Stage 2 have been exploring the central idea: Ecosystems rely on maintaining an interdependent balance between living things and their environment. Recently we have been focusing on one of our lines of inquiry: Ways living things and the environment are interconnected.

In class, the boys discovered that there are seven characteristics of a living organism:

– Movement
– Respiration
– Sensitivity
– Growth
– Reproduction
– Excretion
– Nutrition

(M.R.S. G.R.E.N.)

The boys classified a variety of living and non-living organisms based on these seven characteristics. These discussions became quite heated, as the boys asked questions like: Is the sun living? What about soil? If an animal can’t reproduce (Mule) does that mean it is not living?

The boys then chose an animal from an ecosystem and used Popplet to prove it was living, based on these seven characteristics.

It was an intense and engaging learning experience for the boys (and the teachers).

Shayne Pollard and Angela Tonkin – Stage 2 Teachers