Non-Living Things and Their Characteristics for Primary 1

Non-Living Things

Performance Objectives

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

1. identify non-living things in the classroom, school environment, home and immediate community;
2. sort things into groups based on observable characteristics like colour, texture, etc.

What Are Non-Living Things?

Non-living things are things that do not have life. They cannot grow, move on their own, eat, breathe, or have babies.

Non-living things are all around us. They can be found in homes, schools, and communities.

Non-Living Things in the Classroom

The classroom contains many non-living things that help with learning and teaching. These objects do not grow or move by themselves.

Examples of non-living things in the classroom include:

1. Tables
2. Chairs
3. Books
4. Bags
5. Pencils
6. Rulers
7. Blackboards
8. Chalk
9. Erasers
10. Paper

Non-Living Things in the School Environment

The school environment outside the classroom also has many non-living things. These things are part of the school building and grounds.

Examples of non-living things in the school environment include:

1. Stones
2. Soil
3. Water (in taps or puddles)
4. Air
5. School building
6. Fences
7. Gates
8. Swings
9. Slides
10. Football goalposts

Non-Living Things in the Home

Homes are full of non-living things that people use every day. These items help with daily tasks and make the home comfortable.

Examples of non-living things in the home include:

1. Pots
2. Plates
3. Cups
4. Spoons
5. Beds
6. Televisions
7. Radios
8. Clothes
9. Brooms
10. Buckets

Non-Living Things in the Immediate Community

The immediate community, which is the area around the home and school, also has many non-living things. These are things seen on roads, in markets, or in other public places.

Examples of non-living things in the immediate community include:

1. Cars
2. Bicycles
3. Roads
4. Houses
5. Market stalls
6. Lamp posts
7. Sign boards
8. Bridges
9. Dustbins
10. Walls

Collecting and Keeping Non-Living Things

Collecting non-living things helps in learning about them. It is important to collect items that are safe and easy to handle.

The procedure for collecting and keeping non-living things involves the following steps:

1. Look for safe items: Find small, safe non-living things in the environment. Examples include small stones, dry leaves, pieces of paper, bottle caps, or small plastic toys.
2. Pick them carefully: Gently pick up the chosen items. Avoid anything sharp, dirty, or heavy.
3. Place in a container: Put the collected items into a clean box, basket, or plastic bag.
4. Keep them clean: If an item is dusty, gently wipe it with a dry cloth.
5. Store them safely: Keep the box or bag in a safe place where the items will not get lost or damaged. This helps to preserve them for future learning.

Sorting Non-Living Things

Non-living things can be sorted into groups based on what they look like or how they feel. This helps to understand their different characteristics.

The procedure for sorting non-living things involves the following steps:

1. Gather items: Collect a variety of non-living things, such as stones, leaves, paper, plastic objects, and fabric pieces.
2. Choose a characteristic: Decide how to sort the items. Common ways to sort include:
   1. By colour: Group all the red items together, all the blue items together, and so on.
   2. By texture: Group items that feel smooth together, and items that feel rough together.
   3. By size: Group small items together and big items together.
3. Create groups: Place the items into separate piles or sections based on the chosen characteristic. For example, if sorting by colour, make a pile for red items, a pile for blue items, and so on.
4. Observe the groups: Look at the different groups and notice how the items in each group are similar.