Science Common Sense

1078 - What does an organism need to maintain life, grow, and be active?

Every living organism needs a few basic things to stay alive, grow, and be active. These things are:

1. Food (or nutrients): to give us energy
2. Water: to keep our bodies working properly
3. Air (or oxygen): to breathe and keep our bodies working
4. Shelter: a safe place to live and be protected
5. Sleep: to rest and repair our bodies

Additionally, some organisms also need:

• Space to move around and grow
• Homeostasis (a way to keep their body temperature and other things regular)
• Waste removal (a way to get rid of the bad stuff their bodies don't need)

All these things help keep living things alive, healthy, and active.