Introduction to living and nonliving thingsWe 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.