Navigation
Students look at how living things change as they get older, from seeds to trees and babies to adults.
Did you know that a giant oak tree that touches the clouds once fit inside a tiny acorn no bigger than your thumb?
Everything that is alive grows! Growth means more than just getting taller. When living things grow, they change their size and their shape. Think about a tiny kitten. It has short legs and a small tail. As it grows into a cat, its body gets longer, its fur might change, and it becomes much stronger. Even you are growing right now! You are bigger today than you were when you were a baby. This change happens slowly, bit by bit, every single day.
Let's look at how a human changes: 1. Baby: Small, cannot walk, and has no teeth. 2. Child: Taller, can run, and has 'big kid' teeth. 3. Adult: The final size, much taller and stronger than a child.
Quick Check
When a living thing grows, does it only change its height?
Answer
No, it also changes its shape and how its body looks.
Living things grow in a special order called a life cycle. It is like a story that always follows the same steps. For a plant, the story usually starts with a seed. When the seed gets what it needs, it grows a tiny root and a stem. This is called a sprout. Soon, it grows leaves and becomes an adult plant. Some animals, like butterflies, change even more! They start as an egg, turn into a caterpillar, and finally become a butterfly.
Follow these steps in order: 1. Seed: A small, hard shell buried in the dirt. 2. Sprout: A tiny green stem popping out of the ground. 3. Adult Plant: A tall stalk with a big, yellow flower head.
Quick Check
What is the name for a tiny plant that just started growing from a seed?
Answer
A sprout (or seedling).
How do living things get the power to grow? They need energy! Energy is like the 'fuel' that makes growth happen. Plants get their energy from sunlight, water, and nutrients in the soil. Animals get their energy by drinking water and eating food. If a plant doesn't get water, it cannot grow into a tree. If a puppy doesn't eat its food, it won't have the energy to grow into a big dog. Every living thing needs these 'building blocks' to get bigger.
Imagine two identical seeds: 1. Seed gets plenty of water and bright sunlight. 2. Seed is kept in a dark closet with no water. Which one will grow? Seed will grow because it has the energy it needs. Seed will stay a tiny seed because it has no fuel!
What is the first stage of most plants?
What do animals need to get the energy to grow?
Living things stay the exact same shape as they get older.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, look at a photo of yourself as a baby. Can you name three ways your body has changed shape or size?
Practice Activity
Go outside and find a plant. Try to guess if it is a 'baby' sprout or an 'adult' plant based on its size!