Biology and the Properties of Life
Biology and the Properties of Life
Grade Levels
Course, Subject
Rationale
Vocabulary
Biotic- describes all living factors in the environment.
Abiotic- describes the nonliving part of the environment, including water, rocks, light, and temperature.
Biology- the scientific study of living organisms and their interactions with the environment.
Cell-in biology, the smallest unit that can perform all life processes; cells are covered by a membrane and contain DNA and cytoplasm.
Homeostasis- the maintenance of a constant internal state in a changing environment; a constant internal state that is maintained in a changing environment by continually making adjustments to the internal adn external environment.
Metabolism- the sum of all chemical processes that occur in an organism.
Reproduction-the process of producing offspring.
Heredity- the passing of genetic traits from parent to offspring.
Evolution-the process of change by which new species develop from preexisting species over time; at the genetic level,the process in which inherited characteristics within populations change over time; the process defined by Darwin as "descent with modification".
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Lesson Essential Question(s)
What are some of the branches of biology?
How do we know if something is alive?
What are seven characteristics that all living things share?
Duration
Four 40 min. class periods.
Materials
- Textbook- Holt "Biology" chapter 1, section 4.
- Vocabulary Worksheet
- Laptop computers and activity 1 access
- Venn Diagram
- Lab Handouts
- Materials for Lab 1:Rock, Coal, Coral, Starfish, natural Sponge, Chick Embryo, Loofah, Dry yeast, egg, cork, salt, sand, cut flowers, beans, yogurt, blue cheese, crystal, bananna, beetle, artificial sponge, algae, mushroom, worms or pill bugs
- Materials for Lab 2: Microscope, Slides/coverslips, beakers, water, Elodea plants, saline solution, pipettes
Suggested Instructional Strategies
W: | The objectives will be written on the board:
TSWBAT: -compare and contrast bitoic and abiotic. -list and exlain the branches of biology. -list and explain the seven characteristics of all living things. |
H: |
Day 1-List all the characteristics that you have in common with a beetle. Day 2- Explain how humans maintain a constant body temperature. |
E: | Students will complete online reseaerch on the branches of biology and they will complete 2 labs: Living or Non living and Homeostasis in Elodea Plant Cells. |
R: | Students will write in thier science journals and reflect on the lessons. |
E: | Students will complete post lab questions and a quiz. |
T: | Large group discussion, Small group discussion, Acrostics, Flexible grouping, and Accomodations will be made as set forth in the student's IEP's. |
O: | Use of Mnemonics (Acrostic), think-pair-share, independent practice, homework |
Intervention:
To recall the seven properties of life, use the acronym "Charlie Has Many Rabbits Grazing His Range."
1. Cellular Organization
2. Homeostasis
3. Metabolism
4. Reproduction
5. Growth
6. Heredity
7. Responsiveness
Instructional Procedures
Day 1:
- Place the objectives for the lesson on the board/overhead
- Warm-up: (Hook) List all the characteristics that you have in common with a beetle.
- Students will complete individually and then discuss their answers with a partner (think-pair-share) and then with the class.
- Large group discussion: Biology
- Question: Can any one person know all there is about humans and insects?
- Question: What are some branches of biology?
- Activity 1- Students will use the internet to research the branches of biology.
- Summary/closure: Biology is the study of life. It would be impossible for any one person to know all there is about biology therefore it is broken down into several branches. Some of the most common branches of biology are biochemistry, ecology, cell biology, genetics, microbiology, botany, zoology and physiology. Before you leave today, write a summary of what you found in your research in your science journal.
Day 2:
- Place the objectives for the lesson on the board/overhead
- Warm-up: What are some of the branches of biology?
- Students will complete individually and then discuss their answers with a partner (think-pair-share) and then with the class.
- Activity 2- Venn Diagram
- Using the Venn diagram, students will look at the contents of the room and determine what is living (biotic) and non living (abiotic).
- Students will complete individually and then discuss their answers with a partner (think-pair-share) and then with the class. Use an overhead to record student answers for all to see on a Venn diagram.
- Large group discussion will follow.
- Hook: How do we know if something is alive?
- Students will complete individually and then discuss their answers with a partner (think-pair-share) and then with the class.
- Discussion: the seven characteristics of living things. These can be presented on the board or by a PPT presentation.
- Question: What are some examples of homeostasis? (write answers on the board)
- Question: What would happen to this plant if it was placed away from the window for a period of time?
- Question: Why is reproduction an essential part of life?
- Question: Why do you look like your mother and your father?
- Question: Why do you look different today than you did 5 years ago?
- Have students develop an acrostic for the 7 characteristics.
- § To recall the seven properties of life, use the acronym "Charlie Has Many Rabbits Grazing His Range."
- 1. Cellular Organization
- 2. Homeostasis
- 3. Metabolism
- 4. Reproduction
- 5. Growth
- 6. Heredity
- 7. Responsiveness
- Summary/Closure: Life is characterized by the seven properties that we discussed today: Charlie Has many Rabbits Grazing His Range- Cellular Organization, Homeostasis, Metabolism, Reproduction, Growth, Heredity, and Responsiveness. These characteristics are all shared by living things. In your science journal, write a brief summary of today's lesson.
Day 3:
- Place the objectives for the lesson on the board/overhead
- Warm-up: What are seven characteristics that all living things share? Describe each characteristic.
- Students will complete individually and then discuss their answers with a partner (think-pair-share) and then with the class.
- Review Lab procedures
- Students will complete the lab "What is Life?"
- Summary/Closure: All living things present the 7 characteristics of life at some stage in their life. Cellular Organization, Homeostasis, Metabolism, Reproduction, Growth, Heredity, and Responsiveness determine whether something is living (biotic) or non living (abiotic) or a combination of the two as seen in the blue cheese. Before you leave today, answer the following question and return it to me on your way out:
- Which of the following is not a property of an individual organism? (The correct answer is A.)
- A. evolution
- B. metabolism
- C. heredity
- D. homeostasis
Day 4:
- Place the objectives for the lesson on the board/overhead.
- Warm up: Explain how humans maintain a constant body temperature.
- Review the Lab- Plasmolysis in Elodea Plants.
- Students will complete individually and then discuss their answers with a partner (think-pair-share) and then with the class.
- Students will complete the lab.
- Summary/Closure: In order to function properly, organisms must maintain an internal stable environment (homeostasis). The lab demonstrated how organisms respond to a change in their environment. When you changed the external environment, the cell responded to those changes by either shrinking or swelling so that the internal environment would continue to remain stable. This is homeostasis, a maintaining a stable internal environment in order to function properly. Before you leave today, on a piece of paper list 5 ways that you maintain homeostasis.
Formative Assessment
Related Materials & Resources
- Chapter 1, Section 4 of the textbook Holt "Biology" & Vocabulary Sheet.pdf
- Laptop computers with internet access.
- Activity 1- Branches of biology.docx
- Activity 2- venn diagram.pdf
- Lab 1-What is Life Lab Analysis questions.pdf
What is Life Lab data table.pdf - Lab 2- Plasmolysis in Elodea Plant Cells (http://sciencenetlinks.com/lessons/plasmolysis-in-elodea-plant-cells/)