Qualifications of Living Things Dead or Alive? Qualifications of Living Things This stAIR was created by Jessica Scaggs

What will you learn? 7 characteristics of living things 3 categories of non-living things Notes to the Teacher: Introduction In this stAIR, students will learn the seven characteristics of living things. Audience The intended audience of this stAIR is 7th and 8th grade students working at grade level. Students completing this module are not expected to have any prior knowledge of the subject matter. This stAIR may be used as an introductory session to a biology unit on taxonomy or as an additional independent learning module to your science curriculum. Instructional Objectives Upon successful completion of this stAIR, students will be able to: Recall and describe the seven characteristics of living things. Recall and explain three categories of non-living things. Classify an unknown materials or organism as either living or non-living. *Instructional objectives derived from National Heritage Academies 8th grade curriculum objectives

Why is this important? You are a living thing – Know why scientists classify you as one! You will be able to clarify questions you may have had such as, “Is a wooden table a living thing?” You will be able to look at a new substance or species and classify them as living or non-living.

7 Characteristics of Living Things What are 7 characteristics of living things?

Living Things The scientific word for “living things” is organism Organism

Overview of 7 Characteristics Feeding Movement Breathing Excretion Growth Sensitivity Reproduction

Feeding – Living Things Eat Take in (ingest) substances from the environment Water, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and elements Use these substances for energy and growth This snake wants to ingest this frog and use it for energy and growth . . . The frog does not look happy . . .

Movement – Living Things Move All living things have internal movement They can move substances from one part of their body to another (water, oxygen, food) Many living things also have external movement They can move around from place to place by walking, swimming, slithering, or flying This cat has internal and external movement.

Breathing – Living things Exchange Gases with their Environment Animals, including humans, breath in (inhale) oxygen and breath out (exhale) carbon dioxide Plants “inhale” carbon dioxide and “exhale” oxygen Some bacteria (called NC10) take in methane gas and exhale oxygen This person is protecting themselves from inhaling harmful gases from their environment.

Excretion – Living Things Get Rid of Waste Keeping waste in the body would become poisonous for the organism Living things “go to the bathroom” to eliminate some waste Animals also eliminate gaseous waste when we exhale carbon dioxide

Growth – Living Things Bigger Living things use some of their energy for growth They get larger and more complex as they grow Different kinds of organisms have different cycles for growth

Sensitivity – Living Things Respond to their Environment Living things respond to the changes around them such as temperature, light, sound, and touch Living things also try to maintain homeostasis within themselves as they respond to these changes To learn more about homeostasis, click on the hyperlink above!

Reproduction – Living Things Produce Young Humans make babies Chickens lay eggs Dogs make puppies Frogs lay eggs Plants make seeds Mold makes spores

Mini-Quiz: Living Things 1. How many characteristics are there of living things? 4 6 5 7

Sorry, that is incorrect . . . Your answer is too low! Would you like to: Try Again Get a clue

Congratulations! You are correct! Click to move to the next question 

Mini-Quiz: 2. Which of the following is a characteristic of a living thing? Reproduce Grow Feed All of the Above

Sorry, that is incorrect . . . Your answer is true, but there may be others! Would you like to: Try Again Get a clue

Overview of 7 Characteristics Feeding Movement Breathing Excretion Growth Sensitivity Reproduction Return to question 

Congratulations! You are correct! Click to move to the next question 

Mini-Quiz: True or False 3. In order to be classified as a living thing, an organism must have all 7 characteristics of a living thing. True False

Sorry, that is incorrect . . . You must have all 7 characteristics of living things to be classified as a living thing. It’s all or nothing! Try Again

Congratulations! You are correct! Click to learn about non-living things 

Example: Non-Living Thing A rock is an example of something that has never lived. It does not have ANY of the 7 characteristics of living things

Example: Non-Living Thing A fallen tree is an example of a non-living thing that was once alive and is now dead.

Example: Non-Living Thing Milk is an example of a non-living thing that was once a part of a living thing.

3 Categories of Non-Living Things There are three categories of non-living things Things that have never lived Things that were once alive and are now dead Things that were never alive, but part of a living thing

Get Ready to Test Your Knowledge! Get a lined sheet of paper and pen/pencil. Divide the paper into four equal columns (up and down). You have the POWER to do this because knowledge is POWER!

Label the Columns Name the 1st column “Substance”. Name the 2nd column “My Guess” Name the 3rd column “Actual Answer” Name the 4th column “Why”

What Next? Lastly, number the rows 1 – 20. Skip a line between each one so you have enough room to write. You may use another piece of paper if you need more room.

You’re All Set to Take the Quiz! There are 20 questions on the quiz. Please fill in something for each column for each question. It is alright if your guess was wrong because you will learn from your mistakes! Have fun!

Quiz: Living and Non-Living Things Click on the following hyperlink to take a 20 question online quiz about living and non-living things. Take Living and Non-Living Thing Quiz

Good Work! Please turn in your paper to your teacher and accept this award for a job well done! You deserve it! THE END!