Characteristics of Living and Non-Living Things for JSS 1

Lesson Plan on Characteristics of Living and Non-Living Things

Subject: Basic Science

Class: Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS 1)

Term: First Term

Week: 2

Age: 10 – 12 years

Topic: Characteristics of Living and Non-Living Things

Sub-topic: Definition, Differences, Characteristics, and Importance

Duration: 40 Minutes

Behavioural Objectives

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

Define living and non-living things.
Differentiate between living and non-living things.
List and explain the characteristics of living things using the acronym “MR NIGER D.”
Identify the importance of plants and animals to human beings.

Keywords

Living things
Non-living things
Characteristics
Organism
Respiration
Irritability
Reproduction
Excretion

Set Induction

The teacher brings different objects into the class, such as a small plant, a fish in a bowl, a stone, a book, and a chair. The teacher asks the students to observe and classify them into two groups based on whether they have life or not.

Entry Behaviour

Students have seen different objects around them, such as animals, plants, water, stones, and furniture.

Learning Resources and Materials

Charts showing different living and non-living things
Live plants and small animals like fish in a bowl
Pictures of plants, animals, and non-living things

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher reminds the students about the topic “Matter” from the previous lesson, where they learned about living and non-living matter.

Embedded Core Skills

Critical Thinking
Observation
Classification
Communication

Reference Books

Lagos State Scheme of Work for Basic Science
Basic Science Textbook for JSS 1
Online resources on living and non-living things

Instructional Materials

Flashcards of living and non-living things
A short video or drawing showing characteristics of living things
Whiteboard and marker

Lesson Content

Definition of Living and Non-Living Things

Living Things: These are things that have life and can carry out basic life processes such as movement, respiration, growth, and reproduction. Examples: humans, birds, fish, trees, insects, and dogs.
Non-Living Things: These are things that do not have life and cannot carry out life processes. Examples: stones, chairs, tables, water, shoes, and bags.

Differences Between Living and Non-Living Things

Living Things	Non-Living Things
They move by themselves.	They do not move on their own.
They grow over time.	They do not grow.
They need food and water.	They do not need food and water.
They reproduce and give birth to young ones.	They do not reproduce.
They respond to stimuli.	They do not respond to stimuli.

Characteristics of Living Things (MR NIGER D)

M – Movement: Living things can change position. Animals move actively, while plants move passively.
R – Respiration: Living things take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide to get energy.
N – Nutrition: Living things need food to grow and survive.
I – Irritability: Living things respond to changes in their environment.
G – Growth: Living things increase in size and weight over time.
E – Excretion: Living things remove waste products from their body.
R – Reproduction: Living things produce young ones of their kind.
D – Death: Living things have a life cycle and eventually die.

Importance of Plants and Animals to Humans

Usefulness of Animals to Humans

Source of food (e.g., meat, eggs, milk).
Used to make leather products (e.g., belts, shoes, bags).
Used for carrying loads (e.g., donkeys and camels).
Source of income for farmers.
Used for security (e.g., dogs for guarding homes).
Used for research and medicine.

Usefulness of Plants to Humans

Provide food (e.g., fruits, vegetables, cereals).
Used for medicine (e.g., herbs).
Source of wood for furniture and paper.
Beautification (e.g., flowers and ornamental plants).
Help maintain oxygen-carbon balance.
Used for clothing materials (e.g., cotton plants).

Evaluation

Fill in the Blanks (Multiple Choice Questions)

The ability of living things to respond to stimuli is called _____.
(a) Respiration (b) Movement (c) Irritability (d) Excretion
Which of these is a non-living thing?
(a) Fish (b) Water (c) Bird (d) Dog
All living things must take in ____ to get energy.
(a) Food (b) Shoes (c) Books (d) Tables
The ability to remove waste from the body is called _____.
(a) Nutrition (b) Growth (c) Excretion (d) Death
An example of a living thing is _____.
(a) Table (b) Bag (c) Man (d) Rock
Which of these is NOT a characteristic of living things?
(a) Growth (b) Reproduction (c) Reading (d) Movement
The process by which plants make their food is called _____.
(a) Digestion (b) Photosynthesis (c) Excretion (d) Circulation
The change of position in living things is called _____.
(a) Excretion (b) Movement (c) Death (d) Nutrition
Which of these is a characteristic of living things?
(a) Boiling (b) Respiration (c) Sleeping (d) Sitting
The removal of waste materials from the body is known as _____.
(a) Growth (b) Nutrition (c) Excretion (d) Reproduction

Class Activity Discussion (FAQs)

What are living things?
- Living things are organisms that have life.
What are non-living things?
- Non-living things do not have life and do not grow or reproduce.
What is the main difference between living and non-living things?
- Living things can grow, reproduce, and move, but non-living things cannot.
Why do living things need food?
- Food gives them energy to grow and survive.
Can non-living things move?
- No, they can only move when pushed or pulled.
What is reproduction?
- The process of giving birth to young ones.
Why do plants need sunlight?
- Sunlight helps them make food through photosynthesis.
Do all living things die?
- Yes, all living things have a life span.
Why do plants not move like animals?
- They are fixed in one place, but they can grow towards sunlight.
What happens if a living thing does not eat?

It will become weak and may die.

Teacher’s Activities

Revises the previous topic on Matter.
Introduces the new topic by showing examples of living and non-living things.
Explains the characteristics of living things using the “MR NIGER D” acronym.
Guides students in identifying living and non-living things around them.

Learners’ Activities

Listen and observe the teacher’s demonstration.
Participate in group discussions.
Answer questions and give examples.

Conclusion

The teacher summarizes the lesson, marks students’ work, and provides feedback.