• Characteristics
of Life Lesson
·
Characteristics of Life
Before using this lesson plan, be sure that you have first
utilized the first lesson plan in this series, which introduces the
characteristics of life. Students need to know this material before they can
explore the levels of biological organization as these levels are a part of the
characteristics of life.
Please review the following characteristics of life with your
students.
1.
Biological organization
2.
Acquiring materials and energy
3.
Reproduction
4.
Homeostasis
5.
Response to stimuli
6.
Growth and development
7.
Adaptation
Instruct students that this particular lesson plan will place
focus on the first characteristic of life, biological organization.
·
Levels of Biological Organization
Teachers, the term "levels of biological organization"
may confuse some students. It would be a good idea to begin this portion of the
lesson plan by asking students what they think the term means. Allow students
to express what they think, then let them know that biological organization is
simply by the way of classifying the physical basics of a living thing from the
smallest to the largest. You should also let them know that not all living
things will have all the levels of organization. Review the following levels of
organization with your students.
These levels are listed from the smallest to the largest.
1.
atoms
2.
molecules
3.
cells
4.
tissues
5.
organs
6.
organ systems
7.
organisms
To help students to understand what these levels of biological
organization are, do the activity listed below that will give them specific
examples of these levels.
Ask students to draw a pyramid in their notebooks. Draw a pyramid
on the board. Explain to students that the smaller levels of biological
organization work together to create the larger levels until a complete
organism is created. Explain that you are going to be beginning at the bottom
of the pyramid to demonstrate this event. Using the list below, ask students to
write the examples in their pyramids for each level of biological organization
·
On the lowest level, students should write "atoms".
Explain to students that 98% of the body weight of organisms is made up of only
six elements. These elements are listed in the periodic table with the
measurements given based on one atom. Have the students write these six
elements as examples of atoms in their pyramid; carbon, hydrogen,
nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur.
·
On the next level up, have students write the word
"molecules". Explain that in living things, atoms join to form molecules.
In humans, one of the molecules that is formed is called DNA or
Deoxyribonucleic Acid. Ask students to write this next to the word molecules on
their pyramid.
·
On the third level from the bottom, students should write
"cells". Let students know that a cell is the smallest
structural and functional unit of an organism. Some examples of cells
are nerve cells and brain cells. Ask students to write these on their pyramids.
·
The next level up is tissues. Ask students to write
this on their pyramid. Explain that tissue is made up of similar cells that
combine to perform a function. Some examples of tissues are nerve tissue and
brain tissue. Ask students to write these on their pyramid. (These particular
ones were chosen to assist students in seeing the correlation between cells and
tissues.)
·
Moving up a level, we come to organs. Ask students the
write this word in the appropriate place on their pyramid. Explain that just as
similar cells combine to make tissues, so do similar tissues combine to make
organs. Some examples that students may write on their pyramid are the brain,
skin, stomach etc.
·
On the next level up ask students to write "organ
systems". Explain that organ systems are the result of
several organs working together to perform a function. Some examples that
students may write on their pyramid are the digestive system, nervous system
and cardiovascular system.
·
Finally, at the top of the pyramid, the organ systems work
together to form an organism. In this particular activity we have
been discussing the biological organization of humans. Once students write the
word "organism" at the top of their pyramid, ask them to write
"human" next to it.
A good way to round off the lesson plan and make sure students
understand how each level works together is to hold a discussion with the
students. During the discussion, ask students if humans in particular would be
able to function if any of these systems were absent. Given the advances of
modern science, this may raise some interesting debates and allow students to see
how science works in conjunction with nature.
CHARACTERISTICS OF LIFE SERIES
The Characterisitcs of
Life Series was created to assist Biology Teachers as they introduce and
explain the characteristics of life to their students. Add this Biology Lesson
Plan to your Biology curriculu, today.
