Recommended Age: 3 years and onwards
Purpose: For the child to develop an understanding of the difference and interdependence of living and non-living things, broadening their understanding of the world
Level of Parent Involvement: Low, once modelled the child may complete this activity independently
Prerequisites
- None
Materials
Preparation
- Print the ‘Living or non-living’ PDF
- Print the living or non-living information sheet
Steps
- Invite the child letting them know you have an activity to show them
- Let the child know that they will need their scissors and to bring them to their table, you bring the information sheet and the sorting chart
- Begin by having a conversation with the child about living and non-living things, using the information sheet as a guide
- To confirm the child’s understanding ask them to think of some things that are living and some things that are non-living
- Confirm the child’s understanding of the characteristics of living and non-living things for example, living things can move on their own, non-living things cannot move on their own or breathe
- Once you are confident with the child’s level of understanding they may cut out the images from the PDF (providing assistance if necessary)
- Once all images have been cut out, let the child know they are going to sort the pictures under the headings living or non-living
- Name each picture with the child
- Invite the child to sort the pictures
- Leave the child to work independently
- Come back when the child has finished to check their work
Variations
- None
