The Characteristics of Life EQ: Where are organisms found on Earth, and how are they classified?

It’s Alive!! Or is it??? While outside one day you notice something strange in the grass. It’s slimy, bright yellow, and about the size of a dime. You have no idea what it is. Is it a plant part that fell from a tree? Is it alive? How can you tell?

Classification Scientists use classification to group organisms based on their similarities and differences

Organisms An organism is a living thing. Animals Plants Bacteria Fungus Anything that is living is considered an organism!!

It IS Alive!! To be considered living, and organism must do/possess the following 6 things: Grow Reproduce Respond to their environment Use energy Be composed of cells Have DNA

The Mneumonic Get Robin’s Response Unless Charlie Dies Grow Reproduce Respond to enviro. Use energy Composed of cells DNA

Grow All living things, whether they are made of one cell are or have many cells, grow during periods of their lives

Reproduce All living things have the ability to make organisms similar to themselves, or reproduce

Respond to Their Environment Living things have the ability to sense change in their environment and to respond to that change Light Danger Temperature

Use Energy Living things use energy to carry out the activities of life. Making food Breaking down food Moving materials (such as oxygen) in and out of cells Building cells Metabolism is the term given to all of the chemical activities that an organism performs

Composed of Cells All living things are composed of one or more cells. A cell is a membrane-covered structure that contains all the materials necessary for life

DNA The cells of living things contain DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) DNA controls the functions and structure of cells. DNA is passed along to the organism’s offspring during reproduction

Is it alive, non-living or dead? Living (an organism): does/possesses all 6 characteristics needed to be considered to be alive. (biotic) Non-living: Never had all 6 characteristics. Never was alive (abiotic) Dead: Once had all 6 characteristics, but is now missing one or more (abiotic)

Cucumber Seeds Two friends bought packs of cucumber seeds. They argued about whether or not the cucumber seeds inside the sealed packets were living. Here is what they said: Katie: “I think they are alive when they are in a sealed packet” Vaughn: “I don’t think they are alive until they are planted in the soil” Which person do you agree with the most? Explain your thinking

Potential for Life Given the right conditions, eggs, nuts and seeds can develop the characteristics of the living Are considered living!

The Assignment After finishing the Learning Activities, you will be completing the following assignment Debate (Group-based): How do the atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere interact to support life on Earth? Use your notes and consider the characteristics of living things and the 3 zones that support life on Earth. Which zone do you consider most important in supporting life on Earth?  Create an argument and a visual display on chart paper to communicate the reasons for your choice and facts to support each reason

Ecosystem All the living, dead, and non-living things that interact with each other in an environment