Topic: Characteristics and Classification of Living Organisms
1.1 Characteristics of Living Organisms
Lesson 1: Understanding the Characteristics of Living Organisms
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Objective | – Describe the characteristics of living organisms, including movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion, and nutrition. |
| Activities | Starter (5 mins): Show a short video or images of various organisms performing life processes (e.g., animals moving, plants growing). Ask students to identify common actions in the video.Main (25 mins): 1. Discuss each characteristic of living organisms: – Movement: Describe how organisms move to change their position or place. – Respiration: Explain how cells break down nutrients to release energy. – Sensitivity: Define the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. – Growth: Discuss permanent size and dry mass increase. – Reproduction: Explain the production of more organisms of the same kind. – Excretion: Define the removal of metabolic waste. – Nutrition: Explain how organisms take in materials for energy and growth.2. Use diagrams or animations to explain processes like respiration and growth.Plenary (10 mins): Students summarize each characteristic in one sentence. |
| Resources | Video clips or images of organisms, diagrams of processes (e.g., respiration, growth). |
| Time | 40 minutes |
| Homework | Create a table with columns for each characteristic, adding examples of organisms exhibiting each characteristic. |
| Assessment | Students describe each characteristic of living organisms during class discussions. |
| Past Paper Practice | IGCSE Biology 0610/21/M/J/20 Q1(a). |
Lesson 2: Applying the Characteristics of Living Organisms
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Objective | – Relate the characteristics of living organisms to real-life examples.– Differentiate between living and non-living things based on these characteristics. |
| Activities | Starter (5 mins): Present a mix of living and non-living objects (e.g., plant, rock, robot, animal) and ask students to classify them. Discuss their reasoning.Main (25 mins): 1. Provide a checklist of the characteristics of living organisms.2. Guide students to apply the checklist to identify living vs. non-living things in various scenarios.3. Discuss borderline cases like viruses and explain why they are not classified as living organisms.Plenary (10 mins): Students share examples of living organisms and justify their classification. |
| Resources | Images or objects representing living and non-living things, checklist of characteristics. |
| Time | 40 minutes |
| Homework | Write a short explanation of why a virus is not considered a living organism. |
| Assessment | Students apply the checklist to classify objects and explain their reasoning. |
| Past Paper Practice | IGCSE Biology 0610/22/O/N/19 Q2(b). |
Key Notes for Teachers:
- Relate each characteristic to simple, everyday examples for better understanding.
- Use visual aids like animations, diagrams, or videos to explain complex processes like respiration or excretion.
- Highlight real-life applications, e.g., how sensitivity helps organisms survive in their environment.
Key Notes for Students:
- Remember the acronym MRS GREN for the seven characteristics of living organisms: Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition.
- Be prepared to explain each characteristic with examples in class discussions and written tasks.
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