Characteristics of Kingdoms Complete Science Lesson - New TEKS 7.14B

This complete unit provides middle school teachers with everything needed to teach the characteristics of the six recognized kingdoms of life and their roles in ecosystems. Students will explore how organisms are classified into kingdoms and examine their ecological importance—for example, bacteria aiding digestion or fungi decomposing organic matter. The resource includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, a differentiated station lab, and assessments. Designed for multiday use with minimal prep, it emphasizes student-led, differentiated learning, giving teachers flexibility to focus on supporting student success.

Essential Questions for Students

• What are the characteristics of each kingdom?

• What role do the different kingdoms play in the ecosystem?

Standards Alignment: Meets 2021 TEKS standard 7.14B.

Key Features

• Differentiated resources for remediation and enrichment

• Multimodal activities to engage students in multiple learning styles

• Flexible delivery—resources are available in both printable and digital formats

• Editable PowerPoints for customization

• Spanish translations of vocabulary, a station lab reading passage, and interactive notebook pages

Instructional Framework: The 5E Model

This lesson follows the 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—balancing inquiry, guided practice, and assessment.

Engage

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher file with discussion prompts, activities, and notes on common misconceptions

Explore

• A nine-station, student-led lab introducing the classification of organisms into six kingdoms by their characteristics and roles

Input Stations:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or experiment

• Read It! – Differentiated passages (English & Spanish) with comprehension questions

• Research It! – Guided online activity with structured tasks

• Watch It! – Short video with discussion prompts

Output Stations:

• Organize It! – Printable and digital card sorts for classification and categorization

• Write It! – Open-ended responses in complete sentences

• Illustrate It! – Drawing/sketching kingdom traits and interactions

• Assess It! – Vocabulary-in-context and mastery-based questions

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Games, puzzles, and mini-projects for enrichment or early finishers

Explain

• Editable PowerPoints in standard and interactive formats

• Interactive Notebook templates (digital & print, English & Spanish)

• Guided note-taking templates

Elaborate

• Student-choice projects on kingdom characteristics and classification to extend learning in class or at home

Evaluate

• Assessments updated for STAAR 2.0, with both standard and modified versions

• Review worksheets and discussion questions for practice, homework, or test prep

Flexible Learning Options

This lesson is designed for both in-person and virtual instruction. The digital station lab and interactive notebook resources are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making them simple to use in blended or online classrooms.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.