Name: _____________________________________________________________________________ Date: __________
Is it Alive?
Biology is the study of living things. Scientists have a set of criteria that an organism must possess in order to be
considered alive or once living. For example, viruses are not classified as living things because they cannot reproduce
without the help of a host. In this activity you will determine some of the characteristics of living things.
Materials:
Small Animal
Small Plant
Rock
Magnifying Glass
Activity:
1. Think of several different living things. Make a list of all the characteristics you think a living thing must possess
to be considered “alive.”
2. Once your list is complete, look at the animal and plant and see whether they possess all these attributes. You
may want to add to or delete characteristics from you list at this time.
3. Now examine the rock and see which attributes it lacks.
List of Characteristics:
Follow-up
1. What characteristics did you decide are common to living things?
2. What characteristics did the rock lack that ruled it out as a living thing? Did it have any characteristics that living
things also possess?