Living and Non-living
Grouping & Classification: Living and Non-living
Living and Non-living
Grouping & Classification — Living and Non-living
NCERT anchor
Joyful Mathematics 2 — nature and surroundings talk. Sorting living and non-living things is a foundation for later EVS classification.
What you will learn
- Living things grow, eat, breathe, and move on their own — like plants and animals.
- Non-living things do not grow or eat on their own — like a chair or a book.
- Grouping by living/non-living uses these simple checks.
Key concepts
Verbal: Ask: does it grow, eat, or move by itself? If yes, it is living. If no, it is non-living.
Symbolic: Dog, tree, flower → living. Chair, book, car → non-living.
Level 1 — Getting started
| Example | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| dog, tree, flower | living | They grow and need food or water |
| chair, book, car | non-living | They do not grow or eat |
| fish, bird, ant | living | They move and breathe on their own |
Level 1 — Practice idea
Walk around your house and point to 3 living things and 3 non-living things.
Level 2 — Going further
A toy car can move, but only when pushed or wound up — it still does not grow or eat, so it is non-living.
Indian real life
A tulsi plant at home is living because it grows, while the pot holding it is non-living.
Worked example
Sort: cow, table, mango tree, pencil
Step 1 — Cow can move, eat, and grow — **living**
Step 2 — Mango tree grows and needs water — **living**
Step 3 — Table and pencil do not grow or eat — **non-living**
Answer: cow and mango tree are living; table and pencil are non-living
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Why | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Thinking anything that moves is living | A toy car moves but is non-living | Check if it grows and eats by itself |
| Forgetting plants are living | Plants do not walk, so they seem non-living | Remember plants grow and need water |
| Mixing up dried/dead things | A dried leaf does not grow anymore | A once-living thing that has dried is treated as non-living for this check |
Quick check
- Is a fish living or non-living? Why?
- Is a bicycle living or non-living? Why?
- Name 2 living and 2 non-living things in your classroom.
Stretch: Sort 6 objects from a park scene into living and non-living groups.
Revision tip: Use the 3-question check every time: does it grow, eat, or move on its own?
Open the Practice tab for graded questions on Grouping & Classification — Living and Non-living.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
- NCERT anchor
- What you will learn
- Key concepts
- Worked example
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