Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics Class 6 Notes: CBSE Science Chapter 10

Living and Non-Living Objects: Characteristics and Life Cycles

Objects around us can be classified into two broad categories: living and nonliving.

Characteristics of Living Beings

Living beings are distinguished by several essential features:

• Movement: They can move, either independently or through external forces.

• Nutrition: They consume food for growth and energy.

• Growth: They increase in size and complexity over time.

• Respiration: They breathe in oxygen and release carbon dioxide.

• Excretion: They remove waste products from their bodies.

• Response to Stimuli: They react to changes in their environment.

• Reproduction: They produce offspring to ensure the continuation of their species.

• Death: They eventually cease to live.

The absence of any of these features indicates that an entity is not a living being.

Life Stages of Living Beings

Every living being undergoes several stages throughout its life cycle. These stages vary depending on the type of organism.

Seed Germination

The germination of seeds is influenced by the availability of:

• Water

• Air

• Appropriate light and/or dark conditions

During seed germination:

• Roots typically grow downwards.

• Shoots generally grow upwards.

Plant Life Cycle

A plant’s life cycle includes:

1. Seed Germination: The seed begins to grow.

2. Growth and Development: The plant develops through various stages.

3. Flowering: The plant produces flowers.

4. Seed Production: New seeds are created for the next generation.

The seeds produced will germinate into new plants, continuing the life cycle.

Animal Life Cycle

For animals, the life cycle begins with a newborn and includes:

1. Growth and Development: The animal goes through various stages of growth.

2. Adult Stage: The animal reaches maturity.

3. Death: The animal eventually dies.

Reproduction ensures the survival and continuity of the species.

Examples of Life Cycles

• Mosquitoes: They undergo four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

• Frogs: Their life cycle includes eggs, tadpoles, froglets, and adults.

In certain living beings, such as mosquitoes and frogs, significant changes occur during their life cycle stages. These changes can affect body shape, structure, and sometimes even their habitat.

Real-Life Observation

Avadhi and Aayush, while on a morning walk with their parents, encounter some shells. Avadhi attempts to pick them up, but her mother advises her against it. She explains that the shell may belong to a living snail and is an integral part of its body. This prompts Avadhi and Aayush to think about how the shell could be a vital part of a living creature.

Growth and Movement in Plants

Plants respond to sunlight, which plays a key role in directing their growth. The roots and shoots of plants grow in specific directions based on their orientation. What happens when a plant is placed upside down? Would the root still grow downwards and then shoot upwards? To explore this, let's design an activity to find out.

Activity: Let Us Design

1. Take some bean or gram seeds and place them on a moist cloth or tissue paper.

2. Allow the seeds to germinate until small roots and shoots form.

3. Take three glass beakers (labelled A, B, and C) and attach a piece of thick blotting paper to one side of each glass plate using soft cotton thread.

4. Carefully fix the seedlings on each plate without damaging them.

5. In Beaker A, place the plate upright with the seedling attached, ensuring the root is directed downwards and the shoot upwards.

6. In Beaker B, position the seedling plate upside down so the root points upwards and shoots downwards.

7. In Beaker C, position the seedling with light entering through a small hole to ensure the seedling receives light from only one direction.

8. Pour water into each beaker so the blotting paper remains moist.

Make predictions about the direction of growth for each beaker and record your observations.

Results from Activity :

• When placed upright, the root grows downward, and the shoot grows upward.

• When inverted, the root bends downward, and the shoot bends upward.

• When light is provided from only one direction, the shoot grows toward the light, while the root continues to grow downward.

These observations help us conclude that shoots grow upward toward sunlight, while roots grow downward.

Jagadish Chandra Bose's Contributions

Jagadish Chandra Bose, an Indian scientist, conducted significant experiments on plant responses to stimuli like light, heat, and gravity. He invented a machine called the crescograph to measure plant growth and demonstrated that plants can sense and respond to external stimuli.

Life Cycle of a Plant

We know that plants undergo several changes throughout their life cycle. Let’s explore the stages involved.

Activity: Let Us Explore

1. Plant a bean seed and provide the required conditions for its growth.

2. Observe its development over three months, recording the dates when any changes occur.

3. Sketch the growth stages, noting when the first flower appears and how it progresses into fruit.

You will notice that the seed grows into a plant, produces flowers, and eventually bears fruits that contain seeds. This entire process is called the life cycle of a plant.

Life Cycle of Animals

Just like plants, animals also go through different life stages. Let’s explore the life cycle of a mosquito.

Life Cycle of a Mosquito

Mosquitoes pass through four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Female mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water, and larvae and pupae live in water, frequently coming to the surface to breathe.

Activity: Let Us Analyse

Design an activity to observe the transformation of mosquito larvae into pupae, and eventually into adult mosquitoes. This process helps determine the correct sequence of growth stages in mosquitoes.

The adult mosquito lays eggs, which develop into larvae, then pupae, and finally adult mosquitoes. Significant changes occur at each stage, with the body shape and structure evolving throughout the life cycle.

Frogs also undergo remarkable changes in their life cycle, which includes egg, tadpole, froglet, and adult stages.

Activity: Let Us Explore

Observe the stages of a frog’s life cycle, beginning from eggs laid in a jelly-like substance known as spawn. As tadpoles develop, they grow legs and lose their tails, transforming into froglets and eventually adult frogs that live both in water and on land.

Class 6 Science Chapter 10 Important Topics and Subtopics Covered 

Class 6 Science Chapters 10 Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics Important Concepts

• Basic Characteristics of Living Organisms: All living things have common traits such as growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli.

• Classification of Animals: Animals can be classified based on various criteria like their habitat (land, water) and diet (herbivores, carnivores).

• Adaptations: Animals and plants have unique adaptations that help them survive in their specific environments. For example, camouflaged animals blend into their surroundings.

• Plant Characteristics: Plants have specific features such as roots, stems, and leaves that perform vital functions like nutrient absorption and photosynthesis.

• Differences Between Plants and Animals: Plants produce their food through photosynthesis, while animals rely on other organisms for nutrition.

Importance of Revision Notes for Science Class 6 Chapter 10 Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics

• Summarises Key Points: Condenses important concepts for quick review.

• Saves Time: Provides a fast way to revise before exams.

• Highlights Essentials: Focuses on crucial topics and definitions.

• Improves Memory: Helps in better retention of information.   

• Enhances Exam Prep: Targets weak areas for more effective study.

• Clarifies Concepts: Simplifies complex ideas for easier understanding.

• Includes Visuals: Uses diagrams and charts for better grasp.

• Builds Confidence: Prepares students thoroughly for exams.

Tips for Learning the Class 6 Chapter 10 Science 

1. Focus on the fundamental traits that define living creatures, such as growth, reproduction, and response to their environment.

2. Utilise diagrams and charts to visualise different adaptations and classifications of animals and plants. This can help in better understanding and retention.

3. Break down the chapter into categories like animal classification, plant characteristics, and adaptations. This helps in organising the information for easier recall.

4. Connect the concepts with real-life examples or observations. For instance, think about how a chameleon’s camouflage helps it blend into its environment.

5. Regularly revisit key concepts and review your notes to reinforce learning. Practice recalling information from memory to improve retention.

Conclusion

Chapter 10 Living Creatures: Exploring Their Characteristics provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse traits and adaptations of living organisms. By studying these characteristics, students gain a deeper understanding of how organisms interact with their environment and each other. These notes are designed to help students grasp essential concepts and prepare effectively for their exams.

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Revision Notes Links for Class 6 Science Revision Notes

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