Living+Proof

= Learning Experience 1: Living Proof = Objectives ** ¨  Determine the criteria used for identifying a substance as living or nonliving ¨  Identify the characteristics essential for survival ¨  Explain the difficulty in defining life only in terms of visually observable properties ¨  Determine that organisms must use environmental resources for survival Driving Questions ** ¨  What distinguishes living things from nonliving things? ¨  What do living things need to survive? Time requirement ** ¨  Preparation time 10-15 minutes ¨  Setting the Context   5 minutes ¨  Lab activity 2 class sessions 45-50 minutes each Characteristics of living things: ·  Growth and repair ·  Energy utilization ·  Reproduction ·  Respond to environment ·  Evolve ·  Made of cells ·  Made of organic matter ·  Will die Show a photo of a plant and have students respond in writing to the Brainstorming questions.  **1.**  **Are these plants living? How do you know?** Pre-lab Preparation ** 1.  Setup stations with unidentified substances. Lab Safety ** ¨  Careful handling of the unidentified substances. Experimenting and Investigating ** ¨  Students observe unidentified substances and classify them as living or nonliving according to the criteria they have developed. Processing for Meaning ** ¨  Discuss the evidence needed in order to determine whether a substance is living or nonliving ¨  Make changes or additions to the master list of characteristics of living things Applying ** ¨  Read “Aliens” and discuss the criteria scientists use for identifying life forms ¨  Answer Analysis questions following the article
 * Materials and Equipment**
 * //For each student or group://**
 *  ¨  Hand lens ||
 *  ¨  1 glass stirring rod or dissecting needle ||
 *  ¨  Unidentified substances ||
 * Background **
 * Setting the Context **