Original PromptDay 6: Characteri
stic
Learning Objective:
s of Life (Part 1) —
mbiguous Cases
Students will analyze ambiguous cases (seeds, fire, crystals, viruses) and begin developing evidence-based
criteria for what is "living.
"
45-Minute Timeline:
• 0:00–5:00 | Opening/Hook
◦ Teacher says: "Is a seed alive? Is fire alive? Is a crystal alive? Is a virus alive? These are tricky questions.
Today we're going to look at four things that might or might not be alive, and we're going to use
evidence to decide. Le...
This resource explores the criteria that define living entities versus non-living things. Students engage in observation activities to analyze different samples, such as seeds, crystals, fire, and viruses, to determine their characteristics. The main characteristics examined include growth, reproduction, response to the environment, energy usage, and cellular composition. The document also presents case studies that challenge traditional definitions of life, encourages critical thinking on what constitutes living organisms, and concludes with an activity to create a unified definition of life. Additionally, it includes a companion handout for home study and next steps to further deepen understanding of the material.