Living vs. Nonliving

In this lesson, students learn about the characteristics that distinguish living things from nonliving things. By examining video clips and still photographs of a variety of objects and organisms, students gather evidence and develop criteria to decide if something is living or nonliving. 

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 

Students will:

  • Develop criteria to decide if something is living or nonliving
  • Classify things as living or nonliving, based on those criteria
  • Recognize that living things grow, reproduce, and need food, air, and water
Essential and guiding questions: 
  • What are some characteristics of living things?
  • What are some characteristics of nonliving things?
  • What makes living things different from nonliving things?
  • What characteristics did ALL of the living things have in common?
  • Did any nonliving things possess some of the same characteristics as living things? Which ones?
  • How were the living things different from the nonliving things?
  • Are all things that move "alive"? Have them defend their opinions by referring to the results of their explorations.
  • What kinds of nonliving things move?
  • How is the movement of living things different from the movement of nonliving things?
  • Do all living things move?
  • What kinds of living things move? What kinds don't move?
  • Do plants move?
  • Why do living things move?
  • Do all living things eat?
  • Plants don't eat but they need energy. Where do they get it?

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Applying

Helpful Hints

Materials needed:

  • Handout: Exploring the Characteristics of Living Things PDF Document handout

Before the lesson:

  • Make an overhead transparency of the handout.
  • Make a copy of the handout for each student.

References

Contributors: