Lesson

What Makes Something Living

Students learn the first signs that tell living things apart from nonliving things.

What Makes Something Living

What students learn

Students learn that living things grow, breathe, and need food, water, air, and sunlight. Begin with so the idea lands in a simple way.

Why it matters

When children know what makes something living, they can sort the things they see around them with more confidence. Use to practice with easy pictures and objects.

Learn the idea

Living things change and grow. They need the right things to stay alive. helps students hear that living things need water, air, and sunlight.

Try it

Ask the child to point to one living thing and one nonliving thing in the room. Then have them say why each one belongs in that group.

Parent guide

Use very familiar examples like a child, a plant, a rock, and a toy. If the child gets stuck, ask whether the thing grows or needs help to stay alive.