Finally concluding the Living versus Non-Living debate:

This is a rotovirus, above.
Our definition of Living was agreed on by the class, and in general, a definition applies ALL things it describes. For instance, would a chocolate chip cookie be a chocolate chip cookie if it had everything BUT chocolate chip?

You, as a Living thing can: die (respond to environment); reproduce; grow (and develop); change (grow and develop over time); eat (obtain and use energy); defend yourself (respond to environment); and are made of cells (are organized). ALL of these things apply to you.

For the purposes of learning about the nature of our world, it is helpful to define things and use our definitions to understand other things. This CONCEPT of Living things you have constructed can be tested over time and revised when you find it does not work.

Lets assume it does work. You have looked at it and modified it and all seem to agree on it.

From the lists you have made, Fire and the crystal solution do exhibit MOST of the characteristics of Living things, but both lack cells.

ASSIGNMENT 2: We will continue adding to this list!
Q: What are cells?
Microscopic organisms that work and group together to form larger, living cells
The building blocks of life.

Primal forms of life that make up all living things.

Cells
Cells are microscopic things that make up living and dead organisms.

Q: How can one look for cells?
Use an Electron Microscope
With some kind of instrument for magnification. Cell sizes vary.
Use a microscope.

By using a microscope.

Q: List all the characteristics of cells that you can.
All creatures have them, creatures can have just one or they can have trillions, typical size is 10 microns, typical mass is 1 nanogram, cells have internal organs called organelles
1. They reproduce by splitting themselves.
2. They can be specialized into an almost infinite number of tasks to make the whole organism work.
3. Cells can exist as one celled organisms and still do all they need to to function.
4. Cells can use energy.
5. Cells excrete waste after burning energy.
6. Cells can recognize other cells outside of it by using its cell membrane.
7. Cell membrane is a selective barrier.

Usually they are so small that you cannot see them.

Cells are ether eukaryotic or prokaryotic.

They can reproduce
They can grow
They can die
chromosomes (contain cell blueprints)
They have a nucleus
Have a cell wall
Some have a cell membrane
Cytoplasm
Plant cells have chloroplast
Mitochondrion (releases energy)
Vacuoles