Animals & Plants
Everything around us is either living or non-living. Animals and plants are the two biggest groups of living things on Earth, and they depend on each other to survive.
Living vs. Non-Living Things
All living things share six characteristics:
- They are made of cells
- They grow and develop
- They use energy (food)
- They respond to their environment
- They reproduce (make more of themselves)
- They release waste
A rock, a toy, and water are non-living — they do none of these things. A tree, a fish, and a mushroom are all living.
Animal Groups
Scientists group animals by characteristics they share:
| Group | Key Features | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Mammals | Warm-blooded, fur/hair, nurse young with milk | dog, whale, bat, human |
| Birds | Warm-blooded, feathers, lay eggs, most can fly | eagle, penguin, robin |
| Reptiles | Cold-blooded, scales, lay eggs | snake, turtle, lizard |
| Amphibians | Cold-blooded, moist skin, live near water | frog, salamander |
| Fish | Cold-blooded, scales, breathe with gills | salmon, shark, goldfish |
| Insects | 6 legs, 3 body parts, exoskeleton | ant, butterfly, bee |
Parts of a Plant
Each part of a plant has a job:
- Roots — absorb water and nutrients from soil; anchor the plant
- Stem — carries water from roots to leaves; supports the plant
- Leaves — make food using sunlight (photosynthesis)
- Flower — attracts pollinators; involved in reproduction
- Fruit — protects seeds; helps seeds spread
- Seed — grows into a new plant
Photosynthesis in Simple Terms
Sunlight + Water + Carbon Dioxide → Food (glucose) + Oxygen. Plants make their own food — animals cannot.
Quick Quiz
Test what you just learned. Choose the best answer for each question.