📘 COMPLETE LESSON PLAN FOR PRIMARY 1 – BASIC SCIENCE
Theme: Living and Non-Living Things
Subject: Basic Science
Class: Primary 1
Duration: 40 Minutes
Term: First Term
Week: 3
Topic: Living and Non-Living Things
Sub-Topic: Characteristics of Living Things
1. OBJECTIVES (By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to):
Define living and non-living things in simple terms.
Mention at least three characteristics of living things.
Identify living and non-living things in their environment.
Differentiate between living and non-living things using examples.
2. TEACHING MATERIALS
Real objects: stone, leaf, small plant, bottle
Flashcards of animals and non-living things
Chart showing living vs non-living things
Chalkboard/marker
3. ENTRY BEHAVIOUR
Pupils can name common objects found at home or school (e.g. goat, ball, tree, shoes).
4. PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE
The pupils have learned about objects around them in their immediate environment.
5. LESSON PRESENTATION
STEP 1 — Introduction (5 mins)
Teacher shows two sets of items:
A leaf or small plant
A stone
Teacher asks:
“Which one is alive? Which one is not alive?”
Pupils respond.
Teacher introduces the topic: Living and Non-Living Things.
STEP 2 — Explanation (10 mins)
Teacher explains:
Living Things
These are things that can grow, move, breathe, eat, and reproduce.
Examples: human beings, plants, goats, birds, fish.
Characteristics of Living Things
Living things:
Breathe
Eat
Move
Reproduce (have babies)
Respond to touch/sound
Non-Living Things
These are things that do not grow, do not breathe, and do not move on their own.
Examples: stone, chair, shoes, cup, book.
Teacher shows flashcards to reinforce learning.
STEP 3 — Demonstration (10 mins)
Teacher asks pupils to touch their chest and feel breathing.
Teacher asks:
“Do stones breathe?” — Pupils say NO.
“Do trees grow?” — Pupils say YES.
Teacher draws a simple table:
Living Things
Non-Living Things
1.Goat
2.Stone
3.Plant
4.Cup
5.Bird
Shoes
STEP 4 — Class Activity (5 mins)
Pupils go outside for 2 minutes and mention:
2 living things they saw
2 non-living things they saw
They return and share their observations.
STEP 5 — Evaluation (5 mins)
Teacher asks:
What are living things?
What are non-living things?
Mention 3 characteristics of living things.
Give 2 examples of living things and 2 examples of non-living things.
Teacher marks answers orally.
6. SUMMARY
Teacher reviews the lesson by repeating:
Meaning of living things
Meaning of non-living things
Characteristics of living things
Examples
7. ASSIGNMENT
Draw one living thing and one non-living thing in your exercise book