Recognizing Living Things Biology SS 1 First Term Lesson Notes Week 1

Lesson Note: Recognizing Living Things

Subject: Biology
Class: SS 1
Term: First Term
Week: 2
Age: 15-16 years

Topic: Recognizing Living Things
Sub-topic: 1. Characteristics of Living Things 2. Differences Between Plants and Animals 3. Organization of Life
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioural Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• Identify and explain the characteristics of living things.
• Describe the key differences between plants and animals.
• Understand the levels of organization of life and provide examples.
• Discuss the complexity of organization in higher organisms and its disadvantages.

Keywords:
Living things, characteristics, plants, animals, organization, levels of organization.

Set Induction:
Begin the lesson by asking students to list things that are alive and what makes them think those things are alive. This can include pets, plants, and insects.

Entry Behaviour:
Students should have previously studied living and non-living things, as well as basic biology concepts.

Learning Resources and Materials:

• Textbooks on Biology
• Whiteboard and markers
• Diagrams of living organisms (e.g., Euglena, Paramecium, Hydra)
• Specimens of an onion bulb and cow heart (if available)

Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge:
Connect the lesson to the previous week’s topic by discussing how living things exhibit characteristics that distinguish them from non-living things.

Embedded Core Skills:

• Critical thinking: Analyze characteristics of living things.
• Observation: Examine physical specimens.
• Communication: Discuss differences and organization levels with peers.

Learning Materials:

• Lagos State Biology Scheme of Work
• Online resources and articles related to biology

Reference Books:

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• “Biology for Senior Secondary Schools” by Ababio, O. Y.

Instructional Materials:

• Visual aids (posters, charts) on living things and their characteristics
• PowerPoint presentations (if applicable)

Content

1. Characteristics of Living Things:
Living things exhibit the following characteristics:

• Movement: All living things move, either actively (animals) or passively (plants growing towards light).
• Respiration: They respire to convert food into energy.
• Sensitivity: Living things respond to stimuli from their environment.
• Growth: They undergo growth and development.
• Reproduction: Living organisms can reproduce, either sexually or asexually.
• Excretion: They remove waste products from their bodies.
• Nutrition: Living things take in nutrients for energy and growth.

2. Differences Between Plants and Animals:

• Nutrition: Plants are autotrophic (produce their own food via photosynthesis), while animals are heterotrophic (consume other organisms).
• Movement: Animals can move freely, while plants have limited movement (e.g., growth direction).
• Cell Structure: Plant cells have a cell wall and chloroplasts; animal cells do not.
• Reproduction: Plants can reproduce through seeds, cuttings, or spores; animals typically reproduce sexually or asexually.

3. Organization of Life:
a. Levels of Organization:

• Cell: The basic unit of life (e.g., Euglena, Paramecium).
• Tissue: A group of similar cells working together (e.g., Hydra).
• Organ: A structure composed of different tissues (e.g., onion bulb, heart of a cow).
• System: A group of organs working together (e.g., digestive system, excretory system).

b. Complexity of Organization in Higher Organisms:
Higher organisms show greater complexity in their organization (e.g., mammals).
Disadvantages:

• Higher complexity can lead to increased energy requirements.
• More systems mean more potential for failure (e.g., organ failure can be life-threatening).
• Complicated interactions can make organisms more vulnerable to diseases.

Evaluation

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions (15):

1. Living things can be classified into __________ and __________. (a) plants, fungi (b) animals, bacteria (c) plants, animals (d) cells, tissues
2. A characteristic of living things is __________. (a) being able to sleep (b) movement (c) silence (d) color
3. Plants make their food through __________. (a) ingestion (b) photosynthesis (c) respiration (d) digestion
4. The basic unit of life is the __________. (a) tissue (b) organism (c) cell (d) system
5. The heart of a cow is an example of a(n) __________. (a) organ (b) system (c) cell (d) tissue
6. Animals are __________ because they cannot produce their own food. (a) autotrophic (b) heterotrophic (c) unicellular (d) multicellular
7. A group of similar cells working together forms a __________. (a) system (b) cell (c) tissue (d) organ
8. The digestive system is an example of a __________. (a) tissue (b) system (c) cell (d) organism
9. Living things can reproduce either __________ or __________. (a) sexually, horizontally (b) asexually, sexually (c) equally, unequally (d) vertically, horizontally
10. __________ is a response to changes in the environment. (a) Nutrition (b) Excretion (c) Sensitivity (d) Growth
11. Plants are generally __________, while animals are __________. (a) mobile, stationary (b) autotrophic, heterotrophic (c) simple, complex (d) slow, fast
12. A __________ is a collection of tissues working together to perform a specific function. (a) cell (b) system (c) organ (d) organism
13. Euglena and Paramecium are examples of __________. (a) tissues (b) organs (c) cells (d) systems
14. The __________ of life is represented by cells, tissues, organs, and systems. (a) organization (b) characteristics (c) movement (d) growth
15. Higher organisms have a __________ organization compared to simpler ones. (a) simpler (b) complex (c) equal (d) limited

Class Activity Discussion

FAQs with Answers (15):

1. What are the characteristics of living things?
   • Living things move, grow, reproduce, respond to stimuli, excrete waste, respire, and obtain nutrition.
2. How do plants obtain their food?
   • Plants produce their own food through photosynthesis.
3. What is the difference between autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms?
   • Autotrophic organisms produce their own food, while heterotrophic organisms consume other organisms for food.
4. Can you give an example of a cell?
   • Euglena and Paramecium are examples of unicellular organisms.
5. What is a tissue?
   • A tissue is a group of similar cells that perform a specific function together.
6. What is an organ?
   • An organ is a structure made up of different types of tissues working together.
7. What is the role of the digestive system?
   • The digestive system breaks down food and absorbs nutrients.
8. How do animals move compared to plants?
   • Animals move freely, while plants have limited movement, mainly through growth.
9. Why is complexity in higher organisms sometimes disadvantageous?
   • More complex systems can require more energy and have higher chances of failure.
10. What is the significance of studying the organization of life?
    • Understanding organization helps in comprehending how living things function and interact.
11. How do living organisms respond to their environment?
    • They exhibit sensitivity to changes in their surroundings.
12. Why do we need to classify living things?
    • Classification helps us understand relationships and differences among organisms.
13. What are some examples of systems in the body?
    • The digestive system, circulatory system, and respiratory system are examples.
14. How can we observe the characteristics of living things?
    • By studying plants and animals, we can see their growth, movement, and responses.
15. What is an example of a multicellular organism?
    • Humans, animals, and trees are examples of multicellular organisms.

Presentation

Step 1: Revise the previous topic by discussing the characteristics of living things.
Step 2: Introduce the new topic by explaining the differences between plants and animals, along with the levels of organization.
Step 3: Engage students in a discussion about their observations and corrections on the differences and organization of life.

Activities

Teacher’s Activities:

• Present diagrams and examples of living things.
• Facilitate discussions and group work.
• Provide clear definitions and engage students with questions.

Learner’s Activities:

• Participate in discussions and group activities.
• Examine specimens and contribute to class conversations.
• Complete evaluation questions.

Assessment

Evaluation Questions (10):

1. List the characteristics of living things.
2. Explain the difference between plants and animals.
3. Describe the levels of organization in living things.
4. Provide an example of an organ and its function.
5. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of complexity in higher organisms.
6. What role does nutrition play in living organisms?
7. How does the environment affect living things?
8. Why is it important to study the organization of life?
9. Give an example of a tissue and its significance.
10. What is the difference between unicellular and multicellular organisms?

Conclusion

The teacher will circulate around the classroom to assess students’ understanding by marking their answers and providing necessary feedback to reinforce the lesson on recognizing living things.