Living ThingsBy Isabel Madero Aguado

How do we know if something is ‘living’? All living things are characterised as being able to do

seven things These are usually remembered by the mnemonic MRS

NERG

MRS

NERG

Can you guess what these

letters stand for?

The 7 characteristics of Living ThingsMovement – Animals move to find food and keep away

from predators, plants move to face the light

Reproduction – the ability to produce offspring to keep the species in existence

Sensitivity – responding and reacting to the environment

Nutrition – Animals need food for respiration, plants need minerals from the soil

Excretion – Getting rid of waste

Respiration – Turning food into energy

Growth – Growing larger and stronger becoming adult size

Description of the characteristics: They are born: all living things come form

other living things. They eat: all living things need food They grow: all living things increase in size

during their lifetime. Sometimes they change in appearance

They react: living things can perceive what is going around them, and they react to what they perceive

They reproduce: living things can create offspring similar to themselves

They die: at some time, all living things stop functioning and cease to live

Internal organisation of living thingsLiving things are made up of a large number of

very small units called cells.A cell is the smallest living unit which make up a

living thing

The number of cells in a living thing varies. Some living things are made up of one single cell. They are called unicellular. Other living things are made up of many cells. They are called multicellular.

Parts of a cell1. The membrane is a covering which

sorrounds the cell, and separates it from the exterior.

2. The nucleus is the part which controls the function of the cell.

3. Cytoplasm is the space between the nucleus and the membrane

Plant cells also have a hard cell wall around the membrane. This is why some plants stems are very hard

The parts of a cellPlant cell Animal cell

How are living things organised?Levels of organisation: Cells: group together to form tissues Tissues: are made up of similar cells that carry out a

common function. Muscle tissue Tissues form organs. Organs are made up of a group

of tissues that work together to carry out a common function. Lungs, heart, stomach.

Organs form systems. Systems are made up of a group of organs that work together to carry out a common function. Skeleton

When all the systems work together, they form an organism

Levels of organisation I

cells tissues organs

Levels of organisation II

organs systems

Ideas to make cellsCells Cells

Classification of Living Things

Everything that is living can be

sorted into these 5 kingdoms

Bacteria Kingdom

Algae Kingdom

Fungi Kingdom

Plant Kingdom

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom Animals are Multicellular – made up of

may specialised cells They eat other living things They can move from one place to

another They have a nervous system and sense

organs. They can react quickly to stimuli.

Humans belong to the animal kingdom

Plant Kingdom Plants are multicellular – made up

of lots of cells They make their own food by

photosynthesis Plants don’t have sense organs or

nervous system, but they react slowly to some stumuli. Many plants grow toward the light, like the sunflowers

Fungi Kingdom Fungi can be unicellular or

multicellular Its body is made up of a network

of threads called hyphae. They don’t make their own food.

They depend on other organism. They are attached to something

Bacteria Kingdom Bacteria are unicellular and can

live in water, soil, air or inside other living things

Bacteria don’t have a nucleus Some can only be seen with a

microscope

Algae Kingdom

Many algae are formed by one cell but others are multicellular and can be as big as a tree

Algae live in damp places of water

Task1. Everyone

Make a list of the 7 characteristics of Living Things (MRS NERG)

Make a list of the 5 Kingdoms of Living Things (try to write an example for each)

2. Extension Research one of the 5 Kingdoms in more detail Make a poster / fact page / fact file

If you get stuck use the key word

lists and information on

your tables