Download Characteristics of Living things

Life Science Module
Summary
 The material in this learning module has been selected to provide you with an overview of
some essential concepts in life science, the study of animals, plants, all living things, and their
interactions with other living things and the Earth.
 The Life Science Module contains the following components:
 A set of PowerPoint slides outlining major concepts
 Links to videos or tutorials to supplement learning and provide examples of how
concepts are applied in the real world
 A set of readings specifically aligned to the topics in the module are available to allow
for deeper learning
 Pre- and post-assessment questions to track learning
 By completing this module, you will be introduced to the following concepts :
 Characteristics of living things
 Animal and plant behavior
 Cells, tissues, organs, and systems
 Human body systems
 Ecology
 Classification of organisms
Characteristics of living things
 All living things are composed of matter that is organized a specific way that allows the
organism to survive and reproduce
 Organisms can exist as a single cell or a collection of cells (multicellular)
 The Earth supports a remarkable number of different types of life
 Life cannot exist without access to energy, food, water, and a stable environment
 The miracle of life can be best appreciated by considering the following:
• Types of organisms and their basic needs
• How organisms adapt to survive
• How organisms acquire and use energy
• The universal features of reproduction
• Growth, life cycles, and development
• Movement/Locomotion
• Sensory organs
For additional information watch these videos:
1. Animal Development- https://youtu.be/k_9MTZgAhv0
2. Natural Selection- https://youtu.be/aTftyFboC_M
Animal and Plant Behavior
 Why does a living thing do the things that it does?
 How are these acts related to behavior?
 Do behaviors help an organism survive?
 What are some examples of animal and plant behavior?
See more on animal behavior here: https://youtu.be/EyyDq19Mi3A
Both of these link will give you more information on
plant behavior and adaptations: https://youtu.be/C1Ib0-BlBKU
or https://youtu.be/DGpPHrLF-5M
Cells, Tissues, Organs, and Systems
 What is the simplest structural unit in all living organisms?
 How is the complexity of an organism related to the following structural components?
• Cells
• Tissues
• Organs
• Organ Systems
For more information watch these videos:
1. Cells- https://youtu.be/1Z9pqST72is
2. Cell Model (interactive)- http://www.cellsalive.com/cells/cell_model_js.htm
3. Cells, Tissues, Organs, & Organ Systems (interactive video)http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/organisms_behaviour_health/cells
_systems/activity/
Ecology
 Ecology is concerned with the understanding of how living things interact with
each other and the planet Earth
 The planet is unique because it supports an amazing amount of life!
 It doesn’t matter if the organism is a bacterium or a human being, each must
exist in a defined environment, known as a habitat
 All living things must exist in a suitable environment (habitat)
 Living things belong to groups called species
 Populations of living things can be made up of one or more species
 Interacting populations are known as communities
 All populations of living things and non-living things that interact in an
environment form an ecosystem
For more information, watch these videos:
1. Introduction to ecology- https://youtu.be/GlnFylwdYH4
2. Ecosystems- https://youtu.be/v6ubvEJ3KGM
Classifying Organisms
 The diversity of life on Earth is staggering!
 Living things are placed into groups to help organize the various lifeforms
 Living things are described using a hierarchical system referred to a taxonomy
 At the simplest level of classification, living things are grouped into five kingdoms
• Bacteria
• Protists
• Fungi
• Plants
• Animals
 Animals are placed into two groups
• Vertebrates
• Invertebrates
 There are many levels of classification!
For more information, watch these videos:
1. Taxonomy- https://youtu.be/F38BmgPcZ_I
2. Classification- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYL_8gv7RiE#at=90
3. Evolution- https://youtu.be/H2_6cqa2cP4