The world around us is filled with all sorts of things. Some are alive, and some are not. Let’s explore how these things are similar and different!
When you think of living things, what do you imagine? Maybe animals like dogs and cats, plants like trees and flowers, or even tiny insects like butterflies. These are all living things because they are alive!
Living things have special features that make them different from non-living things. They can do three main things: grow, take in nutrients, and reproduce.
Have you ever seen a baby chick or a small plant? Do they stay the same size forever? No, they grow bigger! A chick grows into a chicken, and a small plant grows into a big tree.
Living things need food and water to survive. This is called taking in nutrients. Just like you eat food to grow strong, plants need sunlight and water to grow. Even tiny things like mold need nutrients to live. Did you know mold on cheese is alive because it eats the cheese?
Living things can make more of their own kind. This is called reproducing. For example, cats have kittens, and plants make seeds that grow into new plants.
Non-living things are not alive and never have been. They don’t grow, eat, or reproduce. They don’t need food or water. Non-living things can be solid, like a rock, liquid, like water, or gas, like air.
For example, a car is non-living. It doesn’t eat or grow, and it only moves if someone drives it.
Let’s play a game! Can you spot which is non-living?
Look at a stuffed animal and a real cat. Which one is non-living? (Pause for response) Yes, the stuffed animal is non-living!
Here are two plants. One grew from a seed, and the other is made of plastic. Which one is living? (Pause for response) Right, the one that grew from a seed is living!
Now, look at a crystal and a rock. Are any of these living? (Pause for response) No, both are non-living!
Let’s see what you’ve learned. Fill in the blank: Living things can grow, take in nutrients, and ____. (Pause for response) Did you say reproduce? Great job!
True or false: Once a living thing dies, it becomes a non-living thing. (Pause for response) False! Non-living things have never been alive.
Name a non-living thing that can move: fire, water, or a car? (Pause for response) Yes, all of them can move!
True or false: Non-living things can be solids, liquids, or gases. (Pause for response) That’s true!
Now you know all about living and non-living things. Living things grow, take in nutrients, and reproduce, while non-living things do not. Next time you’re playing, try guessing if something is living or non-living. Have fun!
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Nature Walk Exploration: Take a walk outside with a family member or friend. Look around and try to find five living things and five non-living things. Draw a picture of each one you find. Can you explain why each thing is living or non-living? Remember, living things can grow, take in nutrients, and reproduce!
Living and Non-Living Sorting Game: Gather some items from around your home or classroom, such as a plant, a rock, a toy, a fruit, and a book. Sort these items into two groups: living and non-living. Discuss with a partner why you placed each item in its group. Did you find anything tricky to decide?
Observation Journal: Start a journal where you can record your observations of living things. Choose a plant or an animal to observe over a week. Draw what you see each day and note any changes. Does it grow? Does it need water or food? Share your findings with your class or family!
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing any unnecessary elements and maintaining clarity:
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**Transcript:**
The world is full of living and non-living things. How are these things alike, and how are they different? Today, we are going to answer these questions together.
When you think of something that is living, what comes to mind? Animals, plants, or insects might be on your list because they are all alive. All living things have special traits or characteristics that set them apart from non-living things.
Living things do three main things that non-living things cannot do: grow, take in nutrients, and reproduce.
Let’s start with growth. Have you ever seen a chick or a tiny plant sprout? Do these things stay the same, or do they change over time? That’s right—they change and get bigger. A chick becomes a hen, and a sprout becomes a fully grown plant.
Next, what does taking in nutrients mean? Simply put, it means eating, drinking, or absorbing the nutrients that an organism needs to survive. Nutrients are what living things need to grow and thrive, such as food, water, and sunlight for plants. Animals and plants take in nutrients in different ways, and so do tiny organisms.
Here’s an interesting fact: mold on cheese is a living thing because it feeds off the cheese, grows, and needs nutrients to survive. In this case, the cheese is the nutrient that the mold needs.
Living things also reproduce, or make more of their own kind. Non-living things cannot reproduce. In addition to these three main characteristics, most living things also breathe, have senses like sight, taste, touch, sound, and smell, and they can move. However, some non-living things can also move, like fire and water.
Now, let’s talk about non-living things. Non-living things are not and have never been alive. This means that when something living dies, it does not become non-living; it is just dead. Non-living things do not grow, eat, reproduce, breathe, or have senses. They do not need nutrients to survive. Non-living objects can be in solid, liquid, or gas form.
For example, a car has never been alive. It does not eat, grow, or reproduce, and it only moves if a person drives it.
Can you spot the differences between living and non-living things? Let’s find out!
Which one of these is non-living? (Pause for response) Did you say the stuffed animal? You are right!
Here are two plants. One of these grew from a seed, and the other is made of plastic. Which one is living? (Pause for response) Did you say the one that grew from a seed? You are correct!
Now we have a crystal and a rock. Is one of these objects living? (Pause for response) Nope, both are non-living. Great job!
Now that you are an expert on living and non-living things, let’s review. Fill in the blank: Living things can grow, take in nutrients, and ____. (Pause for response) Did you say reproduce? Correct!
True or false: Once a living thing dies, it becomes a non-living thing. (Pause for response) False! Non-living things have never been alive.
Name a non-living thing that can move: fire, water, or a car? (Pause for response)
True or false: Non-living things can be solids, liquids, or gases. (Pause for response) That’s true!
Great work, everyone! Everywhere you go, there are living and non-living things. Living things grow, take in nutrients, and reproduce, while non-living things do not.
The next time you are playing with friends, make up a game and guess which item is living and which is non-living, just like we did today. Always remember to have fun!
Hope you had fun learning with us! Visit us at learnbrite.org for thousands of free resources and solutions for teachers and homeschoolers.
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This version maintains the educational content while ensuring clarity and appropriateness.
