In this activity, students use two separate online interactives or paper-based graphic organisers to explore these key science ideas: what makes something living and what makes something an animal. This activity can be done individually, in pairs or as a whole class.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
- describe the characteristics of living things
- describe the characteristics of animals
- classify things as living or non-living/animal or not, based on these characteristics.
Download the Word file (see link below) for:
- introduction/background notes
- what you need
- what to do
- extension ideas
- student worksheets.
In the first interactive, students explore their ideas about the characteristics of living things.
In the second interactive, students explore their ideas about the characteristics of animals.
Related content
Use this article to explore the science ideas and concepts behind the characteristics of both living things and animals using earthworms as the example.
Useful link
Visit this website from the Australian education website (Victoria Department of Education and Training) for more information about common student alternative conceptions related to living things and classification.
