Objective
By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to compare the features and characteristics of living and non-living things.
Materials and Prep
- Paper
- Pencil or crayons
- A selection of objects, such as a toy animal, a rock, a plant, and a book
No prior knowledge or preparation is required for this lesson.
Activities
- Go on a nature walk in your backyard or a nearby park. Look for living and non-living things. Draw pictures or write down what you find.
- Create a Venn diagram on a piece of paper. Label one circle "Living" and the other circle "Non-living". Think of different objects or examples and place them in the correct circle based on whether they are living or non-living.
- Choose one living thing and one non-living thing from your Venn diagram. Write a short paragraph comparing their features and characteristics.
- Find a book or online resource that talks about living and non-living things. Read it together and discuss what you learned.
Talking Points
- "Living things are things that can grow, move, and reproduce. They need food, water, and air to survive."
- "Non-living things, on the other hand, do not grow, move, or reproduce. They do not need food, water, or air to survive."
- "Examples of living things include animals, plants, and people. They can eat, breathe, and have babies."
- "Examples of non-living things include rocks, toys, and books. They cannot eat, breathe, or have babies."
- "Living things are made up of cells, which are tiny building blocks. Non-living things do not have cells."
- "Living things can respond to their environment. For example, if it's cold outside, we can put on a jacket to stay warm. Non-living things cannot respond to their environment."