Lesson Plan
Living and Nonliving Things (a SMART Board Lesson for primary students) by ECSDM
Course, Subject
Biology/Living Environment, English Language Arts (NYS P-12 Common Core)
Grade Levels
Elementary, 1st Grade
Step by Step Procedure
(I have indicated where to save the updated file and which slide/page to jump to during the lesson for anyone who is new to SMART technology. The file is also available as a .pdf version if you do not have access to a SMART Board.)
(Session 1)
Introduction
Use or create pictures cards (from magazines) showing different living and nonliving things. Present these cards to the class and have the students sort them into living and nonliving groups. Ask them to express why they sorted the cards the way they did.
Complete KWL chart (page 2 of notebook file) for living and nonliving things. Remember to save the file with the new information (choose "file -save as" and rename the file so the original remains intact).
(Session 2)
Characteristics of living things
The living and nonliving things notebook file contains a series of slides beginning with an interview portion. Open your renamed file from session 1 with your saved KWL chart. Complete slides 3-13 to learn about living things. A series of questions and answers will present facts. Click on the picture of the girl, frog and flower to move to the next page. Add new facts to KWL chart. Save the file ("file - save").
(Session 3)
Classify living things as plant/animal/people
Review KWL chart. Do not save the file (unless you add something to the KWL chart). Jump to slide 13. Complete the sort with the children. There is a link to an answer key for the sort to verify answers with the children.
(Session 4)
Characteristics of non-living things and sort living/non-living things
Jump to slide 14. Slides 14-16 discuss non-living things and the common misconceptions children may have. Jump back to KWL chart. Add new facts learned (save file). Jump back to slide 16 and click the link to the sort activity. As you complete the living/non-living things sort with children, ask them to verify why the object should be there. There is a link to an answer key that you can use to verify answers with the students.
(Session 5-6)
Reinforcement, interactive quiz and independent activities
Review KWL chart (save if new information added). Jump to slide 19 for an interactive quiz (not available in .pdf version). If you have other materials (videos or books) you may add a day to incorporate them as reinforcement. (Discovery Education Streaming has a video "Living and Nonliving Things" available - subscription required.) The word files below are independent sorting activities the children can complete.
*** All photographs contained in the sort activity documents listed below were taken by Monica Alderman and permission is given to reproduce them for use with the sort activities in your classroom only.***
Description
This lesson shows the differences between living and nonliving things, the types of living things, and what living things need. It requires the use of a SMART Board, projector, and computer.
Duration of Lesson
Five or six 30-minute sessions.
Learning Objectives
Students will classify things as living or nonliving.
Students will classify living things as plant, animal, or people.
Students will identify needs common to all living things.
Materials
SMART Board attached to computer and projector, picture cards of living and nonliving things, notebook and word files (see below).
living nonliving things quiz.docliving nonliving sort activity.docplant animal people sort.docliving_and_nonliving_things Smartboard lesson.noteliving_and_nonliving_things PDF lesson.pdf
Assessment
Monitor answers given during KWL, interactive sorts, and interactive quiz.
Completion of independent sort activities.
Completion of quiz (word file attached below).
living nonliving things quiz.doc
