Children often start with this narrow definition of the concept “animal” because of the vertebrate examples that are most familiar to them: pets and zoo specimens. Animals also include birds, snakes, frogs, fish, insects, snails, worms, starfish, jellyfish, etc. Hide Response

If children hold a narrow definition of the concept “animal” (i.e., large, furry, and four-legged), then it is reasonable that life forms that don’t fit their definition are considered to be parallel categories, even though they are animals. Using scientific criteria – animals are multicellular, their cells have a nucleus, their cells don’t have cell walls, and they must ingest food – their definition of animal can be broadened.Hide Response

The idea that people aren’t animals is likely to arise because children have previously applied the term to animals other than human beings – such as pets and zoo specimens. Humans do fit the scientific definition of an animal: they are multicellular, their cells have a nucleus, their cells lack cell walls, and they must ingest food. Hide Response

This is a narrow definition of the concept “plant” that may arise because children have more direct experience with plants of this nature – such as household and garden plants. Tall trees, bushy shrubs, and woody vines all share the same defining features of small, green plants: they are multicellular, their cells have a nucleus, their cells have cell walls, and they make their own food.Hide Response

Children may not consider parts of a plant to fit the definition of a plant. However, the characteristics that classify something as a plant apply equally to the whole and its parts. Parts, attached or detached, aren’t classified into distinct groups.Hide Response

Before children learn the scientific definitions for different groups of organisms, the definitions may be more loosely applied. All things that look like insects are insects, for example, or all things that swim in water are fish. Once children are introduced to more precise scientific definitions, they can use them to determine examples from non-examples.Hide Response

Children may recognize that a group of organisms are all fish, for example, but they may place one individual in the group because it swims in water, another because it has fins, another because it has gills, and so on. As they are encouraged to look at one characteristic only and “test” each object for the presence of this characteristic, they can begin to learn to classify systematically.Hide Response

The classification schemes with which most children are familiar involve “exclusive” categories – this is, groups do not share members. Biological classification is built around hierarchical classification, in which one larger group includes smaller groups, with each smaller group including smaller groups, and so on. The criteria used to classify something into a larger group apply to all of the groups that it contains. For example, all animals ingest food. Fish, birds, and mammals are different groups of animals, but as animals, they all ingest food. Birds have feathers. Sparrows and hawks are different groups of birds, but as birds, they all have feathers. The criteria used to classify into groups on the same level (e.g., different vertebrate groups or different types of birds) is when distinguishing features come into play. Children may benefit from direct instruction that contrasts exclusive classification with hierarchical classification.Hide Response