Chapter 1

Living and Non-Living Things

Introduction

Welcome to Chapter 1 of Science! In this chapter, we will learn about living and non-living things. Understanding the differences between them helps us understand the world around us.

Living Things

Living things are organisms that have life. They grow, reproduce, respond to stimuli, and need food, water, and air to survive. Examples of living things include plants, animals, and humans.

Characteristics of Living Things

Living things have the following characteristics:

  • Growth: They grow and develop over time.
  • Reproduction: They can produce offspring of their own kind.
  • Response to Stimuli: They respond to changes in their environment.
  • Nutrition: They obtain and use energy for growth and maintenance.
  • Respiration: They take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide.

Non-Living Things

Non-living things do not have life. They do not grow, reproduce, or respond to stimuli. Examples of non-living things include rocks, water, air, and objects like tables and chairs.

Characteristics of Non-Living Things

Non-living things have the following characteristics:

  • No Growth: They do not grow or develop.
  • No Reproduction: They cannot reproduce.
  • No Response: They do not respond to stimuli.
  • No Metabolism: They do not require food, water, or air.

Similarities and Differences

Similarities

  • Both living and non-living things occupy space and have mass.
  • Both can interact with each other in various ways.

Differences

  • Living things have life and exhibit characteristics of life, while non-living things do not.
  • Living things can grow, reproduce, and respond to stimuli, whereas non-living things cannot.

Activities

Let's do some activities to explore living and non-living things:

  1. Nature Walk: Take a walk and observe living and non-living things in your surroundings. Make a list of what you find.
  2. Classification Game: Sort objects into living and non-living categories and discuss why they belong to each category.
  3. Experiment: Conduct an experiment to observe how plants respond to light and water compared to non-living objects.

Conclusion

In this chapter, we have learned about living and non-living things, their characteristics, and how they differ from each other. Understanding these concepts helps us appreciate the diversity of life and the importance of the environment around us. Let's continue exploring and learning about the world of living and non-living things!

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