Living Things

Science Terms
• alive • hidup
• living things • makhluk hidup
• organism • organisme
• move • bergerak
• breathe • bernapas
• grow • tumbuh
• reproduce • berkembangbiak
• stimulus • rangsang (di perlakukan)
• develop • berkembang
 Living or Non-living Things
Many plants and animals can be easily
recognized as living things, but some others are
not, such as Lichens on rocks, for example.

Discuss these questions in pairs.

• Are all moving things alive?
• Do all moving things breathe?
• Give some examples of moving things that
breathe? And some moving things that do not
breathe
• Do all living things reproduce?
Some Living Characteristics of
an Organism
• Respiring
• Moving
• Receiving and responding to stimulus
• Growing and developing
• Reproducing
• Requiring oxygen, water and food
 1. Respiring
All living things respire. Respiration is the
process of breaking up food and giving off
energy. Living things take oxygen and
release carbondioxide during respiration.
The respiration produces energy, water
vapors, and carbon dioxide. The energy
produced during respiration is used for
living processes.
 2. Moving

Moving is another characteristic of an

organism. A plant grows towards the
sun light. Birds fly, snakes slither,
horses walk, we walk and run. Flying,
slithering, walking and running are
ways of moving as shown on
So, all organisms move, but not all
are able to move to different places.
3. Receiving and Responding to
Stimulus
What do you do to find out that a Mimosa
pudica (putri malu/touch me not) is alive?
Touch it and see what might happen. It
will close its leaves. One characteristic of
an organism is to respond to its
surrounding. An example of such a
response is a plant growing towards the
light
Mimosa pudica L
 4. Growing and Developing
• Growing is a changing process by
increasing the size and number of
cells. Besides growth, there is also
a maturation process which is
called as development. Human
beings grow from infants to adults.
 5. Reproducing
All living things reproduce. They
produce young generations
(offsprings). Animals like cows and
deer reproduce by giving birth, while
others like turtles and chickens
reproduce by lying eggs. Reproduction
is necessary for organisms so that
they are not extinct.
What Are Needed
by A Living Thing?
2. Water
All living things need water. Have you
ever picks some fresh flowers and put their
stalks in a glass of water? Why do you put
some water? In the following activity you will
see what happens to a leaf if it does not get
enough water.
 What Are Needed
by A Living Thing?

3. Food

You have noticed that living things grow and develop,

respond to any stimulus and do other activities. Where do
they get the energy for their activities? Cars which need fuel
for their energy, while living things need food for their
energy.
How much fuel do you need? Think about what you have
eaten in one day. Write down any food and beverages that
you have consumed today. Why do we need that much
food?