Curated OER
Plants and Ecosystems
The relationships within and between ecosystems can be explored. after examining an area for living and non-living things students complete the same examination in the forest ecosystem. Students identify abiotic and biotic elements in an...
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Non-living Things
Very young scientists circle the things on the worksheet that they think are living things. Most of the pictures are of non-living things. A handy worksheet to use during any initial discussion about living vs. non-living things.
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It's Alive! Or is it...?
Students apply their knowledge of the characteristics of living things to unknown creatures to determine whether they can be considered "alive." They watch a Star Trek episode, then describe the characteristics of life.
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Investigation 3 - Terrariums / Aquariums
Third graders create aquariums or terrariums to explain how creatures depend on living and nonliving things.
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How Are We Alike and Different?
Students review an online database and look for similarities and differences among the plants, animals, and non-living things that were listed. They compose a narrative based on their conclusions.
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Field Trip to your Square
Students visit an outdoors area and mark out a square on the ground that they examine. They look for and record the plants, animals, and non-living things they find in the square and post their findings on the Internet for other classes...
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Reconstructing the Squares
Students visit an outdoors area and mark out a square on the ground that they examine, looking for living and non-living things. They make a model or drawing of the findings from the actual square.
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It's Alive
First graders critically analyze living and nonliving objects, then develop a list of characteristics to classify objects on a science walk. They make a book to close out the lesson.
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Can Bacteria Arise from Non-living Things?
Fourth graders, in groups, determine whether bacteria arises from non-living things,
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Investigation 2 - Greenhouses
Third graders set up a miniature greenhouse to help them explain how nonliving things affect the growth of living things.
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Cells
Third graders investigate yeast to extend their understanding of living and non-living things.