Living Things Lesson Plan
Basic Science & Technology Lesson Note – Week 1
Subject: Basic Science & Technology (BST)
Class: Primary 1
Term: First Term
Week: 1
Age: 5–6 years
Topic: Living Things (At School)
Sub-topic: Identifying and Understanding Living Things Around Us
Duration: 40 minutes
Behavioural Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
- Define living things in simple terms.
- Mention examples of living things found at school.
- Identify the basic characteristics of living things.
- Distinguish between living and non-living things.
- Appreciate the importance of living things around them.
Keywords and Meanings
| Keyword | Meaning (Child-friendly) |
|---|---|
| Living things | Things that have life. |
| Non-living things | Things that do not have life. |
| Breathe | To take in and give out air. |
| Grow | To become bigger and taller. |
| Move | To go from one place to another. |
| Reproduce | To have babies or young ones. |
| Respond | To react to touch, sound, or change. |
| Human beings | People like you, me, teachers, and parents. |
| Environment | The place around us. |
| School | A place where teachers teach pupils. |
Set Induction (Attention-Grabbing Story)
Teacher tells a short story:
“One morning, Tola came to school and saw a butterfly flying over the flowers near her classroom. She waved her hand and the butterfly flew away! Then she saw the gardener watering the plants and her friends playing on the field. Tola smiled and said, ‘Wow! So many things are alive in my school.’”
Teacher asks:
“Children, can you tell me which of those things are living?”
Pupils respond eagerly: “Butterfly!” “Plants!” “My friends!”
Entry Behaviour
Pupils have seen people, animals, and plants around their homes or schools. They can identify some things that move or grow.
Learning Resources and Materials
- Pictures or charts showing living and non-living things
- Real classroom objects (flower, stone, book, water bottle)
- Flashcards with names of living things (cat, tree, teacher)
- A short video or drawing of a butterfly and a child
Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge
Teacher asks:
“Who has a pet or a plant at home?”
“Does your pet eat and move?”
This connects pupils’ daily life to the new concept.
Embedded Core Skills
- Observation and Identification
- Communication and Listening
- Science Process Skills
- Critical Thinking
- Environmental Awareness
Reference Books
- Lagos State Unified Scheme of Work for Primary 1
- Basic Science and Technology for Nigerian Primary Schools, Book 1
- Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) Curriculum
Instructional Materials
Charts, flashcards, posters, real objects (flower, stone, book, bottle), and multimedia resources.
Lesson Content
A. Meaning of Living Things
Living things are things that have life.
They can breathe, eat, grow, move, and produce young ones.
Examples of living things include:
- Human beings (teacher, pupils)
- Animals (goat, dog, bird, fish)
- Plants (flowers, trees, grass)
B. Characteristics of Living Things
All living things:
- Breathe – They take in air (oxygen) and give out air.
- Eat food – They need food to grow and live.
- Grow – They become bigger or taller.
- Move – They can change their position.
- Reproduce – They give birth to young ones.
- Respond to changes – They react when touched or shouted at.
- Have life span – They live for some time and then die.
C. Living Things at School
Living things we can find in the school include:
- Teachers and pupils
- Flowers and trees
- Birds
- Insects like butterflies and ants
- Reptiles (sometimes lizards or small snakes)
D. Living Things at Home
Living things we can find in our homes include:
- Parents and siblings
- Pets (cats, dogs, goats)
- Plants and flowers
E. Difference Between Living and Non-Living Things
| Living Things | Non-Living Things |
|---|---|
| Have life | Do not have life |
| Can move | Cannot move |
| Eat food | Do not eat |
| Grow | Do not grow |
| Reproduce | Do not reproduce |
| Example: Dog, Teacher, Tree | Example: Stone, Chair, Book |
Teacher’s Activities
- Display pictures of living and non-living things.
- Ask pupils to identify which are living.
- Guide pupils to observe characteristics of living things.
- Lead pupils in counting living things found around the school.
- Encourage pupils to mention what living things do.
Learners’ Activities
- Observe the pictures and objects.
- Mention living things they see around.
- Describe what living things can do.
- Classify pictures into living and non-living.
- Draw or color one living thing found at school.
Class Activity Discussion (FAQs with Answers)
- Q: What are living things?
A: Things that have life. - Q: Do living things grow?
A: Yes, they grow. - Q: Do books breathe?
A: No, they don’t. - Q: Mention two living things in your school.
A: Pupils and flowers. - Q: Mention two non-living things.
A: Table and chair. - Q: What do living things need to eat?
A: Food. - Q: Do trees move?
A: Yes, they move slowly when wind blows. - Q: Who is a living thing – a bird or a stone?
A: A bird. - Q: Do living things die?
A: Yes, they do. - Q: Is water living?
A: No, water is non-living.
Evaluation Questions
A. Fill in the Blanks (Choose the Correct Option)
- Living things are things that have ___ (a) life (b) sand (c) stone
- Living things can ___ (a) breathe (b) not breathe (c) break
- A tree is a ___ thing (a) living (b) non-living (c) dead
- A book is a ___ thing (a) living (b) non-living (c) moving
- All living things can move except ___ (a) goat (b) plant (c) girl
- All of these are examples of living things except ___ (a) pencil (b) animal (c) man
- Living things grow, eat, and ___ (a) sleep (b) die (c) jump
- Flowers and teachers are found in the ___ (a) market (b) school (c) car park
- Non-living things do not ___ (a) breathe (b) stand (c) play
- A dog is a ___ thing (a) living (b) non-living (c) man-made
B. Short Answer Questions
- What are living things?
- Mention two examples of living things.
- Mention two examples of non-living things.
- List three characteristics of living things.
- Where can we find living things in school?
- Do living things breathe?
- Do stones have life?
- What do living things eat to grow?
- Mention one living thing found at home.
- Why are humans called living things?
Assessment
Teacher checks pupils’ answers, corrects misconceptions, and provides feedback through praise and correction.
Conclusion
Teacher summarizes the lesson:
“Living things have life. They breathe, eat, grow, move, and reproduce.”
Pupils repeat after the teacher. Teacher sings a short rhyme:
“All things that breathe and move and grow,
Are living things, don’t you know!”
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