Characteristics of living organisms

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Characteristics of living organisms
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Essential Question

• What are the characteristics of living organisms?

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Living or Non-living?

• Chrysalis
• Butterfly
• Why?

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Living or Non-living?

• Bird nest and eggs
• Why?

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Living or Non-living?

• Trilobite fossil
• Why?

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Living or Non-living?

• Colored tree leaf?
• Why?
• Green leaf?
• Why?

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Living or Non-living?

• Acorns on the tree?
• Acorns off of the tree?
• Why?

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Living or Non-living?

• An egg?
• Why?

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Living or Non-living?

• Seedling?
• Why?

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Living or Non-living?

• Amethyst crystal?
• Why or why not?

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Living or Non-living?

• Potatoes in a garden?
• Why?
• Potato from the store?
• Why?

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Living or Non-living?

• Ears of popcorn?
• (take off ear and put in popper)
• Why or why not?

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What traits make these organisms living or
non-living?

• Take a few minutes to brainstorm some traits that
  all of the LIVING organisms have.

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The Characteristics ofLiving Organisms

• Biologists use seven characteristics to classify
  something as a living organism.
• 1. Made of one or more cells
• 2. Require Energy
• 3. Require water
• 4. Respond to a stimulus
• 5. Reproduce
• 6. Produce waste
• 7. Have a life span

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The Characteristics ofLiving Things

• All living things have these seven
  characteristics.
• Anything without one of these seven
  characteristics is nonliving.
• Living things are called organisms.

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1. Made of Cells

• Organisms are made up of one or more cells.
• A cell is the basic unit of structure and
  function in living things.
• Cells the

Building Blocks"
of life.
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2. Require Energy

• All organisms need and use energy to live.
• Energy is the ability to do work.

• Sunlight is the source of energy for most living
  things.
• Plants use the energy in sunlight to make food,
  and animals get energy by eating plants or other
  animals that have eaten plants.

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3. Require water

• All living organisms need water to survive!

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4. Respond to a stimulus

• Organisms react to change in their surroundings.
• Any reaction to change is called a response.
• For example A bright light may cause you to
  blink.

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5. Reproduce

• Organisms produce more organisms of their own
  kind.
• Reproduction allows organisms to continue living
  on the earth.

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6. Produce waste

• Not only must an organism excrete waste, they
  must have a way to exchange gasses (respiration)
• For example fish have gills to take in oxygen
  and get rid of CO2

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7. Have a Life Span
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7. Have a life span

• Living things change, or develop, during their
  lifetimes.
• One way organisms change is by growing.
• Living things may also change in appearance.
• For example tadpoles and frogs

• All organisms grow and develop.

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Summary

• Biologists use seven characteristics to classify
  something as a living thing.
• 1. Made of Cells
• 2. Require Energy
• 3. Adapted to Their Surroundings
• 4. React to Changes
• 5. Reproduce
• 6. Have a life span
• All living things display these characteristics.