DE Science Elementary “5-Minute Prep” For Living Things Characteristics of Organisms Basic Needs

Basic Needs – The Big Ideas All living things need ways to get energy and ways to get rid of waste. Living things need an environment suitable to their traits. Energy used by all living things originates from the sun. Living things must have basic needs met in order to survive. All organisms have structures that help them get energy, grow, survive, and reproduce. These structures and behaviors of organisms also enable them to survive in the environment in which they live.

Basic Needs – Prior Knowledge Students will have knowledge of living things prior to this study. It will be helpful for students to use the FUN- damental, Being Alive. It will also help if they have:Being Alive –Seen and can name different types of living things. –Shared some ideas about the basic needs of living things.

Basic Needs – Common Misconceptions The traits for living animals are different than the traits for living plants. –Reality: There are common characteristics to describe all living things. Living things grow and change, eat, and reproduce. Most living things can move. These traits describe all living things including plants and animals.

Basic Needs – Using DE Science Content When you close this presentation, you can review the following recommended resources for Basic Needs. Reading Passage: Energy, Please!Energy, Please! eBook: Survival BehaviorsSurvival Behaviors Video Segment: Food Chains and Food WebsFood Chains and Food Webs Use the PowerPoint version of this presentation for hyperlinks to these resources or you can get to them through the browser or search feature.

Basic Needs – Instructional Ideas Guide the students through one example using the Exploration, Basic Needs of Living Things.Basic Needs of Living Things –Ask students to work through the rest on their own. Guide students as needed. –Discuss the needs of the animals in the Exploration as a class upon completion. Read the passages, Energy, Please! And Structures for Survival at the start of your study.Energy, Please!Structures for Survival –With the class create a list of common traits among all living things found in these two articles. –Keep this list posted throughout the study for reference.

Basic Needs – Instructional Activities Discuss with students the traits of all living things. –Watch the video segment, How Plants Adapt.How Plants Adapt –Have each student plant some seeds in soil in a cup. –Water the seeds. –Place plants near a window. –Ask students to observe their plants daily and once they are growing, to note which direction their plants are growing toward. –Turn plants 180 degrees. –Continue to make observations about which direction the plants are growing and rotate plants daily. –After a pattern is discovered, discuss why plants grow toward the sun.

State Standards: If you wish to review your state standards regarding Basic Needs, click here to get to the curriculum standards search feature of DES. You can click on any standard to see what resources are available to teach it. Additional Information: For additional content, check the Extend section within the concept.