What students learn in AC9S3U01
This unit helps students build a clear, usable understanding of Characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences.... The goal is not to memorise one answer pattern. Students should be able to explain the idea, recognise it in a new example and apply it in a short practice or worksheet task.
- Start with the main idea: compare characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences between the life cycles of plants and animals.
- Use concrete examples, pictures, oral explanation and short written responses before moving to independent practice.
- classifying a collection of objects as living, once living or non-living and explaining their reasoning observing and describing differences between metamorphic (such as butterflies, beetles or frogs) and non-metamorphic life cycles of animals, including humans
- Finish with mixed questions so students must choose the correct strategy rather than copy the last example.
Curriculum coverage and elaborations
The content description and elaborations below show the curriculum ideas taught in this unit. Items marked as teaching context support lesson planning but may not appear in the initial eight-question activity.
- Content description: compare characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences between the life cycles of plants and animals
- E1: classifying a collection of objects as living, once living or non-living and explaining their reasoning
- E2: observing and describing differences between metamorphic (such as butterflies, beetles or frogs) and non-metamorphic life cycles of animals, including humans
- E3: comparing the physical characteristics of an animal such as a frog or moth with its activity at different stages of its life cycle
- E4: representing stages of a plant or animal’s life cycle using drawings, digital photographs, graphic organisers or concrete materials
- E5: investigating how First Nations Australians understand and utilise the life cycles of certain species (teaching context)
How to use this unit
Read the topic guide, use the teacher slide for instruction, then complete the Worksheet, Practice and Test. These three activities use the same eight-question unit bank.
Teacher resource
AC9S3U01 teacher slide
Use this one-page PDF to introduce the key idea, vocabulary and teaching sequence before students begin the activities.
Open teacher slide (PDF)Common mistakes to watch for
- Describing what is seen without connecting it to a question, pattern or prediction.
- Using everyday words only and missing simple scientific vocabulary.
- Changing more than one thing in an investigation, which makes the comparison unfair.
International curriculum mapping
This table gives closest-topic mapping for search and planning. The Australian Curriculum code is exact; overseas entries are broad equivalents because each jurisdiction structures outcomes differently.
| Region | Curriculum | Closest mapping |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Australian Curriculum v9.0 | AC9S3U01 — compare characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences between the life cycles of plants and animals |
| Victoria | Victorian Curriculum F-10 | Year 3 Science: closest match in Biological sciences. Use this page as a VIC-aligned practice and worksheet reference. |
| NSW | NSW Curriculum | Stage 2 Science: closest content focus for Characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences... and related outcomes. |
| United States | Common Core / NGSS | Grade 3 NGSS science closest topic match for Characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences.... |
| England / UK | National Curriculum | Key Stage 2 / Year 3: closest programme-of-study match for Characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences.... |
| Canada | Provincial and territory curricula | Grade 3 closest topic match. Canada varies by province, so use this as a broad Ontario/BC-style learning outcome reference. |
| New Zealand | New Zealand Curriculum | Level 2 Science: closest achievement-objective topic for Characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences.... |
| India | NCERT / CBSE | Class 3 closest NCERT/CBSE topic match for Characteristics of living and non-living things and examine the differences.... |