Characteristics of Living Things

1. Warmup Essential Question: What determines if something is living or not? Objective: Understand the 6 characteristics of living things • Match the word and the definition

2. Weird Organism of the Day • Common Name: Venus Fly Trap • Scientific Name: Dionaea muscipula • Endangered carnivorous plant • Habitat: Swamplands of NC • Fun Fact: The plant’s 2 hinged leaves are covered in ultra-sensitive, fine hairs that detect the presence of anything from ants to human fingers! When detected, the leaves snap shut and the plant releases digestive enzymes that break down the matter of the victim!

3. What is life? • Organism – Anything that possesses all the characteristics of life. • There are 6 basic characteristics of life.

4. 6 Characteristics of Life • All living things are made of cells • All living things use energy • All living things grow and develop • All living things reproduce • All living things RESPOND to a STIMULUS • All living things maintain HOMEOSTASIS

5. All living things are ORGANIZED and have CELLS. • Cells are the structural and functional units of organisms • A single cell can be an entire living organism – a unicellular organism. • Most organisms are made up of many cells – a multicellular organism. • Cells are composed of complex structures which perform many functions. • In multicellular organisms:

6. All Living Things Use ENERGY • Most of the energy comes from the sun! • There are several ways that organisms acquire energy. • Most plants use photosynthesis • Most animals consume plants or other animals and use cellularrespiration.

7. All Living Things Grow and Develop • Are you the same size and shape as you were when you were born? • Unicellular organisms grow by increasing the size of the cell. • Multicellular organisms grow by adding new cells. • Individual cells can grow as well • Development: change

8. All organisms have the ability to REPRODUCE • Do organisms live forever? • Organisms must reproduce in order for the continued existence of a species. • Species – a group of organisms that share a common gene pool, interbreed, and produce fertile offspring.

9. Respond to Stimulus • In order to adapt to an environment, an organism must receive a stimulus and then respond to that stimulus. • Stimulus: anything that induces a response • Ex. When someone pinches you, your response is ouch • Responses may be simple or complex – a complex set of responses is called behavior.

10. Maintain Homeostasis • Homeostasis– an organism’s ability to regulate its internal environment in order to maintain constant or stable conditions that are necessary for life.

11. Foldable • Fold your paper hotdog style. • Make 5 evenly spaced cuts on the top fold. • Label each of the 6 flaps with one characteristic of living things. • On the inside of the flap, draw a picture and write a definition for the characteristic.

12. Characteristics Stations: Instructions • There are 10 stations around the room. • Each has an object living or nonliving • It is your job to determine whether the object is alive or not alive and WHY (using the 6 characteristics of life). • You will work with your partner • Your answers must be in complete sentences • When you finish, turn in your paper in the bin labeled with your class period.

13. Exit Ticket • What do you think is the most interesting characteristic of life? Why • How do you feel about today’s lesson? Red Yellow Green Have a GREAT day. Love one another. 

14. Warmup