Living things have three main traits: They grow, take in nutrients (that means food and water), and reproduce (which means they make more living things like themselves). Non-living things do not grow, need nutrients or reproduce.
To better understand living vs non-living thingsā¦
LETāS BREAK IT DOWN!
Living things grow.
![closeup of kitten which is living](https://www.generationgenius.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Living-vs-Nonliving-8-600x338.jpg)
An animal, such as a kitten, gets bigger and bigger and becomes a full-grown cat. A plant, such as a flower, starts from a seed and grows taller and taller. A non-living thing, like a rock, doesnāt grow.
![closeup of kitten which is living](https://www.generationgenius.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Living-vs-Nonliving-8-600x338.jpg)
Living things need food and water.
![woman waters plants](https://www.generationgenius.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Living-vs-Nonliving-3-600x338.jpg)
In science we say that they take in nutrients. An animal, like a kitten, takes in food and water through its mouth. A plant, like a tree, takes in nutrients through its roots and leaves. A non-living thing does not take in nutrients.
![woman waters plants](https://www.generationgenius.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Living-vs-Nonliving-3-600x338.jpg)
Living things reproduce.
![desert landscape with cactus growing](https://www.generationgenius.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Living-vs-Nonliving-7-600x338.jpg)
A mother cat and a father cat will make more cats. Plants also reproduce. They start from a seed, grow, and then produce seeds of their own. Non-living things do not reproduce.
![desert landscape with cactus growing](https://www.generationgenius.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Living-vs-Nonliving-7-600x338.jpg)
There are many living things on Earth.
![school of fish swim together](https://www.generationgenius.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Living-vs-Nonliving-5-600x338.jpg)
Living things include kittens, fish, birds, insects and even people. They all have something in common: they grow, need nutrients and they reproduce!
![school of fish swim together](https://www.generationgenius.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Living-vs-Nonliving-5-600x338.jpg)
Plants are also living things.
![closeup of grass which is living](https://www.generationgenius.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Living-vs-Nonliving-2-600x338.jpg)
Plants are living because they grow, take in nutrients and reproduce. Trees, bushes, a cactus, flowers and grass are examples of plants.
![closeup of grass which is living](https://www.generationgenius.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Living-vs-Nonliving-2-600x338.jpg)