Curriculum
Course: Science — First Preparatory
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Curriculum

Science — First Preparatory

Unit 1: Matter

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Unit 2: Forces

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Unit 3: Life

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Unit 4: Earth and Space

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Text lesson

General Characteristics of Living Organisms

Science — First Preparatory

General Characteristics of Living Organisms

The seven characteristics of life

The seven characteristics of life

Characteristic Meaning Real-life example
Nutrition Obtaining food and converting it into energy and materials for the body
  • A lion eats meat
  • a plant makes its food by photosynthesis
Respiration Using oxygen to release energy from food Cellular respiration in the mitochondria
Excretion Removing waste products of vital reactions
  • The kidneys produce urine
  • a plant releases excess oxygen
Movement
  • Changing place or position
  • by the organism’s own action or otherwise
  • Moving the legs when walking
  • the whip-like flagellum that moves some bacteria
Sensitivity (response) Responding to stimuli from the environment The pupil of the eye narrows in bright light
Growth Increase in size and mass through cell division and cell enlargement
  • A child growing taller
  • a plant stem getting longer
Reproduction Producing new organisms of the same kind to keep the species alive
  • Bacteria dividing
  • sexual reproduction in humans
  • To remember these seven characteristics in English, the first letters spell MRS GREN: Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition.
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