Science Common Sense

1152 - How do objects, organisms, and environments in nature affect each other?

Imagine you're in a forest. Everything in the forest is connected.

• Trees give shade to animals and plants, and they also make oxygen for them to breathe.
• Plants make food from sunlight, and their roots hold soil in place so it doesn't wash away.
• Animals eat plants and sometimes other animals. When they die, they become food for other creatures like worms and insects.
• The forest floor has tiny organisms like bacteria that break down dead plants and animals, making the soil fertile for new plants to grow.

This is called a "web of life" or an ecosystem. Everything in nature is connected and affects each other in some way, which keeps the world balanced and healthy.