This worksheet will help you understand the key characteristics that define living organisms. Use the space provided to answer the questions and complete the activities.
Instructions: Read each section carefully and answer the questions to the best of your ability.
What Makes Something Alive?
All living things share certain characteristics. These characteristics help us distinguish between living organisms and non-living things. Let's explore these key features.
1. Organization: From Cells to Ecosystems
Question 1: What is the basic unit of life?
Question 2: Describe the different levels of organization in living things, starting from cells and progressing to ecosystems. Give an example for each level.
2. Metabolism: Energy and Chemical Reactions
Question 3: What is metabolism? Give examples of metabolic processes.
3. Growth and Development: Increasing in Size and Complexity
Question 4: Explain the difference between growth and development. Provide examples.
4. Adaptation: Responding to the Environment
Question 5: What is adaptation? Give examples of how organisms adapt to their environments.
5. Response to Stimuli: Interaction with the Surroundings
Question 6: What is a stimulus? Describe how organisms respond to different stimuli (light, temperature, touch, etc.).
6. Reproduction: Creating New Organisms
Question 7: What are the two main types of reproduction? Explain each with an example.
7. Homeostasis: Maintaining a Stable Internal Environment
Question 8: What is homeostasis? Give examples of how organisms maintain homeostasis.
Activity: Living or Non-Living?
Instructions: Classify the following items as living or non-living. Explain your reasoning.
| Item | Living/Non-Living | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| A rock | ||
| A tree | ||
| A virus | ||
| A bacterium | ||
| A car | ||
| A human being | ||
| A mushroom | ||
| Sunlight |
This worksheet provides a foundational understanding of the characteristics of living things. Further research and exploration will deepen your knowledge.
