Scientists classify things so they can group them together and study properties on a larger scale. Also, when something new is discovered, classifying it with other similar things provides a basis for making predictions and a starting point for understanding its nature.
Scientists have created classifications for all living things. On common way of classifying living things are the five kingdoms of life. Each kingdom has a characteristic which its members share.
The Five Kingdoms of Life
Animals: Animals are complex are multi-celled organisms. They eat other living things for food.
Plants: Plants are many-celled and create their own food through photosynthesis, a process in which plants convert energy from sunlight into food. Plants can’t move by their own effort.
Fungi: Fungi can be single-celled or many-celled. Like plants, they don’t move on their own. They absorb nutrients for survival, either from living things or from dead things, such as fallen logs.
Protists: Protists are single-celled organisms that have a nucleus. Some produce food by photosynthesis but others consume living things.
Monerans: Monerans are like protists, but they don’t have a nucleus. This kingdom is made up of various types of bacteria.
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