Comparing characteristics of living things
I can compare the characteristics of living things and describe their similarities and differences.
Comparing characteristics of living things
I can compare the characteristics of living things and describe their similarities and differences.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Anything can be observed and compared to another thing, based on similarities and differences.
- Observable characteristics are properties about things that we can describe using five senses.
- Comparing and grouping living things can help us to identify them.
Keywords
Observable - Something observable is something that we can see or describe using our senses.
Characteristic - A characteristic is a feature or quality of something that we can use to help identify it.
Compare - We compare things by looking at what is the same and what is different.
Similarity - A similarity is something two or more objects have in common.
Difference - A difference between two objects or things is something that is not similar or the same about them.
Common misconception
Pupils may only consider animals' characteristics to be observable if we can see them in a photo, rather than us also being able to observe their behaviour over time.
Explain that when scientists classify living things they make many observations of how that living thing moves, behaves and reproduces, as these are all characteristics we can observe to help us identify and classify things.
To help you plan your year 6 science lesson on: Comparing characteristics of living things, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 science lesson on: Comparing characteristics of living things, 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 2 science lessons from the Why we group and classify living things unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
something that is not the same between things
something that things have in common
sight
hearing
smell
taste
touch
Exit quiz
6 Questions
