Living and non-living things in the environment

Living and non-living things in the environment

The environment is made up of both living and non-living things.

Living and non-living things in the environment

Living things

Living things are things that have life. They can grow, move, breathe, and reproduce. Living things are also called organisms.

Examples of living things

1. Plants (e.g., trees, flowers, grass)
2. Animals (e.g., humans, birds, fish, insects)

Characteristics of living things

1. They breathe (take in air).
2. They grow and change over time.
3. They move from one place to another (animals) or respond to the environment (plants).
4. They eat or make food to get energy.
5. They reproduce (have young ones).

Non-living things

Non-living things are things that do not have life. They do not breathe, grow, or reproduce.

Examples of non-living things

• Natural objects (e.g., stone, mountain, water, air, sand)
• Man-made objects (e.g., car, house, book, table, chair)

Characteristics of non-living things

1. They do not breathe.
2. They do not grow.
3. They do not move on their own.
4. They do not reproduce.
5. They do not need food or water.

Difference between living and non-living things

Feature	Living Things	Non-Living Things
Have Life?	Yes	No
Can Move?	Yes (animals move; plants grow towards sunlight)	No, unless moved by force
Can Grow?	Yes, they grow over time	No, they remain the same size
Can Breathe?	Yes, they take in air	No, they do not breathe
Can Reproduce?	Yes, they have young ones or produce seeds	No, they cannot reproduce
Need Food and Water?	Yes, for survival	No, they do not need food or water