{"id":4699,"date":"2025-07-24T10:37:44","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T10:37:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/?p=4699"},"modified":"2026-07-22T15:41:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T15:41:12","slug":"7-characteristics-of-life-how-to-teach-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/7-characteristics-of-life-how-to-teach-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Alive? 7 Characteristics of Life and How to Teach Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Is It Alive? 7 Characteristics of Life and How to Teach Them\n<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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What makes something alive?<\/span> Middle school <\/span><\/a>students often ask this exact question, and the answer goes far beyond just whether it moves or it eats. To truly understand what defines a living thing, they need to explore the 7 characteristics of life, the shared traits that all living organisms have in common.<\/span><\/p>

To help bring these concepts to life in your classroom(literally), <\/span>JoVE\u2019s video on the Characteristics of Life <\/span><\/a>is an excellent visual tool. It introduces each trait clearly, helping students better understand what separates a rock from a rabbit.<\/span>
<\/span>Want a visual resource that simplifies this for students?<\/span> Watch JoVE\u2019s <\/span>Characteristics of Life<\/span><\/i> video with your class<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Below are the seven characteristics of life, explained in student-friendly terms, with hands-on teaching strategies for each.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The 7 Characteristics of Life (and How to Teach Each One)\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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1-Organization of Cells\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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All living things are made of one or more cells, the basic unit of life.<\/span><\/p>

How to teach it:<\/b>
<\/b>Bring out the microscopes, have students compare cells in plants, animals, and bacteria. They\u2019ll quickly see how some organisms are built from one cell, while others, like humans, are made of trillions.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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2-Response to Stimuli\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Living organisms respond to changes in their environment \u2014 whether it\u2019s light, temperature, or touch.<\/span><\/p>

How to teach it:<\/b>
<\/b>Show a video of a Venus flytrap snapping shut or test your class\u2019s reflexes with a ruler drop. You could also place plants by a window and track how they lean toward sunlight.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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3-Homeostasis\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Life maintains internal balance like body temperature or water levels no matter what\u2019s happening outside.<\/span><\/p>

How to teach it:<\/b>
<\/b>Try measuring students\u2019 pulse or body temperature before and after physical activity. Then discuss how their bodies return to balance afterward.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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4-Metabolism (Use of Energy)\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Living things need energy to carry out life processes- whether through eating, photosynthesis, or absorbing nutrients.<\/span><\/p>

How to teach it:<\/b>
<\/b>Build a food web as a class and trace where energy comes from and where it goes. You can even challenge students to explain how their breakfast fuels their body!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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5-Growth and Development\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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All organisms grow and change over time, from infancy to adulthood.<\/span><\/p>

How to teach it:<\/b>
<\/b>Time-lapse videos work wonders here \u2014 show a seed sprouting or a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis. Or let students bring baby photos and compare physical changes over time.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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6-Reproduction\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Living things produce new organisms either sexually or asexually to ensure survival of the species.<\/span><\/p>

How to teach it:<\/b>
<\/b>Use simple models to show cell division or plant pollination. Compare how bacteria reproduce vs. animals. It\u2019s a great opportunity for interactive group comparisons!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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7. Adaptation Through Evolution\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Over generations, living organisms change in response to their environments \u2014 this is evolution at work.<\/span><\/p>

How to teach it:<\/b>
<\/b>Introduce examples like camouflage, antibiotic resistance, or Darwin\u2019s finches. A bead simulation of natural selection makes for a fun, memorable classroom activity.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Fun Classroom Idea: Living vs Nonliving Sorting Game\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Create a sorting station with pictures or objects, including both obvious and tricky examples (e.g., fire, virus, seed). Let students work in teams to determine which are living, nonliving, or once-living based on the <\/span>7 characteristics of life.<\/span><\/a><\/p>

Why it works:<\/b> It encourages critical thinking and helps students test their understanding in a fun, hands-on way.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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FAQ: Teaching the Characteristics of Life<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n \n \n How do I explain the characteristics of life to middle schoolers?<\/span>\n\n \n
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Use relatable examples and visuals. Break each trait into simple language and reinforce it with real-world demonstrations.<\/span><\/p> <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n

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\n \n \n What are some living vs nonliving activities for students?<\/span>\n\n \n
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Sorting games, microscope observations, and behavior response experiments all help clarify what makes something alive.<\/span><\/p> <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n

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\n \n \n What\u2019s the best way to introduce life processes?<\/span>\n\n \n
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Start with a <\/span>JoVE video<\/span><\/a> to give students a visual overview. Then let them observe organisms or simulate life processes themselves.<\/span><\/p> <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n

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\n \n \n Can I teach this without a science lab?<\/span>\n\n \n
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Absolutely! Many of the activities from sorting games to watching videos can be done with basic classroom supplies.<\/span><\/p> <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Conclusion: Teaching What Makes Life-Life\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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By helping your students understand the<\/span> 7 characteristics of life<\/span><\/a>, you\u2019re giving them the foundation for all biology learning ahead. With clear visuals, student-friendly explanations, and fun activities, you\u2019ll turn an abstract list into a powerful concept they\u2019ll remember.<\/span><\/p>

<\/b>Spark curiosity about life- try JoVE\u2019s interactive biology videos free and watch your students engage with these concepts.<\/span><\/a><\/p>

JoVE\u2019s science video library <\/span><\/a>starts at just $2 per student*. <\/span>Explore funding options<\/span><\/a> now.<\/span>
<\/span>*Pricing based on 1,500 students<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Is It Alive? 7 Characteristics of Life and How to Teach Them What makes something alive? Middle school students often […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4700,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ngss-standards"],"yoast_head":"\n7 Characteristics of Life Teaching Guide | JoVE K12<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Teach the 7 characteristics of life with JoVE K12 examples that help students decide what is living and defend claims with evidence through class examples.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/7-characteristics-of-life-how-to-teach-them\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"7 Characteristics of Life Teaching Guide | JoVE K12\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Teach the 7 characteristics of life with JoVE K12 examples that help students decide what is living and defend claims with evidence through class examples.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.jove.com\/schools\/7-characteristics-of-life-how-to-teach-them\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"JoVE for K12\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-24T10:37:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-22T15:41:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/schools.jove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7-Characteristics-of-Life-and-How-to-Teach-Them.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Nikita\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Is It Alive? 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