Difference between living things and non-living things

In Science, every child learns the differences between living and non-living things. They see several things around them, but can they quickly identify the living and non-living things? Adults can identify the living and non-living things instinctively. But the children cannot easily identify living or non-living things as their sensory system is still developing. They should consider some points to differentiate living and non-living things. Following are the characteristics of living -things:

Characteristics of living things

1. Living things need food to grow We eat fruits, vegetables, cereals, pulses, meat etc to grow healthy and strong. Animals also eat grass, plants or flesh of other animals. When we water the plants, it is food for them. Living things require food to grow



2. Living things grow: A small plant grows into a big plant or a tree. An infant becomes a toddler after some years and then becomes an adult after some years. A butterfly is just an egg initially. Then it grows into a caterpillar and becomes a pupa later on. Then it grows into an adult butterfly



3. Living things reproduce the same kind: A woman gives birth to a baby girl or a boy. A cat gives birth to a kitten and a dog gives birth to a puppy. Birds lay eggs and hatch them to extract their younger ones from the eggs



4. Living things show movements: Living things move from one place to another. We can easily walk from one place to another with our legs and hands to perform tasks. Animals can walk or run with their four legs. A bird can fly in the sky with the wings



5. Living things breathe: The living things breathe oxygen to survive. Living things cannot survive without oxygen. We breathe through our nose. The birds breathe through air tubes and chambers. The fishes breathe through their gills

Characteristics about non-living things