Characteristics and Importance of Living and Non Living Things

LESSON – LIVING AND NON LIVING THINGS

TOPIC – PART 1 

• Living and Non Living Things

• Characteristics of Living and Non Living Things 

• Importance of Plants and Animals 

• Differences between Plants and Animals

• Uses and Importance of Living and Non Living

• Classification of Non Living Things – Metal and Non – Metal Materials 

• Different between Metal and Non – Materials

• Uses of Metal and Non – Materials

INTRODUCTION

LIVING THINGS

Living things include many kinds of organisms – the plants, animals, fungi, etc. that can be readily seen in nature or with a microscope.

Living things can be found in every type of habitat on Earth – on land and in lakes, rivers, and oceans.

Although all these organisms are very different from one another but have similar characteristics.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING THINGS 

The characteristics of living things are as follows:

1. MOVEMENT 

Living things like man, dogs, goats, etc. move from one place to another on their own.

Forms of movements include, walking, running, jumping, swimming, and flying. Plants also moved but not like man and animals.

They move according to stimuli, move towards light and water.

2. SENSITIVITY/IRRITATION 

Living things respond to conditions around them.

For example, cold, heat, etc.

3. RESPIRATION 

All living things respire.

Take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide.

Plants take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen.

4. NUTRITION 

Living things feed on different nutritional foods for growth and development.

5. GROWTH 

All living things grow in height, size and weight.

Plants continue to grow throughout their life time while man and animals stop at a certain stage of life.

6. REPRODUCTION 

All living things have the ability to produce their young ones.

Man and animals release waste in form of urine, carbon oxide, sweat, etc.

While plants also do the same in form of water, gum, etc.

7. EXCRETION 

This is the ability to remove waste from the body.

8. DEATH 

When living things are unable to carry out all these activities, they are said to be death.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PLANTS AND ANIMALS 

1. MOVEMENT 

Plants do not move on their own, they are generally rooted in one place.

While animals have the ability to move from one place to another.  

2. FEEDING 

Plants make their own food because they contain chlorophyll.

While animals depend on plants and other animals.

3. RESPIRATION 

Plants give take in carbon oxide and give out oxygen.

While animals take in oxygen and give out carbon oxide.

4. SENSITIVITY 

Plants have no ability to sense.

While animals have a very high sensory and nervous system.

5. GROWTH 

Plants continue to grow in height, size and weight throughout their life time.

While animals stop to grow at a particular time.

USES /IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 

The importance of plants and animals are as follows:

1. Food – plants and animals.

2. Herbal medicine – plants and animals.

3. Raw materials for the industries – plants and animals.

4. Security – animals like dogs.

5. Pets – animals like dogs, cats, horses, etc.

6. Shelter – plants.

7. Foreign exchange – plants and animals.

8. Work – animals like bulls, cattle, etc.

9. Transportation – animals like horses, camels, donkeys, etc.

NON LIVING THINGS

Non living things are anything without life such as materials – objects or body.

Non living things are anything which cannot grow, move, breathe and reproduce.

CHARACTERISTICS (PROPERTIES) NON LIVING THINGS

The characteristics of on living things are as follows:

1. They do not breathe or need air.

2. They do not need food and water to survive.

3. They do not respond to changes.

4.They do not reproduce.

5. They do not grow.

6. They cannot move by themselves.

7. They cannot  die.

USES (IMPORTANCE) OF NON LIVING THINGS

The importance of non living things are as follows:

1. It is used for building house – sand, stone, water, iron, etc.

2. It is used for making tools – iron and wood are used for making tools like hammer, screwdriver, etc.

3. It is used for making farming tools and equipments.

4. It is used for security and defence.

5. It is used for transportation – cars, boats, aeroplanes, etc.

6. It is used for making household equipments – knives, chair, etc.

PROJECT WORK 

1. Press plant materials to make a plant album.

2. Make a photo album of plants and animals.

3. Make a list of 10 examples of living things and 10 examples of non living things

LESSON EVALUATION 

Answer all the questions.

1. name four examples of plants and animals.

2. state four differences between plants and animals.

3. list three important uses of plants and animals.

4. list four characteristics of living things.

5. describe self as a living thing.

6. differentiate between living and non living things with appropriate examples.

7. state 5 important uses of living things.

8. mention 5 important uses of non living things.

9. mention four uses each of metals and non – metals.