Free Educational Resources for Teaching Living and Non-Living Things to Children

Educational freebies focused on teaching the difference between living and non-living things are widely available for parents, homeschoolers, and educators. These resources are designed to support early elementary science units, offering hands-on activities, printable worksheets, and lesson plans that require minimal preparation. The materials cover fundamental concepts such as identifying the characteristics of life, classifying objects, and understanding biology basics. Most resources are intended for students in preschool through early elementary grades, with adaptations available for special learning needs.

Many of these free resources are available through Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT), educational blogs, and direct downloads. While some are instant downloads, others require signing up for a newsletter or following specific social media accounts to access the files. The activities generally focus on sorting, cutting and pasting, and interactive games to engage young learners.

Types of Free Resources Available

The available freebies range from simple coloring sheets to comprehensive lesson plans. Below is a breakdown of the specific types of resources found in the source material.

Lesson Plans and Instructional Guides

Some freebies include detailed lesson plans designed for classroom or home use. * Source [2] offers a free lesson plan for comparing and contrasting living and non-living things. It includes materials to create a flap-book for recording knowledge and a scavenger hunt recording sheet. This lesson is designed to be completed in one or two days. While the listed standards are for Florida, they can be adapted to Common Core. * Source [2] also provides a modified version of a unit specifically designed for students with special learning needs. These materials are significantly modified to accommodate different learning levels and are aligned with the 2022 Ontario Science Curriculum for Grade 1.

Printable Worksheets and Sorting Activities

Cut-and-paste worksheets are a popular format for these concepts, allowing students to physically sort images. * Source [1] provides a printable "Living and Non-Living Glossary" featuring words such as biology, zoology, biologist, parent, and observe. This resource is available by signing up for the creator's newsletter. * Source [5] lists a "Living or Nonliving Cut and Paste" worksheet. These types of worksheets help children classify and sort items by coloring, cutting, and pasting pictures into the correct groups. * Source [5] also references a "Living and Non-Living Things Packet" which includes a cut-and-paste picture sorting activity, vocabulary building activities, and an assessment page. * Source [6] describes a free activity packet created by Samantha Cooper that includes NO PREP activities for distinguishing between living and non-living things.

Interactive Games and Activities

To make learning more engaging, several freebies involve games and hands-on play. * Source [4] details a free "Living vs Non Living" game that requires very little prep. The game involves looking at three pictures, choosing one to cover up (using a token like a Lego), and explaining why the chosen item is living or non-living. The game includes "BUMP" and "FREE" space cards to add an element of chance. * Source [2] includes a "Scavenger hunt recording sheet" as part of its free lesson plan, encouraging students to find and record living and non-living items in their environment. * Source [3] mentions a "science sort" activity where students separate cards into living and non-living piles. This is designed as a perfect introduction to a living things unit.

Songs, Coloring Sheets, and Anchor Charts

Visual and auditory aids are also available as freebies. * Source [3] offers a simple coloring sheet featuring a cute song about living and non-living things. The song is sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques" and is intended as a fun way to review concepts. * Source [3] also references an "anchor chart" used to teach the concepts. The chart involves asking students questions about items and having them answer Yes or No to determine if the item is living or non-living.

Montessori-Style Resources

Specific resources cater to Montessori teaching methods, which often use specific trays and cards for sorting. * Source [7] lists several Montessori-aligned resources. These include a "non-living lesson with free printable" available as a subscriber freebie, and "living vs. non-living sorting pages." * Specific Montessori blogs mentioned in Source [7] (such as My Montessori Journey and Teacher Mom Plus 3) share classroom work and free sorting pages. * Source [7] also notes resources that introduce the concept of "once living" items (e.g., a cut-up kiwi versus a kiwi on a vine), which adds a layer of complexity to the classification activity.

Key Concepts Covered

The free resources aim to teach specific scientific concepts and vocabulary. * Characteristics of Life: Resources focus on identifying what makes something "alive." Source [7] mentions presentations that cover the four characteristics of living things. * Vocabulary: Source [1] includes a glossary with terms like biology, zoology, and observe. * Classification: The core activity across most resources is sorting items into "living" and "non-living" categories. Source [5] discusses grouping items and classifying them. * Real-World Application: Activities like scavenger hunts (Source [2]) and the game described in Source [4] encourage children to apply these concepts to objects they encounter in daily life.

Accessing the Freebies

The method of access varies by source. * Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT): Many of the free resources are hosted on TPT. Source [2] and Source [3] explicitly mention TPT stores. Users generally need a free TPT account to download these files. * Newsletter Sign-ups: Some creators require an email address to receive the freebie. Source [1] states, "Sign up for my newsletter and you will receive a THANK YOU freebie as well as exclusive freebies delivered to your inbox." * Direct Downloads: Source [4] provides a direct download button for the game printable, likely requiring no registration. * Social Media Sharing: Source [6] encourages sharing the product via social media, though it is unclear if this is a requirement for access.

Source Reliability and Restrictions

When using these freebies, it is important to consider the source and any usage restrictions. * Copyright and Distribution: Source [1] and Source [6] explicitly state that the materials are copyrighted. Source [1] notes that only logged-in customers who have purchased the product may leave a review, implying a commercial transaction model even for freebies. Source [6] includes restrictions on reproduction and distribution. * Verification: The information provided in the source material comes largely from third-party descriptions of the products (e.g., blog posts describing a resource) or the product listings themselves. While these are generally reliable for the content of the freebie, they are not official scientific sources. * Standards Alignment: While Source [2] mentions Florida State Standards and Source [7] mentions alignment with Ontario Science Curriculum, users should verify if these align with their specific local requirements.

Conclusion

There is a robust selection of free educational materials available for teaching children about living and non-living things. These resources range from simple coloring pages and songs to comprehensive lesson plans and interactive games. The majority of these freebies are accessible through educational marketplaces like Teachers Pay Teachers or via direct downloads from educational blogs. Key concepts covered include the identification of life characteristics, classification skills, and scientific vocabulary. Users should be mindful of copyright restrictions and sign-up requirements when accessing these materials.