Characteristics of Life

In your composition book, list characteristics of living things. Warm-Up Activity Today you will need: Composition Book Science Textbook In your composition book, list characteristics of living things.

Learning Goal The student is able to identify, describe, and classify characteristics of living things. 4. The student is able to identify, describe and classify characteristics of living things using a dichotomous key. 3. The student is able to identify, describe and classify characteristics of living things. 2. The student is able to differentiate between living and nonliving things, but can’t describe or classify characteristics of living things. 1. The student is unable to identify, describe or classify characteristics of living things.

Get Ready to Read All living things move. Disagree. Movement is not a characteristic of all living things. The Sun provides energy for almost all organisms on Earth. Agree. Most organisms use energy from the Sun for all the processes they perform. A dichotomous key can be used to identify an unknown organism. Agree. The series of questions in a dichotomous key leads to an organism’s identity. Physical similarities are the only traits used to classify organisms. Disagree. Physical similarities, molecular similarities, and ancestral relationships are used to classify organisms. Most cells are too small to be seen with the unaided eye. Agree. Most cells need to be magnified hundreds of times in order to be studied. Only scientists use microscopes. Disagree. Microscopes are used by many different types of people.

Lesson Vocabulary (Vocabulary Sheet) Organism Cell Unicellular Multicellular Homeostasis

What are some characteristics of living things? Warm-Up Activity What are some characteristics of living things?

How are organisms organized? Warm-Up Activity How are organisms organized?

Differentiate between internal stimuli and external stimuli. Warm-Up Activity Differentiate between internal stimuli and external stimuli.

Warm-Up Activity Living things need energy to do work. Describe two ways living things get the energy they need to survive.

Warm-Up Activity Describe 2 characteristics of life and explain why each characteristic is important to living things.

Guiding Questions pg. 331 What are some characteristics of living things? All living things are organized, grow and develop, reproduce, respond, maintain certain internal conditions, and use energy. What is an organism? Organisms are things that have all the characteristics of life. How do living things differ from nonliving things? Nonliving things DO NOT have all of the characteristics of life, but may have some of the characteristics of life. Living things must have ALL the characteristics of life.

Guiding Questions (pgs. 332-333) Organization of Living Things What is a cell? A cell is the smallest unit of life. What are unicellular organisms? Unicellular organisms are living things that are made of only once cell. What are multicellular organisms? Multicellular organisms are living things that are mode of two or more cells.

Growth and Development (pgs. 334-335) What is growth? Growth is when an organism increases in size. What is development? Development are changes that occur in an organism during its lifetime.

Reproduction What is reproduction? Types of Reproduction Reproduction is the process by which one organism makes one or more new organisms of its kind. Types of Reproduction Sexual Reproduction is the production of new living organisms by combining genetic information from two individuals of different sexes. Asexual Reproduction is a mode of reproduction by which offspring arise from a single organism, and inherit the genes of that parent only; it does not involve the fusion of gametes and almost never changes the number of chromosomes.

Responses to Stimuli What are stimuli? Stimuli are changes in an organisms environment that can be internal or external. What are some examples of internal stimuli? Internal stimuli occur within an organism’s body. For example, hunger, thirst and pain are internal stimuli. What are some examples of external stimuli? External stimuli occur outside of an organism’s body. For example, changes in temperature, light, and sound are examples of external stimuli.

Homeostasis What is homeostasis? Homeostasis is an organism’s ability to maintain steady internal conditions when outside conditions change. Why is maintaining homeostasis important? Maintaining homeostasis is important because it ensures that an organism can function. What happens when an organism cannot maintain homeostasis? When an organism cannot maintain homeostasis it can get sick or die.

Energy What is energy? Why do living things need energy? Energy is the ability to do work or cause a change. Why do living things need energy? Living things need energy so their bodies will function. Without energy, living things cannot do any work. Which organisms get their energy directly from the Sun? Which organisms get the Sun’s energy indirectly, and how do they get it? Plants get their energy directly from the sun. Animals get the sun’s energy indirectly by either eating plants or eating other animals.