The Needs of Living Things

The Basic Needs of All Living Things

All living things share some important characteristics that help them survive. They grow, reproduce, respond to their environment, and need energy to live. Living things can be plants, animals, or even tiny organisms like bacteria. To stay alive and healthy, every living thing has basic needs.

What are Needs and Wants?

First, let’s talk about needs and wants. Needs are things that living things must have to survive. For example, a plant needs sunlight, water, and soil to grow. An animal, like a dog, needs food, water, and a safe place to live. Wants are things that make life nicer but are not necessary for survival. For example, a dog might want a toy to play with, but it does not need a toy to live.

The Basic Needs of All Living Things

Now, let’s explore the basic needs of all living things. There are four main needs that all living things require:

Air: All animals and humans need air to breathe. Plants also need air, specifically carbon dioxide, to make their food through a process called photosynthesis.

Water: Water is essential for all living things. Plants need water to stay hydrated and grow. Animals and humans need water to stay healthy and to help their bodies function properly.

Food: Food provides the energy that living things need to grow and carry out their daily activities. Plants make their own food using sunlight, air, and water, while animals eat plants or other animals for energy.

Shelter: Shelter protects living things from the weather and predators. Plants can have shelter in the form of soil and other plants around them. Animals build homes like nests, burrows, or dens to keep safe.

Understanding these needs helps us take better care of the living things around us. Whether it’s watering a plant or making sure pets have food and shelter, we can support their survival.

Comprehension Activity

1. Recall: Write down three characteristics of living things that you learned from this text.
2. Identify Needs and Wants: Think of one need and one want that you have. Write them down and explain why the need is important for your survival.
3. List the Needs: Create a list of the four basic needs of all living things. Choose one need and draw a picture that represents it.
4. Discussion: Share your findings with a partner. Discuss how you can help meet the needs of living things around you, like pets or plants at home.

This activity will help you review what you learned about the basic needs of all living things!