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6 The Living Organisms — Characteristics and Habitats P aheli and Boojho went on of some kind or the other (Fig. 6.1). Paheli vacation to many places of started thinking and reading about far interest....

6 The Living Organisms — Characteristics and Habitats P aheli and Boojho went on of some kind or the other (Fig. 6.1). Paheli vacation to many places of started thinking and reading about far interest. One such trip took away places. She read that people have them to the river Ganga in Rishikesh. even found tiny living organisms in the They climbed the mountains of the openings of volcanoes! Himalayas, where it was very cold. They saw many kinds of trees on these mountains — oaks, pines and deodars, very different from the ones near their home on the plains! In yet another trip, they travelled to Rajasthan and moved on camels through the hot desert. They collected different kinds of cactus plants from this trip. Finally, they went on a trip to Puri and visited the sea beach, Fig. 6.1 Search for living organisms dotted with casuarina trees. While recollecting all the fun that they had on 6.1 ORGANISMS AND THE these trips, a thought struck them. All SURROUNDINGS WHERE THEY LIVE these places were so different from one Another thought that occurred to Paheli another, some were cold, some very hot and Boojho was about the kinds of living and dry, and some places so humid. And organisms that were present in different yet all of them had many organisms locations that they had visited. The (living creatures) of various kinds. deserts had camels, the mountains had They tried to think of a place on Earth goats and yak. Puri had some other where there may not be any living creatures — crabs on the beach and creatures. Boojho thought of places near such a variety of fish being caught by his home. Inside the house, he tried the the fishermen at the sea! And then, cupboards. He had thought that there there did seem to be some creatures like may not be any living organisms here, ants that were present in all these but he found one tiny spider in the different locations. The kinds of plants cupboard. Outside the home too, there found in each of these regions were so did not seem to be any place, he could different from the plants of the other think of, that did not have living creatures regions. What about the surroundings 58 SCIENCE Rationalised 2023-24 in these different regions? Were they will discuss the table as we travel the same? through many more interesting places. Activity 1 6.2 HABITAT AND ADAPTATION Let us start with a forest. Think of all What do you find from the plants and the plants, animals and objects that can animals listed in Activity 1? Did you find be found there. List them in Column 1 a large variety in them? Look at what you of Table 6.1. List things, animals and have entered in the column for the desert plants, found in the other regions that and the column for the sea in Table 6.1. are also shown in the table. You can Did you list very different kind of collect the examples scattered through organisms in these two columns? this chapter to fill Table 6.1. Discuss What are the surroundings like, in also with your friends, parents and these two regions? teachers, to find more examples to fill In the sea, plants and animals are the tables. You can also consult many surrounded by saline (salty) water. Most interesting books in libraries that talk of them use the air dissolved in water. of animals, plants and minerals of There is very little water available in different regions. the desert. It is very hot in the day time Try and include many plants, and very cold at night in the desert. The animals and objects, big and small, in animals and plants of the desert live on each of the columns in this table. What the desert soil and breathe air from the kind of objects will we find that may not surroundings. be animals or plants? Perhaps parts of The sea and the desert are very plants like dried leaves, or parts of different surroundings and we find very animals, like bones. We may also find different kind of plants and animals in different kinds of soils and pebbles. these two regions, isn’t it? Let us look Water in the oceans may have salts at two very different kind of organisms dissolved in it as discussed in Chapter from the desert and the sea – a camel 3. There could be many more objects. and a fish. The body structure of a camel As we go through the chapter, keep helps it to survive in desert conditions. adding more examples to Table 6.1. We Camels have long legs which help to Table 6.1 Animals, plants and other objects found in different surroundings In the forest On mountains In the desert In the sea Any other? THE LIVING ORGANISMS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HABITATS 59 Rationalised 2023-24 keep their bodies away from the heat of We have taken only two examples the sand (Fig. 6.2). They excrete small from a very wide variety of animals and amount of urine, their dung is dry and plants that live on the Earth. In all this they do not sweat. Since camels lose variety of organisms, we will find that very little water from their bodies, they they have certain features that help can live for many days without water. them live in the surroundings in which Let us look at different kinds of fish. they are normally found. The presence Some of these are shown in Fig. 6.3. of specific features or certain habits, There are so many kinds of fish, but, do which enable an organism to live you see that they all have something naturally in a place is called adaptation. common about their shape? All the ones Adaptation of organisms differ shown here have the streamlined shape depending on their place of dwelling. that was discussed in Chapter 5. This That is why a fish cannot live out of shape helps them move inside water. water and a camel cannot live in sea. Fish have slippery scales on their bodies. The place where organisms live is These scales protect the fish and also called habitat. Habitat means a dwelling help in easy movement through water. place (a home). The habitat provides We discussed in Chapter 5, that fish food, water, air, shelter and other needs have flat fins and tails that help them to organisms. Several kinds of plants to change directions and keep their body and animals live in the same habitat. balance in water. Gills present in the The plants and animals that live on fish help them to use oxygen dissolved land are said to live in terrestrial in water. habitats. Some examples of terrestrial We see that the features of a fish help habitats are forests, grasslands, deserts, it to live inside water and the features of coastal and mountain regions. On the a camel help it to survive in a desert. other hand, the habitats of plants and Fig. 6.2 Camels in their surroundings Fig. 6.3 Different kinds of fish 60 SCIENCE Rationalised 2023-24  There are some changes that can happen in an organism over a short period of time to help them adjust to some changes in their surroundings. For instance, if we live in the plains and suddenly go to high mountain regions, we may experience difficulty in breathing and doing physical exercise for some days. We need to breathe faster when we are on high mountains. After some days, our body adjusts to the changed conditions on the high mountain. Such small changes that take place in the body of a single organism over short periods, to overcome small problems due to changes in the surroundings, are called acclimatisation. These changes are different from the adaptations that take place over thousands of years. animals that live in water are called water for a day. Divide the soaked seeds aquatic habitats. Lakes, rivers and into four parts. Keep one part oceans are some examples of aquatic completely submerged in water for 3-4 habitats. There are large variations days. Do not disturb the dry seeds and among terrestrial habitats like forests, those submerged in water. Keep one part grasslands, deserts, coastal and of soaked seeds in a sunny room and mountain regions located in different another in a completely dark parts of the world. region like a cupboard that does not The organisms, both plants and allow any light to come in. Keep the last animals, living in a habitat are its biotic part in very cold surroundings, say, in components. The non-living things such a refrigerator or with ice around them. as rocks, soil, air and water in Rinse them and replace the water every the habitat constitute its abiotic day. What do you notice, after a few components. Are sunlight and heat days? Do the seeds in all the five biotic or abiotic components? conditions germinate uniformly? Do you We know that some plants grow from find slower or no germination in any of seeds. Let us look at some abiotic factors these? and their effect on seeds as they grow Do you realise that abiotic factors like into young plants. air, water, light and heat are important Activity 2 for the growth of plants. In fact, abiotic factors are important for all living Recall Activity 7 in Chapter 4 — we made organisms. sprouts from gram and maize seeds. We find that organisms exist in very When the seed turned into a sprout, it cold as well as very hot climates, isn’t is said to have germinated. This is the it? How do they manage to survive? beginning of life of a new plant. Adaptation is the method by which Collect some dry moong seeds. Keep organisms get well adjusted to the 20-30 seeds aside and soak the rest in climate. THE LIVING ORGANISMS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HABITATS 61 Rationalised 2023-24  Adaptation does not take place in a short time because the abiotic factors of a region also change very slowly. Those organisms which cannot adapt to these changes die, and only the adapted ones survive. Organisms adapt to different abiotic factors in different ways. This results in a wide variety of organisms in different habitats. Let us look at some habitats, understood the abiotic factors and the adaptations of animals in these habitats. Fig. 6.4 Desert animals in burrows 6.3 A JOURNEY THROUGH DIFFERENT HABITATS Some Terrestrial Habitats Deserts We discussed the abiotic factors of a desert and the adaptations in camels. What about other animals and plants that are found in deserts? Do they have the same kind of adaptations? There are desert animals like rats Fig. 6.5 Some typical plants that grow in desert and snakes, which do not have long legs Leave the potted plants in the sun and that a camel has. To stay away from the observe after a few hours. What do you intense heat during the day, they stay in burrows deep in the sand (Fig 6.4). see? Do you notice any difference in the amount of water collected in the two These animals come out only during the polythene bags? night, when it is cooler. Fig. 6.5 shows some typical plants Desert plants lose very little water through transpiration. The leaves in that grow in a desert. How are these desert plants are either absent, very adapted to the desert? small, or they are in the form of spines. Activity 3 This helps in reducing loss of water from Bring a potted cactus and a leafy plant the leaves through transpiration. The to the classroom. Tie polythene bags to leaf-like structure you see in a cactus some parts of the two plants, as was is, in fact, its stem (Fig. 6.5). done for Activity 4 in Chapter 4, where Photosynthesis in these plants is we studied transpiration in plants. usually carried out by the stems. The 62 SCIENCE Rationalised 2023-24 stem is also covered with a thick waxy also present on mountains. They may layer, which helps to retain water in the have different kind of adaptations to tissues of cacti. Most desert plants have survive on the mountains. roots that go very deep into the soil for Animals living in the mountain regions absorbing water. are also adapted to the conditions there Mountain regions (Fig. 6.7). They have thick skin or fur to protect them from cold. For example, yaks These habitats are normally very cold have long hair to keep them warm. Snow and windy. In some areas, snowfall may leopard has thick fur on its body take place in winters. There is a large variety of plants and animals living in the mountain regions. Have you seen the kind of trees shown in Fig. 6.6? (a) Fig. 6.6 Trees of a mountain habitat If you live in a mountain region or have visited one, you may have seen a (b) large number of such trees. But, have you ever noticed such trees naturally growing in other regions? How are these trees adapted to the conditions prevailing in their habitat? These trees are normally cone shaped and have sloping branches. The leaves Fig. 6.7 (a) Snow of some of these trees are needle-like. leopard, (b) yak and (c) mountain This helps the rainwater and snow to goat are adapted to slide off easily. There could be trees with mountain habitats shapes very different from these that are (c) THE LIVING ORGANISMS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HABITATS 63 Rationalised 2023-24 including feet and toes. This protects its survive? It’s light brown colour helps it feet from the cold when it walks on the to hide in dry grasslands when it hunts snow. The mountain goat has strong for prey (animals to eat). The eyes in hooves for running up the rocky slopes front of the face allow it to have a correct of the mountains. idea about the location of its prey. As we go up in the mountainous A deer is another animal that lives in regions, the surroundings change and forests and grasslands. It has strong teeth we see different kinds of adaptations at for chewing hard plant stems of the different heights. forest. A deer needs to know about the presence of predators ( animals like lion Grasslands that make it their prey ) in order to run A lion lives in a forest or a grassland away from them and not become their and is a strong animal that can hunt prey. It has long ears to hear movements and kill animals like deer. It is light of predators. The eyes on the side of its brown in colour. Look at the picture of head allow it to look in all directions for a lion and that of a deer (Fig. 6.8). How danger. The speed of the deer helps them are the eyes placed in the face for these to run away from the predators. two animals? Are they in the front or There are many other features of a on the side of the face? Lions have long lion, a deer or other animals and plants claws in their front legs that can be that help them to survive in their withdrawn inside the toes. Do the habitat. features of a lion help it in any way to Some Aquatic Habitats Oceans We already discussed how fish are adapted to live in the sea. Many other sea animals have streamlined bodies to help them move easily in water. There are some sea animals like squids and (a) octopus, which do not have this streamlined shape. They stay deeper in the ocean, near the seabed and catch any prey that moves towards them. However, when they move in water they make their body shapes streamlined. These animals have gills to help them use oxygen dissolved in water. (b) There are some sea animals like Fig. 6.8 (a) Lion and (b) deer dolphins and whales that do not have 64 SCIENCE Rationalised 2023-24 gills. They breathe in air through (Fig. 6.9). In terrestrial plants, roots nostrils or blowholes that are located normally play a very important role in the on the upper parts of their heads. This absorption of nutrients and water from allows them to breathe in air when they the soil. However, in aquatic plants, roots swim near the surface of water. They can are much reduced in size and their main stay inside the water for a long time function is to hold the plant in place. without breathing. They come out to the The stems of these plants are long, surface from time to time, to breathe in hollow and light. The stems grow up to air. Did you ever see this interesting the surface of water while the leaves and activity of dolphins in television flowers, float on the surface of water. programme or films on ocean life? Some aquatic plants are submerged in water. All parts of such plants are Ponds and lakes under water. Some of these plants have Have you seen plants growing in ponds, narrow and thin ribbon-like leaves. lakes, rivers and even some drains? Go These can bend in the flowing water. In on a field trip to a nearby pond, if possible, some submerged plants, leaves are often and try to observe the kinds of plants that highly divided, through which the water are seen there. Observe the leaves, stems can easily flow without damaging them. and roots of these plants. Frogs usually live in ponds. Frogs Some of these plants have their roots can stay both inside the water as well fixed in the soil below the water as move on land. They have strong back legs that help them in leaping and catching their prey. They have webbed feet which help them swim in water. We have discussed only a few common animals and plants compared to the wide variety that live in different habitats. You may have also noticed the very wide variety in plants around you, when you prepared a herbarium as part of the suggested activities in Chapter 4. Imagine the kind of variety that you could see in a herbarium of leaves of plants from all regions of the Earth! Fig. 6.9 Some aquatic plants float on water. 6.4 CHARACTERISTICS OF ORGANISMS Some have their roots fixed in the soil at the bottom. Some aquatic plants are We went on a journey through different submerged in water. habitats and discussed many plants and THE LIVING ORGANISMS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HABITATS 65 Rationalised 2023-24 animals. In Activity 1, we listed objects, Paheli and Boojho found the poem plants and animals found in different very funny, because they knew that a surroundings. Suppose we stop a while chair or a table is not alive and it cannot and think which examples in our list talk or walk. are living? Let us think of examples from Chair, table, stone or a coin are not a forest. Trees, creepers, small and big alive. Similarly, we do know that we are animals, birds, snakes, insects, rocks, alive and so are all the people of the soil, water, air, dry leaves, dead animals, world. We also see animals around us mushrooms and moss may be only some that are so full of life — dogs, cats, of the objects that are present in the monkeys, squirrels, insects and many forest. Which of these are living? others. Think of objects that you can see How do we know that something is around you at this moment and group living? Often, it is not so easy to decide. them as living and non-living. In some We are told that plants are living, but cases, it is easy for us to know. For they do not move like a dog or a pigeon. example, we know that objects like chair On the other hand, a car or a bus can or table are not alive. Paheli was reading move, still we consider them as non- this rhyme from Complete Nonsense living. Plants and animals appear to written by Edward Lear: grow in size with time. But then, at times, clouds in the sky also seem to grow in size. Does it mean that clouds are living? No! So, how does one distinguish between living and non- to the Chair, Said the Table living things? Do living things have be aware, ’You can hardly m the heat, some common characteristics that ’How I suffer fro ! lains on my feet ’And from chilb make them very different from the tle walk, ’If we took a lit non-living? a little talk! ’We might have the air!’ You are a wonderful example of a living ’Pray let us take to the Chair. Said the Table being. What characteristics do you have to the table, Said the Chair ! which make you different from a non- we are not able ’Now you know you talk, living thing? List a few of these ’How foolishly !’ we cannot walk ’When you know characteristics in your notebook. Look at with a sigh, Said the Table ’It can do no ha rm to try, your list and mark those characteristics gs as you, ’I’ve as many le that you have listed, which may also be lk on two?’ ’Why can’t we wa found in animals or plants. Some of these characteristics are perhaps common to all living things. 66 SCIENCE Rationalised 2023-24 Do all organisms need food? noticed pups grow Earlier, we learnt that all living things into adults. A chick need food and how essential it is to hatched from an animals and to us. We have also learnt egg, grows into that plants make their own food by the a hen or a cock. process of photosynthesis. Animals (Fig. 6.11). depend on plants or other animals for Plants also grow. their food. Look around you Food gives organisms the energy and see a few plants needed for them to grow. Organisms also of a particular type. need energy for other life processes that Some are very small Fig. 6.11 A chicken go on inside them. and young, some grows into an adult Do all organisms show are bigger. They growth? may all be in different stages of growth. Look at the plants after a few days and Does the kurta you had four years back, weeks. You may find that some of them still fit you? You cannot wear it any have grown in size. Growth seems to be more, isn’t it? You must have grown taller during these years. You may not common to all living things. realise it, but you are growing all the Do you think, non-living things show time and in few more years you will growth? become an adult. (Fig. 6.10). Do all organisms respire? Young ones of animals also grow Can we live without breathing? When into adults. You would surely have we inhale, the air moves from outside to the inside of our body. When we breathe out, the air moves from inside our body to outside. Breathing is part of a process called respiration. In respiration, some of the oxygen of the air we breathe in, is used by the body. We breathe out carbon dioxide produced in this process. The process of breathing in animals like cows, buffaloes, dogs or cats is similar to humans. Observe any one of these animals while they are taking rest, and notice the movement of their abdomen. This slow movement indicates Fig. 6.10 A baby grows into an adult that they are breathing. THE LIVING ORGANISMS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HABITATS 67 Rationalised 2023-24  Respiration is necessary for all living surroundings. Your favourite food, organisms. It is through respiration that bright light and a thorn, in the above the body finally obtains energy from the situations are some examples of changes food it takes. in your surroundings. All of us respond Some animals may have different immediately to such changes. Changes mechanisms for the exchange of gases, in our surroundings that makes us which is a part of the respiration process. respond to them, are called stimuli. For example, earthworms breathe Do other animals also respond to through their skin. Fish, we have learnt, stimuli? Observe the behaviour of have gills for using oxygen dissolved in animals, when food is served to them. water. The gills absorb oxygen from the Do you find them suddenly becoming air dissolved in water. active on seeing the food? When you Do plants also respire? Exchange of move towards a bird, what does it do? gases in plants mainly takes place Wild animals run away when bright through leaves. The leaves take in air light is flashed towards them. Similarly, through tiny pores in them and use the cockroaches begin to move to their oxygen. They give out carbon dioxide to hiding places if the light in the kitchen the air. is switched on at night. Can you give We learnt that in sunlight, plants some more examples of responses of use carbon dioxide to produce food and animals to stimuli? give out oxygen. The amount of oxygen Do plants also respond to stimuli? released in the process of food Flowers of some plants bloom only at preparation by plants is much more night. In some plants flowers close after than the oxygen they use in respiration. sunset. In some plants like Mimosa, Respiration in plants takes place day commonly known as ‘touch-me-not’, and night. leaves close or fold when someone touches them. These are some examples Do all organisms respond to of responses of plants towards changes stimuli? in their surroundings. How do you respond, if you suddenly step on a sharp object like a thorn, while Activity 4 walking barefoot? How do you feel when Place a potted plant in a room a little you see or think about your favourite away from a window through which food? You suddenly move from a dark sunlight enters some time during the place into bright sunlight. What day (Fig. 6.12). Continue watering the happens? Your eyes shut themselves plant for a few days. Does the plant grow automatically for a moment till upright, like plants out in the open? they adjust to the changed bright Note the direction in which it bends, if 68 SCIENCE Rationalised 2023-24  Do all organisms reproduce their own kind? Have you ever seen nests of some birds like pigeons? Many birds lay their eggs in the nest. Some of the eggs hatch and young birds come out of them (Fig. 6.13). Fig. 6.12 Plant respond to light it is not growing upright. Do you think, this may be in response to some (a) (b) stimulus? Fig. 6.13 (a) Birds lay eggs which after hatching All living things respond to changes produce (b) young ones around them. Animals reproduce their own kind. Living organisms and excretion The mode of reproduction may be All organisms need food. Not all the different, in different animals. Some food that is eaten is completely used, animals produce their young ones only a part of it is utilised by the body. through eggs. Some animals give birth What happens to the rest? This has to to the young ones (Fig. 6.14). be removed from the body as wastes. Our Plants also reproduce. Like animals, body produces some wastes in other life plants also differ in their mode of processes also. The process of getting reproduction. Many plants reproduce rid of wastes by organisms is known as through seeds. Plants produce seeds, excretion. Do plants also excrete? They do, but not as seen in animals. The mechanisms in plants are a little different. Some plants find it possible to store the waste products within their parts in a way that they do not harm the plant as a whole. Some plants remove waste products as secretions. Excretion is another characteristic Fig. 6.14 Some animals which give birth to common to all organisms. their young ones THE LIVING ORGANISMS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HABITATS 69 Rationalised 2023-24  Living things produce more of their own kind through reproduction. It takes place in many different ways, for different organisms. Do all organisms move? In Chapter 6, we discussed the various ways in which animals move. They move Fig. 6.15 A seed from a plant germinates into a new plant from one place to another and also show other body movements. which can germinate and grow into new What about plants? Do they also plants (Fig.6.15). move? Plants are generally anchored in Some plants also reproduce through soil so they do not move from one place parts other than seeds. For example, a to another. However, various substances part of a potato with a bud, grows into a like water, minerals and the food new plant (Fig. 6.16). synthesised by them move from one part of the plant to other. Have you noticed any other kind of movement in plants? Opening or closing of flowers? Do you recall how some plants show movement in response to certain stimuli? We also have some non-living things moving, of course. A bus, car, a small piece of paper, clouds and so on. Fig. 6.16 A new plant grows from a bud of potato Is there something different in these Plants also reproduce through movements from the movements of cuttings. Would you like to grow a plant living beings? in this way yourself? There is such a variety of living organisms, but, all of them show some Activity 5 common characteristics, as we have Take a cutting from a rose or a menhdi discussed. Yet another common plant. Fix it in the soil and water it characteristic is that living beings die. regularly. What do you observe, after a Because organisms die, particular types few days? of organisms can survive over thousands It may not be easy to grow plants from of years only if they reproduce their own cuttings. Do not be disappointed if your kind. One single organism may cutting does not grow. Talk to a gardener, die without ever reproducing, but, the if possible, on the care to be given to type of organism can exist only if there cuttings to make them grow into plants. is reproduction. 70 SCIENCE Rationalised 2023-24  We see that, all living things seem to stay in a shop for months and not show have some common characteristics. any growth or some of the other They all need food, respire, respond to characteristics of life. However, we bring stimuli, reproduce, show movement, the same seed and plant it in soil, water grow and die. it and it turns into a whole plant. Did Do we find some non-living things that the seed — need food, did it excrete, also show some of these characteristics? grow or reproduce when it was in the Cars, bicycle, clocks and the water in shop for many months? the river move. The moon moves in the We see that there can be cases when sky. A cloud grows in size right in front we cannot easily say that a thing has all of our eyes. Can such things be called the characteristics that we have discussed, living? We ask ourselves, do these objects for it to be called living. also show all the other characteristics “What then is life?” of living things? Push your hand deep inside a sack of In general, something that is living wheat. Do you find it is warm inside? may have all the characteristics that we There is some heat being produced have discussed, while non-living things inside the sack of wheat. The seeds may not show all these characteristics respire and in that process give out at the same time. some heat. Is this always true? Do we always find We see that respiration is a process that living things definitely show all the that takes place in seeds even when characteristics of the living that we have some of the other life processes may not discussed? Do we always find that non- be very active. living things may show only some of these It may not be very easy to answer characteristics and never all of them? our question — “what then is life”? To understand this a little better, let However, looking at all the diversity of us look at a specific example. Consider living beings around us, we can any seed, say, moong. Is it living? It can conclude that “life is beautiful”! Adaptation Habitat Aquatic habitat Living Biotic component Reproduction Excretion Respiration Growth Stimulus THE LIVING ORGANISMS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HABITATS 71 Rationalised 2023-24  The surroundings where plants and animals live, is called their habitat. Several kinds of plants and animals may share the same habitat. The presence of specific features and habits, which enable a plant or an animal to live in a particular habitat, is called adaptation. There are many types of habitats, however, these may be broadly grouped as terrestrial (on the land) and aquatic (in water). There is a wide variety of organisms present in different habitats. Plants, animals and microorganisms together constitute biotic components. Rocks, soil, air, water, light and temperature are some of the abiotic components of our surroundings. Living things have certain common characteristics — they need food, they respire and, excrete, respond to their environment, reproduce, grow and show movement. 1. What is a habitat? 2. How are cactus adapted to survive in a desert? 3. Fill up the blanks (a) The presence of specific features, which enable a plant or an animal to live in a particular habitat, is called. (b) The habitats of the plants and animals that live on land are called habitat. (c) The habitats of plants and animals that live in water are called habitat. (d) Soil, water and air are the ———— factors of a habitat. (e) Changes in our surroundings that make us respond to them, are called. 4. Which of the things in the following list are nonliving? Plough, Mushroom, Sewing machine, Radio, Boat, Water hyacinth, Earthworm 5. Give an example of a non-living thing, which shows any two characteristics of living things. 6. Which of the non-living things listed below, were once part of a living thing? Butter, Leather, Soil, Wool, Electric bulb, Cooking oil, Salt, Apple, Rubber 7. List the common characteristics of the living things. 8. Explain, why speed is important for survival in the grasslands for animals that live there. (Hint: There are few trees or places for animals to hide in grasslands habitats.) 72 SCIENCE Rationalised 2023-24  SUGGESTED PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES 1. Many magazines and newspapers talk about possibility of life outside the Earth. Read these articles and have a discussion in the class about what could be defined as life outside Earth. 2. Visit a local zoo and find out what special arrangements are made for the animals that have been brought there from different habitats. 3. Find out where are the habitats of the polar bear and the penguin. For each animal, explain two ways in which it is well adapted to its habitat. 4. Find out which animals live in the foot-hills of the Himalayas. Find out if the types and varieties of animals and plants changes as one goes higher into the mountain regions of the Himalayas. 5. Make a habitat album. Try to obtain pictures of animals and plants that you have listed in Activity 1 and paste these under different habitat sections in the album. Draw the leaf shapes and structures for trees found in these different regions and include these in the album. In addition, draw the patterns of branching found in trees of these different regions and include these also in the album. What is its name and habitat THE LIVING ORGANISMS — CHARACTERISTICS AND HABITATS 73 Rationalised 2023-24