Maharashtra Board Class 6 Science Chapter 2 The Living World PDF Download

2. The Living World

2.1: Various Things In Our Environment

A baby grows up to become an adult person - woman or man. During the period of its growth, the baby gains in height, weight and strength. In the same manner, all animals grow into adults in a certain period. Generally, humans require 18 to 21 years for this growth.

Find out how long it takes for the young ones of hens, cows and dogs to grow into adults.

2.2: Growth In Living Things

Characteristics Of Living Things

There are many kinds of plants and animals around us. They show some similarities and some differences. Yet, with the help of certain features, we can tell that they are all living things. These features are not seen in non-living things. Such features are said to be the characteristics of living things. Let us study these characteristics.

List the things seen in the picture. Say whether they are living or non-living things.

What differences do we see between the young ones and the adults in the picture?

Growth

A baby grows up to become an adult person - woman or man. During the period of its growth, the baby gains in height, weight and strength. In the same manner, all animals grow into adults in a certain period. Generally, humans require 18 to 21 years for this growth.

Find out how long it takes for the young ones of hens, cows and dogs to grow into adults.

Teacher's Note

You can show your students how babies become adults. Like a puppy grows to become a big dog, human babies also grow bigger every year.

Exam Trick

Remember: All living things grow. But animals grow only for some years. Plants grow their whole life long - like a banyan tree keeps getting bigger and bigger.

Points to Remember

Babies gain height, weight and strength as they grow.
Humans take 18 to 21 years to become adults.
All animals grow in a certain period of time.
Growth happens in all living things.

2.3: Sapling In A Pot

Tie a thread to the tip of a potted sapling. Keep the thread stretched and tie it to a peg or nail above the plant. What do you observe after ten to fifteen days?

What tells us that the plant has grown taller?

In all plants, it is mainly the width and height of the stem that grows. As they grow, some plants develop branches while others do not.

Though all living things grow, animals grow only for a certain period. Plants, on the other hand, grow as long as they live. The growth of living things occurs from within the body, which means that growth occurs in all parts of the body.

Teacher's Note

Do this activity with a small plant at home. You will see the thread becomes loose because the plant grows taller. This shows that plants are living things.

Exam Trick

Remember: Plants grow their whole life. Animals stop growing after some years. A 50-year-old person does not grow taller, but a 50-year-old tree still grows.

Points to Remember

Plants grow from inside their body.
The width and height of the stem grows in plants.
Animals grow only for a certain time in their life.
Plants grow as long as they live.
Growth happens in all parts of the body.

Food Is Necessary For Growth

Plants make their own food in sunlight. Plants produce food from water, nutrients in the soil and the carbon dioxide present in the air. This process takes place in the leaves of plants. It is brought about in the presence of sunlight, with the help of the chlorophyll in the leaves. This process of food production is called photosynthesis. During this process, plants give out oxygen. Plants appear mainly green in colour due to the chlorophyll in them.

2.4: Growth In Banyan And Coconut Trees

What differences do you see in the growth of trees like the mango, banyan and peepal and that of the bamboo, coconut and toddy palms?

2.5: Photosynthesis

Teacher's Note

Plants make their own food using sunlight. Like we eat rice and vegetables, plants use water and air to make their own food. This is very special about plants.

Exam Trick

Remember: Photo means light. Synthesis means to make. So photosynthesis means making food using light. Plants need sun, water, and air to make food.

Points to Remember

Plants make their own food using sunlight.
Plants use water, soil nutrients, and carbon dioxide to make food.
This process is called photosynthesis.
Chlorophyll helps plants make food.
Plants give out oxygen during photosynthesis.

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