Living vs Nonliving Things
Grade 1 · Science · Study Guide
How can you tell if something is alive? Find out what makes living things special!
Look around you — some things are alive, and some things are not. Scientists call this the difference between living things and nonliving things. But how do you know which is which? Living things all share certain special characteristics that nonliving things do not have.
All living things grow and change over time. A tiny seed grows into a tall tree. A baby kitten grows into a big cat. Living things also need food, water, and air to survive. They respond to the world around them — a sunflower turns toward light, and a dog runs away from a loud noise. Every living thing can also reproduce, which means it can make new living things like itself.
Nonliving things do not do any of these things. A rock does not eat, breathe, grow, or have babies. Water does not respond to danger or reproduce. Some things, like wood from a tree or a piece of leather, were once part of living things but are now nonliving because they no longer carry out life functions.
| Characteristic | Living Things | Nonliving Things |
|---|---|---|
| Grow? | Yes | No |
| Need food/water? | Yes | No |
| Reproduce? | Yes | No |
| Respond to environment? | Yes | No |
| Examples | Dogs, trees, mushrooms, people | Rocks, water, cars, plastic |
Key terms
- living thing
- Something that grows, needs food and water, responds to its surroundings, and can reproduce.
- nonliving thing
- Something that does not grow, eat, breathe, or reproduce — like rocks, water, and plastic.
- reproduce
- To make new individuals of the same kind; all living things can do this.
- respond
- To react to something in the environment — like a plant turning toward light.
- organism
- Any living thing — plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria are all organisms.
Flashcards
- living thing
- Something that grows, needs energy, responds, and can reproduce.
- nonliving thing
- Something that does not eat, grow, breathe, or reproduce.
- reproduce
- Make new individuals of the same kind.
- grow
- Become bigger and more complex over time — a key sign of life.
- organism
- Any living thing, from tiny bacteria to giant whales.
- respond
- React to something in the environment, like a plant leaning toward light.
Practice questions
Which of these is a living thing?
- A rock
- A plastic cup
- A tree
- A bicycle
Show answer
Answer: A tree
Trees grow, need water and sunlight, respond to their environment, and reproduce through seeds — all signs of life.
Living things grow and change over time.
Show answer
Answer: True
Growth and change over time is one of the seven characteristics of all living things.
What does reproduce mean?
- To eat food
- To make new living things like itself
- To breathe air
- To grow taller
Show answer
Answer: To make new living things like itself
Reproduction ensures the survival of a species — from dogs having puppies to dandelions releasing seeds.
A rock is a living thing because it has been on Earth for a long time.
Show answer
Answer: False
Age alone does not make something alive. Rocks are nonliving because they do not grow, eat, breathe, respond, or reproduce.
Living things that are alive are called ___.
Show answer
Answer: organisms
All living things — plants, animals, fungi, bacteria — are called organisms by scientists.
Fun facts
- There are more bacteria living inside your body right now than there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy!
- A piece of driftwood on a beach WAS living once (it was a tree), but is now nonliving.
- Scientists have found tiny organisms living in boiling hot volcanic vents deep in the ocean!
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