Characteristics of Life Reading Comprehension, Worksheets, and CER Activities – Are Viruses Alive?

This engaging and comprehensive Characteristics of Life Reading Comprehension and Activities helps students understand what defines living things through clear explanations and hands-on practice.

Perfect for high school biology students, this resource breaks down each characteristic of living things with straightforward explanations, real-world examples, and text-dependent activities that reinforce key concepts.

This resource includes two versions (guided and traditional) with the same content and same questions. Alsoincluded are three characteristics of life activities you can use to extend learning.

Characteristics of Life Reading Comprehension Includes:

• Characteristics of Life Guided Reading: The 6-page guided reading is broken into sections, with questions placed between each chunk or subtopic of information. This format has many benefits because it allows students to focus on one topic at a time, reflect on what they’ve read, and answer questions as they progress.

• Characteristics of Life Reading Comprehension (traditional): The 3-page reading comprehension follows a traditional format, with the content presented first and the questions provided on a separate sheet to be completed afterward. Two versions of the questions are included: a 2-page handout where students can write directly on the sheet, and a 1-page question list that prompts students to write their answers on a separate sheet of paper. This option is ideal for classrooms aiming to save paper, as only class copies of the questions need to be printed.

• Characteristics of Life and Viruses CER Graphic Organizer and Essay Rubric : Help students build confident scientific writing skills with the CER Graphic Organizer, Essay Directions Page, and Rubric. The CER graphic organizer guides students in forming a clear claim, supporting it with evidence from the text, and explaining their reasoning. The directions and rubric make expectations clear, simplify grading, and help students write a focused five-paragraph essay on whether viruses are living things.

• Characteristics of Life Worksheet #1: In this characteristics of life activity, students will match key vocabulary from the reading comprehension with their corresponding definitions. They then complete a graphic organizer using the characteristics of life to compare and contrast living things and viruses.

• Characteristics of Life Worksheet #2: Students will read real-world scenarios and identify which characteristic of life each one represents. Then, they’ll complete a short extension activity where they research an organism and explain how it demonstrates each characteristic of life.

• Answer Keys

• PDF and Google Slides versions for all activities

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Characteristics of Life Reading Comprehension Topics:

• Characteristics of Life
• How Viruses Compare to Living Things
• Comparing the Characteristics of Living Things and Viruses
• Cellular Organization
• Homeostasis
• Metabolism
• Reproduction (Sexual and Asexual)
• DNA and Heredity
• Response to Stimuli
• Growth and Development
• CER – Are Viruses Alive?

Your Download Includes:

• 6-page characteristics of life guided reading
• 3-page characteristics of life reading comprehension
• Reading comprehension questions
• CER Graphic Organizer – Are Viruses Alive?
• CER Essay Directions and Rubric
• Vocabulary matching and graphic organizer worksheet
• Identifying scenarios and quick research extension worksheet
• PDF and Google Slides
• Answer keys

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