Classifying Living Things

How is a daisy like a pine tree? How is it different? By asking questions like these, scientists organize living things in nature to understand them better. Scientists sort living things into groups based on the ways that they are alike.

Sorting things this way is called classification. You can find examples of classification everywhere. In a toy store, action figures are in one section. Video games are in another section, and dolls are in a third section. The toys are placed with other toys like them.

Scientists usually sort living things into five or six kingdoms. Each kingdom is then sorted into smaller groups. One group in the plant kingdom is plants with seeds.

Some plants’ seeds are carried inside fruit, such as apple seeds.View Larger Image

© Shutterstock.com