7

Living and Non-living Things

Expected Learning Outcomes

Knowledge to be gained: •Characteristics of living things

Skill to be developed: •Categorisation of things into living and non-living.
Attitude to be inculcated: •All living things have common characteristics.

THINGS AROUND US Non-living things: Anything apart from

ere are various living and non-living
things around us. All of them have different
shapes and colours. ey are also of different
sizes. You would have seen a baby plant
growing into a young plant, but not your
pencil box or lunch box growing or
increasing in size. A dog runs, but a stone
does not move on its own.
us, based on various differences, things
around us are grouped into two categories:
Living things: All the plants and animals are
living things.
living things is non-living. Chalk, stone,
pencil, copy, book, table, etc., are non-living
things.
Activity-1
Collect pictures of as many objects as you can,
including those which have already been
mentioned above. Try to identify these objects
as living and non-living and paste them on a
sheet of paper under these two headings.
How were you able to categorise various
things into living and non-living?

84 Exploring Science-6
CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING
THINGS
Living things are called organisms. All
living things have certain characteristics
which make them different from the non-
living.
e basic characteristics of living things are
as follows:
u Living things are made up of cells.
u Living things show movement.
u Living things need food for energy.
u Living organisms respire.
u Living things respond to stimuli.
u Living things excrete wastes.
u Living things reproduce their own kind,
grow and have a de nite life span.
LIVING THINGS ARE MADE UP
OF CELLS
The body of living things is made up of tiny
units, called cells. A cell is the smallest
structural and functional unit of a living
organism. It is called the basic unit of life.
e simplest organisms, like bacteria, yeast
and amoeba, are made up of one cell only.
ey are called unicellular organisms. ey
are so tiny that we can see them only with the
help of a microscope.
Protoplasm
Nucleus
Fig.1 Amoeba, a unicellular organism
Living and Non-living things
Knowledge Booster
• The eggs we eat are one-celled (single-celled).
The largest egg cell is the egg of an ostrich,
which is about 15cm long and 13 cm wide. Our
nerve cells may be as long as 1 metre.
• All organisms, whether small or large, start
their life as a single cell, called a zygote.
• Just like all living things can be broken down to
their living structural units, called cells, all non-
living things can also be broken down to their
smallest structural unit, called molecules.
Most organisms are formed of many cells.
ey are called multicellular organisms.
eir body may contain millions or trillions
of cells. A newborn human baby has at least
2,000 million cells. Each cell has a living
substance, called the protoplasm.
Activity-2
To observe onion cells under a microscope.
Take a eshy leaf from an onion bulb. Break it
and pull apart the two pieces slowly. A thin
membrane separates from the upper surface
of a leaf. It is called the peel. Put a drop of
water in the centre of a glass slide. Cut a piece
from the peel and place it on the drop of water.
Put a drop of safranin over it and cover it with
a cover slip. Focus the slide under the
microscope. e cells will appear as shown in
Fig.2.
Fig.2 Cells in an onion peel
85
 Morning Noon Evening

Up-stroke

Down-stroke Down-stroke

Fig.3 A bird in ight Fig.4 A sun ower turns its head towards the Sun
LIVING THINGS SHOW the ower of waterlily and on the leaves of
MOVEMENT the orchid tree.
Living things show movement. e change u When a bud opens into a ower, its petals
in the position of any body part is called move outwards.
movement and the movement of a whole
organism from one place to another is Activity-3
called locomotion. To observe the movement of the shoot of a
Animals locomote from one place to another plant towards sunlight.
in search of food and shelter. You must have Place a potted plant near the window.
seen a squirrel hopping on tree branches, a Observe aer few days.
lizard crawling on the wall and a bird ying What do you notice?
in the sky. Does the plant grow
upright like plants
u Animals use their legs for walking and
out s i d e ? You wou l d
running. notice that the plant
u Birds use wings to y. bends towards the source Fig.5 Movement
of the shoot
u Fish use ns to swim. of light (window).
Like animals, plants also show movement, Why did the plant bend towards the
but they do not locomote. window? It is because a plant always grows
towards light.
u e shoot of a plant moves towards light
and the root grows away from light, LIVING THINGS NEED FOOD FOR
towards the soil. ENERGY
u A sun ower moves its head in the All organisms need food to remain alive,
direction of the Sun. grow and get energy for carrying out various
u A touch-me-not plant folds its leaves life activities.
when touched. You have seen animals eating food, but not
u A similar kind of movement is visible on plants. However, plants also need food and
86 Exploring Science-6
energy. ey take energy from the Sun and energy. ey are called autotrophs. e
make their food, using water and carbon green plants provide food and energy to all
dioxide. e process through which animals on the Earth.
green plants prepare food is called All animals and non-green plants cannot
photosynthesis. prepare their own food. ey eat plants or
Only green plants can make their food from other animals to obtain energy. ey are
carbon dioxide and water, using solar called heterotrophs.
Checkpoint-1
Write True or False
1. Living things are called organisms. ___________
2. A cell is the basic unit of life. ___________
3. Only some organisms show movement. ___________
4. When a bud opens into a ower, its petals move outwards. ___________
5. Animals and non-green plants cannot make their own food. ___________

LIVING ORGANISMS RESPIRE breathe out air that is rich in carbon

All living organisms respire to obtain energy.
Respiration is the process by which food is
broken down to release energy. To carry out
respiration, oxygen is required. Human
beings and many other animals—like cows,
lions and dogs—get oxygen through
breathing. It is a process that continues all
through our life.
e process of inhaling fresh air and
exhaling used air is called breathing.
We breathe in air rich in oxygen and
dioxide. The air we breathe in passes into
our lungs. Other living beings have different
ways of breathing. An earthworm breathes
through its skin. Fish breathe through
special organs called gills.
Like animals, plants also respire. During the
day, they carry out photosynthesis along
with respiration, but at night, only
respiration takes place. Plants breathe
through the stomata present on the
surface of their leaves.

Carbon dioxide Opened stomata

Water

Oxygen

Closed stomata
Lungs Gills Stomata present on leaf surface
Fig.6 Breathing organs in different organisms
Living and Non-living things 87
Stomata are tiny pores present on the leaf of a
plant through which the exchange of gases
takes place. During day time plants carry out
photosynthesis along with respiration.
e amount of oxygen given out by
photosynthesis is much more than the
amount of oxygen used in respiration.
erefore, green plants give out more
oxygen than they take in for respiration,
during the day. At night time, there is no
photosynthesis and plants only give out
carbon dioxide.
Knowledge Booster
• Whales and dolphins have lungs. They come to
the water surface to breathe air. Their nostrils
are called blowholes from which the air comes
out as if from a blowpipe and produces a
shower of water.
• The percentage of oxygen in the air inhaled
and exhaled by humans is 21% and 16%
respec vely, and that of carbon dioxide is
0.03% and 4%, respec vely.
LIVING THINGS EXCRETE WASTES
Excretion is the removal of waste and other
harmful substances formed in the body.
u In animals, waste produced includes
undigested food, carbon dioxide, urea
and excess of salt and water.
u Undigested food in the form of semi-
solid waste (or faeces) is passed out from
our body through the anus.
u Carbon dioxide is produced during
respiration. It is removed by the lungs.
u Urea is formed by the breakdown of
proteins and is removed by the kidneys
88 Exploring Science-6
through urine.
u Excess of salt and water are also removed
through urine and sweat.
u Plants excrete oxygen during the
daytime and carbon dioxide at night
through stomata.
u Some plants store excess minerals which
accumulate inside the cells as crystals.
u Plants secrete three additional types of
excretory products. ey are explained
below:
• Gum is secreted by the acacia tree. It is
used as an adhesive, in confectionery
and in medicines.
• Resin is produced by pines and rs. It is
used in making varnish and ointments.
• Latex is secreted by rubber, banyan and
calotropis plants. e latex from the
rubber plant is used for making rubber.
LIVING THINGS RESPOND TO
STIMULI
What happens if your hand touches
something hot? Your hand pulls away. Here
the withdrawing of your hand is a response
caused due to a stimulus. In this case, the hot
object touching your hand is the stimulus,
which causes a response by your body.
A stimulus is a process to which a living
being is subjected to, and to which they
react. For example, if a powerful beam of light
fa l ls on your e yes, you clos e t hem
automatically. In this case, the beam of light
was the stimulus and the sudden involuntary
closing of your eyes was the response
produced by your body towards that
stimulus.
Plants also show response to stimuli. e
shoot system grows towards the sunlight and
the root system grows towards gravity. is
phenomenon is called tropism. e response
of the shoot system of a plant towards light
is called phototropism. Plants grow and
bend towards sunlight. is shows the
reaction of the plants to the stimulus of
sunlight. e response of the root system
of a plant towards the Earth is called
geotropism. e roots of the plants grow
towards the Earth.
Leaves of 'mimosa' plants fold up and droop
when you touch them. For this reason, it is
also called a 'touch-me-not' plant.
Fig.7 A touch-me-not plant folds
its leaves when touched
LIVING THINGS REPRODUCE
THEIR OWN KIND
Reproduction is the ability of living things
to produce their own kind. It is a unique
property possessed only by living organisms.
Both, animals and plants reproduce, though
the methods of reproduction may differ.
Animals like sh, frogs, snakes, lizards and
Living and Non-living things
birds lay eggs which hatch into young ones.
Animals that lay eggs to produce their
young ones are called oviparous animals.
Animals like dogs, cats, cows, horses and
human beings give birth to young ones.
Animals which give birth to their young
ones are called viviparous animals.
Fig.8 A bird lays eggs Fig.9 Dogs give
birth to young ones
Most plants form seeds and spores which
sprout into new plants. is is called
germination. Pea, gram, wheat, tomato and
trees of mango, neem, peepal, etc., all grow
from their seeds.
Fig.10 A seed germinates into a plant
In some plants, new plants grow from their
stem, roots or leaves. For example, rose from
stem cutting, onion from underground stem
and bryophyllum from leaf margins.
Leaf buds
Fig.11 A bryophyllum leaf gives rise to new plants
89
 Fig.12 A baby grows into an adult
LIVING THINGS GROW LIVING THINGS HAVE A DEFINITE
Growth is an increase in the size of an LIFE-SPAN
organism by the addition of new cells. Life span of an organism is the period for
Growth is a permanent irreversible which it remains alive. It begins with the
change. birth of an organism and ends with its
All living things grow. Puppies grow into death.
dogs and kittens grow into cats. A baby All living things have an approximately
child grows into an adult human being. de nite life span. e average life span of
Plants grow throughout their life, but some organisms is given in the Table
animals stop growing aer a particular age. below.
Table: Life span of some common organisms
Organisms Life span Organisms Life span

Bacteria 20-30 minutes Horse 20-25 years

House y 1-4 months Elephant 50-70 years

Seasonal plants (Herbs) 2-3 months Human 80-100 years

Mouse 2-3 years Tortoise 120-190 years

Dog 10-15 years Shrubs Several years

Spider 20 years Trees Upto 100 years or more

90 Exploring Science-6
 Table: Differences between living and non-living things
Living things
Living things are made up of cells.
Living things can repair the damage caused
to their body.
Living things change according to changes
in their environment (adaptation).
Living things show movements.
Living things need food for growth, repair
and energy.
Living things respire to release energy.
Living things produce excretory waste.
Living things respond to stimuli.
Living things reproduce their own kind.
Living things grow. e growth is internal.
Living things die.
Non-living things
Non-living things are not made up of cells.
Non-living things cannot repair the
damage.
Non-living things are unable to adapt.
Non-living things cannot move on their
own.
Non-living things do not need food.
Non-living things do not respire and do not
release energy.
Non-living things do not excrete.
Non-living things do not respond to
stimuli.
Non-living things do not reproduce.
Non-living things do not grow. e
increase in size is external.
Non-living things do not die.

Checkpoint-2
Fill in the blanks
1. ______________ is secreted by Acacia tree.
2. Puppies grow into ______________.
3. ______________ things have a de nite life-span.
4. Living things respire to get ______________.
5. ______________ things do not follow any life cycle.

Keywords
Cell : Smallest living, structural and functional unit of an organism.
Autotrophs : Green plants which make their food from carbon dioxide, water and sunlight.
Locomotion : Movement of whole organism from one place to another.
Stimulus : Change in the surroundings that arouses some responses in an organism
Oviparous : Egg-laying animal.
Viviparous : Animals which give birth to young ones.
Tropism : Moving of plant parts in the direction of stimulus.

Living and Non-living things 91

Points to Remember
u Based on various differences things around us are divided into two categories—living things
and non-living things.
u Living things are called organisms.
u All living things are made up of cells. A cell is the basic unit of life.
u All organisms show movement.
u All organisms need food to remain alive, grow, and get energy for carrying out various life
activities.
u Green plants are autotrophs, i.e., they can make their own food.
u All organisms need to respire to produce energy.
u e process of burning of food, inside an organism, to release energy is called respiration.
u Living things respond to stimuli.
u All organisms excrete waste.
u Living things can reproduce their own kind.
u Reproduction is the ability of living things to produce their own kind.
u Life span of an organism is the period for which it remains alive.

Exercise
A. Tick (3) the Correct Option
1. Which of the following is not a living thing?
(a) Giraffe (b) Table
(c) Elephant (d) Lion
2. e body of living things is made up of tiny units called ______________.
(a) protons (b) electrons
(c) cells (d) none of these
3. A newborn human baby has at least ______________ million cells.
(a) 200 (b) 500
(c) 1000 (d) 2000
4. e process of preparing food by green plants is called _____________.
(a) respiration (b) photosynthesis
(c) excretion (d) circulation

92 Exploring Science-6
5. e response of plants to the stimulus of sunlight is called _____________.
(a) geotropism (b) chemotropism
(c) hydrotropism (d) phototropism
B. Fill in the Blanks with Suitable Words
1. e process of burning of food to release energy is called _______________.
2. e process of inhaling fresh air and exhaling used air is called _______________.
3. _____________ is the removal of waste and other harmful substances formed in the body.
4. e change in the environment that evokes an organism to react is called a __________.
5. _______________ is the ability of living things to produce their own kind.
C. Very Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. What are all living things made up of?
2. Locomotion is a type of movement. True or False?
3. What is photosynthesis?
4. What is breathing?
5. Name some animals which breathe through the lungs.
6. Mimosa (touch-me-not) plants show response to the stimulus of touch. True or False?
7. Growth is a reversible change. True or False?
8. Animals like sh and frogs directly give birth to their young ones. True or False?
9. What do you mean by germination?
D. Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. What is a cell? What is the difference between unicellular and multicellular organisms?
Give an example of each.
2. What do you mean by: (a) movement (b) locomotion
3. What is the difference between respiration and breathing?
4. De ne excretion.
5. What is tropism? How is phototropism different from geotropism?
6. De ne the following: (a) reproduction (b) growth
7. What are oviparous and viviparous animals? Give examples.
8. All living things take in oxygen. What function does oxygen perform in the body?

Living and Non-living things 93

E. Long-Answer-Type Questions
1. What are the basic characteristics of living things? Give an example of each characteristic.
2. How is the movement of an organism different from its locomotion? Explain with examples.
3. De ne respiration. What are the organs used by humans, sh and plants for respiration?
4. What are the waste and harmful substances produced by animals and plants? How are they
excreted?
5. Explain the stimulus and response with an example.
HOTS
1. Why is an aeroplane called a non-living thing even though it moves?
2. A car ‘eats’ fuel, ‘breathes’ air, ‘locomotes’ and ‘excretes’ smoke. Why is it still considered a
non-living thing?

Memory Map
Movement Locomotion
Made up of cells

Have a de nite Show

life span movement
CHARACTERISTICS
Grow OF Respire
LIVING THINGS

Reproduce Need food

and energy
Excrete

Autotrophs Heterotrophs
Animals Plants
through
through

Skin Lungs Kidney Anus Stomata

e-Resources
Please visit the link given below or scan the QR code for more resources
on this Chapter:
https://www.megamindpublication.com/s-1-science/b-1-exploring-science-6/c-16/living-and-non-living-things.html

94 Exploring Science-6