1. Practice #1
Characteristics of living beings
Objective:
- Observe whether life characteristics are present in a pill bug
- Measure the length of a pill bug
- Experiment to determine if a pill bug
- Experiment to determine if a pill bug responds to changes in its environment
Material:
- Pill bugs
- Watch or timer
- Container
- Pencil with dull point
- Ruler
Procedure:
1. Make copies of the data table.
2. Observe your pill bug to determine whether or not it has an orderly structure.
Record your answer in the data table.
3. Using millimeters, measure and record the length of your pill bug in the data table.
4. Gently touch the underside of the pill bug with a dull pencil point.
5. Note its response and time, in seconds, how long the animal remains curled up.
6. Repeat steps 4-5 four more times, recording each trial in the data table.
7. Calculate the average length of time your pill bug remains curled up in a ball

2. Data Table
Organization, growth and development
Orderly structure
Pill bug length
Response to environment
Trial Time in seconds
1
2
3
4
5
Total
Average time
Questionnaire
1. Explain how would you define the term “orderly structure”. Explain how this trait
might also pertain to nonliving things.
2. Drawing a conclusion. Explain how the response to being touched is an adaptation.
3. Experimenting. How might you design an experiment to determine whether or not pill
bugs reproduce?