Living or Non-Living

Living or Non-Living

Poll

What colour is a tennis ball?

• Yellow

• Green

• I can briefly explain why classifying helps scientists organise and study the world.

• I can define an organism as something that is living.

• I can correctly match each letter in MRS GREN to what it means.

Success Criteria

• Describe the difference between living and non-living things and why this is useful in science

• Identify what an organism is and use MRS GREN to describe living things

Learning Intentions

Classification

Classifying things into groups can make them easier to remember, and to describe and identify.

If you went to a supermarket to buy cornflakes, it would take you a very long time if the products were not classified into groups. Because cornflakes are classified as breakfast cereal, you know where to look.

Living or Not-Living

One way that we can group things are if they are living, not-living (they've never been alive), or dead (they used to be alive).

For something to be called 'living' it has to follow some rules. To remember them, we can use the acronym MRS GREN.

Organism: All living things, like plants, animals, and even bacteria.

While some organisms are mostly still, they will always have some form of movement. It is important to catch food or avoid predators.

Movement

Breathe in air which helps food be made into energy. In some organisms (like humans), food are broken down using oxygen.

Respiration

All organisms are able to sense changes in their environment. For example, squid release ink when they feel threatened.

Sensitivity

Poll

Can plants move on their own?

• Yes

• No

All living things grow. Even very small living things made of a single cell grow bigger.

​​Growth

​The creation of a living thing from an existing organism. Can be 1 cell turning into 2, or a human having a baby.

​Reproduction

All organisms produce wastes that need to be removed. If waste products stay inside an organism they can become toxic.

​​Excretion

Organisms need food for energy and nutrients. Some get it by eating other organisms, while others use the sun and air to make energy.

​​Nutrition

1. Cut the words and definitions out

2. Match the words to their correct definitions

3. Wait until we all check the answers before gluing them into your books

​

Activity

Instructions:

​

Multiple Choice

Is an ant, living or nonliving?

• Living

• Non-Living

• I am not sure

Dropdown

All ​

Select answer

things need water.

Categorize

Options (10)

humans

fish

grass

insects

rocks

water

books

fire

bacteria

dead leaves

Sort these things into living or non-living:

Living

Non-Living

Match

Match the word to their description:

• Respiration

• Sensitivity

• Growth

• Excretion

• Nutrition

Releases energy from food

Responds to changes in the environment

Gets bigger or develops over time

Gets rid of waste

Takes in food or nutrients for energy an

• Releases energy from food

• Responds to changes in the environment

• Gets bigger or develops over time

• Gets rid of waste

• Takes in food or nutrients for energy an