, Life and Living
Grade 7 Natural Science
Study Notes Term 1
The Biosphere
1 Biosphere
The zone of life on Earth, including:
• lithosphere - soil and rocks
• hydrosphere - water
• atmosphere - gases
• living organisms - all plants, animals and microorganisms
• dead organic matter - decomposed remains of once-living organisms
2 Seven Life Processes
All living things can perform:
• nutrition - feeding;
• growth - increasing in size;
• reproduction - producing offspring;
• respiration - energy production;
• excretion - removal of waste;
• sensitivity - responding to the environment;
• movement - the ability to change position.
3 Requirements for Sustaining Life
• ●Essential needs: living things need energy, gases (like oxygen and carbon
dioxide), water, soil and favourable temperatures.
• ●Adaptation: living organisms are suited to their environment. For example,
fish have fins that allow them to move easily through water.
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, Grade 7 Natural Science Study Notes Term 1: Life and Living
4 Classification of Living Things
• Biodiversity: the variety of life on Earth, including plants, animals and
microorganisms.
• Classification system: organisms are grouped based on shared characteristics.
Further Distinguishing
Five kingdoms
subdivisions: characteristics:
• Bacteria Kingdoms are divided Differences in
• Protista into phyla/divisions, movement, nutrition
• Fungi classes, orders, and reproduction
• Plants families, genera and distinguish plants from
• Animals species. animals.
5 Diversity of Animals
●Vertebrates Invertebrates
• Animals with backbones, • Animals without backbones,
classified into five classes: including:
• fish • arthropods - have
• amphibians exoskeletons and jointed
• reptiles legs (e.g., insects, arachnids,
• birds crustaceans)
• mammals
• molluscs - soft-bodied
animals (e.g., snails)
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, Grade 7 Natural Science Study Notes Term 1: Life and Living
6 Diversity of Plants
●Plants with seeds ●Plants without seeds ●Angiosperms
• Aangiosperms - • e.g. ferns Further divided into:
flowering plants
• dicotyledons - have
• Gymnosperms - two seed leaves
cone-bearing plants
• monocotyledons -
(e.g. cycads)
have one seed leaf
7 Sexual Reproduction in Angiosperms
●Flowers
• Sexual organs of angiosperms, containing:
• stamens - male structures producing pollen
• stigma, style, ovary - female structures
• petals - attract pollinators
• sepals - protect the flower bud.
• Pollination: transfer of pollen for fertilisation
• facilitated by wind, water, or pollinators (insects, birds, mammals)
• Fertilization: fusion of male and female sex cells to produce seeds
• Seed and fruit formation: ovary develops into fruit that contains seeds
• Dispersal: fruits and seeds are dispersed in various ways.
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Grade 7 Natural Science
Study Notes Term 1
The Biosphere
1 Biosphere
The zone of life on Earth, including:
• lithosphere - soil and rocks
• hydrosphere - water
• atmosphere - gases
• living organisms - all plants, animals and microorganisms
• dead organic matter - decomposed remains of once-living organisms
2 Seven Life Processes
All living things can perform:
• nutrition - feeding;
• growth - increasing in size;
• reproduction - producing offspring;
• respiration - energy production;
• excretion - removal of waste;
• sensitivity - responding to the environment;
• movement - the ability to change position.
3 Requirements for Sustaining Life
• ●Essential needs: living things need energy, gases (like oxygen and carbon
dioxide), water, soil and favourable temperatures.
• ●Adaptation: living organisms are suited to their environment. For example,
fish have fins that allow them to move easily through water.
Page 1 of 4 visit twinkl.co.za
, Grade 7 Natural Science Study Notes Term 1: Life and Living
4 Classification of Living Things
• Biodiversity: the variety of life on Earth, including plants, animals and
microorganisms.
• Classification system: organisms are grouped based on shared characteristics.
Further Distinguishing
Five kingdoms
subdivisions: characteristics:
• Bacteria Kingdoms are divided Differences in
• Protista into phyla/divisions, movement, nutrition
• Fungi classes, orders, and reproduction
• Plants families, genera and distinguish plants from
• Animals species. animals.
5 Diversity of Animals
●Vertebrates Invertebrates
• Animals with backbones, • Animals without backbones,
classified into five classes: including:
• fish • arthropods - have
• amphibians exoskeletons and jointed
• reptiles legs (e.g., insects, arachnids,
• birds crustaceans)
• mammals
• molluscs - soft-bodied
animals (e.g., snails)
Page 2 of 4 visit twinkl.co.za
, Grade 7 Natural Science Study Notes Term 1: Life and Living
6 Diversity of Plants
●Plants with seeds ●Plants without seeds ●Angiosperms
• Aangiosperms - • e.g. ferns Further divided into:
flowering plants
• dicotyledons - have
• Gymnosperms - two seed leaves
cone-bearing plants
• monocotyledons -
(e.g. cycads)
have one seed leaf
7 Sexual Reproduction in Angiosperms
●Flowers
• Sexual organs of angiosperms, containing:
• stamens - male structures producing pollen
• stigma, style, ovary - female structures
• petals - attract pollinators
• sepals - protect the flower bud.
• Pollination: transfer of pollen for fertilisation
• facilitated by wind, water, or pollinators (insects, birds, mammals)
• Fertilization: fusion of male and female sex cells to produce seeds
• Seed and fruit formation: ovary develops into fruit that contains seeds
• Dispersal: fruits and seeds are dispersed in various ways.
Page 3 of 4 visit twinkl.co.za
