Energy for Life

Every organism on Earth needs energy to live. Organisms get energy by eating food. People eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. How do other organisms get food?

Plants are special because they are able to make their own food using energy from the Sun in photosynthesis. In photosynthesis the plant’s different chemicals take the Sun’s energy. Plants also take water and nutrients from the soil. They use all these to produce food so they can live and grow.

Most other organisms cannot make their own food. These organisms must get their energy by eating food. Their food comes from other organisms, such as plants or other animals. Because organisms depend on one another for food, they are all connected in the cycle of life.