Organisms and Environment
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Describe the components (sunlight, air, water, soil, and other organisms) of the environment and explain their interrelations.
2. Justify that organisms get the required components from their environment to survive.
3. Explain the impacts of population growth on the environment.
—
Simple and Detailed Lesson Notes
1. What is Environment?
The environment is everything that surrounds us.
It includes living things and non-living things.
Living Things (Biotic Components)
These are things that have life.
Examples: plants, animals, humans, birds, insects, microorganisms.
Non-living Things (Abiotic Components)
These are things that do not have life.
Examples: sunlight, air, water, soil, rocks, temperature.
Both living and non-living things together make our environment.
—
2. Components of the Environment
(a) Sunlight
Sunlight provides light and heat.
Plants need sunlight to make food through photosynthesis.
Animals and humans get energy by eating plants or plant-eating animals.
Sunlight also helps maintain temperature on Earth.
(b) Air
Air contains oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and other gases.
Humans and animals breathe oxygen to live.
Plants use carbon dioxide to make food and release oxygen.
(c) Water
All living things need water to survive.
Plants need water to grow.
Animals drink water for survival.
Water helps in digestion, cleaning, and regulating temperature in our bodies.
(d) Soil
Soil provides a place for plants to grow.
Soil contains minerals, nutrients, air, water, and tiny organisms.
Soil supports animals like earthworms and insects.
(e) Other Organisms
Living things depend on each other.
Example:
Cow eats grass.
Tiger eats other animals.
Humans eat both plants and animals.
Plants depend on animals for carbon dioxide.
—
3. Interrelationship Between Components of the Environment
All components of the environment are connected and depend on each other.
Examples:
Sunlight helps plants make food.
Plants release oxygen needed by animals.
Animals release carbon dioxide needed by plants.
Soil provides minerals to plants.
Water helps plants and animals survive.
This connection forms a balanced environment.
—
4. How Organisms Get What They Need to Survive (Objective 2)
Every organism gets its basic needs from its environment:
Plants get:
Sunlight for making food
Air (carbon dioxide)
Water from soil
Nutrients from soil
Animals get:
Food (plants or other animals)
Water from rivers, ponds, lakes
Oxygen from air
Shelter from trees, caves, or houses
Humans get:
Food from plants and animals
Water from nature
Air for breathing
Resources like wood, fuel, medicines, metals
Thus, organisms cannot live without their environment.
—
5. Population Growth and Its Impact on the Environment (Objective 3)
Population means the number of people living in a place.
When population increases very fast, it causes problems:
(a) More Use of Natural Resources
More people = more food, water, and land needed
Forests are cut down for farming and houses
(b) Pollution Increases
More waste is produced
More vehicles release smoke
Water sources get polluted
(c) Loss of Wildlife
Animals lose their homes because forests are destroyed
Some animals may become endangered
(d) Less Clean Air and Water
Factories and vehicles make air dirty
Rivers and lakes get polluted
(e) Soil Problems
Too much farming can reduce soil nutrients
Soil can become dry and less fertile
Conclusion:
Population growth should be controlled and resources should be used wisely to protect the environment.
—
Summary
The environment has living and non-living components.
Sunlight, air, water, soil, and other organisms are all connected.
Every living organism gets its basic needs from the environment.
Population growth can harm the environment by causing pollution, deforestation, and resource shortage.