The common processes of all living organisms
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe processes that happen in all living organisms.
Key learning points
- The same life processes happen in all living organisms.
- These life processes include movement, reproduction, sensitivity, growth, respiration, excretion and nutrition.
- All living organisms are made from other living organisms when they reproduce.
- Movement is a sign of life when the organism moves itself to achieve something.
- All these processes happen at some stage in the life cycle of every living organism.
Keywords
Living - All things that are living (alive) carry out a common set of processes including movement, growth and reproduction.
Organism - An organism is something that is living, or was once living but is now dead.
Movement - Movement is when a living organism moves itself (or part of itself) from one place to another.
Life cycle - A life cycle is made up of the stages a living organism goes through in its life.
Common misconception
Plants are not living organisms; non-living things are alive; any type of movement is a sign of life
The lesson explores common life processes in a variety of organisms, including plants and microorganisms, and explores movement in detail.
Teacher tip
The concept 'living thing' is often poorly understood. This lesson consolidates knowledge of processes that happen in all living organisms. The next lesson progresses on to the idea that all organisms are made of cells.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which two of these things are living?
Q2.Which one of these things does not have a life cycle?
Q3.What is a life cycle?
Q4.In which three stages of the life cycle of a frog does it move by itself?
Q5.Which of the following describes a piece of wood?
Q6.Which of these processes happen in all living things?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these statements describes a fire?
Q2.Match the process to the correct description.
Making offspring
Increasing in size or repairing damage
Using food and other nutrients to stay alive
Using food as fuel to provide energy
Q3.When is movement a sign of life?
Q4.Which of these examples of movement show that a plant is alive?
Q5.If an organism is dead then its has stopped.
Q6.Choose the statements that correctly define a seed as a living organism.
To help you plan your 7 science lesson on: The common processes of all living organisms, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 science lesson on: The common processes of all living organisms, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Cells unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.