Introduction to living things

This unit on living things begins with a discussion about the characteristics of life.

How can you tell if something is alive?

The following video (3:40) is a great introduction to the characteristics of life.

This short video (2:09) outlines seven characteristics of living things, namely:

1. Grow and develop
2. Reproduce
3. Respond
4. Use energy
5. Maintain homeostasis
6. Are organised
7. Adapt and evolve

Of these seven characteristics, perhaps homeostasis is the least familiar term. Homeostasis is the state of steady internal, physical, chemical, and social conditions maintained by living systems. This is discussed further in SILO 5.1 'Biology'.

CD case planters

The following video (2:28) shows how students can use CD cases to grow seeds. They can also write on their experiment as it happens as an introduction to real-time data logging.

Moderated self-assessment

Discussions with students around the key components of conceptual topics and how they fit together can generate insights into student achievement.

We welcome your feedback and suggestions

The chief investigator for The SILO Project is Associate Professor Brendan Jacobs, Head of Department STEM Education, University of New England. The SILO Project thrives on incremental improvement so constructive feedback is greatly appreciated. Please contact Brendan via email at bjacobs7@une.edu.au to share your thoughts and recommendations.

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