Unit 4: Living organisms and classification

Characteristics Of Living Organisms — HIA International - Grade 6 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 6 parts Lesson 3 of 8 3 quizzes

📚 HIA International - Grade 6 Hub / Topical Revision

0%read

Lesson summary

4.1 Characteristics of living organisms (seven life processes) — HIA INTERNATIONAL notes: Define each of the seven characteristics of living organisms.Organism — a living thingSet of characteristics — living organisms have seven characteristics that make them different from non-l…

Checking for life
Sensitivity
Reproduction
Respiration
Similarities
Differences

Part 1 of 4Living and non-living

Living and non-living

Organism

Organism a living thing

Set of characteristics

Set of characteristics living organisms have seven characteristics that make them different from non-living things

Checking for life

Checking for life breathing or a heartbeat cannot be used for all organisms, because plants do not breathe or have hearts yet they are alive

Part 2 of 4The seven characteristics

Characteristic	Meaning
Nutrition	taking in or making food — plants feed by photosynthesis and animals such as bears eat food
Growth	young organisms get bigger
Movement	living organisms change the shape and position of their bodies
Sensitivity	organisms are sensitive to changes going on around them, such as the smell of meat sensed by a nose
Excretion	organisms get rid of waste materials, such as carbon dioxide breathed out by animals
Reproduction	organisms produce young, making more of the same kind of organism
Respiration	food is broken down inside cells to provide energy

Part 3 of 4Characteristics in a polar bear

Characteristics in a polar bear

Nutrition

Nutrition the bear eats meat

Sensitivity

Sensitivity the bear senses the smell of meat with its nose

Excretion

Excretion animals excrete carbon dioxide when they breathe out

Reproduction

Reproduction polar bears produce young

Growth

Growth young bears get bigger

Respiration

Respiration the bear breaks down food in its cells to provide energy

Movement

Movement the bear changes the shape and position of its body

Part 4 of 4Is a car alive?

Similarities

Similarities a car uses fuel and oxygen to provide energy for movement, gives off waste gases such as carbon dioxide from the exhaust,
- and may have sensors that turn the lights on when it is dark

Differences

Differences a car does not grow, does not reproduce and does not break down food inside cells, so it is not alive

Conclusion

Conclusion a non-living thing can resemble a living organism in some ways, so all seven characteristics must be checked

Key terms

Term	Meaning
Organism	A living thing.
Nutrition	Taking in or making food.
Respiration	Breaking down food inside cells to provide energy.
Excretion	Getting rid of waste materials.
Sensitivity	Being sensitive to changes going on around the organism.
Reproduction	Producing young.
Growth	Getting bigger.

Avoid these mistakes

Saying living things must breathe or have a heartbeat — plants are alive without breathing or a heart

Confusing respiration with breathing — respiration is the breakdown of food inside cells to provide energy

Saying a car is alive because it uses fuel — it does not grow, reproduce or respire in cells

Saying excretion is only getting rid of faeces — it is getting rid of waste materials such as carbon dioxide

Last updated: 12 October 2026