Living things

Have you ever felt a kitten purr against your cheek, or watched a tiny seed sprout from the dirt and reach for the sun? Have you seen a bee buzz from flower to flower, or felt your own toes wiggle in the grass? That happy, busy, growing feeling—that’s me. I’m in the fish that swims, the bird that sings, and the dog that wags its tail. I am the power that helps you run and jump and grow taller every single day. You can’t see me, but I am everywhere, in all the amazing creatures and plants on our planet. I am Life, and I want to tell you how we all became one big family known as Living Things.

For a very long time, people have been curious about all my different forms. They wondered: how is a fish different from a bird? How are a mushroom and a flower the same? A long, long time ago, a wise man in Greece named Aristotle spent his days watching me. He would sit by the sea and study octopuses, or walk through forests and observe plants. He started putting all the creatures and plants he saw into groups to understand them better. It was like sorting your toys—all the cars in one box, all the dolls in another. Many, many years later, on May 23rd, 1707, a baby named Carl Linnaeus was born in Sweden. When he grew up, he loved plants and animals so much that he gave me the most wonderful gift. He created a special system to give every single living thing a two-part scientific name, like a first and last name. This way, a scientist in Japan and a scientist in Brazil could talk about the same little beetle and know exactly which one they meant. His work helped everyone see that we are all part of one giant, connected family tree.

Today, you can see me everywhere you look. I am in the grass that tickles your feet, the pet that greets you at the door, and the yummy apple you eat for a snack. I am in the deepest oceans and on the highest mountains. Every time you take a breath, you are sharing the air with me and all the other plants and animals. Every time you care for a plant or are kind to an animal, you are helping my big, beautiful family thrive. You are a very special part of me, the amazing family of Living Things. So go outside, explore, and say hello to all your relatives.