Introduction
Living vs. non-living things is a basic concept covered in multiple elementary grades. This topic can be broken down into multiple concepts including how living things are different from non-living things, the basic needs of living things, and interactions between living and non-living organisms in the environment. In Kindergarten, students will explore the basic differences between living and non-living things. In first grade, students will explore the basic needs of living things. In second grade, students will explore interactions between living and non-living components in the environment. All of these concepts are covered in this webpage. The three videos below can be used in your classroom to help introduce or explain living and non-living things to students.
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Ohio Standards
Life Science:
- Kindergarten- Physical and Behavioral Traits of Living Things
- Living things are different from nonliving things.
- 1st Grade- Basic Needs of Living Things
- Living things have basic needs, which are met by obtaining materials from the physical environment.
- 2nd Grade- Interactions within Habitats
- Living things cause changes on Earth.
Useful Links
PBS Kids is a link of PBS that provides numerous facts of information about a variety of topics. The living vs nonliving link has a variety of resources for teachers to look through and consider when planning lessons. The website includes ideas for literature, materials, timing suggestions, a description of the topic being discussed, as well as an idea of a lesson that could be appropriate for all of the elementary grade levels and some of the middle school grade levels.
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.colt.lp_living/living-vs-nonliving/ |
Science Kids presents a website dedicated to helping teachers become educated on the topic they are currently teaching as well as to providing fun and engaging activities that help the children want to learn. This website is dedicated to exploring living things and the environments that they live in; this aligns with the third grade standards of focusing on living things and their environments. Within this website, teachers will find ideas for lessons, games, videos, interesting facts, and projects.
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/plantsanimals.html |
This website presents a variety of teaching activities and strategies for every subject across the board that is included in Common Core. Within this website, there is a link to activities and teaching strategies for identifying and differentiating between living and nonliving things; there are activities for both students and teachers alike. The website has tabs at the top of the web page that allow you to access books, worksheets, interactive activities, songs, and books about living and non-living things. This website is incredibly useful for any topic of any subject for teachers.
http://www.havefunteaching.com/activities/science-activities/living-and-non-living-things-activities/ |
Words to Know
- Living - Any organism or a living form that possesses or shows the characteristics of life or being alive
- Nonliving - one that lacks or has stopped displaying the characteristics of life. Thus, they lack or no longer displaying the capability for growth, reproduction, respiration, metabolism, and movement.
- Environment - the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates.
- Energy - the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity