Classify - Yes...But Is It Alive?
Scientists divide or classify things into three major groups. These groups are: living, nonliving, and once-living. The last Web page dealt with nonliving objects. Living things are objects which can pass on genetic information through reproduction. The term once-living is a term that refers to things which were at one point part of a living thing.
See how well you understand this. Your goal will be to correctly identify the correct group for each of the following photographs.
For each of the following things, click the name of the correct group.
Analysis:
- Which group was the easiest for you to correctly place the photographs into?
- How difficult is it to tell the difference between living and once-living?
Extension:
Use the Internet or a digital camera to collect photographs of objects
that fit into these three groups. Share your collections with friends,
family, or classmates by making a multi-media presentation.

