Indiana Science Standard
6.4.1
Explain that one of the most general distinctions among organisms is
between green plants, which use sunlight to make their own food, and
animals, which consume energy-rich foods.
By Spenser Young
Living Organisms
• Plants
&
Animals
Common Traits
• Alive
• Grow
• Need water & Food
Important Difference
Plants
– Produce their own food through a
process called Photosynthesis
– To do this, plants take in energy from the
sunlight and use this to produce their
food within themselves
Important Difference
• Animals
– Eat other sources of high energy foods
(plants/other animals)
– People are animals, too!
What If…?
• What if… there was a plant that could
produce their own food AND that could also
eat other insects and bugs as well?
=
THE VENUS FLY TRAP!
• There is such a thing!
• The Venus Fly Trap is a
carnivorous (meat eating)
plant that not only receives
energy from the sun but also
from insects and spiders
• Only needs about 2-4 hours
of sunlight to function
• One bug can take up to 10
days to digest! Once this
happens then the plant is
ready to eat again
Activity
• Here is your opportunity to create your
own animal or plant that you would like
to see somewhere out in the world!
• When making your plant/animal answer
these type of questions when deciding
what it is like:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Is it a plant or animal?
What does it like to eat?
How big does it grow?
In what area of the world could you find it?
What is it called?
Is it famous for anything?
After finishing brainstorming your
plant/animal go ahead and DRAW IT!
= You Decide!
Organism Summary
• Plants and Animals are similar because they
are both living organisms that grow and
require water and food.
• They are different though since plants are
able to produce their own food within
themselves and animals cannot
• The Venus Flytrap has characteristic of BOTH
plants and animals!