LIVING AND NON-LIVING THINGSBy ANIRUDDH KOMMAJOSYULA

III CDelhi public school, nerul

Living Things Vs Non-living Things

Things that move, grow, breathe, need food, feel changes, and reproduce are called living things.

Things that do not move, grow, breathe, need food, feel changes, or reproduce are called non-living things.

Living Things Non-living Things

1. Living things can move on their own.

2. Living things grow with time.

3. Living things need air to breathe.

4. Living things need food to grow.

5. Living things feel changes around them.

6. Living things reproduce.7. Human beings, plants, and

animals are examples of living things.

1. Non-living things cannot move on their own.

2. Non-living things do not grow with time.

3. Non-living things do not breathe.

4. Non-living things do not need food.

5. Non-living things do not feel changes around them.

6. Non-living things do not reproduce.

7. Book, pencil, bat etc. are examples of non-living things.

Differences

MOVEMENT

Living things can move on their own. Animals move from one place to another in search of

food and shelter. Dogs, cats, and human beings walk with the help of their legs. Birds and bees fly with the help of their wings. Fish move with the help of fins.

Plants do not move from place to place because they do not have to look for food. Green plants make their own food. Some plants move in a special way. For example, a lotus flower opens out at sunrise and closes at night. The leaves of Mimosa (Touch-me-not) plant close when touched. Thus, plants show movement.

Non-living things like books, toys, and chairs do not move on their own. They move only when someone moves them.

GROWTH

Living things grow.

Plants and animals grow

with time.

A child grows into an adult.

A seed grows into a plant.

Non-living things like dolls,

cricket bats, tables etc.

do not grow.

ACTIVITY

Aim: To watch plants grow

Materials needed: Bean seeds, soil, a glass jar, and water.

Method:

1. Take soil in a glass jar. Place bean seeds in it, and water it.

2. Keep it out in the sun.

3. Water it regularly and watch the plants grow!

Observation: After a few days, you will see baby plants growing from the seeds.

Conclusion: Plants are living things and so they grow.

BREATHE

All living things need air to breathe.

We breathe through our nose. Several other animals breathe through their noses, too. Cockroaches, butterflies, and mosquitoes breathe through air holes in their body.

Plants breathe through tiny pores called stomata present in their leaves.

Non-living things do not breathe.

FOOD

Living things need food to grow.

Food gives us energy to work and move.

Animals eat plants or flesh of other animals as food.

Plants do not need to go in search of food. They make their own food in the presence of air, water, and light.

Non-living things do not need food.

FEEL CHANGES

Living things feel changes. We feel changes around us like hot and cold weather. Animals: Most animals feel or sense changes around

them with the help of their sense organs, i.e., eyes (see), ears (hear), nose (smell), tongue (taste), and skin (touch). Animals like cockroach, grasshopper, and butterfly have special body parts called antennae,which help them to feel changes around them.

Plants: Plants also feel changes around them. For example, Mimosa (Touch-me-not) plant ‘feels’ a touch. A lotus flower opens out at sunrise and closes at night. Plants can also feel light and grow towards it.

Non-living things do not feel changes.

REPRODUCE

The process by which living things produce more of their own kind is called reproduction.

Animals: Animals reproduce by either laying eggs or giving birth to young ones. A woman gives birth to a baby, while a pigeon and a hen lay eggs from which chicks come out.

Plants: Most plants reproduce with the help of seeds. These seeds grow into new plants. Some plants also give rise to new plants with the help of their roots, stems or leaves. For example, rubber plant, money plant, and sugar cane.

Non-living things do not reproduce.