What You Should Know or Be Able To Do
How do individuals of the same species differ from each
other?
• that individual members of a species may differ in many
ways
• to decide how confident they are in the evidence
• suggest ways in which species, eg dogs, humans, differ
from each other
• interpret graphs and say how strong they think an association
or correlation is, eg most of the taller people have wider arm
spans, but it’s not always true
What are the causes of variation?
• that some characteristics are inherited
• that although individuals are like their parents they
are not identical to them
• that offspring from the same parent show considerable
variation
• identify characteristics, eg eye colour, skin colour that
are inherited
• identify examples of patterns of similarities and differences
within several generations of one family
• suggest reasons why differences and similarities exist
within families
• how environmental differences can result in variations
in a species
• identify some characteristics that are inherited, eg hair
colour, eye colour, colour of flower, shape of leaf
• suggest ways in which environmental difference may result
in variation within a species, eg length of leaf, height of plant,
weight, explaining how the data supports their conclusions
How can we describe living things?
• how to make sure they are working safely with living
organisms
• to use observations to make comparisons of living things
• handle living organisms in a safe and appropriate manner
• make suggestions about the characteristics to be observed
and recorded
• describe the similarities and differences between two
living things
• use scientific vocabulary to describe the body parts of
animals
How can we sort things into groups?
• that although individual members of a species differ
in many ways they have features in common
• suggest ways in which fingerprints differ from each other
and classify fingerprints into groups which have features in common,
suggesting reasons for the groups which they have made
• use their classification to identify an unknown individual
• to sort organisms into groups according to common features
• that there are different ways of classifying living things
• that newly discovered organisms may fit into an already
existing system of classification or extend it
How do scientists classify living things?
• that scientific classification is important because it
is a worldwide labelling system, and provides a means for systematic
study of living things
• that two groups of living things are green plants and
animals
• that animals can be subdivided into vertebrates and invertebrates
• that vertebrates include mammals, birds, fish, reptiles,
amphibians
• explain some of the advantages of the scientific classification
system
• describe some features of animals and plants
• summarise the features that groups of vertebrates have
in common
• classify animals as invertebrate or vertebrate and as
one of the main vertebrate groups
• that invertebrates can be further subdivided
• give an example of one invertebrate group which can be
subdivided
• find and present information about one subgroup of invertebrates
in a written format
