What are organisms?

Organisms are living things that can grow, move, and make more of themselves, just like you!

Organisms are like tiny builders. They take food from their surroundings and use it to build bigger bodies or make new ones. Think about a plant in your backyard: it takes sunlight, water, and soil to grow taller and make more plants. A dog, on the other hand, eats food, runs around, and has puppies, all without needing sunlight!

You can find organisms everywhere.

• People are organisms because you eat, move, and have babies.
• Bacteria are tiny organisms that live in your mouth or on your skin, they’re so small you can’t see them with just your eyes!
• Fish swim in water, take in oxygen from the water, and grow bigger over time.

All of these things, people, plants, bacteria, fish, are organisms, and they all do their own special way of growing and making more of themselves. Organisms are living things that can grow, move, and make more of themselves, just like you!