What are Living Things?

What are Living Things?

Open Ended

Both of these pictures show living things. How are these living things different?

What characteristics do Living Things Share?

• Scientists believe there are approximately 8.7 million species on earth.

• However, there are 5 characteristics that all living things share.

#1: Living Things are made of Cells

• Cell: is a membrane-covered structure that contains all of the material necessary for life.

• Smallest unit of life that has all of the structure to perform life functions.

• Unicellular: single cell (1)

• Multicellular: more than 1 cell

Multiple Choice

I'm a cattail. I am....

• Unicellular

• Multicellular

Multiple Choice

I'm a paramecium. I am....

• Unicellular

• Multicellular

Multiple Choice

I'm a turtle. I am....

• Unicellular

• Multicellular

Multiple Choice

I'm a amoeba. I am....

• Unicellular

• Multicellular

#2: Living Things Respond to their Environment

• All living things have the ability to sense change in their environment and respond.

• Stimulus: a change that affects the activity of an organism.

• This can include: gravity, light, hunger, fear, sound, etc.

#2: Living Things Respond to their Environment

• Homeostasis: maintenance of stable internal conditions.

• Even if outside conditions change, the internal conditions of a living organism stay constant.

• Hot= Sweat, Cold=Shiver

• Being just right...

Open Ended

Why do you think these sunflowers are all facing the same direction?

#3: Living Things Reproduce

• Organisms make other organisms through reproduction.

• When organisms reproduce they pass copies of all of their DNA to their offspring.

• DNA is the genetic material that contains instructions for how cells should look and function.

#3: Living Things Reproduce

• Sexual Reproduction: 2 parents produce an offspring and the offspring has characteristics of both parents.

• This occurs in most plants and animals.

#3: Living Things Reproduce

• Asexual Reproduction: a single parent produces an offspring that is identical to the parent.

• Most unicellular and some animals and plants

• Budding: new organism grows on parent then splits.

• Binary Fusion: 1 splits into 2

Multiple Choice

A hydra produces offspring using asexual reproduction. Will the offspring be identical or not identiical?

• Identical

• Not Identical

Multiple Choice

A pig produces offspring using sexual reproduction. Will the offspring be identical or not identiical?

• Identical

• Not Identical

#4: Living Things use Energy

• Energy is needed to carry out the functions of life.

• Energy allows organisms to: make and break down food, move and interact with the environment, and build new cells.

• Energy comes from food.

Multiple Choice

How does this organism get food?

• It makes the food

• It eats plants and animals

• It breaks down waste and dead things

Multiple Choice

How does this organism get food?

• It makes the food

• It eats plants and animals

• It breaks down waste and dead things

Multiple Choice

How does this organism get food?

• It makes the food

• It eats plants and animals

• It breaks down waste and dead things

#5: Living Things Grow & Reproduce

• All living things grow during their lives.

• Unicellular: grows, gets larger, divides into 2 new cells.

• Multicellular: grows, # of cells increase, gets larger/bigger

• As living things grow and mature their bodies change.

Multiple Choice

Your stomach growls when you are hungry

• Living thing made of cells

• Living things respond to stimuli

• Living Things Reproduce

• Living Things need Energy

• Living Things Grow and Mature

Multiple Choice

Before a soccer game Charlie always eats a big dinner. Which characteristic of life does this face best describe? 

• living things use energy
• living things reproduce
• living things grow and develop
• living things are based on a universal genetic code

Multiple Choice

Which of the following characteristics of living things best explains why your legs and arms get longer and stronger as you get older? 

• living things respond to their environment
• living things maintain internal balance
• living things are made of cells
• living things grow and develop

Multiple Choice

Which of the following characteristics of living things best explains why humans sweat when they get hot?

• maintaining a stable internal enviornment
• growth and development
• using energy
• ability to reproduce

Multiple Choice

Which of the following characteristics of living things best explain a cat having a litter of kittens?

• living things respond to their environment
• living things maintain homeostasis
• living things reproduce
• living things are based on a genetic code

Multiple Choice

A worm turns away from light is an example of a worm

• reproducing
• doing cellular respiration
• having cells
• responding to its environment

Multiple Choice

In order to be considered living an organism must have

• blood
• cells
• brains
• hair

Multiple Choice

The basic unit of life is called a (n)

• atom
• compound
• cell
• energy

Multiple Choice

Which one of the following is a characteristic of life?

• Growth
• Breathing
• Expelling toxins
• Photosynthesis

Multiple Choice

Cells from 2 parents unite to form a new individual.

• asexual reproduction
• sexual reproduction
• biosphere
• stimulus

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of all living things?

• Move around.

• Use energy.

• Respond to surrounding environment

• Grow, develop, and reproduce