Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 4

Lesson Video

This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.

For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.

Performance objectives

• Define 'living' and 'non-living' things.
• Identify at least five characteristics of living things.
• Classify objects as either living or non-living.
• Explain how living things depend on non-living things.
• Compare and contrast living and non-living things.

Lesson summary

This week, we're diving into the fascinating world around us by learning to distinguish between living and non-living things. Understanding the difference between living and non-living things is fundamental to understanding how our environment works and how everything is connected. For example, knowing that plants are living things helps us understand why we need to take care of them so they can provide us with food and clean air. In South Africa, where we rely heavily on our natural resources for agriculture and tourism, understanding this basic concept is crucial for responsible citizenship and environmental stewardship.

Lesson notes

What are Living Things? Living things are organisms that exhibit several key characteristics that set them apart from non-living things.

These characteristics include: Movement: Living things can move. This movement might be obvious, like a dog running, or less obvious, like a plant turning its leaves towards the sun. Plants might seem not to move much, but they do grow, and their parts orient themselves to get the most sunlight. Think of a sunflower "following" the sun across the sky – that’s movement!

Respiration: Living things breathe. This means they take in oxygen (usually) and release carbon dioxide. Even plants "breathe" in carbon dioxide and release oxygen during the day. We can't always see breathing, but it's happening.

Sensitivity: Living things respond to their environment. If you touch a hot stove, you pull your hand away quickly. That's sensitivity! A plant might grow towards a light source. Animals respond to threats or changes in temperature.

Growth: Living things get bigger and develop. A small seed grows into a big tree. A puppy grows into a dog. This growth is a crucial characteristic of life.

Reproduction: Living things can create new living things like themselves. A dog has puppies, and a tree produces seeds that can grow into new trees. This ensures the continuation of their species.

Excretion: Living things get rid of waste products. We sweat, urinate, and exhale. Plants release oxygen and other waste products. Getting rid of waste is important for staying healthy.

Nutrition: Living things need food or energy to survive. Animals eat plants or other animals. Plants make their own food through photosynthesis. This provides the energy needed for all the other life processes. What are Non-Living Things? Non-living things are objects that do not exhibit all of the characteristics of living things. They might have some characteristics, but they are missing at least one.

Examples include: Rocks: Rocks are solid, but they don’t grow, breathe, eat, or reproduce.

Water: Water is essential for life, but it isn't alive itself. It doesn't grow or breathe.

Air: Air contains the oxygen we breathe, but it doesn't grow, eat, or reproduce.

A table: A table is made from wood (which was once part of a living tree), but the table itself doesn't grow, breathe, or reproduce.

A pen: A pen is a tool we use, but it doesn't grow, breathe, or reproduce. Why are Non-Living Things Important for Living Things? Even though non-living things aren't alive, they are absolutely essential for living things to survive.

Water: All living things need water to survive. Plants use water to make food, and animals drink water to stay hydrated. In South Africa, water scarcity is a significant issue, highlighting how vital this non-living resource is.

Air: We need air to breathe. Plants need carbon dioxide from the air to make food.

Sunlight: Plants need sunlight to make food through photosynthesis. The sun provides energy for almost all life on Earth.

Soil: Plants grow in soil. Soil provides nutrients and support for plants. Healthy soil is crucial for agriculture in South Africa.

Shelter: Non-living things can provide shelter for living things. A cave can shelter animals from the rain. Buildings provide shelter for people.

Worked example

Example 1: A Seed

Is a seed a living or non-living thing?

Solution: A seed is a living thing. Even though it might not look like it's doing much, it contains a tiny plant that can grow and develop if given the right conditions (water, sunlight, soil). It contains all the potential for life.

Example 2: A Brick

Is a brick a living or non-living thing?

Solution: A brick is a non-living thing. It doesn't breathe, grow, eat, reproduce, or move on its own. It's made from clay and fired in a kiln.

Example 3: A Cow

Is a cow a living or non-living thing?

Solution: A cow is a living thing. It breathes, eats grass, moves around, grows bigger, and reproduces (has calves).

Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1:

List three characteristics that show a plant is a living thing.

Solution:

Growth: Plants grow taller and develop more leaves and roots over time.

Sensitivity: Plants respond to sunlight by turning their leaves towards it.

Nutrition: Plants make their own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide (photosynthesis).

Question 2:

Is a rock a living thing? Explain why or why not.