Chapter 9 of 12

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CBSE Class 7 Science★ 6-10 marks in Class 7 school assessments

Life Processes in Animals

Life Processes in Animals is a Class 7 Science chapter from the current NCERT-aligned Curiosity sequence. These notes explain nutrition, digestion, respiration, circulation, excretion with concepts, examples, activities, common mistakes, and exam-style practice.

⏱ 30 min readMedium difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Explain nutrition and digestion with examples and observations.
2Explain breathing and respiration with examples and observations.
3Explain transport and excretion with examples and observations.

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Why this chapter matters

Animals survive through linked life processes: taking food, breaking it down, using oxygen, transporting materials, and removing wastes.

Before you start — revise these

A 5-minute refresher here will save you 30 minutes of confusion below.

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Class 6 Science foundations

Observation, materials, living things, measurement, and basic scientific vocabulary

Life Processes in Animals - Class 7 Science (CBSE)

Based on the 2026-27 Class 7 Science syllabus for the NCERT-aligned book Curiosity. Use these notes to understand, observe, explain, and answer in full sentences.

1. Why this chapter matters

Animals survive through linked life processes: taking food, breaking it down, using oxygen, transporting materials, and removing wastes.

This chapter is not meant for rote learning. Read every idea with an example, then ask: what can I observe, test, draw, measure, or explain?

2. Core ideas

Nutrition and digestion

Food must be broken into simpler soluble substances. In humans, digestion involves mouth, food pipe, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, and pancreas.

Breathing and respiration

Breathing is physical exchange of air. Respiration is the release of energy from food inside cells using oxygen.

Transport and excretion

Blood carries oxygen, nutrients, and wastes. Excretion removes harmful metabolic wastes from the body.

3. Key points to remember

Observation: Record what is actually seen, measured, or compared.
Fair test: Change one factor and keep other factors the same.
Conclusion: Use evidence to answer the question.
Scientific vocabulary: Use precise terms from the chapter.

4. Worked examples

Example 1: Why do we chew food?

Chewing breaks food into smaller pieces and mixes it with saliva, helping digestion begin.

Example 2: What is the role of the small intestine?

Most digestion and absorption of nutrients happen in the small intestine.

Example 3: Why does breathing rate increase after exercise?

Muscles need more energy, so the body needs more oxygen and must remove more carbon dioxide.

Example 4: What does pulse indicate?

Pulse is related to heartbeat and blood being pumped through arteries.

5. Activity and observation

Measure breathing rate and pulse at rest and after light exercise. Compare the values and explain the change scientifically.

Write the activity in this format:

Aim: What are you trying to find out?
Materials: What did you use?
Procedure: What steps did you follow?
Observation: What did you see or measure?
Conclusion: What scientific idea does it prove?

6. Common mistakes

Writing only definitions without examples.
Drawing diagrams without labels.
Confusing observation with conclusion.
Ignoring units in speed, time, distance, temperature, or measurement questions.
Giving unsafe suggestions for experiments instead of classroom-safe methods.

7. Practice set

Define the main idea of Life Processes in Animals.
Write two key terms from this chapter and explain them.
Describe one activity that proves an idea from this chapter.
Give one real-life application of nutrition.
Write one difference-based question from this chapter.
How can you make your answer more scientific?

8. Answer key

Define the main idea of Life Processes in Animals. Answer: Animals survive through linked life processes: taking food, breaking it down, using oxygen, transporting materials, and removing wastes.
Write two key terms from this chapter and explain them. Answer: nutrition and digestion are central terms. Define each with one example from daily life.
Describe one activity that proves an idea from this chapter. Answer: Measure breathing rate and pulse at rest and after light exercise. Compare the values and explain the change scientifically.
Give one real-life application of nutrition. Answer: Use the chapter idea to explain a daily event, then name the observation that supports your answer.
Write one difference-based question from this chapter. Answer: Compare two related ideas, such as Nutrition and digestion and Breathing and respiration, using meaning and example.
How can you make your answer more scientific? Answer: Use observation, correct vocabulary, labelled diagrams or tables, and a clear reason.

9. Quick revision

Main themes: nutrition, digestion, respiration, circulation, excretion.
Learn definitions with examples.
Practise one diagram, table, or activity.
Revise the worked examples.
Write answers using cause, evidence, and conclusion.

Key formulas & results

Everything you need to memorise, in one card. Screenshot this for revision.

Observation

Record what is actually seen, measured, or compared.

Use with a labelled example or observation.

Fair test

Change one factor and keep other factors the same.

Use with a labelled example or observation.

Conclusion

Use evidence to answer the question.

Use with a labelled example or observation.

Scientific vocabulary

Use precise terms from the chapter.

Use with a labelled example or observation.

⚠️

Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Writing memorised lines without examples

✓ Add one daily-life or activity-based example.

WATCH OUT

✗ Confusing observation and conclusion

✓ Observation is what you see; conclusion is what it means.

WATCH OUT

✗ Leaving diagrams unlabelled

✓ Label every important part clearly.

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

Concept Check

Questions on nutrition, digestion, respiration

Questions

Activity / Observation

Measure breathing rate and pulse at rest and after light exercise. Compare the values and explain the change scientifically.

Questions

Application

Daily-life, diagram, table, and reasoning questions

Questions

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· Worked Example

Why do we chew food?

▶ Show solution

Chewing breaks food into smaller pieces and mixes it with saliva, helping digestion begin.

Q2EASY· Worked Example

What is the role of the small intestine?

▶ Show solution

Most digestion and absorption of nutrients happen in the small intestine.

Q3MEDIUM· Worked Example

Why does breathing rate increase after exercise?

▶ Show solution

Muscles need more energy, so the body needs more oxygen and must remove more carbon dioxide.

Q4MEDIUM· Worked Example

What does pulse indicate?

▶ Show solution

Pulse is related to heartbeat and blood being pumped through arteries.

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Themes: nutrition, digestion, respiration, circulation, excretion.
•Use examples.
•Use labelled diagrams or tables.
•Write observation before conclusion.

CBSE marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 6-10 marks

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
Very Short	1	2-3	Definitions and examples
Short Answer	2-3	1-2	Reasoning and diagrams
Activity	3-5	0-1	Observation, procedure, conclusion

Prep strategy

Understand the concept
Practise examples
Revise one activity
Draw one labelled diagram or table

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

nutrition

Connect this idea to observations at home, school, nature, or technology.

digestion

Connect this idea to observations at home, school, nature, or technology.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

Use correct terms
Draw labelled diagrams
Mention observations
Keep units where needed

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

Design a fair-test experiment for Life Processes in Animals.
Explain one daily event using evidence and variables.

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

CBSE Class 7 School ExamHigh

Science Olympiad FoundationMedium

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Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

Yes. It is part of the 2026-27 Class 7 Science syllabus based on Curiosity.

Revise definitions with examples, one activity, one diagram/table, and two application questions.

Practice more, ask doubts, find a tutor

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