🌱 Chapter 4: Growing up with Nature
Explore village life, traditional practices, and environmental care!
🌱 Chapter Summary
This chapter highlights the deep connection between nature and daily life through Reena and Amit’s visit to a village. Students explore traditional knowledge, sustainable practices, local arts, herbal remedies, and festivals tied to nature. It emphasizes preserving the environment and respecting natural resources through activities, traditions, and celebrations, fostering eco-awareness and sustainable living.
✅ Let Us Answer
Page 58: Local Flowers
Write names of five colourful flowers in your area:
| Flower Name | Local Name (Examples) |
|---|---|
| Palash | Kesuda (Gujarat) |
| Hibiscus | Gudhal |
| Marigold | Genda |
| Lotus | Kamal |
| Bougainvillea | Paper flower |
Page 59–60: Traditional Houses and Dyes
Materials used in village homes:
Ans: Clay, hay, cow dung, grass, bamboo
How is paint made traditionally?
Ans: Using rice flour, water, flower extracts, coloured stones
Page 61–62: Traditional Storage & Tools
Storage methods:
Ans: Earthen pots lined with neem leaves, bamboo baskets coated with cow dung
Traditional container table (Example):
| Name | State Used | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tumri | Uttarakhand | Dried bottle gourd, oval shape |
| Matka | Many states | Clay pot, keeps grains/water cool |
| Kuthla | Himachal Pradesh | Made of bamboo, for pulses |
Page 63: Medicinal Plants
Medicinal Plants:
| Plant Name | Part Used | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Tulsi (basil) | Leaves | Cold and cough relief |
| Ajwain (carom) | Seeds | Aids digestion |
| Neem | Leaves, oil | Mosquito repellent, skin treatment |
| Aloe vera | Gel | Burns, cuts, skin care |
| Turmeric | Root | Antiseptic |
First-Aid Box Essentials:
Ans: Cotton, antiseptic cream, bandages, scissors, gauze, herbal oil
Importance of First Aid:
Ans: Helps control bleeding, prevent infection, and reduce injuries quickly
Page 64–65: Festivals and Celebrations
Life without electricity for 2 days:
Ans: No lights/fans, no internet, no mobile charging, food spoils faster, discomfort at night
Traditional dances in region (Examples):
Ans:
- Assam – Bihu
- Punjab – Bhangra
- Maharashtra – Lavani
- Gujarat – Garba
- Nagaland – Zeliang
Page 66: Rituals Around Nature
Festivals and Activities:
| Festival Name | Plant/Animal | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Vat Purnima | Banyan tree | Worship with thread |
| Hari Jiroti | Fruit trees | Tree plantation |
| Kaziranga Fest | Elephant | Awareness parade |
| Nag Panchami | Cobra | Respect and rituals |
Page 67: Nature in Daily Life
Things we use from nature:
Ans: Fruits, vegetables, cotton (clothes), wood, honey, water
Overuse Problems (Examples):
| Resource | Problem |
|---|---|
| Water | Scarcity, polluted rivers |
| Soil | Loss of fertility, erosion |
| Sea | Fewer fish, plastic pollution |
| Forest | Loss of trees and animals |
Activity and Resource Table:
| Activity | Natural Resource Used |
|---|---|
| Eating fruits | Fruits from trees |
| Wearing clothes | Cotton from plants |
| Healthcare | Neem, Tulsi, Aloe vera |
| Writing on paper | Trees (wood) |
Page 68: Protecting Nature + Herbal Garden
Ways to protect the environment:
Ans:
- Plant more trees
- Avoid plastic
- Use natural products
- Keep water sources clean
- Reuse, reduce, recycle
Design a Herbal Garden (Suggestions):
| Location | Plants |
|---|---|
| At home | Tulsi, Aloe vera |
| At school | Lemongrass, Mint |
| In parks | Hibiscus, Curry leaves |
| In locality | Neem, Guava, Basil |
✏️ Activities
Page 58: Draw a Flower
Activity: Draw and colour a flower of your choice.
Instructions: Choose a flower (e.g., marigold), sketch it in your notebook, and colour it using crayons or pencils.
Page 59–60: Natural Dye Activity
Activity: Collect petals (marigold, hibiscus), roots (turmeric, beet), boil, strain, and use as fabric paint.
Instructions: With adult supervision, boil natural materials to extract dye, strain the liquid, and use it to paint on cloth or paper.
Art Tip: Try Gond painting using natural dyes for a traditional look.
Page 64–65: Traditional Dance Performance
Activity: Perform a traditional dance on Annual Day with regional costume.
Instructions: Learn a dance like Bihu or Garba with classmates, practice movements, and present it in costume during a school event.
🧠 Let Us Reflect
No specific reflection questions are listed, but students can reflect on chapter themes through discussions about sustainable practices, the importance of medicinal plants, or the role of nature in festivals.
🧠 Concepts Covered
- Village life and natural living
- Use of natural dyes and eco-friendly houses
- Traditional methods of storage and preservation
- Medicinal plants and first-aid knowledge
- Cultural connections to nature (festivals, groves, dances)
- Eco-awareness and sustainable practices
- Hands-on activities: Drawing flowers, making natural dyes, performing traditional dances
