Chapter-Chapter 10. Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics Science Curiosity class 6 in english Medium CBSE Notes

Chapter 10. Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics

Living organisms are found everywhere around us. We see plants, animals, birds, insects, fishes, and human beings in our surroundings. Although they look different from one another, all living organisms perform certain basic life processes. They obtain food, grow, respire, reproduce, respond to changes in their surroundings, remove wastes, and complete a life cycle. This chapter helps us understand how living organisms differ from non-living things and how their characteristics help them survive in nature.

CBSE Full Notes

These detailed notes explain all the important concepts covered in the NCERT Curiosity textbook. They are written in simple language and follow the latest CBSE competency-based pattern to help students build concepts and prepare effectively for examinations.

Living and Non-living Things

Everything around us can be grouped into two categories—living and non-living things. Living organisms perform various life processes, whereas non-living things do not perform any life processes. A stone, chair, pencil, and table are non-living objects, while plants, animals, birds, insects, and human beings are living organisms.

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

Every living organism possesses certain characteristics that distinguish it from non-living objects.

• They need food.
• They grow and develop.
• They respire.
• They remove waste materials.
• They respond to changes in the surroundings.
• They reproduce.
• They show movement.
• They have a definite life span.

Nutrition

Nutrition is the process by which living organisms obtain food for energy, growth, repair, and maintenance of the body. Animals depend on plants or other animals for food, whereas green plants prepare their own food by photosynthesis.

Importance of Nutrition

• Provides energy.
• Supports growth.
• Repairs damaged tissues.
• Helps living organisms survive.

Growth

Growth is the permanent increase in the size and development of a living organism. A baby grows into an adult, while a seed grows into a mature plant. Growth occurs naturally in all living organisms but not in non-living things.

Respiration

Respiration is the process through which living organisms release energy from food. This energy is used for carrying out all life activities. Plants also respire through tiny pores called stomata present on their leaves.

Organism	Respiratory Structure
Human beings	Lungs
Fish	Gills
Earthworm	Moist skin
Plants	Stomata and lenticels

Excretion

Excretion is the process of removing waste materials from the body. These wastes are produced during various life processes and must be removed to keep the body healthy.

Examples

• Humans remove wastes through urine and sweat.
• Plants remove excess water through transpiration.

Movement

Movement is another important characteristic of living organisms. Animals move from one place to another in search of food, shelter, and protection. Although plants remain fixed at one place, they also show movements in response to light, touch, and gravity.

Examples

• Sunflower turns towards sunlight.
• The touch-me-not plant folds its leaves when touched.
• Roots grow downward.
• Shoots grow upward towards light.

Response to Stimuli

Living organisms respond to changes in their surroundings. Such changes are called stimuli, and the reaction shown by an organism is called a response.

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.

Reproduction

Reproduction is the process by which living organisms produce young ones of their own kind. This process ensures the continuity of a species.

Examples

• Plants produce seeds.
• Birds lay eggs.
• Mammals give birth to young ones.

Seed Germination

Seed germination is the process by which a seed develops into a young plant. During germination, the embryo inside the seed begins to grow and forms the root and shoot.

Conditions Required for Germination

Condition	Importance
Water	Softens the seed coat and activates growth.
Air	Provides oxygen for respiration.
Suitable Temperature	Supports proper growth of the embryo.

Note: Sunlight is generally not required for germination, but it is necessary after germination for healthy plant growth.

Life Cycle of a Flowering Plant

Every flowering plant passes through different stages during its life.

Seed → Germination → Seedling → Mature Plant → Flower → Fruit → Seed

The cycle repeats with the formation of new seeds.

Life Cycle of a Frog

A frog undergoes several stages before becoming an adult.

Egg → Tadpole → Froglet → Adult Frog

The tadpole lives in water and breathes through gills. As it grows, legs and lungs develop, allowing the adult frog to live both on land and in water.

Life Cycle of a Mosquito

The mosquito undergoes complete metamorphosis during its life cycle.

Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult Mosquito

Each stage has a different body structure and function.

Importance of Studying Life Cycles

Understanding life cycles helps us know how living organisms grow, reproduce, and survive. It is useful in agriculture, environmental conservation, pest control, and scientific research.

• Improves crop production.
• Helps control mosquito-borne diseases.
• Protects biodiversity.
• Supports environmental conservation.

Applications in Daily Life

The concepts of this chapter are useful in many situations.

• Identifying living and non-living objects.
• Growing healthy plants from seeds.
• Proper storage of grains to prevent germination.
• Protecting plants and animals.
• Understanding the life cycles of useful and harmful organisms.

Remember These Points

Revise the following points before examinations.

• Living organisms perform all life processes.
• Growth alone cannot identify a living organism.
• Plants also respire and respond to stimuli.
• Nutrition provides energy for survival.
• Respiration releases energy from food.
• Excretion removes waste materials.
• Water, air, and suitable temperature are necessary for seed germination.
• Most seeds do not require sunlight for germination.
• Every living organism has a life cycle.
• Mosquitoes and frogs undergo different developmental stages.
• Reproduction ensures the continuity of species.
• Living organisms eventually die after completing their life cycle.

Chapter Summary

Living organisms are identified by their ability to perform life processes such as nutrition, respiration, growth, movement, excretion, reproduction, and response to stimuli. They also pass through different stages in their life cycles. Seed germination is the beginning of a plant's life, while animals also develop through various stages before becoming adults. Understanding these characteristics helps us distinguish living organisms from non-living things and appreciate the diversity of life around us.

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