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Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics

Chapter 10. Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics

These CBSE Notes – Key Points are prepared according to the latest NCERT Curiosity textbook and the latest CBSE competency-based pattern. They provide a quick revision of important concepts, life processes, life cycles, seed germination, and scientific terms covered in the chapter.

CBSE Notes – Key Points

These notes are useful for quick revision before examinations. Read the important definitions, tables, scientific terms, and key facts carefully to strengthen your conceptual understanding.

Important Keywords

The following keywords are frequently used in this chapter and should be remembered carefully.

Keyword	Meaning
Living Organism	An organism that performs all life processes.
Non-living Thing	An object that does not perform life processes.
Growth	Permanent increase in the size of an organism.
Nutrition	Process of obtaining and using food.
Respiration	Process of releasing energy from food.
Excretion	Removal of waste materials from the body.
Reproduction	Production of young ones of the same kind.
Stimulus	Any change in the surroundings.
Response	Reaction of an organism to a stimulus.
Germination	Development of a seed into a seedling.
Life Cycle	Different stages in the life of an organism.

Characteristics of Living Organisms

All living organisms possess certain common characteristics that help us distinguish them from non-living things.

• Need food for energy.
• Grow and develop.
• Respire continuously.
• Remove waste materials.
• Respond to changes in the surroundings.
• Reproduce their own kind.
• Show movement.
• Have a definite life span.

Living and Non-living Things

The following table highlights the major differences between living and non-living things.

Living Things	Non-living Things
Grow naturally.	Do not grow naturally.
Respire.	Do not respire.
Need food.	Do not need food.
Respond to stimuli.	Do not respond.
Reproduce.	Cannot reproduce.

Life Processes

Life processes are the basic activities performed by all living organisms to survive.

Life Process	Function
Nutrition	Provides energy and nutrients.
Respiration	Releases energy from food.
Growth	Increases size and development.
Excretion	Removes waste materials.
Reproduction	Produces young ones.
Response	Helps organisms react to changes.

Seed Germination

Germination is the process by which a seed develops into a young plant under suitable conditions.

Conditions Required

• Water
• Air (Oxygen)
• Suitable Temperature

Note: Most seeds do not require sunlight for germination, but sunlight is necessary after germination for healthy growth.

Life Cycles

Every living organism passes through different stages from birth to death.

Organism	Life Cycle
Flowering Plant	Seed → Seedling → Adult Plant → Flower → Fruit → Seed
Mosquito	Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
Frog	Egg → Tadpole → Froglet → Adult Frog

Movement in Living Organisms

Movement is an important characteristic of living organisms.

• Animals move from one place to another.
• Plants also show movement, although they remain fixed in one place.
• Plant shoots grow towards light.
• Roots grow downward into the soil.
• The touch-me-not plant folds its leaves when touched.

Response to Stimuli

Living organisms respond to changes in their surroundings.

Stimulus	Response
Light	Plant shoot bends towards light.
Touch	Touch-me-not folds its leaves.
Heat	Animals move to cooler places.

Important Scientific Terms

Remember the following scientific terms for examinations.

Scientific Term	Meaning
Organism	A living thing.
Embryo	The young developing plant inside a seed.
Seedling	A young plant after germination.
Tadpole	The larval stage of a frog.
Larva	An immature stage in the life cycle of some insects.
Pupa	The stage between larva and adult mosquito.
Stomata	Tiny pores on leaves for exchange of gases.

Important Facts

Remember these important facts for examinations.

• Living organisms perform life processes.
• Growth alone is not enough to identify a living organism.
• Plants also respire and respond to stimuli.
• Water, air, and suitable temperature are necessary for seed germination.
• Sunlight is generally not required for germination but is essential for plant growth.
• Mosquitoes and frogs undergo different stages in their life cycles.
• Every living organism has a definite life span.
• Respiration takes place throughout life.
• Plants prepare their own food through photosynthesis.
• All living organisms eventually die.

Quick Revision

Revise these important points before your examination.

• Living things perform life processes.
• Non-living things do not perform life processes.
• Food provides energy for survival.
• Respiration releases energy from food.
• Excretion removes waste materials.
• Reproduction ensures continuity of species.
• Seeds require water, air, and suitable temperature for germination.
• Plants respond to light and touch.
• Every organism follows a life cycle.
• Living organisms can be identified by the combined presence of all life processes.

Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics

Chapter 10. Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics

Living organisms perform different life processes that help them survive, grow, and reproduce. These characteristics help us distinguish living things from non-living things.

CBSE Full Notes

Living and Non-living Things

Living Things: Living things perform life processes such as growth, respiration, reproduction, and excretion.

Non-living Things: Non-living things do not perform any life processes.

Living Things	Non-living Things
Need food.	Do not need food.
Grow naturally.	Do not grow naturally.
Respire.	Do not respire.
Respond to stimuli.	Do not respond.
Reproduce.	Cannot reproduce.
Have a life cycle.	Do not have a life cycle.

Characteristics of Living Organisms

Characteristics of Living Organisms: Living organisms show certain features that make them different from non-living things.

Main Characteristics

(i) Need food.

(ii) Grow and develop.

(iii) Respire.

(iv) Remove waste materials.

(v) Respond to stimuli.

(vi) Reproduce.

(vii) Show movement.

(viii) Have a life cycle.

Nutrition

Nutrition: Nutrition is the process by which living organisms obtain food for energy and growth.

Importance of Nutrition

(i) Provides energy.

(ii) Helps in growth.

(iii) Repairs body tissues.

(iv) Keeps the body healthy.

Examples

(i) Green plants prepare food by photosynthesis.

(ii) Animals depend on plants or other animals for food.

Growth

Growth: Growth is the permanent increase in the size and development of a living organism.

Examples

(i) A seed grows into a plant.

(ii) A baby grows into an adult.

Key Points

(i) Growth occurs naturally in living organisms.

(ii) Non-living things do not grow naturally.

Respiration

Respiration: Respiration is the process of releasing energy from food.

Respiratory Structures

Organism	Respiratory Structure
Human Beings	Lungs
Fish	Gills
Earthworm	Moist Skin
Plants	Stomata and Lenticels

Key Points

(i) Respiration provides energy.

(ii) Plants also respire.

Excretion

Excretion: Excretion is the process of removing waste materials from the body.

Examples

(i) Humans remove wastes through urine and sweat.

(ii) Plants remove excess water by transpiration.

Key Points

(i) Removes harmful waste materials.

(ii) Helps keep the body healthy.

Movement

Movement: Movement is the ability of living organisms to change their position or the position of their body parts.

Examples

(i) Birds fly in the sky.

(ii) Fish swim in water.

(iii) Sunflower turns towards sunlight.

(iv) Touch-me-not folds its leaves when touched.

Key Points

(i) Animals move from one place to another.

(ii) Plants also show movement.

Response to Stimuli

Response to Stimuli: Living organisms respond to changes in their surroundings called stimuli.

Stimulus	Response
Light	Plant shoots bend towards light.
Touch	Touch-me-not folds its leaves.
Heat	Animals move to cooler places.
Danger	Animals run away or hide.

Key Points

(i) Stimuli are changes in the surroundings.

(ii) Response helps organisms survive.

Reproduction

Reproduction: Reproduction is the process by which living organisms produce young ones of their own kind.

Examples

(i) Plants produce seeds.

(ii) Birds lay eggs.

(iii) Mammals give birth to young ones.

Importance of Reproduction

(i) Ensures continuity of species.

(ii) Increases the population of organisms.

Seed Germination

Seed Germination: Seed germination is the process by which a seed grows into a young plant.

Conditions Required

Condition	Importance
Water	Starts the germination process.
Air	Provides oxygen for respiration.
Suitable Temperature	Helps the embryo grow.

Remember

(i) Sunlight is generally not needed for seed germination.

Life Cycle of a Flowering Plant

Life Cycle of a Flowering Plant: A flowering plant passes through different stages during its life.

Stages of the Life Cycle

(i) Seed

(ii) Germination

(iii) Seedling

(iv) Mature Plant

(v) Flower

(vi) Fruit

(vii) Seed

Key Points

(i) Every flowering plant starts from a seed.

(ii) The cycle repeats with the formation of new seeds.

Life Cycle of a Frog

Life Cycle of a Frog: A frog passes through different stages before becoming an adult.

Stages of the Life Cycle

(i) Egg

(ii) Tadpole

(iii) Froglet

(iv) Adult Frog

Key Points

(i) Tadpoles live in water.

(ii) Adult frogs can live on land and in water.

Life Cycle of a Mosquito

Life Cycle of a Mosquito: A mosquito undergoes complete metamorphosis during its life cycle.

Stages of the Life Cycle

(i) Egg

(ii) Larva

(iii) Pupa

(iv) Adult Mosquito

Key Points

(i) Each stage has a different body structure.

(ii) The adult mosquito develops after the pupa stage.

Importance of Studying Life Cycles

Importance of Life Cycles: Studying life cycles helps us understand the growth and development of living organisms.

Importance

(i) Helps improve crop production.

(ii) Helps control mosquito-borne diseases.

(iii) Protects biodiversity.

(iv) Supports environmental conservation.

Applications in Daily Life

Applications: The concepts of this chapter are useful in our daily life.

Examples

(i) Identifying living and non-living things.

(ii) Growing healthy plants from seeds.

(iii) Storing seeds properly.

(iv) Protecting plants and animals.

(v) Understanding the life cycles of different organisms.

Quick Revision

(i) Living organisms perform life processes.

(ii) Nutrition provides energy for growth.

(iii) Respiration releases energy from food.

(iv) Excretion removes waste materials.

(v) Living organisms respond to stimuli.

(vi) Reproduction ensures the continuity of species.

(vii) Water, air, and suitable temperature are needed for seed germination.

(viii) Plants also respire and show movement.

(ix) Every living organism has a life cycle.

(x) Frog and mosquito pass through different stages of development.

Keywords

Nutrition: Process of obtaining food.

Growth: Permanent increase in size.

Respiration: Process of releasing energy from food.

Excretion: Removal of waste materials.

Stimulus: A change in the surroundings.

Response: Reaction to a stimulus.

Reproduction: Production of young ones.

Germination: Growth of a seed into a seedling.

Life Cycle: Different stages in the life of an organism.

Metamorphosis: A major change in body form during development.

Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics

Chapter 10. Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics

This assignment is prepared according to the latest NCERT Curiosity textbook and the CBSE competency-based pattern. It includes objective, subjective, competency-based, and HOTS questions to help students revise the complete chapter effectively.

Assignments – What Have You Learned?

Attempt all the following questions without referring to the textbook. These questions will strengthen your understanding of the chapter and improve your problem-solving skills.

Part A: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the following statements with suitable words.

1. Living organisms require __________ for energy and growth.
2. The process of releasing energy from food is called __________.
3. A young plant develops from a __________.
4. The process by which a seed develops into a seedling is called __________.
5. The tiny pores present on leaves are called __________.
6. The young stage of a frog is called a __________.
7. The stage between larva and adult mosquito is called __________.
8. Living organisms respond to __________ in their surroundings.
9. The process of producing young ones is called __________.
10. Water, air, and suitable __________ are necessary for seed germination.

Part B: True or False

Write True or False for each statement.

1. All living organisms grow and develop.
2. Plants do not respire.
3. A wooden chair is a living thing.
4. Most seeds require sunlight for germination.
5. Plants respond to light.
6. The tadpole is the young stage of a frog.
7. Mosquitoes undergo different stages during their life cycle.
8. Respiration provides energy to living organisms.
9. Non-living things reproduce naturally.
10. Every living organism has a definite life span.

Part C: Match the Following

Match Column A with the correct option in Column B.

Column A	Column B
1. Germination	(a) Tadpole
2. Frog	(b) Energy from food
3. Respiration	(c) Seed develops into a seedling
4. Mosquito	(d) Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
5. Stimulus	(e) Change in surroundings

Part D: One Word Answer

Answer each question in one word or one term.

1. What is the young stage of a frog called?
2. Name the pores through which plants exchange gases.
3. What is the first stage in the life cycle of a mosquito?
4. Name the process by which living organisms remove waste materials.
5. What is the process of producing young ones called?

Part E: Very Short Answer Questions

Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

1. What is a living organism?
2. Why do living organisms need food?
3. What is germination?
4. Name any two conditions required for seed germination.
5. Give one example of a plant responding to a stimulus.

Part F: Short Answer Questions

Answer the following questions in about 30–50 words.

1. Differentiate between living and non-living things.
2. Explain the importance of respiration.
3. Describe the conditions required for seed germination.
4. Explain how plants respond to light.
5. Describe the life cycle of a frog.

Part G: Long Answer Questions

Answer the following questions in detail.

1. Describe the characteristics of living organisms with suitable examples.
2. Explain the process of seed germination and the conditions necessary for it.
3. Compare the life cycles of a flowering plant, a frog, and a mosquito.
4. Explain why growth alone cannot be considered a characteristic of living organisms.
5. Discuss the importance of studying the life cycles of living organisms.

Part H: Case Study

A student placed two pots containing the same type of seeds. Both pots received equal amounts of water and air. One pot was kept at room temperature, while the other was kept inside a refrigerator. After one week, the seeds in the first pot germinated, but those in the refrigerator did not.

Answer the following questions.

1. Which process was being observed in this activity?
2. Which important condition was missing in the second pot?
3. Why did the seeds in the first pot germinate?
4. What conclusion can you draw from this experiment?
5. Name any three conditions required for seed germination.

Part I: Competency-Based Questions

Answer the following questions by applying your understanding of the chapter.

1. Why should farmers store seeds in dry places instead of moist places?
2. How would you prove that plants are living organisms even though they cannot walk?
3. A child says that a moving toy car is a living thing because it moves. How would you explain the correct concept?
4. Why do plant shoots bend towards sunlight?
5. How do the different stages in the life cycle of a mosquito help it survive?

Part J: HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills)

Think carefully and answer the following questions.

1. If plants stopped responding to sunlight, how would their growth be affected?
2. Why is it incorrect to identify living organisms only by observing movement?
3. Suppose seeds received water and air but no suitable temperature. What would happen? Explain.
4. How does understanding the mosquito life cycle help in controlling mosquito-borne diseases?
5. Why is reproduction essential for the survival of every species on Earth?

Self-Assessment Checklist

Tick (✔) the statements after completing this chapter.

• ☐ I can identify living and non-living things.
• ☐ I can explain the characteristics of living organisms.
• ☐ I understand the process of seed germination.
• ☐ I know the conditions required for germination.
• ☐ I can describe the life cycles of plants, frogs, and mosquitoes.
• ☐ I can solve competency-based and case study questions.
• ☐ I am confident about this chapter for my CBSE examination.