| aidemia--modules-lessonstartideas_type | Give a creative idea how to begin a lesson |
| Which subject | Biology |
| What age group | Year or Grade 7 |
| What topic | Life |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Any other preferences |
To spark curiosity about the topic of life in the study of biology and to understand what defines a living organism.
To engage students' critical thinking skills and introduce them to the characteristics of life in a fun and interactive way.
Image Display: Begin by showing a series of images, one at a time, on a screen or board.
Group Discussion: After each image, ask students to think-pair-share with their partner whether they believe the item is ‘alive’ or ‘not alive’.
Sticky Note Votes: Each student receives two sticky notes. They can use these to vote on what they think is alive or not. One sticky note can represent a 'yes' vote for a living thing, and the other for a 'no' vote.
Class Sharing: After everyone has voted, ask students to share their reasoning for their choices. Write down the class votes on the whiteboard for a visual representation of their opinions.
Introduction to Life's Characteristics: Transition into the lesson by highlighting that scientists use specific criteria to define what makes something ‘alive’. This is a perfect segue into discussing the characteristics of living organisms such as:
To close this engaging start to the lesson, explain that throughout the lesson, students will discover more about these characteristics and why they are crucial for understanding life in the biological world.
Encourage students to think about the diversity of life around them and how these characteristics apply to all living things — no matter how big or small!
This engaging introduction sets the tone for an exciting exploration of biology, where students begin to appreciate the complexity and beauty of life.