Biology and 7 Characteristics of Life Lesson Plan

Stage I
(9
th
-12
th
)
Objective-
Students will be able to:
1. Identify Biology as the study of life
2. Identify the 7 characteristics of life- cellular organization, homeostasis, metabolism,
reproduction, growth, heredity, and responsiveness
3. Get an understanding of the differences between the living and non-living
Standards-
Pennsylvania
3.1.10.A1 Explain the characteristics of life common to all organisms.
Enduring understandings-
Biology is an important science one must understand because it is the study of life.
Using technological resources to learn about new information.
Essential questions-
What makes an organism living?
What is biology?
Stage II
Assessments
Informal
Teacher observations
Student participation
Stage III
Materials-
Smart Board
Paper
Pencils
Worksheet
Lab specimens or objects (can use pictures too)
o Car
o Candle
o Frog
o Worm
Laptops
Procedures:
1. Anticipatory
T: Lead class discussion What is Biology?
S: Have students openly participate in discussion by raising their hand and
responding
T: After concluding Biology is the study of life. Discuss What is life? What makes
something alive? Break students into 7 groups.
S: Have students get into their groups
T: Present assignment: Each Group must get a laptop and research what makes
something living and provide examples.
S: Students researching in their groups and taking notes
T: Walking around and observing groups and ready to help and answer questions if
needed
S: Have students finish up their research
T: Go over students findings and begin to integrate and relate them to the seven
characteristics of life.
S: Each group participating in open discussion and presenting one of the
characteristics they found with and example

2. Lesson
T: Begin lesson with quick fun video and then presentation on Smart Board
S: Take notes and ask questions as needed
T: Defines 7 characteristics of all living organisms: cellular organization,
homeostasis, metabolism, reproduction, growth, heredity, and responsiveness
3. Lab
T: Explain the what is life? Lab and arrange students in groups. The lab will
consist of objects and specimens. Each group will have to observe and identify,
classify the object as non-living, living, or dead, and explain why.
S: Meet in groups
T: Pass out lab worksheet and give each group their own set of objects or specimens.
S: Discuss and work on their worksheet within their groups
T: Walk around the classroom to answer and questions and observe discussions.
S: Have students finish up
4. Closure
T: Begin to go over the objects and specimens by going through the 7 characteristics
all living things must have in an open discussion.
S: Sharing their observations and participating.