S3.1.1 For the adult
Signs of life
How can I tell whether something is alive?
What this chapter teaches
Living things all show seven signs of life, and the idea helps a learner decide about hard cases. A dry seed is alive but resting. A fire shows some signs but not all, and it is not made of cells, so it is not alive.
Three questions to ask
There is no one right wording. Listen for the idea.
- Can you name three of the seven signs of life, and say what each one means?
- Is a seed that lies dry in a drawer alive? How do you know?
- Why is a fire not alive, even though it moves and grows?
After the chapter, the learner can
- List the life processes shared by all living things
- Use the life processes to decide if a seed or fire is alive
What they copy into their notebook
Every living thing shows seven signs: movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion and nutrition. A fire shows some, but it is not made of cells, so it is not alive. A dry seed is alive and resting.