science · kindergarten
Classify Living and Nonliving Things
Use multiple characteristics to reason about familiar living and nonliving things.
Find this activity in the Science map
Explore the knowledge outline and its source scope. This unit supports selected ideas.
Learning goals
- Use multiple characteristics to reason about familiar living and nonliving things.
Before you begin
Understand the words and representations introduced in the Explore activity.
Age and grade do not measure readiness. Adjust reading or adult support to preserve the intended learning goal.
Follow the sequence
Complete practice
Practice previewClassify Living and Nonliving Things
Practice · Adult guidance · 25 min
Use multiple characteristics to reason about familiar living and nonliving things. A complete set with exploration, practice and application. Use the linked unit for the learning sequence and teaching guide.
1. Explore
Practice previewClassify Living and Nonliving Things: Explore and Explain
Explore · Adult guidance · 10 min
Use multiple characteristics to reason about familiar living and nonliving things. A focused learn activity. Use the linked unit for the learning sequence and teaching guide.
2. Practice
Practice previewClassify Living and Nonliving Things: Practice Independently
Practice · Adult guidance · 10 min
Use multiple characteristics to reason about familiar living and nonliving things. A focused practice activity. Use the linked unit for the learning sequence and teaching guide.
3. Apply
Practice previewClassify Living and Nonliving Things: Apply and Create
Apply · Adult guidance · 15 min
Use multiple characteristics to reason about familiar living and nonliving things. A focused apply activity. Use the linked unit for the learning sequence and teaching guide.
Download the unit pack
Numbered activities, separate answer keys and a teaching guide in one ZIP. The pack uses the focused sequence; the complete practice sheet above is an alternative.
Teaching and response guide
- Begin with: Which is a living thing?
- Connect the response to: Cut and sort the cards.
- Ask students to apply the idea: A toy car moves. Is that enough to prove it is living?
Watch for: Accepting an answer without checking whether it uses the material and satisfies the requested relationship or criteria.
Check the answer criteria for each task. A supported explanation may have more than one acceptable response. These activities offer evidence to discuss; completing a sheet alone does not establish mastery.