Characteristics of Organisms Complete Lesson Plan - MS

This complete unit provides middle school teachers with everything needed to teach the basic characteristics of organisms and how those traits are used to classify them into kingdoms. Students explore the shared features of living things and investigate how scientists use these characteristics for classification. The resource includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, a differentiated station lab, and assessments. Built for multiday use with minimal prep, this lesson emphasizes student-led, differentiated learning, giving teachers the flexibility to focus on student engagement and mastery.

Essential Questions for Students

• What are the basic characteristics of organisms?

• How do these characteristics classify organisms into kingdoms?

Note for Texas teachers: This lesson aligns with the 2017 TEKS and will not be updated for the 2021 standards.

Key Features

• Differentiated supports for students who need remediation or enrichment

• Multimodal learning to keep middle school students engaged

• Flexible delivery—resources available in both printable and digital formats

• Editable PowerPoints for classroom customization

• Spanish translations of vocabulary, a station lab reading passage, and interactive notebook pages

Instructional Framework: The 5E Model

This lesson follows the 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—providing a well-rounded blend of inquiry, guided practice, and assessment.

Engage

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher file with prompts for discussions, activities, and notes on misconceptions

Explore

• A nine-station, student-led lab introducing the characteristics of organisms and their role in classification

Input Stations:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or experiment

• Read It! – Differentiated passages (English & Spanish) with comprehension questions

• Research It! – Guided online tasks with structured student activities

• Watch It! – Short video with discussion questions

Output Stations:

• Organize It! – Sorting and categorization activities (printable and digital)

• Write It! – Open-ended responses in complete sentences

• Illustrate It! – Drawing/sketching to reinforce retention of concepts

• Assess It! – Vocabulary-in-context and mastery-based questions

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Puzzles, games, and mini-projects for enrichment or early finishers

Explain

• Editable PowerPoints in both standard and interactive formats

• Interactive Notebook templates (digital & print, English & Spanish)

• Note-taking templates for guided learning

Elaborate

• Student-choice projects on characteristics of organisms to extend learning in class or at home

Evaluate

• Assessments updated for STAAR 2.0, with both standard and modified versions

• Review worksheets and discussion questions for test prep or practice

Flexible Learning Options

This lesson is designed for both in-person and virtual classrooms. The digital station lab and interactive notebook resources are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making them easy to use in blended or online environments.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.