Meaning of Living Matter, Characteristics and Uses and Importance of Plants and Animals for JSS 1

Class: JSS 1
Term: First Term
Week: 8
Age: 12 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Intermediate Science
Curriculum Theme: Living and Non-living Matter
Focal competence: Creating albums of plants and animals in the environment
Key competencies/values: Creativity and innovation; Leadership; Environmental literacy
Skills:

• Creating albums of plants and animals in the environment
• Identifying and sorting examples of living matter

Previous Lesson: States of matter and change of state
Topic: Living Matter
Subject Matter: Meaning of living matter, Characteristics, uses and importance of plants and animals

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain

• Define living matter.
• Explain the importance of plants and animals.
• Explain the interactions and relationships between living and non-living things in the environment.
• Classify living matter as plants and animals.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of plants and animals in the environment.
• Value the interconnectedness of living and non-living things.
• Show interest in observing and identifying living organisms.

Psychomotor Domain

• Identify and sort examples of living matter from their environment.
• Draw simple diagrams of plants and animals.

Social Domain

• Participate actively in class discussions about living matter.
• Collaborate with peers to identify different types of living matter.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• Pre-Vocational Studies for Junior Secondary Schools 1
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Life specimens of plants (e.g., leaves, flowers) and animals (e.g., insects in a jar, pictures of animals)
• Charts/pictures of various living matter (plants, animals, microorganisms)
• Video clips on the interaction and relationships between living and non-living things in the environment
• Functional computers or smart phones with internet facility (optional, for video clips)

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important as it introduces students to the fundamental concept of life and helps them understand the diverse living organisms around them. It lays a foundation for further studies in biology and environmental science, promoting an appreciation for biodiversity and ecological balance. Understanding living matter helps students recognise their role in preserving the environment.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have a basic understanding of things found in their immediate environment and some common differences between living and non-living things.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Living Matter

Meaning of Living Matter

Living matter refers to anything that possesses the characteristics of life. These are things that can grow, move, reproduce, respond to stimuli, respire, excrete, and feed. Examples include plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria.

Characteristics of Living Matter

Living things share several common characteristics that distinguish them from non-living things. These characteristics are:

1. Movement: All living things show some form of movement. Animals move from one place to another, while plants show movement in parts, like leaves turning towards sunlight.
2. Respiration: Living things take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide (or vice versa in plants during photosynthesis) to release energy from food.
3. Nutrition: Living things take in food to get energy for growth and other life processes. Plants make their own food, while animals feed on plants or other animals.
4. Growth: All living things increase in size and complexity.
5. Excretion: Living things remove waste products from their bodies.
6. Reproduction: Living things produce new individuals of their own kind to ensure the continuity of their species.
7. Irritability (Sensitivity): Living things respond to changes in their environment, such as light, temperature, touch, and sound.

Uses and Importance of Plants

Plants are essential for life on Earth. Their uses and importance include:

1. Food Source: Plants provide food for humans and animals (e.g., fruits, vegetables, grains).
2. Oxygen Production: Through photosynthesis, plants release oxygen, which is vital for respiration in most living organisms.
3. Medicinal Value: Many plants are used to produce medicines and herbal remedies.
4. Shelter and Habitat: Plants provide shelter and habitats for various animals.
5. Building Materials: Wood from trees is used for construction, furniture, and paper.
6. Soil Conservation: Plant roots help to hold soil together, preventing erosion.
7. Aesthetic Value: Plants beautify our environment and provide shade.

Uses and Importance of Animals

Animals also play crucial roles in the ecosystem and for human well-being:

1. Food Source: Animals provide meat, milk, eggs, and other food products for humans.
2. Work and Transportation: Some animals are used for labour, farming, and transportation (e.g., donkeys, horses).
3. Clothing and Materials: Animals provide materials like wool, leather, and silk for clothing and other products.
4. Pollination: Insects and other animals help pollinate plants, which is essential for fruit and seed production.
5. Pest Control: Some animals prey on pests, helping to control their populations.
6. Decomposition: Scavengers and decomposers (like worms and insects) help break down dead organic matter, recycling nutrients.
7. Companionship: Many animals serve as pets and companions for humans.

Interactions and Relationships Between Living and Non-living Things

Living things do not exist in isolation; they constantly interact with each other and with non-living components of their environment. These interactions are vital for the survival of all organisms.

1. Dependence on Non-living Things:
   • Plants need sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide (non-living) for photosynthesis.
   • Animals need water, air, and shelter (non-living) for survival.
   • Both plants and animals depend on soil (non-living) for nutrients and support.
2. Impact on Non-living Things:
   • Plants influence soil composition and water retention.
   • Animals contribute to soil aeration and nutrient cycling through their activities and waste.
   • Living organisms can change the atmospheric composition over long periods.
3. Food Chains and Webs:
   • Energy flows from the sun to plants (producers), then to animals (consumers), and finally to decomposers.
   • This creates interconnected food chains and webs where living things depend on each other for food.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Explanation, Observation, Group Work, Individual Practice

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Activating Prior Knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and asks them to name some things they see around them, both inside and outside the classroom. The teacher then guides them to differentiate between things that are alive and those that are not.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond by naming various objects and identifying them as living or non-living.

Learning Point: Living/non-living distinction

Step 2: Exploring Living Matter Examples and Classification

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Interactive Discussion/Classification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher presents various pictures or life specimens of plants and animals. The teacher engages students in an interactive class discussion, asking them to state examples of living matter and differentiate between plants and animals based on observable features.

Pupils’ Activity: Students identify examples of living matter and discuss differences between plants and animals.

Learning Point: Plant and animal examples

Step 3: Defining Living Matter

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition

Teacher’s Activity: Building on the previous discussion, the teacher formally defines living matter and explains that all living things share common characteristics.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen attentively and contribute to the definition based on their understanding.

Learning Point: Living matter definition

Step 4: Characteristics of Living Matter

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Listing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher lists and explains the seven characteristics of living matter (movement, respiration, nutrition, growth, excretion, reproduction, irritability), providing simple examples for each.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen, ask questions, and note down the characteristics as explained.

Learning Point: Characteristics of life

Step 5: Uses and Importance of Plants

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion/Brainstorming

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher initiates a discussion on the uses and importance of plants, encouraging students to list as many as they know from their daily lives. The teacher guides them to cover key aspects like food, oxygen, medicine, and shelter.

Pupils’ Activity: Students actively participate, listing uses and importance of plants.

Learning Point: Plant uses and importance

Step 6: Uses and Importance of Animals and Interactions

Time: 6 minutes

Teaching Skill: Discussion/Elaboration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a discussion on the uses and importance of animals, and then explains how living things (plants and animals) interact with non-living things (e.g., water, air, soil) for survival, using examples like food chains.

Pupils’ Activity: Students contribute ideas on animal importance and listen to explanations on interactions.

Learning Point: Animal importance, environmental interactions

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is living matter?
2. State three characteristics of living things.
3. Mention two ways plants are important to humans.
4. Give two reasons why animals are important.
5. How do living things interact with non-living things in the environment?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Lesson understanding assessed

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on living matter, its characteristics, and the uses and importance of plants and animals into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Board summary recording

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly summarizes the lesson, reiterating the definition of living matter, its key characteristics, and the vital roles plants and animals play, emphasizing their interconnectedness with the environment.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen and ask any final questions.

Learning Point: Main concepts reinforced

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework/Project

Instruction: Answer the following questions and prepare a simple album.

1. List five living things you see around your home and state one characteristic for each.
2. Explain the difference between plant movement and animal movement.
3. Research and write a short paragraph on how deforestation affects the interaction between living and non-living things.
4. Create a simple album (can be a small booklet or a few stapled sheets) with pictures or drawings of five different plants and five different animals found in your local environment. Label each one.

Lesson Keywords

• Living Matter – Anything that possesses the characteristics of life.
• Characteristics of Life – Traits like movement, respiration, nutrition, growth, excretion, reproduction, and irritability.
• Plants – Living organisms that typically produce their own food through photosynthesis.
• Animals – Living organisms that typically feed on other organisms for energy.
• Interaction – The way living and non-living things affect each other in an environment.
• Ecosystem – A community of living organisms interacting with their non-living environment.

Differentiation

For weaker learners: Provide pre-printed notes or simplified charts with key characteristics and uses. Pair them with stronger learners for group activities. Focus on identifying and defining living matter and its basic characteristics.

For faster learners: Challenge them to research and present on specific types of interactions (e.g., symbiosis, parasitism) or to identify more complex examples of living matter and their unique characteristics. Encourage them to lead group discussions.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, search on YouTube for:

• “Characteristics of living things JSS 1”
• “Importance of plants and animals for kids”
• “Interaction between living and non-living things”

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have gathered diverse life specimens of plants and animals, or clear charts/pictures. If using video clips, confirm internet access and device functionality. Begin by engaging students with familiar examples to build on their prior knowledge. Guide the discussion to clearly define living matter and its characteristics, using the provided examples. Emphasise the practical uses and importance of both plants and animals, linking them to students’ daily lives. When discussing interactions, use simple, relatable examples to illustrate the interdependence of living and non-living components. Allow ample time for students to ask questions and clarify misconceptions. Encourage active participation in all activities. Students should copy the Board Summary notes after the main teaching points have been thoroughly explained and discussed. Check their understanding through the evaluation questions before concluding the lesson.