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Characteristics of Life

HummingbirdBiology is the scientific study of living things.

The Student Handout, together with two videos, help students to understand the characteristics of living things and the challenges of distinguishing between living and non-living things.

This analysis and discussion activity also introduces several themes that will be revisited in a general biology course.

The Student Handout is available in the first two attached files and as a Google doc designed for use in distance learning and online  instruction. The Teacher Notes, available in the third and fourth attached files, provide instructional suggestions and background information.

AttachmentSize
characteristics of life SH.docx5.6 MB
characteristics of life SH.pdf219.94 KB
characteristics of life TN.docx11.01 MB
characteristics of life TN.pdf358.77 KB
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Comments

iwaldron's picture

2024 revision

Submitted by iwaldron on Mon, 08/12/2024 - 12:38pm.

Some of the figures in the Student Handout have been improved, and some of the questions have been clarified. The Teacher Notes have been reorganized and clarified. Also, I have improved the sophistication of the discussion of whether viruses are living things.

Ingrid

Gina Palermo's picture

Videos

Submitted by Gina Palermo (guest) on Wed, 08/31/2022 - 5:38am.

Hi there

The video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQPVXrV0GNA and https://www.ck12.org/biology/characteristics-of-life/lesson/Characteristics-of-Life-Advanced-BIO-ADV/?referrer=concept_details

have the same video please advise

iwaldron's picture

Video clarification

Submitted by iwaldron on Wed, 08/31/2022 - 8:27am.

Here are the links for the two videos.

First link = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NnFhY_STFQ

Second link = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQPVXrV0GNA&t=11s

Thanks for letting me know about the need for clarification, which is incorporated in the latest version.

Ingrid

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. To preserve the value of these learning activities for other teachers, please do not post keys for any questions from any of these activities!

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Authors

Dr. Ingrid Waldron is Professor Emerita in the Biology Department at the University of Pennsylvania. Co-authors include Dr. Jennifer Doherty, who is an Assistant Professor in the Physiology Department at Michigan State University, and Dr. Lori Spindler, who is a Lecturer in the Biology Department at the University of Pennsylvania. They have developed these activities in collaboration with colleagues at Penn and middle school and high school teachers in the Philadelphia area. We are grateful to Craig Douglas for his generous help with graphics.

 

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