Ever really thought about what makes an organism ALIVE? Sixth grade students in Mrs. Sanders’s life science class examined specimens and determined if each specimen was living or nonliving. They then had to justify their choice. Some of the decisions were difficult and many lively debates occurred – especially as to whether the toad specimen should be the new class pet. Mrs. Sanders thought not and he was released back into the wild. But everyone had fun while reviewing the characteristics of living things!