1. EAL Nexus Resource Life processes Reference booklet Subject: Science
Age group:
12 – 14,
Topic:
Cells, organs and life processes
© Bell Educational Trust EAL Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials
This resource was originally developed by Z. Davies and has been adapted for EAL Nexus.

2. Glossary movement reproduction sensitivity growth respiration
excretion
nutrition
seeds
Ask the EAL learners to translate the keywords into their first languages
react
respond
energy
oxygen
carbon dioxide
get rid of
waste

3. The seven life processes are carried out by all living things (= plants and animals)
Movement
Reproduction
Sensitivity
Growth
Respiration
Excretion
Nutrition
Mrs Gren
will help!

4. Movement is… …going from one place to another.
Animals move their whole body from one place to another.
Leaves turn towards the light. Roots grow down into the soil.

5. Reproduction is … …producing new plants or animals. .
Animals (and people) have babies.
New plants grow from seeds

6. Sensitivity is …
…how plants and animals react and respond to what is happening around them.
Animals have 5 senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch.
Plants react to light, water and gravity.

7. Growth is … … increasing in size and getting older.
Animal babies grow into adults.
Seedlings grow into bigger plants.

8. Respiration is…
…plants and animals making energy, so they are active and alive.
Plants and animals use oxygen from the air to help turn food into energy.
Respiration doesn’t only mean breathing!

9. Excretion is … … getting rid of waste.
Animals excrete (= get rid of) waste food.
Plants and animals both excrete (= get rid of) carbon dioxide.

10. Food is needed to supply energy.
Nutrition is…
…taking in (= eating) food.
Food is needed to supply energy.
Green plants can make their own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide and water.
Animals eat plants or other animals.

11. Image attributions
Cheetah: By Hein waschefort (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons
Sunflower: By Hans-Joachim Fitting [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Parents and baby: By Vera Kratochvil  via public domain pictures.net
Germination: Created by user {{GFDL}}{{cc-by-sa-2.0}} via Wikimedia Commons
Cat chasing mouse: By Vorstlus. Public domain via Flikr
Dandelion clock: Public domain via Pixabay
Elephant and baby: Photo via <a href=" Free Photos</a>
Seedling: By Dennis Brown (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 ( or GFDL ( via Wikimedia Commons
Tomato plant: By Jolly Janner (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Sunflower and sun: By James Rickwood creative commons via Flikr with permission to re-use.
Child on toilet: By thejbird public domain via Flikr
Plant nutrition: By At09kg (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons
Bear eating fish: By Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Mrs Gren: By Jerry Kimbrell public domain via Pixabay