C Curriculum Explorer
Science·Ecosystems & Habitats·conceptual

Living, Dead & Never Alive

Explore and compare the differences between things that are living, dead, and things that have never been alive

Suggested ages 6–7

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Learning journey

Your child is exploring how living things interact with their environment — learning about different habitats, simple food chains, and the difference between living, dead, and never-alive things.

Evidence of understanding

  • Sort a collection of objects into three groups: living, dead (was once alive), never alive
  • Give reasons for each sorting decision (e.g. 'the leaf was on a tree so it was alive once')
  • List characteristics of living things such as growing, breathing, reproducing, and moving

Assessment prompt

If you show Living, Dead & Never Alive a rock, a fallen leaf, and a caterpillar, can they tell you which is alive, which was once alive, and which was never alive?

Standards alignment

Y2.Sci.LTH.1GB · uk-nc-2013

Living, dead, and never alive

The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document · Key Stage 1