Understanding the Difference Between Living and Non-Living Things for Grade 1 Science

What are Living Things?

Living things are all around us! They are things that can grow, change, and reproduce. Here are some examples:

• Plants: Like flowers and trees that grow and need sunlight and water.
• Animals: Like dogs, cats, and birds that can move and eat.
• Humans: That's us! We eat, breathe, and grow just like other living things!

Living things have specific characteristics:

• They need food and water.
• They can reproduce (have babies).
• They can move on their own (like animals).
• They grow and change over time.

What are Non-Living Things?

Non-living things do not grow, reproduce, or need food and water. They are things that are not alive. Examples include:

• Rocks: They don’t grow or change.
• Cars: They can’t eat or move by themselves.
• Books: They are made of paper and ink and can’t grow.

Here are some key points about non-living things:

• They do not need food or water.
• They do not grow or change.
• They cannot reproduce.

Summary

In summary, the main difference between living and non-living things is that living things can grow, change, and reproduce, while non-living things cannot. Next time you go outside, look around and see how many living and non-living things you can find!