Living and Non-living
Class 6 Science · Chapter 10: Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics · NCERT Curiosity section 10.1
Learn
Kabir's little sister asks, "Is my toy car alive? It moves!" Kabir thinks: a sparrow moves too, but so does a cloud. Moving alone does not make something living. So what does?
Living things share many features. They need food for energy, breathe (take in air), grow, respond to changes around them, get rid of wastes, reproduce (make more of their own kind), and have a fixed life span.
A toy car moves only when pushed or wound up; it does not eat, grow or have babies, so it is non-living. A seed looks lifeless, but given water and warmth it grows into a plant: it is living, just resting.
Plants are living too, even though most don't walk. They make their own food in sunlight, grow taller, and respond: sunflowers turn towards the Sun and the leaves of chhui-mui fold when touched.
Explore: living or non-living?
- Sort each one.
Remember
- Living things need food, breathe, grow, respond, remove wastes and reproduce.
- Moving by itself does not make something living.
Quick check
Why is a moving toy car NOT living?
- It does not eat, grow or reproduce
- Because it is small
- Because it is coloured
- It moves too fast
Answer
It does not eat, grow or reproduce. Living things need food, grow and reproduce; moving alone is not enough.
Think about it
A fire grows, moves and needs air. Is it living? Explain using the features of living things.
One answer
No. Although it grows and uses air, a fire does not reproduce on its own, does not grow from within, has no life cycle, and does not respond to its surroundings like living things do.
Practice
Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.