Year 8 Science · Unit 1 · Lesson 14

Comparing Plant and Animal Living Systems

Apply Worksheet

Name
Date
Class

Learning Goals

Odd one out

Circle the item that does not belong in each group. Then explain why it doesn't fit.

#GroupYour answer (odd one + reason)
1 Roots    Stems    Leaves    Heart
2 Organised parts    Interacting components    Inputs needed    Only one structure
3 Blood vessels    Heart    Blood    Roots

Real-world context

In the Australian outback, red kangaroos travel long distances to find water and food, while eucalypts send roots deep underground to access water. Both are successful living systems, but they use very different structures to solve the same survival challenges. A kangaroo has a heart, blood vessels and blood to move useful materials around its body. A eucalyptus has roots, stems and leaves that work together to obtain and distribute what it needs.

(a) Using the passage above and the lesson, compare how the kangaroo and the eucalyptus each move useful materials around. Name the structures used by each organism and describe the role each set of structures plays.

Apply 4 marks

(b) What does this comparison tell us about the idea that "different structures can carry out similar functions"? Use evidence from the passage in your answer.

Apply 2 marks

1. A plant's roots are damaged. Using the lesson's comparison ideas, explain why this is similar to a problem in an animal's transport structures, even though the structures look completely different.

Apply 3 marks

Wrap Up

In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?