Kids learn what makes something a living thing and practice telling living and non-living things apart. Wondy the Globe hosts, and the lesson ends with a quick quiz so learners can check what they remember. Try pausing at each quiz question and letting your learner answer out loud.
What's in this lesson
- What living things do: grow, eat and breathe
- Sorting trees, rocks, fish, balls and more
- A living vs. non-living sorting game
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About this science lesson
Is a tree alive? What about a rock or a car? This free kindergarten science video explains what makes something a living thing and gives children lots of practice sorting living and nonliving things they see every day.
Key ideas
- Living things grow and change
- Living things need food, water and air
- Living things can make more of their own kind
- Nonliving things, like rocks and toys, do not grow, eat or breathe
Questions parents and teachers ask
What are 5 characteristics of living things for kids?
Living things grow, need food and water, breathe or take in air, respond to the world around them and make more living things like themselves.
Is a plant a living thing?
Yes. Plants grow, need water, air and sunlight, and make seeds that grow into new plants.
Is fire a living thing?
No. Fire can grow and needs air, but it does not eat food, have cells or make baby fires, so it is nonliving.
