Nonliving Things
Not everything around us is alive! Toys, rocks, water, and chairs are all nonliving things. Let's learn what makes something NONLIVING and how to tell if something is alive or not!
Learn
A nonliving thing is something that is NOT alive. Nonliving things do NOT grow, do NOT need food or water, do NOT breathe, and cannot make babies or seeds. A rock is a nonliving thing!
Examples of Nonliving Things
Types of Nonliving Things
Natural nonliving things - found in nature but not alive:
- Rocks, sand, soil
- Water, ice, clouds
- Sun, moon, stars
- Air, wind
Human-made nonliving things - things people make:
- Toys, books, clothes
- Cars, bikes, houses
- Tables, chairs, beds
- Computers, phones, TVs
How to Tell: Living or Nonliving?
Ask yourself these questions:
| Question | Living Things | Nonliving Things |
|---|---|---|
| Does it grow? | YES | NO |
| Does it need food/water? | YES | NO |
| Does it breathe? | YES | NO |
| Can it move on its own? | YES | NO |
| Can it have babies/seeds? | YES | NO |
Examples
Let's check if these things are living or nonliving!
Example 1: A Rock
Let's check:
- Does it grow? NO - a rock stays the same size
- Does it need food and water? NO - rocks don't eat or drink
- Does it breathe? NO - rocks don't need air
- Can it move on its own? NO - rocks only move if something pushes them
- Can it have babies? NO - rocks don't make new rocks
Is a rock living or nonliving? NONLIVING! A rock is a nonliving thing.
Example 2: A Teddy Bear
Let's check:
- Does it grow? NO - your teddy stays the same size
- Does it need food and water? NO - you don't feed your teddy real food
- Does it breathe? NO - it's stuffed with cotton, not lungs
- Can it move on its own? NO - you have to move it
- Can it have babies? NO - teddy bears can't make baby teddy bears
Is a teddy bear living or nonliving? NONLIVING! Even though we love our teddy bears, they are nonliving things.
Example 3: Water
Let's check:
- Does it grow? NO - water doesn't grow bigger
- Does it need food? NO - water doesn't eat
- Does it breathe? NO - water doesn't need air
- Can it move on its own? It flows, but only because of gravity
- Can it have babies? NO - water doesn't make more water on its own
Is water living or nonliving? NONLIVING! Water is a nonliving thing, but living things NEED water to survive!
Example 4: A Car
Let's check:
- Does it grow? NO - cars don't grow bigger
- Does it need food and water? NO - cars need gas, but that's not food like living things eat
- Does it breathe? NO - cars don't breathe
- Can it move on its own? NO - a person has to drive it
- Can it have babies? NO - cars are made in factories, not born
Is a car living or nonliving? NONLIVING! Cars are machines made by people.
Example 5: The Sun
Let's check:
- Does it grow? NO - not like living things grow
- Does it need food and water? NO
- Does it breathe? NO
- Can it have babies? NO - suns don't give birth to baby suns
Is the sun living or nonliving? NONLIVING! The sun is a giant ball of hot gas, but it's not alive. However, living things on Earth NEED the sun to survive!
Practice Problems
Is each thing LIVING or NONLIVING?
Problem 1
Is a chair living or nonliving?
Show Answer
NONLIVING! A chair doesn't grow, doesn't eat, doesn't breathe, and can't have baby chairs!
Problem 2
Is a dog living or nonliving?
Show Answer
LIVING! Dogs grow, eat food, drink water, breathe, and can have puppies!
Problem 3
Is a bicycle living or nonliving?
Show Answer
NONLIVING! Bicycles don't grow, eat, or breathe. They only move when you pedal them!
Problem 4
Is a tree living or nonliving?
Show Answer
LIVING! Trees grow, need water and sunlight, breathe through their leaves, and make seeds!
Problem 5
Is a book living or nonliving?
Show Answer
NONLIVING! Books don't grow, don't need food, and don't breathe. They're made from paper!
Problem 6
Is ice cream living or nonliving?
Show Answer
NONLIVING! Ice cream is a food - it doesn't grow, breathe, or have babies!
Problem 7
Is a butterfly living or nonliving?
Show Answer
LIVING! Butterflies grow (from caterpillars), eat nectar, breathe, fly around, and lay eggs!
Problem 8
Is a cloud living or nonliving?
Show Answer
NONLIVING! Clouds are made of tiny water drops. They don't eat, grow, or have babies!
Problem 9
Is a robot living or nonliving?
Show Answer
NONLIVING! Even though robots can move and seem smart, they are machines made by people. They don't truly grow, eat, breathe, or have babies!
Problem 10
Is a seed living or nonliving?
Show Answer
LIVING! This is tricky! A seed looks like it's not alive, but it IS alive - it's just sleeping! When you plant it and give it water, it will grow into a plant!
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
What is a nonliving thing?
Show Answer
A nonliving thing is something that is NOT alive. It doesn't grow, doesn't need food or water, doesn't breathe, and can't have babies!
Question 2
Name three nonliving things in your classroom.
Show Answer
Examples: Desk, chair, book, pencil, crayon, board, clock, window - these are all nonliving things!
Question 3
Can a toy move on its own? Why or why not?
Show Answer
NO! Toys are nonliving, so they can't move on their own. They need a person (a living thing) to move them!
Question 4
What's the difference between a real cat and a toy cat?
Show Answer
A real cat is LIVING - it grows, eats, drinks, breathes, moves on its own, and can have kittens. A toy cat is NONLIVING - it doesn't do any of those things!
Next Steps
Sorting Game!
Look around your room and sort things into two groups:
- Living: Plants, pets, people, bugs
- Nonliving: Toys, furniture, clothes, books
Draw a picture showing 3 living things and 3 nonliving things!
- Practice sorting living and nonliving things everywhere you go!
- Remember: Living things grow, need food and water, and breathe
- Ready to learn about forces? Check out Push and Pull!