Download - Living things, the cell and the 5 kingdoms
Living ThingsBy Isabel Madero Aguado
How do we know if something is ‘living’? All living things are characterised as being able to do
seven things These are usually remembered by the mnemonic MRS
NERG
MRS
NERG
Can you guess what these
letters stand for?
The 7 characteristics of Living ThingsMovement – Animals move to find food and keep away
from predators, plants move to face the light
Reproduction – the ability to produce offspring to keep the species in existence
Sensitivity – responding and reacting to the environment
Nutrition – Animals need food for respiration, plants need minerals from the soil
Excretion – Getting rid of waste
Respiration – Turning food into energy
Growth – Growing larger and stronger becoming adult size
Description of the characteristics: They are born: all living things come form
other living things. They eat: all living things need food They grow: all living things increase in size
during their lifetime. Sometimes they change in appearance
They react: living things can perceive what is going around them, and they react to what they perceive
They reproduce: living things can create offspring similar to themselves
They die: at some time, all living things stop functioning and cease to live
Internal organisation of living thingsLiving things are made up of a large number of
very small units called cells.A cell is the smallest living unit which make up a
living thing
The number of cells in a living thing varies. Some living things are made up of one single cell. They are called unicellular. Other living things are made up of many cells. They are called multicellular.
Parts of a cell1. The membrane is a covering which
sorrounds the cell, and separates it from the exterior.
2. The nucleus is the part which controls the function of the cell.
3. Cytoplasm is the space between the nucleus and the membrane
Plant cells also have a hard cell wall around the membrane. This is why some plants stems are very hard
The parts of a cellPlant cell Animal cell
How are living things organised?Levels of organisation: Cells: group together to form tissues Tissues: are made up of similar cells that carry out a
common function. Muscle tissue Tissues form organs. Organs are made up of a group
of tissues that work together to carry out a common function. Lungs, heart, stomach.
Organs form systems. Systems are made up of a group of organs that work together to carry out a common function. Skeleton
When all the systems work together, they form an organism
Levels of organisation I
cells tissues organs
Levels of organisation II
organs systems
Ideas to make cellsCells Cells
Classification of Living Things
Everything that is living can be
sorted into these 5 kingdoms
Bacteria Kingdom
Algae Kingdom
Fungi Kingdom
Plant Kingdom
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom Animals are Multicellular – made up of
may specialised cells They eat other living things They can move from one place to
another They have a nervous system and sense
organs. They can react quickly to stimuli.
Humans belong to the animal kingdom
Plant Kingdom Plants are multicellular – made up
of lots of cells They make their own food by
photosynthesis Plants don’t have sense organs or
nervous system, but they react slowly to some stumuli. Many plants grow toward the light, like the sunflowers
Fungi Kingdom Fungi can be unicellular or
multicellular Its body is made up of a network
of threads called hyphae. They don’t make their own food.
They depend on other organism. They are attached to something
Bacteria Kingdom Bacteria are unicellular and can
live in water, soil, air or inside other living things
Bacteria don’t have a nucleus Some can only be seen with a
microscope
Algae Kingdom
Many algae are formed by one cell but others are multicellular and can be as big as a tree
Algae live in damp places of water
Task1. Everyone
Make a list of the 7 characteristics of Living Things (MRS NERG)
Make a list of the 5 Kingdoms of Living Things (try to write an example for each)
2. Extension Research one of the 5 Kingdoms in more detail Make a poster / fact page / fact file
If you get stuck use the key word
lists and information on
your tables