Comparing Living Things
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Learning Objectives
- 1Compare plants and animals
- 2Explain what they have in common as living things
- 3Sort examples correctly into each group
Mini Lesson
A sunflower and a dog are both living things — but they are very different from each other. What makes them the same? What makes them different? Scientists compare living things to understand the natural world better.
What plants and animals share
- Both are living things — they grow, need water, and reproduce.
- Both are made of tiny building blocks called cells.
- Example: A tree and a cat both grow bigger over time.
What makes plants special
- Plants make their own food using sunlight, water, and air — animals cannot do this.
- Plants stay in one place — they cannot walk or move from spot to spot.
- Plants have roots, stems, leaves, and often flowers or seeds.
What makes animals special
- Animals cannot make their own food — they must eat plants or other animals.
- Most animals can move around to find food, water, and shelter.
- Animals have body parts like legs, wings, fins, or arms to help them move.
Tricky cases
- Mushrooms are not plants or animals — they are fungi, their own separate group.
- Some plants, like Venus flytraps, can move their leaves to catch insects.
Ask yourself: "Does it make its own food from sunlight? Then it is probably a plant. Does it eat other things and move around? Then it is probably an animal!"
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