Living Things and Non-living Things

Hello, Young Scientists!

Welcome to an exciting adventure! Have you ever looked around and wondered why a cat can run and play, but a stone just sits there? Or why a flower grows, but your toy car stays the same size? It's because our world is filled with two types of things: living things and non-living things.

In these notes, we'll become detectives and learn the secret rules to tell them apart. Understanding this helps us appreciate the amazing world of nature and our place in it. Let's begin!


What are Living Things?

Living things are things that are alive. Simple, right? This includes all the animals and plants in the world. They come in all shapes and sizes!

Animals

Animals are living things that can usually move from place to place.
Examples: People, dogs, cats, birds, fish, butterflies, and worms.

Plants

Plants are living things that are usually green and stay in one spot, making their own food from sunlight.
Examples: Trees, flowers, grass, and ferns.

Did you know? Hong Kong has its very own special flower called the Bauhinia blakeana, or the Hong Kong Orchid Tree. You can see it on Hong Kong's flag! It's a beautiful living thing.

Key Takeaway

Living things are all the plants and animals around us. They are alive!


What are Non-living Things?

Non-living things are things that are not, and have never been, alive. They don't have the "spark of life" that plants and animals do.

Our world is full of non-living things, both natural and man-made.
Examples: A rock, a pencil, your school bag, a toy, water, the air, and your computer.

Key Takeaway

Non-living things are objects that are not alive. They cannot grow or have babies on their own.


The Secret Rules of Life!

So, how can we be 100% sure if something is living or not? Living things follow a set of special rules. Let's call them the "Secret Rules of Life". Don't worry if this seems tricky at first, we'll use simple examples!

Rule #1: Living things can GROW.

All living things change and get bigger over time. This is called growth and development.
- A tiny kitten grows into a big cat.
- A small seed sprouts and grows into a tall tree.
- You were once a small baby, and now you are growing bigger and stronger every day!

But... a non-living thing, like your chair, will always stay the same size. It doesn't grow on its own.

Rule #2: Living things can REPRODUCE.

This is a fancy word that means living things can make more of their own kind.
- A mother bird lays eggs that hatch into baby birds.
- A plant produces seeds, and those seeds can grow into new plants.
- Dogs have puppies.

But... your lunchbox can't make baby lunchboxes, can it? Non-living things cannot reproduce.

Rule #3: Living things REACT to the world around them.

Living things can sense changes in their surroundings and respond to them. This is called responding to stimuli.
- If you touch a hot pan, you quickly pull your hand away. That's a reaction!
- A plant called the 'touch-me-not' (含羞草) closes its leaves when you touch it.
- A rabbit hears a loud noise and runs away to hide.

But... if you shine a light on a rock, it doesn't do anything. It doesn't react.

Other Important Clues for Living Things

Here are a couple more easy clues to remember:

They need air and water to survive. Just like you need to breathe air and drink water every day, so do all other plants and animals. (From syllabus point 1LB3)

Animals can move. Most animals can walk, run, swim, or fly to find food or escape danger. Plants can move too, but very slowly, like turning their leaves towards the sun! (From syllabus point 1LB4)


Quick Review Box

To check if something is alive, ask these 3 main questions:
1. Can it GROW and change on its own?
2. Can it REPRODUCE (make more of its own kind)?
3. Does it REACT to things happening around it?

If the answer is "yes" to these, it's a living thing!


Let's Be Detectives: Living or Non-living?

Let's practice using our new detective skills! Look at the object and ask our secret rule questions.

Case #1: A Dog

1. Does it grow? Yes, a puppy grows into a dog.
2. Does it reproduce? Yes, dogs can have puppies.
3. Does it react? Yes, it barks at strangers and wags its tail when it's happy.
Verdict: A dog is a LIVING thing!

Case #2: A Book

1. Does it grow? No, a book always stays the same size.
2. Does it reproduce? No, it can't make baby books.
3. Does it react? No, it doesn't do anything if you talk to it.
Verdict: A book is a NON-LIVING thing!

Common Mistakes to Avoid!

Sometimes things can be tricky.
- Just because something moves, it doesn't mean it's alive. For example, a car moves, but it's a non-living thing because it can't grow or reproduce on its own.
- Just because something stays still, it doesn't mean it's non-living. For example, a tree doesn't walk around, but it is a living thing because it grows, reproduces, and reacts!


Our Big Responsibility: Caring for Living Things

Now that we know the difference, we have a very important job: to respect and care for all living things. They share the planet with us, and we need them to survive.

Here are some easy ways to help:

- Be gentle with animals and pets.
- Water the plants at home.
- Don't pull leaves and flowers off trees in the park.
- Help keep our environment clean so plants and animals have a healthy home.


Chapter Summary: What We've Learned!

Great job, everyone! You've learned the basics of what makes our world tick.

- The world is made of living things (plants and animals) and non-living things (like rocks and toys).
- We can tell if something is living by checking if it can Grow, Reproduce, and React.
- Living things also need air and water to survive.
- It is our duty to respect and care for all living things.

Keep looking around you and practice being a science detective! You'll be an expert in no time.