Life in the Field

Summary

Students will start to identify characteristics of living things.

Materials

• student worksheet attached
• for each student pair:
  • 4 foot string tied in loop
  • two hand lenses
  • probes and forceps if desired

Background for Teachers

This is an inquiry lab in which students will observe inside a 1 square foot area, looking for examples of living and non-living things.

Instructional Procedures

1. Remind students that hand lenses are used to observe, not to burn materials with the sunlight.
2. Students need to look at all levels of the ground, including under the surface of the soil.
3. You do not need to tell students where to look; there are some sites that have very little life, so students can move to another spot. They should illustrate carefully.
4. When students return, discuss how living things use non-living and dead material for resources.

Assessment Plan

Scoring guide:
Each student should have a reasonable number of examples of living and non-living materials. Their answers in the far right column should show thought.

Bibliography

Lesson Design by Jordan School District Teachers and Staff.