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

Living beings show common characteristics such as growth, movement, respiration, excretion, reproduction and response to stimuli. Plants and animals also pass through different stages during their life cycles.

Living and non-living things are present everywhere around us. A pigeon, plant and snail are living, while a pencil, chair and car are non-living. Movement alone cannot separate them because cars also move, while plants remain fixed in one place.

These CBSE Class 6 Science Revision Notes Chapter 10 follow the current 2026–27 chapter. Revise the characteristics that distinguish living beings, conditions needed for seed germination, plant movements, and the life cycles of bean plants, mosquitoes and frogs. The chapter also shows how living beings grow, respond and continue their kind.

Key Takeaways

• Living characteristics: Living beings grow, move, respire, excrete, reproduce and respond to stimuli.
• Seed germination: Bean seeds need air and the right amount of water to germinate.
• Plant movement: Roots usually grow downwards, while shoots grow upwards and towards light.
• Life cycles: Plants, mosquitoes and frogs pass through several stages before reaching adulthood.

Access Class 6 Science Chapter 10 Living Creatures Notes in 30 Minutes

Revise the chapter in three parts:

First 10 minutes: Living and non-living things and characteristics of life

Next 10 minutes: Seed germination and growth and movement in plants

Final 10 minutes: Life cycles of plants, mosquitoes and frogs

Need help revising living characteristics and life cycles?

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Living and Non-Living Things in Class 6 Science Chapter 10 Notes

Objects around us can be placed into two broad groups:

• Living beings
• Non-living things

A pigeon is living because it carries out life processes. A pencil is non-living because it does not grow, respire, reproduce or respond on its own.

Can Movement Alone Identify a Living Being?

No. A car moves on a road, but it is non-living.

It moves only when fuel, machinery and a driver make it move. It does not grow, reproduce, respire or excrete.

Plants remain fixed in the soil, but they are living. They grow, respire, reproduce and show movements in their parts.

Therefore, a living being must be identified using several characteristics together.

Living and Non-Living Comparison

Characteristics of Living Beings Revision Notes

Living beings share a group of essential characteristics.

The absence of these life processes indicates that an object is non-living.

Movement

Animals may move from one place to another. They walk, run, fly, crawl or swim.

Plants do not usually move from place to place. However, their parts show movement.

Examples include:

• Flowers opening
• Climbers winding around support
• Drosera leaves trapping insects
• Touch-me-not leaves folding when touched
• Amla leaves folding after sunset
• Shoots bending towards light

This shows that movement can occur without changing the whole organism’s location.

Growth

Living beings increase in size and develop with time.

A child becomes taller and larger. A small seedling grows into a mature plant.

Living growth occurs because the body produces more cells and tissues.

A non-living object may appear larger when material is added to it, but this is not biological growth.

Nutrition

Living beings need food or nutrients for:

• Energy
• Growth
• Development
• Repair
• Body functions

Animals obtain food from plants or other animals. Plants use water, minerals, air and sunlight to prepare food and grow.

Nutrition is essential for all living beings.

Breathing and Respiration

Breathing involves taking air into the body and releasing it.

When humans inhale, air enters the body. When they exhale, air moves out.

Breathing is part of a larger process called respiration.

Respiration releases energy from food. All living beings respire.

Do Plants Respire?

Yes. Plants also take in and release gases.

Leaves contain tiny pores called stomata. These pores help in the exchange of gases.

Plants may not breathe like humans, but they still carry out respiration.

Excretion

Living beings produce waste materials during life processes.

The removal of these wastes from the body is called excretion.

Examples in humans and animals include:

• Sweat
• Urine
• Carbon dioxide

Sweat contains water and salts removed from the body.

Plants also excrete. Some plants remove excess water and minerals as droplets on leaves.

These droplets may be seen on grass and rose leaves.

Response to Stimuli

A stimulus is an event or change that causes a living being to respond.

Examples include:

All living beings respond to changes in their surroundings.

Reproduction

Reproduction is the process through which living beings produce new individuals of their own kind.

Examples include:

• Cats producing kittens
• Dogs producing puppies
• Plants producing seeds
• Mosquitoes laying eggs
• Frogs laying eggs

Reproduction maintains the continuity of a species.

An individual organism can live without reproducing, but reproduction is required for the continuation of its kind.

Death

Living beings eventually die.

A living organism is considered dead when it permanently stops carrying out life processes, even when food, air and water are available.

Non-living objects do not die because they were never alive.

Essential Characteristics at a Glance

All living beings:

• Show movement
• Need nutrition
• Grow
• Respire
• Excrete
• Respond to stimuli
• Reproduce
• Eventually die

Seed Germination in Class 6 Science Chapter 10 Revision Notes

A seed may appear inactive, but it contains a living embryo.

When suitable conditions are available, it develops into a young plant.

What Is Germination?

When a seed begins to grow and forms a sprout, it is said to have germinated.

The process is called germination.

Conditions Required for Germination

Bean seeds mainly require:

• The right amount of water
• Air

Most seeds do not need light during germination. However, sunlight is usually needed after germination for the seedling’s growth.

Role of Water

The outer covering of a seed is called the seed coat.

Water:

• Softens the seed coat
• Activates processes inside the seed
• Helps the embryo grow
• Supports the development of the root and shoot

A seed kept in dry soil does not germinate because it does not receive water.

Role of Air

Seeds need air for respiration during germination.

Air is present in the spaces between soil particles.

The developing embryo uses this air to release energy for growth.

Why Does Excess Water Prevent Germination?

Excess water fills the spaces between soil particles.

This reduces the amount of air available to the seed.

Without sufficient air, the seed cannot respire properly and may fail to germinate or begin to rot.

Is Sunlight Necessary?

For most seeds, sunlight is not essential during germination.

Bean seeds can germinate in moist soil kept in darkness if air is available.

After germination, the seedling needs sunlight for continued healthy growth.

Some plant seeds may require special light or dark conditions, but this varies by species.

Germination Experiment Summary

The experiment shows that the right amount of water and air are essential for bean seed germination.

Growth and Movement in Plants

Plants remain rooted in one place, but their roots and shoots show directional growth.

An experiment with germinated bean or gram seedlings shows how they respond to gravity and light.

Upright Seedling

When a seedling is kept upright:

• The root grows downwards.
• The shoot grows upwards.

Inverted Seedling

When a seedling is placed upside down:

• The root bends and grows downwards.
• The shoot bends and grows upwards.

The original position does not permanently change their direction of growth.

Light from One Direction

When light enters from one side:

• The shoot bends towards the light.
• The root continues growing downwards.

Main Conclusion

Roots generally grow downwards.

Shoots generally grow upwards and towards light.

This growth is also a form of plant movement and response to stimuli.

Jagadish Chandra Bose and Plant Response

Jagadish Chandra Bose was an Indian scientist who studied how plants respond to external changes.

He built an instrument called the crescograph.

The crescograph helped him:

• Measure plant growth
• Observe very small plant movements
• Study responses to light
• Study responses to heat
• Study responses to electricity
• Study responses to gravity

His experiments showed that plants can sense and respond to stimuli.

Life Cycle of a Plant Notes

A plant undergoes several stages from seed formation to death.

The complete sequence is called its life cycle.

Life Cycle of a Bean Plant

The stages are:

1. Seed
2. Seed germination
3. Appearance of roots and shoots
4. Formation of leaves
5. Growth into a mature plant
6. Appearance of flowers
7. Formation of fruits or pods
8. Development of seeds
9. Death of the old plant
10. Germination of new seeds

Seed to Seed Cycle

A bean seed germinates under suitable conditions.

The seedling grows and develops leaves. The mature plant produces flowers.

Parts of the flower develop into fruit. In a bean plant, the fruit is a pod containing seeds.

These seeds can germinate into a new generation of plants.

Definition of a Plant Life Cycle

The complete process from a seed to a plant and then to the next generation of seeds is called the life cycle of a plant.

Why Is It Called a Cycle?

The process repeats:

Seed → Plant → Flower → Fruit → Seed

The new seeds begin another generation.

Life Cycle of a Mosquito

Mosquitoes pass through four distinct life stages.

These stages show major changes in shape and structure.

Four Stages

1. Egg
2. Larva
3. Pupa
4. Adult mosquito

Egg Stage

An adult female mosquito lays eggs on or near stagnant water.

The eggs hatch and form larvae.

Larva Stage

Mosquito larvae live in water.

They move actively and repeatedly come to the surface to breathe air.

The larvae grow and develop into pupae.

Pupa Stage

The pupa also lives in water and comes to the surface for air.

It looks different from the larva.

An adult mosquito develops inside the pupa.

Adult Stage

The adult mosquito emerges from the pupa.

It briefly rests on the water surface and then flies away.

The adult female later lays eggs, and the cycle continues.

Mosquito Life Cycle Sequence

Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult

Why Should Stagnant Water Be Removed?

Mosquitoes commonly lay eggs in stagnant water.

Possible breeding places include:

• Desert coolers
• Flowerpots
• Open containers
• Discarded tyres
• Puddles
• Uncovered tanks

Removing or covering stagnant water can interrupt the mosquito life cycle.

Why Do Larvae and Pupae Come to the Surface?

They live in water but need air for respiration.

They repeatedly move to the surface to obtain air.

A layer over the water can prevent this contact with air. However, mosquito control should be carried out safely under adult or local health guidance.

Life Cycle of a Frog

Frogs undergo major changes during development.

Their young stage looks very different from the adult.

Main Stages

1. Spawn or egg
2. Embryo
3. Tadpole
4. Tadpole with legs
5. Froglet
6. Adult frog

These stages may be grouped into four broad stages:

• Egg
• Tadpole
• Froglet
• Adult

Spawn and Embryo

A female frog lays eggs in water.

The eggs occur in a jelly-like cluster called spawn.

An embryo develops inside each egg.

Tadpole

The embryo develops into a tadpole.

An early tadpole:

• Lives in water
• Has a long tail
• Has no legs
• Swims using its tail

Later, hind legs begin to appear.

Froglet

The tadpole develops into a froglet.

The froglet:

• Has legs
• Still has a shorter tail
• Lives in water
• Begins spending some time on land

Adult Frog

The tail gradually disappears.

The legs become stronger for jumping and landing.

The adult frog can live both in water and on land.

Frog Life Cycle Sequence

Spawn → Embryo → Tadpole → Tadpole with legs → Froglet → Adult frog

Changes During the Frog Life Cycle

The life cycle includes changes in:

• Shape
• Body structure
• Method of movement
• Habitat

Plant and Animal Life Cycle Comparison

Plants and animals both grow, develop, reproduce and die.

However, their life stages differ.

Similarities

Both plants and animals:

• Begin life in an early stage
• Grow and develop
• Reach maturity
• Reproduce
• Produce a new generation
• Eventually die

Differences

Plants generally begin from seeds and develop roots, shoots, flowers and fruits.

Animals may begin as eggs or newborns and pass through different stages. Some, such as mosquitoes and frogs, show major changes in body shape.

Class 6 Science Chapter 10 Summary Notes

Important Terms from Living Creatures

Living being: An organism that performs life processes.

Non-living thing: An object that does not carry out life processes.

Movement: A change in position of an organism or its body parts.

Nutrition: Obtaining and using food or nutrients.

Respiration: The process through which energy is released from food.

Excretion: Removal of waste products from the body.

Stimulus: A change or event that causes a response.

Response: An action shown because of a stimulus.

Reproduction: Production of new individuals of the same kind.

Germination: Development of a seed into a sprout.

Seed coat: The outer covering of a seed.

Embryo: The tiny developing plant inside a seed or developing organism inside an egg.

Life cycle: The complete sequence of stages in the life of an organism.

Larva: The stage after the egg in a mosquito’s life cycle.

Pupa: The stage between larva and adult mosquito.

Spawn: A jelly-like cluster of frog eggs.

Tadpole: The aquatic young stage of a frog.

Froglet: A young frog with legs and a remaining tail.

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