Unit Plan
Living Things and Their External Features Unit Plan
This Biological Sciences unit covers a range of concepts relating to living things, such as their external features and the places in which their needs are met.
It consists of 9 lessons of approximately 60 minutes duration.
The sequence of lessons and suggested time frames should be regarded as a guide only; teachers should pace lessons in accordance with the individual learning needs of their class.
An assessment task for monitoring student understanding of the unit objectives is included and will require an additional lesson.
Teachers are encouraged to collect samples of students’ work throughout the unit to add to a learning portfolio. These can also be used to assess students’ understanding of the unit objectives.
Overview
Objectives
- To activate prior knowledge about living and non-living things.
- To identify that small animals have different external features.
- To investigate the external features of small animals.
- To represent and communicate observations and ideas in a variety of ways.
- To identify the external features of an earthworm.
- To identify that living things live in different places where their needs are met.
- To identify the external features of an ant.
- To investigate which foods ants prefer to eat.
- To compare the external features of small animals.
Preparing for Learning
This Science unit provides excellent opportunities for cross-curricular integration. Look for ways to meaningfully integrate the content of the unit with other learning areas e.g. Literacy and The Arts.
Prior to commencing the unit, develop a classroom display which focuses on living things. Display word wall vocabulary and learning goals that the students will engage with throughout the unit to stimulate their learning. For examples of additional teaching resources to display in your classroom, browse the Living and Non-Living Things collection and the Minibeasts collection on the Teach Starter website.
The lessons and science experiments within this unit are structured in accordance with the scientific method. Ensure that the students are familiar with this process before commencing the unit. Alternatively, teach the method concurrently with the relevant lessons.
Some of the resources which accompany this unit plan will need to be prepared prior to teaching. For this reason, it is advised that teachers browse through all lessons before commencing the unit.
Lessons
Resources
NSW Curriculum alignment
- ST1-1WS-S
Observes, questions and collects data to communicate and compare ideas
- ST1-4LW-S
Describes observable features of living things and their environments
- ST1-5LW-T
Identifies how plants and animals are used for food and fibre products
- ST3-2DP-T
Plans and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity
- ST1-1WS-S
Observes, questions and collects data to communicate and compare ideas
- ST1-4LW-S
Describes observable features of living things and their environments
- ST1-5LW-T
Identifies how plants and animals are used for food and fibre products
- ST3-2DP-T
Plans and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity
Victorian Curriculum alignment
- VCSSU042
Living things have a variety of external features and live in different places where their basic needs, including food, water and shelter, are met
- VCSSU042
Living things have a variety of external features and live in different places where their basic needs, including food, water and shelter, are met
- VCSSU042
Living things have a variety of external features and live in different places where their basic needs, including food, water and shelter, are met
- VCSIS053
Use a range of methods, including drawings and provided tables, to sort information
- VCSIS053
Use a range of methods, including drawings and provided tables, to sort information
- VCSIS053
Use a range of methods, including drawings and provided tables, to sort information
- VCSIS054
Compare observations and predictions with those of others
- VCSIS054
Compare observations and predictions with those of others
- VCSIS054
Compare observations and predictions with those of others
- VCSIS055
Represent and communicate observations and ideas about changes in objects and events in a variety of ways
- VCSIS055
Represent and communicate observations and ideas about changes in objects and events in a variety of ways
- VCSIS055
Represent and communicate observations and ideas about changes in objects and events in a variety of ways
Australian Curriculum alignment
- ACSSU017
Living things have a variety of external features
- ACSIS024
Pose and respond to questions, and make predictions about familiar objects and events
- ACSIS025
Participate in guided investigations to explore and answer questions
- ACSIS027
Use a range of methods to sort information, including drawings and provided tables and through discussion, compare observations with predictions
- ACSIS213
Compare observations with those of others
- ACSIS029
Represent and communicate observations and ideas in a variety of ways
- ACSSU211
Living things live in different places where their needs are met
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THANK YOU SO MUCH!! Have just spend ages trying to sort out recources for this and then this unit shows up! You have made my day!
Comment by Ajm Teaching on October 4, 2018 at 1:55 pm
Thank you for your lovely comment. I am so glad you are enjoying our resources.
Official comment by Kristian on October 5, 2018 at 9:00 am
amazing.. new here and browsing around and loving your work already! keep it up
Comment by Toby G on October 27, 2018 at 1:10 am
Hi Toby, thanks for your positive comment. I’m so glad that you love this unit and hope that you and your class enjoy using it. I certainly loved creating it! If you need any help and guidance, let me know. Have a great day, Alison
Official comment by Alison Smith on October 29, 2018 at 9:32 am