The New Grade 8, Religtioso,
Darvin-Faraon, Cordero-Navaza, Vengco, Phoenix Publishing Inc.,
2013
 Science Links 8 Worktext in Science and Technology, Aquino, Valdez,
Mariano, Bascara, Rex Book Store Inc., 2013
 Fundamental Biology Modular Approach, Rabago Ph. D., Joaquin Ph.
D., Langunzad Ph. D., Science and Technology Series, Vibal
Publishing Inc., 2003

Lecture Notes
 Classification of Living Organisms by Amy Brown – Science Stuff

Online Sources
 http://www.britanica.com/biography/Carolus-Linnaeus
 https://www.shutterstock.com/search/calamansi+tree
 https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/escherichia-coli-e-
coli
 https://www.britannica.com/animal/tarsier
 https://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/farabee/biobk/biobookdiver
sity_3.html
 https://www.slideshare.net/rosaliemadayag/taxonomy-39783258

17
For inquiries and feedback, please write or call:

Schools Division of Ilocos Norte – Curriculum Implementation Division

Learning Resource Management Section (SDOIN-CID LRMS)

Office Address: Brgy. 7B, Giron Street, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
Telefax: (077) 771-0960
Telephone No.: (077) 770-5963, (077) 600-2605
E-mail Address: [email protected]

Telefax: (632) 8634-1072; 8634-1054; 8631-4985

Email Address: [email protected] * [email protected]

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