1. Characteristics of Living Things
Living or non living, that is the question.
Characteristics of Life Introduction

2. Living or nonliving?

3. Living or Non-living?
People once believed that non living things such as meat, mountains, rivers, and forests were living.
This thought was disproved in the 1600’s by the work of a scientist named Francisco Redi.
Raw meat experiment (pg. 36)

4. Redi Experiment
Redi knew that life could not come from non living things (spontaneous generation). People thought maggots came from meat (non-living) and not flies (living).
Redi put out 2 jars of raw meat, one covered and one not covered.
He found that the jar that was covered did not have maggots.
The jar that was not covered had maggots.

5. What makes something alive?
It is made of cell(s)
It contains similar chemicals
It obtains(gets) and uses energy
It grows and develops
It reproduces
It responds or reacts to its surroundings

6. Made of cells
All organisms (living things) are made of cells. A cell is the basic unit of STRUCTURE and FUNCTION in an organism.
Unicellular- having only one cell
Multicellular-having many cells
Made of Cells Video

7. Chemicals of life- Similar chemicals
All organisms are made of similar chemicals.
Water (most abundant)
Carbohydrates (cell’s energy source)
Proteins & Lipids (what cells are made out of)
Nucleic acid (DNA made of)
Carbon (recycled through all living things)

8. Use energy All living things obtain and use energy.
Energy is needed to do everyday things, such as eat, walk, grow, and develop.

9. Growth and development
All organisms grow and develop.
Development is the process of change that occurs during the organism’s life.
You are developing. Many of you are in a growth spurt.

10. Reproduce All organisms reproduce. Trees drop seeds.
Dogs have puppies.
Organisms have to reproduce in order to keep on living. If organisms did not reproduce, their species would die off.

11. Respond to surroundings
All living things respond to their surroundings.
Stimuli- (could include) temperature, light, sound
Heat
Response- (action) organisms react to the stimuli.
Sweat, dehydration, thirst
Example- The temperature outside is 107⁰F. What happens when you are outside in the heat for several hours?
Plants following the sun clip

12. Homeostasis The balance of the internal systems of living things.
Examples: Heart Rate (resting vs. exercising)
Breathing Rate (resting vs. exercising)
Temperature (sweating, shivering)
Fluid Level (thirst and urination amount/color)
Can you think of any others?
Homeostasis

13. Now place these items on your graphic organizer after following the directions.
Water
Baby
Plant
Fire

14. Now place these items on your graphic organizer after following the directions.
Easter Eggs
Rocks
Volcano
Chicken Eggs

15. Now place these items on your graphic organizer after following the directions.
Worm
Clouds
Puppy
Venus Fly Trap

16. Now place these items on your graphic organizer after following the directions.
Stuffed Animal
Sea Star