Living vs Nonliving Things
Kindergarten · Science · Study Guide
Learn how to tell the difference between living and nonliving things.
Everything in the world is either living or nonliving. Scientists use special clues to tell the difference.
Living things are alive! They grow and change over time. A tiny seed can grow into a big tree. A baby cat grows into an adult cat. Living things also need food, water, and air to survive. They can also have babies, which means they reproduce.
Animals and plants are living things. Dogs, butterflies, fish, and trees are all living things. Even tiny things like bacteria are living!
Nonliving things are not alive. They do not grow, eat, breathe, or have babies on their own. Rocks, water, chairs, pencils, and clouds are all nonliving things.
Some things can be tricky! Water is nonliving, but living things need it. A fire can grow and needs air, but it is not alive because it cannot reproduce or eat food the way living things do.
Here is an easy way to remember: if something can grow, eat, breathe, and make more of itself, it is living!
Key terms
- living
- Something that is alive, grows, needs food and water, and can reproduce
- nonliving
- Something that is not alive and does not grow or reproduce on its own
- grow
- To get bigger over time
- reproduce
- To make more living things like itself, such as having babies or making seeds
- needs
- Things a living thing must have to stay alive, like food, water, and air
Flashcards
- Living thing
- Something alive that grows, eats, breathes, and can make more of its kind
- Nonliving thing
- Something that is not alive and does not grow on its own
- Grow
- To get bigger and change over time
- Reproduce
- To make babies or seeds — new living things
- Food
- Something living things eat to get energy
- Water
- Something all living things need to survive
- Air
- Something living things breathe to stay alive
Questions
Which of these is a living thing?
- Rock
- Cloud
- Dog
- Chair
Show answer
Answer: Dog
A dog is a living thing because it grows, breathes, eats, and can have puppies.
Nonliving things can grow and have babies.
Show answer
Answer: False
Nonliving things do not grow or have babies. Only living things do those things.
What do living things need to survive?
- Paint and paper
- Food, water, and air
- Rocks and sand
- Nothing at all
Show answer
Answer: Food, water, and air
All living things need food, water, and air to stay alive.
A rock is a ______ thing because it does not grow or eat.
Show answer
Answer: nonliving
A rock does not eat, breathe, grow, or reproduce, so it is nonliving.
Plants are living things.
Show answer
Answer: True
Plants are living things. They grow, make food from sunlight, and can make seeds.
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