Characteristics of Living Things What living things have

Characteristics of Living Things

What living things have in common? Characteristics Movement Respiration Growth Nutrition

Movement • Animals move in many ways. Even plants move, such as a flower bud opens into a flower, sunflower turns toward sunlight • Different animals have different organs for movement like – • a) fish –uses fins and tail • b) horse , cow--both fore limbs and hind limbs • c) birds –walk with help of two feet and fly with the help of wings • d) human beings –use two legs to walk

Respiration: intake of oxygen , using it and throwing out of carbon di –oxide • Animals breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. • Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air and give off oxygen. • Different animals have different organs of respiration like – • a) fish – have gills for breathing • b)Whales and dolphins do not have gills but blowholes • c) plants –breathe through stomata on leaves • d) earthworm- through skin • e) human beings –through nostrils • f) insects – through spiracles or air holes

Growth: all living things grow

Nutrition/Feeding • Animals have to eat food and drink water to live. • Plants make their own food in presence of sun light by using water –minerals , carbon dioxide in leaves. • Animals depend on plants directly or in directly for food.

Respond to stimuli • All living things respond to stimuli; • Stimuli- any change in the surrounding that makes us react or respond to them. • Ex. Mimosa leaves close down on being touched • we close our eyes when bright light is flashed • Deer run away to protect themselves from lion

EXCRETION • All living organisms produce some waste products and they are removed or thrown out of our body , this process of getting rid of these wastes is known as excretion. • Ex. Wastes from blood are removed through urine , • Removal of carbon di-oxide • Large intestine removes undigested food from our body

REPRODUCTION • Reproduction –it is the ability of living things to produce individuals of their own kind or type. • Plants reproduce by seeds, buds etc. • Animals reproduce by laying eggs or by giving birth to young ones. • Ex. birds –lay eggs • Cat, dogs , cow –give birth to young ones