---
title: "What Living Things Need"
description: "Understand what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive: water, food, air, and suitable conditions"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/what-living-things-need-mt_L1469gt34A
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/what-living-things-need-mt_L1469gt34A.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# What Living Things Need

Understand what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive: water, food, air, and suitable conditions

Subject: Science · Area: Organisms & Life Processes · Ages 5 to 7
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/what-living-things-need-mt_L1469gt34A

## Ready when they can

- List the basic needs of animals: water, food, air, shelter
- List the basic needs of plants: water, light, air, suitable temperature
- Explain what happens if one basic need is missing (e.g. 'the plant wilts without water')

## Lesson: What living things need

All living things need things to stay alive. Animals like dogs need water, food, air, and shelter.

*(drawing: A dog needs water, food, air, and shelter every day.)*

Plants are alive too, but they need different things. Plants need water, light, air, and the right warmth.

**Example.** Mia waters her plant and puts it near a window. The plant gets water, light, air, and warmth from the sunny window. It grows tall and green.

**Tip.** If a need is missing, a living thing can get sick. A plant with no water wilts and droops.

Plants make their own food using light from the sun, water, and air. They do not need to eat food like animals do. This is why plants can grow in a garden without anyone feeding them.

Fish are animals too, but they do not breathe air like dogs do. Fish get oxygen from the water around them. If the water has no oxygen, the fish cannot stay alive.

**Recap.** Pets like dogs need water, food, air, and shelter. Plants need water, light, air, and the right warmth. Without these, living things can get sick.

## Practice

8 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Common Plants & Trees](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/common-plants-and-trees-mt_j7cer_Nmor)
- [Living Things Vocabulary](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/living-things-vocabulary-mt_zexbopQjG0)
- [Naming Common Animals](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/naming-common-animals-mt_zVLOm6U7bh)

## Opens up

- [Seeds & Plant Growth](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/seeds-and-plant-growth-mt_0B64gfJf7j)
- [What Plants Need to Grow](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/what-plants-need-to-grow-mt_3v0VNkwquK)
- [Habitats & Basic Needs](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/habitats-and-basic-needs-mt_cM8YS6NXqi)
- [Animal Nutrition](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/animal-nutrition-mt_E1wR8IfCV6)
- [Plants and animals in their habitats](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/plants-and-animals-in-their-habitats-mt_e6PP4ip39V)
- [Habitat Vocabulary](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/habitat-vocabulary-mt_Fw0bbM1e_g)
- [Animal Life Stages](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/animal-life-stages-mt_oR6dwRj2Ll)
- [How Organisms Shape Habitats](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/how-organisms-shape-habitats-mt_qixeaiswFP)