Chapter 5: Plants and Animals Live Together
Discover the special bond between plants and animals!
🌿 Chapter Summary
This chapter explores the close relationship between plants and animals in nature. Children learn how animals like birds, insects, and mammals live on, around, or under plants — using them for food, shelter, nesting, and resting. The soil, too, is shown to be full of life, with creatures like earthworms and insects helping to keep it healthy. Students observe real plants and animals around them and reflect on sounds, smells, and behaviour in nature. Activities include soil comparison, bird sound games, drawing plant-animal observations, and tracking the life cycle of a butterfly — all meant to deepen children’s love for the natural world.
Questions
📘 Page 63–64
Which animals (from page 4) have you seen before? Describe where and how.
Ans:
- Squirrel – I saw one climbing a tree in my school.
- Butterfly – I saw colourful butterflies sitting on flowers in my classroom.
- Woodpecker – I saw it tapping a tree trunk near my house.
- Ants – I often see ants near sugar or under trees in the garden.
- Parrot – I saw a parrot on a tree near my home.
📘 Page 64
Soil Observation Table:
| My soil felt... | My soil had... |
|---|---|
| Rough, small pebbles | Leaves, dirt |
| (After rain) – muddy | Small rocks |
How was the soil different after rain?
Ans: It felt wetter, cooler, softer, and had a fresh smell.
How was the soil far from plants?
Ans: It was drier and harder, with fewer insects.
📘 Page 66
Animal Observation Table (Example):
| I saw... | It was on... | What was it doing? |
|---|---|---|
| A red bug | A rotting fruit | Eating the fruit |
| A black bird | A tree branch | Singing |
| A garden lizard | A sunny rock | Resting |
| Ants | On leaves | Carrying food |
| A butterfly | On flowers | Drinking nectar |
📘 Page 69
Bird Sounds Table:
| Name of the Bird | Sound Made |
|---|---|
| Pigeon | Gutru-Gutru |
| Crow | Caw-Caw |
| Koel | Koo-Ooo |
| Parrot | Tew-Tew |
When do you hear more bird sounds?
Ans: In the early morning and evening.
What if you don’t hear bird sounds?
Ans: There might be too much noise or no trees nearby.
Activities
Soil Comparison (Page 64)
Instructions: Collect soil from two places (near plants and far from plants, or before and after rain). Observe and note the texture, smell, and contents in a table like the one above.
Animal Observation (Page 66)
Instructions: Observe animals near plants in your garden or park. Fill a table noting what you see, where they are, and what they’re doing, similar to the example above.
Bird Sound Game (Page 69)
Instructions: Listen to bird sounds in the morning or evening. Try to identify birds by their sounds and note them in a table like the one above. Mimic the sounds with friends for fun.
Let Us Reflect
Page 70–71: A. Discuss
1. Colour & texture of soil you collected:
Ans: One was dry and rough; the other after rain was damp and soft. The dry soil smelled earthy; the wet soil smelled fresh.
2. When did new leaves appear?
Ans: During the spring and rainy season.
3. Animals, birds, and insects noticed:
Ans: Squirrel, crow, ant, butterfly, worm, and beetle.
4. How do animals rely on plants? Favourite example?
Ans:
- For food (leaves, fruits, nectar)
- For shelter (tree hollows, branches)
- Favourite: Tailorbird stitching leaves to build its nest
5. What is soil made of?
Ans: Tiny rock particles, old leaves, roots, stems, and living or dead animals like insects and worms.
Page 70–71: B. Write
Animals Observed:
| Animals Observed | Description | Why were they near plants? | Interesting Observations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butterfly | Small, colourful wings | Drinking nectar from flowers | It fluttered around flowers |
| Earthworm | Long, brown, slimy | Living in moist soil near roots | It helped the soil become loose and healthy |
Page 70–71: C. Draw
Instructions: Draw your plant friend with small coloured dots to mark:
- 🐜 Insects on leaves
- 🐦 Birds on branches
- 🐛 Worms near roots
Use crayons or pencils and label the animals.
Page 70–71: D. Put in Order – Butterfly Life Cycle
Correct Sequence:
- One day it stopped eating.
- The caterpillar formed a cocoon.
- It came out of the cocoon.
- Now it was a butterfly.
- It flew away gently.
Instructions: Arrange the given statements in the correct order in your notebook.
Concepts Covered
- Interdependence of plants and animals
- Animals’ use of plants for food, shelter, and nesting
- Role of soil and its living organisms (e.g., earthworms)
- Observing nature: Animal behavior, bird sounds, soil texture
- Life cycle of a butterfly
- Importance of plants for animal survival
- Hands-on activities: Soil observation, drawing, sequencing
0 Comments