Living and Non-Living Things

A Today you'll learn

Differentiate between living, non-living, and once-living things
Describe the basic life processes: growth, movement, breathing, nutrition, and reproduction
Recognise natural non-living things (rocks, water) versus human-made non-living things (cars, books)

B Let's understand

The world is filled with living and non-living things. Living things include humans, animals, plants, and insects. All living things share special characteristics: they need food and water for energy, they breathe air, they grow over time, they move or respond to their surroundings, and they reproduce (produce young ones of their own kind). Non-living things do not eat, breathe, grow, or reproduce. Some non-living things are natural (like rocks, clouds, mountains, and rivers), while others are man-made (like bicycles, chairs, computers, and roads).

C See it step by step

Example 1: Plants do not walk around like animals. Are plants still living things? Why?

Yes, plants are living things.
Plants make their own food through photosynthesis, breathe through stomata, and grow from seeds into mature plants.
They also move in response to light (phototropism) and reproduce by producing seeds and flowers.

Example 2: A car moves on the road and uses fuel. Is a car a living thing?

No, a car is a non-living thing.
Even though it moves and consumes fuel, it cannot grow, breathe, reproduce, or feel.
It is a human-made machine powered by an engine.

D Your turn

Which of the following is a living thing?

Look back at "Let's understand" above for a clue.

E Ready to practise?

Living things need food

Living things need food, breathe air, grow, feel, move, and reproduce.

Non-living things do not grow

Non-living things do not grow, breathe, eat, or reproduce.

Key idea 3

Plants are living things that make their own food using sunlight, water, and air.

Key idea 4

Natural non-living things exist in nature (sun, soil, water, air).

Key idea 5

Human-made non-living things are crafted by people (houses, clothes, toys).

Warm up

1. List four main characteristics of living things.

2. How do fish breathe underwater?

3. How do plants breathe?

Practise

4. Give two examples of natural non-living things and two human-made non-living things.

5. Why is a cloud considered non-living even though it changes size and moves?

6. Name the process by which living things produce young ones of their own kind.

Challenge

7. What do plants need to prepare their food?

8. Classify as Living or Non-living: Rose plant, Stone, Butterfly, Smartphone, Kitten, Raindrop.

Download worksheet (PDF)

Question 1: List four main characteristics of living things.

Answer: They grow, need food/water, breathe, and reproduce.

Question 2: How do fish breathe underwater?

Answer: Fish breathe using gills to take in dissolved oxygen from water.

Question 3: How do plants breathe?

Answer: Plants breathe through tiny microscopic pores on their leaves called stomata.

Question 4: Give two examples of natural non-living things and two human-made non-living things.

Answer: Natural non-living: Mountain, river. Human-made non-living: Table, plastic bottle.

Question 5: Why is a cloud considered non-living even though it changes size and moves?

Answer: A cloud moves with wind and grows by collecting water vapour, but it has no cells, does not breathe, eat, or reproduce.

Question 6: Name the process by which living things produce young ones of their own kind.

Answer: Reproduction.

Question 7: What do plants need to prepare their food?

Answer: Sunlight, water, carbon dioxide (air), and chlorophyll.

Question 8: Classify as Living or Non-living: Rose plant, Stone, Butterfly, Smartphone, Kitten, Raindrop.

Answer: Living: Rose plant, Butterfly, Kitten. Non-living: Stone, Smartphone, Raindrop.