Growing up with Nature — Class 4 EVS (CBSE)
From the current NCERT Our Wondrous World Grade 4 book, Unit 2: Life Around Us, Chapter 4. Many people grow up close to nature, and their lives, work, and festivals are tied to it.
1. Why this chapter matters
In many places, especially villages, people live close to nature — farming the land, using the river, and caring for animals. Learning how nature, tradition, and culture are connected helps children value natural resources and protect the environment.
2. Key ideas
- Many people, especially in villages, grow up close to nature — with fields, forests, rivers, and animals.
- People's work often depends on nature: farming, fishing, herding, and collecting from forests.
- Traditions and festivals are linked to nature — like sowing and harvest festivals that thank nature for crops.
- We should value natural resources — water, soil, trees — and use them wisely so they last (this is sustainability).
- Respecting and protecting nature is part of our culture.
3. Let's understand
In a village, life moves with nature. Farmers watch the rains and sow seeds; they wait for the crops to grow and then harvest them. Rivers give water, forests give wood and food, and animals help with work and milk.
Because nature gives so much, people have traditions and festivals to thank it — harvest festivals like Pongal, Baisakhi, and Onam celebrate a good crop. Many communities also protect trees, ponds, and sacred groves.
As we grow up with nature, we learn to value resources like water, soil, and trees, and to use them carefully so they are not wasted and last for the future. This careful use is called sustainability. Caring for nature is a beautiful part of our culture.
4. New words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| natural resources | useful things from nature, like water, soil, trees |
| harvest | gathering the ready crops from the fields |
| tradition | a custom passed down through generations |
| sustainability | using resources carefully so they last |
| culture | the customs and way of life of a people |
5. Activity corner
Find out about a tradition or festival in your family or area that is linked to nature. Write:
- The name of the festival or tradition
- How it is connected to nature (crops, rain, trees, river)
- One way your family saves a natural resource
6. Common mistakes
- Mistake: Thinking nature gives us unlimited resources. Fix: Resources like water and trees are limited; we must use them wisely.
- Mistake: Seeing festivals as separate from nature. Fix: Many festivals, like harvest festivals, are closely linked to nature.
- Mistake: One-word answers for "why" questions. Fix: Give a reason, such as "We thank nature because crops feed us."
7. Let Us Think
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How do people in villages live close to nature? They farm the land, use rivers and forests, and care for animals.
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Name two kinds of work that depend on nature. Farming and fishing (also herding and collecting from forests).
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How are festivals connected to nature? Harvest festivals thank nature for a good crop.
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What are natural resources? Give two examples. Useful things from nature, such as water and trees.
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What does "using resources wisely" mean? Using them carefully and not wasting them, so they last (sustainability).
8. Answer key
- By farming, using rivers and forests, and caring for animals.
- Farming and fishing.
- Harvest festivals thank nature for the crops.
- Useful things from nature — e.g., water and trees.
- Using carefully without waste, so they last.
9. Quick revision
- Many people grow up close to nature, especially in villages.
- Work like farming and fishing depends on nature.
- Festivals such as harvest festivals are linked to nature.
- Value natural resources — water, soil, trees.
- Use resources wisely so they last (sustainability).
Unit 2: Life Around Us
This chapter is part of Unit 2: Life Around Us. The two chapters in this unit are:
- Chapter 3: Nature Trail
- Chapter 4: Growing up with Nature
