Living Things and Their Needs: Foundation Study Guide
Living things grow, need food and water, and have babies. Non-living things do not.
How do we know a koala is alive and a rock is not? Living things grow, move in some way (plants move towards light), need food and water, respond to their surroundings and reproduce. A rock does none of these.
All living things have basic needs. Animals need food, water, air and shelter. Plants need water, air, light and space to grow. When these needs are met, the living thing is healthy.
Needs of plants and animals
| Living thing | Needs | Australian example |
|---|---|---|
| Animal | Food, water, air, shelter | A kangaroo eats grass, drinks water and rests in shade |
| Plant | Water, air, light, space | A gum tree needs sunlight and water through its roots |
| Person | Food, water, air, shelter, care | People need homes and families |
Animals and where they live
A habitat is where an animal finds what it needs. Koalas live in eucalyptus trees, where they find leaves to eat and branches to sleep on. Frogs live near ponds. Many Australian animals are active at night to avoid the heat; they are called nocturnal.
Observe a plant
Plant a bean seed in a clear cup with damp cotton wool.
Place it on a sunny windowsill.
Draw what you see.
Roots, then stem, then leaves.
What does the plant need to keep growing?
Worked examples and common mistakes
Example: Is a car alive? No, even though it moves. It does not grow, need food or reproduce. Example: Is a seed alive? Yes. It is waiting for water and warmth to grow. Common mistakes: thinking that anything that moves is alive, or that plants are not alive because they do not move around. Also, make sure children know that pets need regular care and cannot look after themselves.
Check your understanding: model answers
1. Living: a plant, a classmate, a pet. Non-living: a desk, a pencil, a book. 2. Water, sunlight, air and space for its roots. 3. A habitat gives an animal the food, water and shelter it needs to stay alive.
✨ Key Takeaways
- Living things grow, need food and water and reproduce.
- Animals need food, water, air and shelter; plants need water, air, light and space.
- A habitat provides what a living thing needs.
- Something that moves is not always alive.
💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection
- Name three living and three non-living things in your classroom.
- What does a gum tree need to grow?
- Why do animals need a habitat?
Print a science observation log →