
Living Organisms
Levels 3 and 4

NZC Achievement Objectives

Te Mātauranga o Aotearoa
The Organism: Make detailed scientific classifications of some organisms.
Te Rauropi: Ka whakarōpū whāiti ā-pūtaiao i ētahi rauropi.

Learning Intentions

Integration Ideas
Learning Intentions are from the Ministry of Education
Integration ideas are from the Ministry of Education
Level 3
Identify subgroups within large groups, using observed differences in external characteristics.
Level 4
Investigate and classify closely related living plants and animals according to easily observable features
Coming Soon!

Related Topics
Resources

In “Voyage of Exploration”, students read about the marine diversity in New Zealand’s territorial waters and the process that NIWA scientists use to classify organisms.
Level
4
Type
Book
Connected 2012 Level 4: ‘Voyage of Exploration’
Ministry of Education NZ
In “Voyage of Exploration”, students read about the marine diversity in New Zealand’s territorial waters and the process that NIWA scientists use to classify organisms.

In 1880, when Alice McKenzie was 7 years old, she saw a large, blue bird. She thought the bird was a takahē. What if it wasn’t?
Level
2
Type
Book
Connected 2013 Level 2: ‘What Alice Saw’
Ministry of Education NZ
In 1880, when Alice McKenzie was 7 years old, she saw a large, blue bird. She thought the bird was a takahē. What if it wasn’t?

This article reports on a survey of a 100-metre long rocky reef located 11 kilometres off the Taranaki coast. Students from local high schools are partnering with divers, biologists, engineers, fishers, and local iwi to discover and record the plants and animals that make the reef their home. The article focuses on the survey methods being used and the different technologies involved in each method.
Level
4
Type
Book
Connected 2018 Level 4: ‘Under the Sea’
Ministry of Education NZ
This article reports on a survey of a 100-metre long rocky reef located 11 kilometres off the Taranaki coast. Students from local high schools are partnering with divers, biologists, engineers, fishers, and local iwi to discover and record the plants and animals that make the reef their home. The article focuses on the survey methods being used and the different technologies involved in each method.

This article explores how early Māori went about naming and grouping the plants and animals they found around them. It explains what this process reveals about Māori ways of viewing the world and the framework provided by whakapapa. It prompts comparisons with the Linnaean system for naming and grouping organisms and describes an example of Māori and Pākehā working together and drawing on knowledge from both systems.
Level
3
Type
Book
Connected 2020 Level 3: ‘Te Tapa Ingoa’
Ministry of Education NZ
This article explores how early Māori went about naming and grouping the plants and animals they found around them. It explains what this process reveals about Māori ways of viewing the world and the framework provided by whakapapa. It prompts comparisons with the Linnaean system for naming and grouping organisms and describes an example of Māori and Pākehā working together and drawing on knowledge from both systems.

DNA provides the blueprint for life, the instructions that separate the functions and development of humans from that of monkeys, elephants and even bananas. Learn more with this fun activity and lesson plan.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
DNA Extraction
Science Kids
DNA provides the blueprint for life, the instructions that separate the functions and development of humans from that of monkeys, elephants and even bananas. Learn more with this fun activity and lesson plan.

Nanogirl and some friends find out what goosebumps are and whether all animals get them - especially animals that live in very, very, very cold places
Level
1-4
Type
Podcast
Do all animals get goosebumps?
Nanogirl
Nanogirl and some friends find out what goosebumps are and whether all animals get them - especially animals that live in very, very, very cold places

In this lesson we are going to focus on the importance of soil, and the role of decomposers in reducing the food waste heading to landfill. What are you waiting for? Let’s dig a little deeper into the topic of soil … literally!
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Exploring Soil
Kids Greening Taupō
In this lesson we are going to focus on the importance of soil, and the role of decomposers in reducing the food waste heading to landfill. What are you waiting for? Let’s dig a little deeper into the topic of soil … literally!

In this episode of Ranger Kōrero – the big picture, ranger Dave explores the meaning of biodiversity in Aotearoa and how we all fit into that picture.
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Exploring biodiversity
Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai
In this episode of Ranger Kōrero – the big picture, ranger Dave explores the meaning of biodiversity in Aotearoa and how we all fit into that picture.

What’s the difference between food chains and food webs? How do you read these? Have a go with the Thinker questions or make your own chains and webs!
Level
1-4
Type
Poster
Food Chain VS Food Web
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
What’s the difference between food chains and food webs? How do you read these? Have a go with the Thinker questions or make your own chains and webs!

This web resource is designed to assist community groups monitoring freshwater invertebrates in New Zealand.
Level
1-4
Type
Knowledge
Freshwater invertebrates guide
Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
This web resource is designed to assist community groups monitoring freshwater invertebrates in New Zealand.

As this topic is Fungi, our activities are based around identification of fungi and lichens, zombie fungi, spores, cultural uses, and the importance of fungi for on this planet.
Level
1-4
Type
Unit
Funky Fungi of Aotearoa
Kids Greening Taupō
As this topic is Fungi, our activities are based around identification of fungi and lichens, zombie fungi, spores, cultural uses, and the importance of fungi for on this planet.

Covering the structure and function of DNA and its role in inheritance, Dr. Michelle Dickinson will carry out a hands-on experiment and talk about genetics and cancer research with Dr Melanie McConnell from the Victoria University of Wellington.
Level
3-4
Type
Video
Genetics and DNA: BREAKING IT DOWN Episode 8
Nanogirl
Covering the structure and function of DNA and its role in inheritance, Dr. Michelle Dickinson will carry out a hands-on experiment and talk about genetics and cancer research with Dr Melanie McConnell from the Victoria University of Wellington.

Help kids learn the basics of biology with this simple lesson plan that covers a range of general questions about biology as well as introducing some new ideas and fun activities for children to try.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Introduction to Biology
Science Kids
Help kids learn the basics of biology with this simple lesson plan that covers a range of general questions about biology as well as introducing some new ideas and fun activities for children to try.

Have you ever wondered which animal might be the smartest, and how we might measure intelligence? Make this memory game at home and see how your memory compares to your friends!
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Make your own animal puzzle
Nanogirl
Have you ever wondered which animal might be the smartest, and how we might measure intelligence? Make this memory game at home and see how your memory compares to your friends!

Marine biodiversity refers to the variety of life in coastal and ocean environments. New Zealand’s
marine environment provides a habitat for an estimated 65,000 species of plants, animals and
microorganisms.
Level
3-4
Type
Activity
Marine Biodiversity
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre
Marine biodiversity refers to the variety of life in coastal and ocean environments. New Zealand’s
marine environment provides a habitat for an estimated 65,000 species of plants, animals and
microorganisms.

Take some water samples from a range of different places and use a microscope to investigate what's living inside.
Level
1-4
Type
Experiment
Microscopic Creatures
Science Kids
Take some water samples from a range of different places and use a microscope to investigate what's living inside.

The study of moulds as members of the fungus kingdom has an immediacy for children because moulds grow quickly, have a wide variety of forms, and are common around the home and garden.
Level
3-4
Type
Activity Book
Moulds Are Fungi: Structure, Function, and Interrelationships
Ministry of Education NZ
The study of moulds as members of the fungus kingdom has an immediacy for children because moulds grow quickly, have a wide variety of forms, and are common around the home and garden.

It’s a population party with Bill Nye the Science Guy, and everyone’s invited.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1K3d-HLZ-c
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Populations
Bill Nye The Science Guy
It’s a population party with Bill Nye the Science Guy, and everyone’s invited.
Link for video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1K3d-HLZ-c

The topic provides activities that enable children to investigate the patterns and trends associated with seasonal changes and the reasons for these changes. The activities also encourage children to recognise the links between seasonal changes and changes in the behaviour of animals and plants.
Level
3-4
Type
Activity Book
Spring Is a Season: How Living Things Respond to Seasonal Changes
Ministry of Education NZ
The topic provides activities that enable children to investigate the patterns and trends associated with seasonal changes and the reasons for these changes. The activities also encourage children to recognise the links between seasonal changes and changes in the behaviour of animals and plants.

Taxonomy is the practice and science of classifying life forms. Their are 8 main taxonomic ranks: Life, Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
Level
1-4
Type
Poster
The taxonomy of life
Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
Taxonomy is the practice and science of classifying life forms. Their are 8 main taxonomic ranks: Life, Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

Nanogirl takes some students from St Thomas's School in Auckland to Kelly Tarlton’s to meet a very slippery creature and find out what a hagfish is and why it’s so slimey.
Level
1-4
Type
Podcast
What is the slimiest creature in the world?
Nanogirl
Nanogirl takes some students from St Thomas's School in Auckland to Kelly Tarlton’s to meet a very slippery creature and find out what a hagfish is and why it’s so slimey.