What clues do you use to tell if something is alive, or was never alive?
Did you find something interesting?
Is it alive or might it become alive?
Was it alive before, but now it isn’t?
Is it a piece of something that was once alive?
Was it never alive?
Discuss with a friend the clues that helped you decide your discovery is alive, was once alive, or was never alive.
If a pretend space alien came to Earth and observed you, what could it notice about you to decide whether you are living or never alive? What could it notice about a tree? a car? an apple seed? a cloud? your shirt?
Try this later:
- Next time you read a story or look at a picture, decide what things are alive, were once alive, or were never alive. How are the living things different from the ones that were never alive? Are there ways they are the same?
- Make a list of things where you live that are alive, or were once alive.
- Make a list of things that you eat or drink today that are alive, or were once alive.
- Watch It’s Alive! Biology for Kids or Seres vivos y lo inerte | Camaleón.
- Read Kevin Kurtz’ “Living Things and Nonliving Things: A Compare and Contrast Book” or “Seres vivos y no vivos: Un libro de comparación y contraste.”
- Challenge yourself with this video: Is It Alive – or not?
Adults! Check out these activities at home:
Living vs. Nonliving Lesson plan from PBS Learning Media
Read “Living Things and Nonliving Things: A Compare and Contrast Book” (Available from San Mateo County Library system) or “Seres vivos y no vivos: Un libro de comparación y contraste” and its Teacher Activity Guide from Arbordale Publishing