Basic Concepts
In a nutshell: Living things grow and need food, while nonliving things do not.
## What Makes Something Alive?
Living things grow, need food and water, move, and can have babies. People, animals, and plants are all living things.
- **Grow:** Plants get bigger, and puppies become dogs.
- **Need food and water:** All living things eat or drink.
- **Move:** Animals walk, and plants turn to face the sun.
- **Reproduce:** Living things can make more of their kind.
## Nonliving Things
Nonliving things do not grow, need food, or reproduce. Rocks, water, and toys are nonliving.
## How to Tell the Difference
Ask these questions:
- Does it eat or drink?
- Can it grow?
- Can it have babies?
- Does it move on its own?
If the answer is no, it's probably nonliving!
## Why It Matters
Knowing if something is living or nonliving helps us take care of pets and plants, and understand our environment.
Examples
- A cat is living; a stuffed animal is nonliving.
- A tree is living; a rock is nonliving.
Key terms
- Living
- Something that grows, eats, moves, and reproduces.
- Nonliving
- Something that does not grow, eat, move, or reproduce.