This document outlines the key characteristics that define living things and describes their internal organization and classification. It explains that all living things share seven main characteristics - movement, reproduction, sensitivity, nutrition, excretion, respiration, and growth. These are often remembered using the mnemonic "MRS NERG". The document also describes the hierarchical organization of living things from cells to tissues to organs to systems and organisms. Finally, it categorizes all living things into five kingdoms - bacteria, protists, fungi, plants and animals - providing examples of each.

1. Living Things
By Isabel Madero Aguado

2. How do we know if
something is ‘living’?


M
R
S
N
E
R
G
All living things are characterised as being able to
do seven things
These are usually remembered by the mnemonic MRS
NERG
Can you guess
what these
letters stand
for?

3. The 7 characteristics of
Living Things
Movement – Animals move to find food and keep away
from predators, plants move to face the light
Reproduction – the ability to produce offspring to
keep the species in existence
Sensitivity – responding and reacting to the environment
Nutrition – Animals need food for respiration, plants
need minerals from the soil
Excretion – Getting rid of waste
Respiration – Turning food into energy
Growth – Growing larger and stronger  becoming adult
size

4. Description of the
characteristics:
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They are born: all living things come form
other living things.
They eat: all living things need food
They grow: all living things increase in size
during their lifetime. Sometimes they
change in appearance
They react: living things can perceive what is
going around them, and they react to what
they perceive
They reproduce: living things can create
offspring similar to themselves
They die: at some time, all living things stop

5. Internal organisation of living
things
Living things are made up of a large number of
very small units called cells.
A cell is the smallest living unit which make up
a living thing
The number of cells in a living thing varies.
Some living things are made up of one single
cell. They are called unicellular. Other
living things are made up of many cells.
They are called multicellular.

6. Parts of a cell
The membrane is a covering which
sorrounds the cell, and separates it
from the exterior.
2. The nucleus is the part which
controls the function of the cell.
3. Cytoplasm is the space between the
nucleus and the membrane
Plant cells also have a hard cell wall
around the membrane. This is why
some plants stems are very hard
1.

7. The parts of a cell
Plant cell
Animal cell

8. How are living things
organised?
Levels of organisation:

Cells: group together to form tissues

Tissues: are made up of similar cells that carry out a
common function. Muscle tissue

Tissues form organs. Organs are made up of a group
of tissues that work together to carry out a common
function. Lungs, heart, stomach.

Organs form systems. Systems are made up of a
group of organs that work together to carry out a
common function. Skeleton

When all the systems work together, they form an
organism

9. Levels of organisation I
cells
tissues
organs

10. Levels of organisation II
organs
systems
organism

11. Ideas to make cells
Cells
Cells

12. Classification of Living
Things
Bacteria Kingdom
Algae Kingdom
Everything that
is living can be
sorted into
these 5
kingdoms
Animal Kingdom
Fungi Kingdom
Plant Kingdom

13. Animal Kingdom
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Animals are Multicellular – made up
of may specialised cells
They eat other living things
They can move from one place to
another
They have a nervous system and sense
organs. They can react quickly to
stimuli.
Humans belong to the animal kingdom

14. Plant Kingdom


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Plants are multicellular – made
up of lots of cells
They make their own food by
photosynthesis
Plants don’t have sense organs
or nervous system, but they
react slowly to some stumuli.
Many plants grow toward the
light, like the sunflowers

15. Fungi Kingdom

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Fungi can be unicellular or
multicellular
Its body is made up of a network
of threads called hyphae.
They don’t make their own food.
They depend on other organism.
They are attached to something

16. Bacteria Kingdom

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Bacteria are unicellular and can
live in water, soil, air or inside
other living things
Bacteria don’t have a nucleus
Some can only be seen with a
microscope

17. Algae Kingdom
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Many algae are formed by one
cell but others are
multicellular and can be as big
as a tree
Algae live in damp places of
water

18. Task
1.
Everyone


2.
Make a list of the 7 characteristics of Living
Things (MRS NERG)
Make a list of the 5 Kingdoms of Living Things
(try to write an example for each)
Extension


Research one of the 5 Kingdoms in more detail
Make a poster / fact page / fact file
If you get stuck
use the key word
lists and
information on
your tables