Notes For All Chapters – General Science Class 6
The Living World
1. What are Living and Non-living Things?
- Things that grow, eat, breathe, move, and reproduce are called living things (e.g., humans, animals, and plants).
- Things that do not grow, eat, breathe, or move are called non-living things (e.g., rocks, water, and tables).
2. Characteristics of Living Things
(a) Growth
Living things grow.
A baby grows into an adult.
A seed grows into a big tree.
Animals grow for some years, but plants grow throughout their life.
(b) Food is necessary for growth
Plants make their own food using sunlight, water, and air (this process is called photosynthesis).
Animals cannot make their own food. They eat plants or other animals.
(c) Respiration (Breathing)
All living things breathe to stay alive.
Humans, animals, and birds have lungs.
Fish breathe using gills.
Plants breathe through small pores on their leaves.
(d) Excretion (Removing waste)
Living things remove waste from their bodies.
Humans and animals remove waste through urine and sweat.
Plants remove waste through fallen leaves and water vapor.
(e) Movement
Animals and humans can move from one place to another.
Plants do not move from one place, but they grow towards sunlight.
(f) Responsiveness to Stimuli
Living things react to changes around them.
Example: If you touch a mimosa plant, its leaves close.
Example: If you flash light into your eyes, you blink.
(g) Reproduction (Giving birth to young ones)
Animals reproduce by laying eggs or giving birth to babies.
Plants reproduce from seeds, stems, or leaves.
(h) Definite Lifespan
Every living thing has a fixed life span.
Some insects live for a few hours, while some turtles live for more than 100 years.
(i) Cellular Structure
All living things are made up of tiny units called cells.
Some living things have one cell (like bacteria), while others have many cells (like humans and trees).
3. How are Plants and Animals Useful to Us?
(a) Useful Plants
Food – We get fruits, vegetables, and grains from plants.
Medicine – Plants like tulsi, neem, and aloe vera are used for medicine.
Wood & Paper – Trees like teak and bamboo give us wood for furniture and paper.
(b) Useful Animals
Milk & Food – Cows and buffaloes give milk; fish and chickens are eaten as food.
Wool & Leather – Sheep give wool for warm clothes, and leather comes from animals.
Transport & Farming – Horses, camels, and oxen help in transport and farming.
Security – Dogs help guard our homes.
4. Harmful Plants and Animals
Harmful Plants → Some plants (like poison ivy and datura) are poisonous.
Harmful Animals → Mosquitoes, flies, and rats spread diseases.
Wild Animals → Tigers, lions, and snakes can be dangerous to humans.
Leave a Reply