Living and Nonliving Lessons

Living and Nonliving is actually five activities in one inquiry. In How Do I Observe My World?, students use their senses to record and collect data. In How Do I Classify Things in My World?, students practice classifying objects as living or nonliving. In Is it Real Or Pretend?, students group objects as real or pretend. In What is Living?, students discover the needs of living things. In What Is Living Outdoors?, students compare indoor and outdoor discoveries. The Family Page extends this learning to the community by inviting parents and students to classify living and nonliving things at home. This lesson engages students through hands-on learning. There are links for online applications and interactions for students, actual living or nonliving materials to sort, and printable work sheets for every activity and lesson.

Standards & Objectives

Academic standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 1 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an...
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.5
With guidance and support from adults, demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 2 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an...
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on kindergarten reading and content.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.5
With guidance and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.1.1
Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.1.3
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.K.1
Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.K.3
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.1
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.4
Ask and answer questions to help determine or clarify the meaning of words and phrases in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.7
Use the illustrations and details in a text to describe its key ideas.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.8
Identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.10
Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.2
With prompting and support, identify the main topic and retell key details of a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.4
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.8
With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.1
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.10
Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.4
Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.1
Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.2
Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details...
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.3
Ask and answer questions in order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.4
Describe familiar people, places, things, and events and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.5
Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions as desired to provide additional detail.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.K.5
With guidance and support from adults, respond to questions and suggestions from peers and add details to strengthen writing as needed.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.K.7
Participate in shared research and writing projects (e.g., explore a number of books by a favorite author and express opinions about them).
GLE 0001.1.1
Demonstrate an emerging understanding of basic English usage, mechanics, spelling, and sentence structure.
GLE 0001.1.2
Employ a variety of strategies to decode words and expand vocabulary.
GLE 0001.1.4
Begin to explore the alphabetic principle.
GLE 0001.2.1
Develop critical listening skills essential for comprehension, problem solving, and task completion.
GLE 0001.2.2
Develop critical speaking skills essential for effective communication.
GLE 0001.3.1
Use basic knowledge of simple capitalization and punctuation rules.
GLE 0001.6.1
Comprehend the main idea of informational texts.
GLE 0001.8.3
Develop reading fluency and accuracy.
GLE 0007.2.1
Recognize that some things are living and some are not.
GLE 0007.2.2
Know that people interact with their environment through their senses.
GLE 0101.1.1
Demonstrate control of basic Standard English usage, mechanics, spelling, and sentence structure.
GLE 0101.1.2
Employ a variety of strategies to decode words and expand vocabulary.
GLE 0101.6.2
Identify the main ideas and supporting details of informational text.
GLE 0101.6.3
Recognize that a variety of graphics can support informational text.
GLE 0201.1.1
Demonstrate control of basic English usage, mechanics, spelling, and sentence structure.
GLE 0201.1.2
Employ a variety of strategies to decode words and expand vocabulary.
TSS.ELA.1.FL.PC.1
Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.
TSS.ELA.1.FL.PWR.3
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills when decoding isolated words and in connected text.
TSS.ELA.1.FL.SC.6
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when speaking and conventions of standard English grammar and usage, including...
TSS.ELA.1.FL.VA.7a
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 1 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of...
TSS.ELA.1.FL.VA.7b
With guidance and support from adults, demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
TSS.ELA.1.FL.VA.7c
Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including using frequently occurring conjunctions...
TSS.ELA.1.RI.IKI.7
Either orally or in writing when appropriate, use the illustrations and words in a text to describe its key ideas.
TSS.ELA.1.RI.KID.1
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
TSS.ELA.1.RL.IKI.7
Either orally or in writing when appropriate, use illustrations and words in a text to describe its characters, setting, or events.
TSS.ELA.1.RL.KID.1
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
TSS.ELA.2.FL.VA.7a
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 2 reading and content, choosing flexibly from an array of...
TSS.ELA.2.FL.VA.7b
Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
TSS.ELA.2.FL.VA.7c
Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts, including using adjectives and adverbs to describe.
TSS.ELA.K.FL.PC.1
Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.
TSS.ELA.K.FL.PWR.3
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills when decoding isolated words and in connected text.
TSS.ELA.K.FL.SC.6
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when speaking and conventions of standard English grammar and usage, including...
TSS.ELA.K.FL.VA.7a
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on Kindergarten conversations, reading, and content.
TSS.ELA.K.FL.VA.7b
With guidance and support from adults, explore word relationships and nuances in word meanings.
TSS.ELA.K.FL.VA.7c
Use words and phrases acquired through conversations, reading and being read to, and responding to texts.
TSS.ELA.K.FL.WC.4
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills when encoding words; write legibly.
TSS.ELA.K.RI.CS.4
With prompting and support, determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text relevant to a Kindergarten topic or subject area.
TSS.ELA.K.RI.IKI.8
With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author provides to support points in a text.
TSS.ELA.K.RI.KID.1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
TSS.ELA.K.RI.RRTC.10
With prompting and support, read informational texts of appropriate complexity for Kindergarten.
TSS.ELA.K.RL.CS.4
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about unknown words in text.
TSS.ELA.K.RL.KID.1
With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
TSS.ELA.K.RL.RRTC.10
With prompting and support, read stories and poems of appropriate complexity for Kindergarten.
TSS.ELA.K.SL.CC.1
Participate with varied peers and adults in collaborative conversations in small or large groups about appropriate Kindergarten topics.
TSS.ELA.K.SL.CC.2
Confirm understanding of a text read aloud or information presented orally or through other media by asking and answering questions about key details and...
TSS.ELA.K.SL.CC.3
Ask and answer questions in order to seek help, get information, or clarify something that is not understood.
TSS.ELA.K.SL.PKI.4
Describe familiar people, places, things, and events, and, with prompting and support, provide additional detail.
TSS.ELA.K.SL.PKI.5
Add drawings or other visual displays of descriptions as desired to provide additional detail.
TSS.ELA.K.W.PDW.5
With guidance and support from adults, respond to questions and suggestions from others and add details to strengthen writing as needed.
TSS.ELA.K.W.RBPK.7
Participate in shared research and writing projects, such as reading a number of books by a favorite author and expressing opinions about them.
 
Alignment of this item to academic standards is based on recommendations from content creators, resource curators, and visitors to this website. It is the responsibility of each educator to verify that the materials are appropriate for your content area, aligned to current academic standards, and will be beneficial to your specific students.
 

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding
Differentiation suggestions: 

Instruct students to use a raised arm with "thumbs-up" to signal an exciting discovery so that animals and other people are not disturbed.

Helpful Hints

Several trade books will need to be gathered prior to teaching.

References

Contributors: 
Citations: 

Trade books:

  • In the Woods: Who's Been Here by Lindsay Barrett George
  • Salamander Room by Ann Mazer
  • Gray Rabbits Odd One Out by Allen Baker
  • What's Alive by Kathleen Zoehfeld
  • Welcome to a River of Grass by Jan Yolen
  • What is a Scientist? by Barbara Lehn