Every day, we see many different things around us. Some of these things are alive, and some are not. It can be tricky to tell the difference! Let’s learn about what makes something a living thing.
Living things are called “organisms.” An organism can be a big animal like an elephant, a plant like a tree, or even tiny creatures you can’t see without a microscope, like the green stuff in ponds.
All living things need energy and nutrients to stay alive. But not all of them eat food like we do. For example, plants make their own food using sunlight in a process called photosynthesis. Isn’t that cool?
Living things grow! Some grow to a certain size and stop, like a puppy growing into a dog. Others keep growing their whole lives, like trees. No matter how they do it, all living things change and develop as they grow.
Living things can react to what’s happening around them. For example, when it rains, we might use an umbrella. Plants can grow their roots deeper to find water. To do this, living things need senses. We use our eyes, ears, and skin to see, hear, and feel. Plants have special ways to sense light and gravity.
Living things can make more of themselves. This is called reproduction. It can happen in different ways, like animals having babies, plants making seeds, or tiny cells splitting in two. Reproduction helps living things continue to exist.
Now that we know what makes something alive, we can better understand the world around us. It’s amazing to see how different living things are and how they all share these special characteristics. Thanks for learning with us about living and nonliving things!
Activity: Nature Walk Observation
Take a short walk in your garden, park, or neighborhood with a notebook and pencil. Look around and try to find examples of living and nonliving things. Draw or write down what you see. Can you spot a tree, a bird, or maybe a rock? Discuss with a friend or family member why you think each thing is living or nonliving. Remember to look for signs like growth, movement, or the need for energy!
Activity: Plant Growth Experiment
Plant a seed in a small pot or cup with soil. Water it regularly and place it in a sunny spot. Keep a journal to record its growth over a few weeks. Draw pictures of how it changes. Talk about how the plant is using sunlight to make its own food and how it grows over time. How is this similar to or different from how you grow?
Question: Imagine and Create
Imagine you are a scientist discovering a new living organism on another planet. What would it look like? How would it get energy, grow, and reproduce? Draw your new organism and explain its characteristics. Share your creation with your class or family and discuss how it compares to living things on Earth.
