What Do Living Things Need to Survive?

Think about a time you felt very hungry or very thirsty. Maybe your stomach growled or your mouth felt dry. Your body was sending you a signal — it needed something to survive. Now think about your pet, a tree in your garden, or even a tiny ant. Do you think they feel that way too? All living things share the same basic needs. Let's find out what those needs are.

Every living thing — plants, animals, fungi, and even tiny bacteria — must have certain things to stay alive. These are called basic needs. There are four main basic needs: 1. FOOD — Food gives living things energy. Energy is the power needed to grow, move, repair the body, and do everything else. Without food, a living thing slowly runs out of energy and cannot survive. A rabbit eats grass to get energy. A tree makes its own food using sunlight — this is called photosynthesis. 2. WATER — Water is inside every living cell. It carries nutrients (useful substances from food) around the body, helps chemical reactions happen, and keeps cells working properly. Without water, cells stop working very quickly. A human can survive only about three days without water, but can survive several weeks without food. This shows just how important water is. 3. AIR — Most living things need oxygen, a gas found in air, to release energy from food inside their cells. Plants also need a gas called carbon dioxide from the air to make their own food. 4. SPACE AND SHELTER — Living things need enough space to grow and a safe place that protects them from harsh weather or danger. Food and water are especially critical. Without food, there is no energy. Without water, the body's chemical processes stop. Both are needed every day.