Living and Non – Living Things, Differences for Pre-School Level 3

Class: Pre-School Level 3
Term: Second Term
Week: 4
Age: 4 years
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Basic Science and Technology
Curriculum Theme: Basic Science and Technology
Previous Lesson: Not separately stated in the scheme.
Topic: LIVING AND NON – LIVING THINGS: DIFFERENCES
Subject Matter: LIVING AND NON – LIVING THINGS: Differences.

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Identify examples of living and non-living things.
• State one or two differences between living and non-living things.

Affective Domain

• Show curiosity about the world around them.
• Participate actively in sorting and classification activities.

Psychomotor Domain

• Point to living and non-living things in pictures or the environment.
• Demonstrate characteristics of living things through actions (e.g., moving, growing).

Social Domain

• Share their observations with classmates.

Reference Materials

• NAPPS National Unified Teaching Scheme for Pre-School Level 3
• Early Childhood Care and Education resources

Instructional Materials

• Real objects: a small potted plant, a toy car, a stone, a pencil, a leaf, a small fruit.
• Picture cards of various living things (e.g., child, dog, bird, tree) and non-living things (e.g., table, shoe, ball, book).
• Animal charts.
• Video documentaries (if available).
• A large hoop or two distinct areas for sorting.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps 4-year-olds understand the fundamental differences between things that are alive and things that are not. By observing and classifying objects, pupils develop critical thinking skills and a deeper appreciation for the natural world around them, connecting science to their everyday experiences.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can identify and name various objects in their classroom and home environment, such as plants, animals, toys, and furniture.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

LIVING AND NON – LIVING THINGS: DIFFERENCES

Everything around us can be grouped into two main types: Living Things and Non-Living Things.

Living Things

Living things are things that:

• Grow: They get bigger over time (e.g., a baby grows into a child, a seedling grows into a tree).
• Move: They can move by themselves (e.g., people walk, birds fly, animals run).
• Eat: They need food to get energy (e.g., people eat rice, animals eat grass).
• Breathe: They take in air (e.g., we breathe with our nose).
• Reproduce: They can have babies or make more of their kind (e.g., a hen lays eggs, a woman has a baby).
• Feel: They can feel things (e.g., we feel hot or cold, animals feel pain).

Examples of Living Things: People, animals (dog, cat, bird), plants (tree, flower, grass).

Non-Living Things

Non-living things are things that:

• Do not grow by themselves.
• Do not move by themselves.
• Do not need food or water.
• Do not breathe.
• Do not have babies.
• Do not feel.

Examples of Non-Living Things: Stone, shoe, table, chair, book, car, ball, pencil.

Differences between Living and Non-Living Things

• Living things grow, non-living things do not.
• Living things move on their own, non-living things do not.
• Living things need food and water, non-living things do not.
• Living things breathe, non-living things do not.

Key Words

• Living – Things that grow, move, eat, and breathe.
• Non-living – Things that do not grow, move, eat, or breathe on their own.
• Grow – To get bigger.
• Move – To change position.
• Eat – To take in food.

Living and Non-Living Song

Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Living things can move around, (Wiggle fingers, walk in place)
Living things can make a sound. (Make a sound like a bird or cat)
Living things can grow so tall, (Stretch hands up high)
Non-living things don’t grow at all! (Shake head, stand still)
Living things need food to eat, (Pretend to eat)
Non-living things just stay complete! (Stand very still, hands by side)

Actions: Pupils follow the actions described in the lyrics.

Watch and Learn: Living and Non-Living Things

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn125F_t-B8

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Play-based Learning, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Songs and Rhymes, Picture Talk, Question and Answer, Manipulation of Objects, Practical Activity, Video Demonstration.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Motivation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and starts by holding up a small plant and a stone. The teacher asks, “What do I have here? Which one do you think is alive, like you?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the greeting and try to guess which item is alive.

Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the concept of living and non-living things.

Step 2: Presentation of Living Things

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Demonstrating

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what living things are, using simple words and actions. “Living things grow (stretch up), they move (walk in place), they eat (pretend to eat), and they breathe (take a deep breath).” The teacher shows picture cards of people, animals, and plants, asking, “Is this living?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, observe the teacher’s actions, and respond “Yes” or “No” to the picture cards.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the characteristics and examples of living things.

Step 3: Presentation of Non-Living Things

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explaining/Comparing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what non-living things are, contrasting them with living things. “Non-living things do not grow, they don’t move by themselves, they don’t eat, and they don’t breathe.” The teacher shows objects like a pencil, a shoe, and a book, asking, “Is this living or non-living?”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and identify the objects as living or non-living.

Learning Point: Pupils understand the characteristics and examples of non-living things.

Step 4: Practical Sorting Activity

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Practice/Classification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher places a hoop on the floor for “Living Things” and marks another area for “Non-Living Things.” The teacher brings out a basket of various real objects and picture cards (e.g., toy animal, leaf, stone, toy car, flower, crayon). The teacher calls pupils one by one to pick an item and place it in the correct area, explaining their choice.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils take turns picking an item, identifying it, and placing it in the “Living Things” or “Non-Living Things” area, explaining their choice (e.g., “This is a leaf, it is living because it grows”).

Learning Point: Pupils practise differentiating and classifying objects.

Step 5: Song Reinforcement

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement/Singing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads the pupils in singing the “Living and Non-Living Song” from the Board Summary, encouraging them to perform the actions together. The teacher repeats the song twice.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils sing the song with the teacher and perform the actions.

Learning Point: Pupils reinforce their understanding of the differences through song and movement.

Step 6: Video and Discussion

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Visual Learning/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the video on living and non-living things. After playing the video, the teacher asks pupils to name one living thing and one non-living thing they saw in the video, and to say why.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the video and then share examples from the video, stating simple reasons.

Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning through visual examples and oral discussion.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 4–5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher checks pupils’ understanding through short questions and practical tasks.

1. Show me a living thing in our classroom.
2. Show me a non-living thing on your table.
3. What can a living thing do that a non-living thing cannot? (e.g., grow, move)
4. If you see a small plant, is it living or non-living? Why?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond orally and demonstrate the required skill where appropriate (e.g., pointing, stating a characteristic).

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 1 minute

Teaching Skill: Summarizing/Praise

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher praises the pupils for their participation and good work. The teacher reminds them to always look around and think about what is living and what is non-living. “Great job, everyone! You now know the difference between living and non-living things!”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the praise and acknowledge the lesson’s conclusion.

Learning Point: Pupils feel a sense of accomplishment and retain the main idea.

Lesson Keywords

• Living – Things that grow, move, eat, and breathe.
• Non-living – Things that do not grow, move, eat, or breathe on their own.
• Grow – To get bigger.
• Move – To change position by itself.
• Difference – How things are not the same.

Differentiation

• Support: For pupils who need extra help, provide fewer objects to sort, use larger and more distinct picture cards, or offer hand-over-hand guidance during the sorting activity. Focus on only one or two key differences (e.g., “Does it grow?”).
• Extension: For pupils who grasp the concept quickly, ask them to identify more examples of living and non-living things around the school compound. Encourage them to draw one living thing and one non-living thing. Ask them to explain more characteristics of living things.