Key Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson, readers will:
✅ Understand the difference between living and non-living things.
✅ Identify the characteristics of living things such as growth, movement, breathing, and reproduction.
✅ Recognize that non-living things do not show life processes.
✅ Learn about the importance of both living and non-living things in nature.
✅ Develop scientific thinking by observing the world around them.
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Introduction
Our world is full of things that we see, touch, and use every day. Some of them are alive (like humans, animals, and plants), while others are non-living (like rocks, water, and air). In this chapter, we will learn about the differences between living and non-living things, their characteristics, and their importance in nature.
What are Living and Non-Living Things?
Living Things
Living things are organisms that have life. They can grow, move, breathe, and reproduce.
Examples: Humans, animals, birds, insects, and plants.
Non-Living Things
Non-living things do not have life. They do not grow, breathe, or reproduce.
Examples: Rocks, water, air, books, and houses.
Characteristics of Living Things
- Living Things Grow
- All living things increase in size over time.
- A baby grows into an adult, a seed grows into a tree.
- Living Things Need Food and Water 🍎💧
- Food gives energy to grow and perform activities.
- Water is essential for all living beings to survive.
- Living Things Breathe 🌬️
- Humans and animals breathe oxygen.
- Fish breathe through gills, and plants take in carbon dioxide through leaves.
- Living Things Move 🚶♂️🏃♀️
- Humans and animals can walk, jump, and fly.
- Plants do not move from one place to another, but their parts move (e.g., sunflower turns towards sunlight).
- Living Things Reproduce 👶
- They give birth to young ones or grow from seeds.
- Animals reproduce by laying eggs or giving birth.
- Plants reproduce through seeds, stems, or roots.
- Living Things Respond to Stimuli 👂🌞
- They react to their surroundings.
- Example: We feel cold in winter and wear warm clothes. Plants bend toward sunlight.
- Living Things Have a Life Span ⏳
- All living things are born and eventually die.
- Some organisms live for a few days, while others (like trees) can live for hundreds of years.
Characteristics of Non-Living Things
- ❌ Do not grow – A table remains the same size.
- ❌ Do not need food or water – A rock does not eat or drink.
- ❌ Do not breathe – Air is present in the environment but does not breathe.
- ❌ Do not move on their own – A car moves only when someone drives it.
- ❌ Do not reproduce – A chair cannot produce another chair.
Differences Between Living and Non-Living Things
Importance of Living and Non-Living Things in Nature
🌍 Living Things help maintain the balance of nature.
🏔️ Non-living things provide support to living things (e.g., air, water, soil).
🌳 Plants give oxygen and food to animals and humans.
🐦 Animals help in pollination and maintaining the food chain.
🏠 Non-living things like houses, roads, and vehicles help humans in daily life.
Interesting Facts
✨ The oldest living tree is over 5,000 years old.
✨ Water is a non-living thing, but it is essential for all living things.
✨ The coral reef looks like a non-living thing, but it is made up of tiny living organisms called coral polyps.
✨ Some robots can move and respond to stimuli, but they are still non-living because they do not grow or reproduce.
Important Summary Points
✔️ Living things grow, breathe, move, reproduce, and respond to their environment.
✔️ Non-living things do not show life processes but are important for survival.
✔ Plants and animals depend on non-living things like water, air, and sunlight.
✔️ Both biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components are essential for nature’s balance.
✔️ Observation and classification help us understand the world scientifically.
✔ Understanding the difference helps us take care of the environment better.
Activity (Exercise):
A. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- Which of the following is a living thing?
(a) Rock
(b) Tree
(c) Chair
(d) Water - Which characteristic is NOT found in living things?
(a) Growth
(b) Movement
(c) Breathing
(d) Shining - How do plants move?
(a) By walking
(b) By bending towards sunlight
(c) By jumping
(d) By running
B. Short Answer Questions
- Define living things and give two examples.
- Why do non-living things not need food?
- What are the three characteristics of living things?
B. Short Answer Questions
- Explain the major differences between living and non-living things.
- Why do plants not move like animals? How do they show movement?
- What is the importance of non-living things for living beings?
Quiz:
Coming Soon…
Supplementary Materials:
Provide downloadable materials for learners to review:
- – PDF Guide: “Coming Soon”
- – Cheat Sheet: “Coming Soon”
- – Video Source: “JNG ACADEMY“
- – Articles: “Blog Page“
FAQs:
1. What are living and non-living things?
Non-living things do not show life processes and do not grow or reproduce (e.g., rocks, air, water, and furniture).
2. What are the main characteristics of living things?
✔ Grow over time.
✔ Need food and water for survival.
✔ Breathe to get energy.
✔ Move in some way.
✔ Reproduce and produce offspring.
✔ Respond to their environment (stimuli).
✔ Have a life span and eventually die.
3. Why do plants not move like animals?
🌱 A sunflower turns toward sunlight.
🌿 Roots grow downward in search of water.
🍀 Leaves close when touched (e.g., touch-me-not plant).
4. Why is water considered a non-living thing, even though it is essential for life?
5. How do animals and humans breathe differently?
✅ Fish breathe using gills, which extract oxygen from water.
✅ Insects breathe through tiny holes (spiracles) on their bodies.
6. Can a robot be considered a living thing?
❌ It does not grow or reproduce.
❌ It does not breathe or need food.
❌ It only moves when programmed, but does not respond naturally like a living being.
7. Why do living things need food?
🍽️ Growth
🏃 Movement
🧠 Body functions
💪 Survival and reproduction
8. What is the difference between natural and man-made non-living things?
✅ Man-Made Non-Living Things: Created by humans (e.g., buildings, cars, furniture).
9. Why do living things have a life span?
🧒 A human can live up to 70-80 years.
🌳 Some trees like banyan can live hundreds of years.
🐦 Small insects may live only a few days or weeks.
10. How do non-living things help living things?
☀️ Sunlight gives energy to plants for photosynthesis.
💨 Air provides oxygen for breathing.
🏡 Houses and clothes protect humans from the environment.