The things we see around us can be categorised into living and non living things based on their characteristics.
The following concept will help the learners understand the difference between living and non living things.
After reading the concept, students will be able to:
- State the characteristics of living things.
- Give examples for living and non living things.
- Describe the types of non living things.
Each concept is explained to class 1 students using examples, illustrations, and concept maps. After you go through a concept, assess your learning by solving the two printable worksheets given at the end of the page.
Download the worksheets and check your answers with the worksheet solutions for the concept Living and non living things around me provided in PDF format.
While going outside, do you see a lot of things around you? Some of them are living, and some are non-living. But how will you identify them?
To do that, you need to understand the different features of both living and non-living things.
What Are Living Things?
Things that can breathe, feel, grow, move and give birth to young ones are called living things.
Examples:
Plants, animals, and human beings.
What Are Non-Living Things?
Things that cannot breathe, cannot feel, cannot grow, cannot move, and do not give birth to young ones are called non-living things.
Examples:
Blackboard, basket, school bag, water bottle, and many more.
Characteristics of Living Things:
1.All Living Things Can Move:
- All living things have the ability to move.
- We walk to the nearby market.
- Animals run on their legs to move through the forest.
- Plants can also move like a sunflower moves in the direction of the sun.
2. All Living Things Can Grow:
- All living things grow bigger with time.
- A baby grows into a boy or a girl and then into a man or woman.
- A calf grows into a cow. A kitten grows into a cat.
- Plants also grow like humans and animals.
- A seed transforms into a seedling, and then the seedling transforms into a fully grown plant.
3. Why Do Living Things Need Food and Water:
- All living beings need food for the normal growth and development of the body.
- They also require water for their survival.
- Animals eat different types of food and based on that, they are divided into two types—
- Plants, too, need food and water for their growth.
- They prepare their food by the process of photosynthesis using water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide.
4. Living Things Can Breathe:
- All living things like humans and animals breathe in and breathe out.
- Living things breathe in the fresh air, and plants also take up gases from the environment.
- Plant leaves have small holes through which gases can pass.
5. Living Things Can Give Birth to Young Ones:
- All living things can give birth to young ones.
- They can make babies of their own kind.
- A cat gives birth to a kitten, and a dog gives birth to a puppy.
- A woman gives birth to a baby.
- Birds lay eggs from where chicks come out and grow into adults.
- Plants do not make babies, but they bear fruits that contain seeds.
- A new seedling grows from a seed.
Types of Non-Living Things:
Non-living things are of two types—
1.Natural Non-Living Things:
- Some non-living things like rocks, stars, sun, and moon are natural.
- Man does not make these things.
2.Man-Made Non-Living Things:
- Man makes these non-living things.
- They do not exist in our surroundings naturally.
Examples:
Basket, ball, umbrella, book, pencil, hat, and many more.
Features of Non-Living Things:
- Non-living things do not grow.
- Non-living things do not move.
- Non-living things do not eat food and drink water.
- Non-living things do not breathe.
- Non-living things cannot make babies.
New Words:
Seedling: A young plant that grows from the seed.
Adults: A fully-grown living being.
Did You Know?
- All living things die, but non-living things do not die. They may wear out and becomes unfit for use.
- A baby grows into a boy, an adult, and an older man, and finally, he dies.
- This journey is called the life cycle.