Chapter 6: Living in Harmony
Learn how humans, plants, and animals coexist in harmony!
Chapter Summary
This chapter teaches children the importance of coexistence with animals, birds, insects, and plants. It explores how humans share their homes with living beings like cats, birds, lizards, ants, and how both invited and uninvited guests live together. Through stories like Shambhu and the mango tree, the chapter shows how animals help plants grow and how we all depend on nature for food, shelter, medicine, clothing, and even emotional support. Activities like animal observation, guessing games, and ant food experiments help children understand the value of caring, kindness, and harmony in our surroundings.
Let Us Answer
Page 73–74
Do any of these animals, birds, insects, and plants live with you in your house?
Ans: Yes, we have a dog, some potted plants, and sometimes ants and lizards visit.
Do you and your family take care of them?
Ans: Yes, we feed our dog, water our plants, and don’t harm small animals.
Which uninvited animals visit your home? Why?
Ans: Lizards, ants, flies – they come looking for food or shelter.
How do you feel about them?
Ans: I like birds and butterflies, but I get scared of lizards and insects.
What do you do when you don’t like them?
Ans: I try not to harm them and ask an elder to help remove them gently.
Page 76–77
1. How are we dependent on plants and animals?
Ans: We get food, clothes, shelter, medicine, wood, and fresh air from them.
2. How do plants help animals?
Ans: By giving fruits, leaves, shade, and shelter for nesting or resting.
3. How do animals help plants?
Ans: Animals spread seeds, make soil fertile with their waste, and help plants grow.
4. How do we look after plants and animals?
Ans: By giving them water, food, love, and not harming them.
5. How do animals and plants depend on us?
Ans: They need us to protect, feed, and care for them in cities and villages.
Activities
Page 78: Get to Know an Animal
Sample Response:
- Name: Pigeon
- Where I saw it: On my balcony railing
- Alone or group: In a group
- Movement: Flies quickly, walks with small steps
- Sounds: Guttur-Guttur
- Behaviour: Eats grains, flaps wings
- Surprise: It once sat on my head! I laughed a lot.
Instructions: Observe an animal near your home or school and note its details as shown above.
Page 79: Ant Food Activity (Prediction Sample)
| Question | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Who will come for the food? | Ants |
| Favourite food? | Sugar or sweet item |
| Where will they come from? | Cracks in floor or wall |
| Will all ants look the same? | Mostly yes |
| What will they do? | Carry food bit by bit to their nest |
Instructions: Place a small amount of food (e.g., sugar, bread) in a safe spot. Predict and observe what ants do, then compare with your predictions.
Page 82: Drawing Activity
Draw and label examples:
- Two legs: Pigeon, Sparrow
- Four legs: Dog, Cat
- Six legs: Ant, Beetle
- Eight legs: Spider
Instructions: Draw one animal for each leg count, label them, and color the drawings in your notebook.
Let Us Reflect
Page 81: A. Discuss
1. How are we dependent on plants and animals?
Ans: For food, shelter, clothes, and emotional comfort.
2. How should we care for plants and animals?
Ans: Give food, water, clean shelter, and not hurt them.
3. How do plants and animals depend on us?
Ans: For safety, care, water, and food in cities or farms.
Page 81: B. Write
Complete the sentences:
- I like looking at butterflies because they are colourful and beautiful.
- Squirrels make me laugh because they jump and run so fast.
- My friend Arya likes cows because they are calm and gentle.
- I would like to take care of plants because they give us fresh air and fruits.
2a. Favourite animal/insect/plant:
Ans: Butterfly
2b. Why do you like it?
Ans: It is colourful, flies gracefully, and sits on flowers.
2c. Smallest to largest animals seen/learned:
Ans: Ant → Butterfly → Squirrel → Dog → Cow → Elephant
A True Story
Page 83
Why are these birds called wagtails?
Ans: Because they constantly wag or move their tails up and down.
Suggest a title for the story:
Ans: "The Bird Guests of Valparai" or "A Warm Welcome to Wagtails"
Concepts Covered
- Coexistence of humans, plants, and animals
- Mutual dependence: Food, shelter, medicine, emotional support
- Role of animals in plant growth (seed dispersal, soil fertility)
- Caring for invited and uninvited living beings
- Observing animal behavior and characteristics
- Kindness and harmony in nature
- Hands-on activities: Animal observation, ant experiment, drawing
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