Download Characteristics of Living Things

Characteristics of Living Things
All living things grow and change
All living things can reproduce
All living things respond to their
environment
All living things are made up of cells
that contain DNA
All living things take in and use
energy (light, oxygen, food, etc)
All living things produce wastes
All living things have a life span
Examples of Characteristics:
All living things grow and change
– A caterpillar changes into a butterfly
– A tadpole develops into a frog
– Your bones strengthen and your voice deepens
All living things can reproduce
– A bird lays eggs that will soon hatch
– A cow gives birth to a live calf
– Flowers disperse their seeds to produce more
– Mushrooms disperse their spores to produce
more
More Examples of Characteristics:
All livings respond to their environment
– Birds migrate South in response to colder weather
– A chameleon changes its skin color to blend in with a tree
– You perspire to release excess heat from your body
– A rabbit grows a thick coat of fur in preparation for winter
All living things are made up of cells that contain DNA
– You are made of trillions of cells; some are blood cells, nerve
cells, skin cells…etc
– A bacteria is uni-cellular and microscopic
– A dog’s DNA (genetic material) is very similar to a wolf's
DNA
More Examples of Characteristics:
All living things take in and use energy
– A plant uses sunlight and carbon dioxide to make sugars
– A bear hunts and eats a fish in order to survive
– You yawn to take in more oxygen when you are tired
All living things produce wastes
– You breathe out carbon dioxide when you exhale
– A plant gives of oxygen as a waste from photosynthesis
– A dog pants to release excess heat from its body
All living things have a life span
– A fruit fly may live for 24 hours
– A sea turtle may live for over 100 years
Earthworm Facts:
Earthworms spend most of their time in soil,
where it is dark
Earthworms eat soil, which contains bits of
leaves and other organic matter, for energy
Earthworms must remain moist at all times
because they exchange oxygen and carbon
dioxide through their skin. Moisture helps
them to “breathe” easier
Earthworms have setae or bristle-like hairs
that help them move through soil
More Earthworm Facts:
The digestive system of an earthworm is made up
of a crop, gizzard, and intestine
Earthworms have one main nerve cord that
connects to the brain
Earthworms use their nerve segments to
respond to light, moisture, touch and
temperature.
Earthworms have both male and female
reproductive structures
Earthworms cannot reproduce unless another
earthworm is present
Diagram of an Earthworm