Introduction to living and nonliving things-

We come across living and non-living things daily in our life. Sometimes it is easy to differentiate
between living and non-living things but many times it is little difficult. There are few differences and
factors between these tow which make living things different from nonliving things. Living things, as per
the name are live and active. They move, they grow and they respond to stimuli. Some of the examples
of living things around us are plants, animals and other human beings.

Nonliving things do not grow, do not move and they do not reproduce. Some of the examples of non-
living things are table, chair, bags, books etc.

Characteristics of Living Things

MOVEMENT: All living plants and animals

move

Although living things may look different, they

all carry out seven similar processes. We call these the
seven life processes.

Let's take a look at each of these.

MOVEMENT: All living plants and animals move

 Humans and animals use their bodies to move from one place to another.

 Some plants turn towards light or water. Roots mostly grow downwards. Many stems grow
upwards.

REPRODUCING: All living things make offspring (babies or seeds)

 Humans and animals have babies.

 Some new plants can grow from seeds.

 Other plants grow from cuttings or shoots.

SENSING: All living things respond to any change that they sense

 When you are feeling cold, you will put on a jersey or jacket.

 When it becomes winter some animals hibernate.

 In autumn the leaves on some trees change colour.

 You can use an umbrella to protect you from the rain or from the harsh sun on a hot day.

Reptiles like to lie and bask in the sun on cold winter's days.

This chameleon is basking on the wall in the winter sun. The leaves
on some trees respond to the change of the season. These leaves
are turning brown during autumn.

BREATHING: All living things BREATHE gases in and out

 Humans and animals use the gas, oxygen from the air that they breathe in. They release (give
off) the gas carbon dioxide when they breathe out.

 Plants take in the gas carbon dioxide into their leaves. They use it to make food. They then
release oxygen for animals and humans to use.

FEEDING: All living animals and plants need food

These children are eating their lunch.

  Food gives all living things the energy they need

 Green plants can make their own food for energy in their leaves and stems.

 Humans and animals eat plants to get energy.

EXCRETING: All living animals and plants have to get rid of waste products

Do you see how shiny the horse looks? She is

sweating from all that running!

 Humans and animals have to get rid of waste products from their bodies.

 There are special organs in the body which help to get rid of waste, such as the lungs, kidneys
and skin. Your kidneys take the waste out of your blood and produce urine. Also, when you
sweat you are actually excreting waste from your skin!

 Plants get rid of waste water through the process of transpiration.

GROWTH: All living things grow

 Human and animal babies grow into

adults.

 Seedlings grow into plants.

 Growth of a seed into a seedling

All seven of the life processes must happen for something to be living. If something does not
carry out all seven life processes then it is non-living. For example, if you think of a river, you may think
it moves and grows, but a river does not sense or feed or excrete or breathe or reproduce so it is non-
living!
 Understanding the seven life processes

THE REASON FOR DOING THIS ACTIVITY:

To help you understand the seven life processes.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Look carefully at each photo.

2. Next to each of the seven life processes make a ✔ if it applies to the object in that photo.

3. If a life process does not apply to the object in the photo, make a ✗ next to that life process.

4. Decide whether the object is living or non-living and write your answer in the last column.

5. The first one is done to show you what to do.