Grade Level: Third Grade

In this lesson plan, second graders use BrainPOP Jr. resources to learn the differences between  living and nonliving things. They also explore similarities among all living things, such as their need for energy to survive, and ways they differ, like how they adapt to their environments. Then they apply their understanding by completing an on- or offline concept map identifying living from nonliving things, or for a more challenging task, they can compare and contrast animals and plants. 

 

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Lesson Plan Next Generation Science Standards Alignments

Students will:

  1. Build background knowledge: Watch the BrainPOP Jr. Living and Nonliving Things movie.
  2. Express understanding: Complete an on- or offline concept map identifying differences between living and nonliving things, and/or comparing and contrasting living things.
  3. Complete an Assessment: Take the Living and Nonliving Things Quiz to show what they learned.

Materials:

  • Internet access for BrainPOP Jr.  
  • Printable concept map (offline option)
  • Printout of Quiz  (offline option)

Preparation:

  *If using this lesson for distance learning, setup for video conferencing, such as Zoom, Google Meet, etc. Create and send an invitation with a link. 

Lesson Procedure:

  1. Tap students’ prior knowledge. Ask them to tell you something that is living and something that is not living. Or you can give examples and ask if each is living or nonliving and how they know: Is a dog living? How do you know? Is a chair living? How do you know? Is a tree living? How do you know?
  2. Watch the BrainPOP Jr. movie Living and Nonliving Things. Click the pause button each time a question appears in Annie’s Notebook and answer it. Then play to see how Annie answers it.  TIP: The pause button turns red to remind you to pause. 

    Offline Option: Print out the transcript and Annie’s Notebook for a grown-up to read aloud at home. Suggest that the child play Moby and “Beep” in response to Annie.
  3. Have students open their Make-a-Map assignment. Or, if you are not using the Assignment Builder, show how to open Make-a-Map
  4. Instruct students to make a concept map that identifies the differences between living and nonliving things, or that compares and contrasts living things, such as plants and animals. Model how to use Make-a-Map. Start a new map by selecting “create new.” Then click a node from the menu sidebar. Type the word “Living”. Click a second node, and type the word Nonliving. Show how to add keywords, images, and or video clips below each word to identify living and nonliving thing.   When students finish, remind them to click the Submit To Teacher button and/or print out.

    Offline Option: Students complete an offline concept web, writing words and drawing pictures that show the difference between living and nonliving things, or that compares and contrasts living things.
  5. Have students open their Quiz assignment. Or, if you are not using the Assignment Builder, show how to open the Quiz. You can choose the Easy or Hard Quiz. 
  6. To hear the questions and answer read aloud, show students how to hover over the words. If you assigned the quiz, you will see students’ results in your Dashboard. If not assigned, remind students to click the Submit to Teacher button.

    Offline Option: Print out the Quiz for students by clicking the print icon.   Read aloud each question and answer options, repeating as needed.