The Classification of Organisms

E. Gieschen
Video Librarian
September/October 2010, Volume 25, Issue 5

The Classification of Organisms 
(2010) 20 min. DVD or VHS: $99.95 (teacher’s guide included). Visual Learning Company. PPR. ISBN: 978-1-59234-566-3 (dvd), 978-1-59234-565-6 (vhs).
Over 10 million species of living organisms exist on Earth, with more being discovered all the time. How do we describe and classify this incredible abundance of diverse life? This brief but informative program begins with an explanation of Carolus Linnaeus’ hierarchy of classification—a binomial nomenclature system that has held up since the 18th century—before taking a look at current trends in taxonomy. Vocabulary words such as taxa, domains, evolutionary, phylogeny, and others are introduced and defined with onscreen graphics and computer animations, while excellent nature footage provides examples for the concepts discussed. Viewers will learn that evolutionary relationships and history form the basis for organizing living things, with species exhibiting both shared and different characteristics found within a taxonomic category. Part of the Biology series, other new titles include Amazing Amphibians and Reptiles, Features of Fish, The Life of Birds, and Magnificent Mammals. Backed with a comprehensive accompanying curriculum, DVD extras include indexes, labeled slides, and a glossary. Recommended. Aud: H, C. (E. Gieschen)