Field Investigation: Living or Non-living

Students learn how to identify and compare living and non-living things, and then use these patterns to analyze their observations in the outdoor classroom.  

 
Click on the orange links to access free educational materials: 

Lesson Plans   |   ALSDE Standards Taught
 
Activity Page: (Word Doc  / PDF) with Answer Page
 
Outdoor Activity Materials:  activity pages, clipboards, pencils (garden trowels & magnifying glasses optional)
   














 
Step 1: Engage through Discussion
   
Engage the students and capture their interests with an Interactive Q&A (or as PDF) that allows you to click through the questions one at a time.  You can gauge your students' understanding of the topic as they answer the questions. 

Print and use the Q&A Info Sheet (or as Word Doc) to anticipate the next question in the Interactive Q&A and to guide the conversation with the students.  (Note:  For the PowerPoint (PPT), click "Slide Show" & "From Beginning" to display the questions and answers separately.)
 
Use these tools to continue the discussion:
   





















 
 
Step 2: Explore with Literature
   
As you read this book, you can further explore the topic and discuss your students' experiences and knowledge around the topic:
 
What’s Alive? (Let's Read & Find Out Science Series: Level 1) by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld 
(ISBN: 978-0064451321)		 Front Cover
 
 
Step 3: Explain with an Educational Video
   
Use this educational video to help explain the topic in more detail:
 
Sesame Street’s “Who’s Alive?” (3:15 min.) 
@ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giWqEPNLtBo
 
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Step 4: Elaborate with a Field Investigation in the Outdoor Classroom
   
Students apply what they have learned as they investigate the topic in your outdoor classroom and record their real-world observations on their Living of Nonliving Field Investigation Activity Page (or as Word Doc).
   
Activity Tips
  • Review the Outdoor Classroom Rules with students before going outside. 
  • Let the children use garden trowels to dig in the soil for animals such as worms, and give them magnifying glasses to use.
Procedure

Outdoor Discovery:
  1. Have students look for one example of a living thing, draw a picture of it, and write what it is called.
  2. Then have them look for one example of a non-living thing, draw a picture of it, and write what it is called.
Indoor Discussion:
  1. Ask the students to answer the questions to prove that the living thing is living.
  2. Then ask them to answer the questions to prove that the non-living thing is not living.
  3. Discuss how ALL living things (plants and animals) grow, move and change, whereas non-living things do NOT grow, move or change (unless we alter them...like sharpening a pencil).
  4. Discuss how ALL living things (plants and animals) breathe, eat and drink, whereas non-living things do NOT breathe, eator drink.
Optional Extension:
   
 
 
Step 5: Evaluate with an Assessment Activity
   
Review and assess the students’ observations and answers on their activity page:  Answer Page
 
Evaluate the students' understanding of the topic with one of the following assessment tools:
 
 
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Questions? Contact us at oc@alabamawildlife.org. .