Living in Harmony — NCERT Solutions

Given: A general discussion question about animals/plants living at home.

Sample Answer:
Yes, in my house we have a dog, a few potted plants, and sometimes sparrows come and sit on our windowsill. We take care of our dog by giving it food, water, and a warm place to sleep. We water our plants every day. We also keep a small bowl of water outside for the sparrows.

Given: We need to observe our surroundings and record animals/birds/insects we have seen, along with the places where we saw them.

Sample completed table:

(Students should fill in animals they have personally observed in their own surroundings.)

Given: This is a family discussion and oral activity.

Sample Answer:
I asked my grandmother about this. She told me that when she was young, her family kept a cow and a few hens at home. They also had a big neem tree in their courtyard. She shared a story about how the cow once saved a small kitten by standing over it during heavy rain, protecting it from getting wet. She said they treated the cow like a member of the family and gave it fresh grass and water every morning.

Given: A pair discussion activity about uninvited visitors to our homes.

Sample Answers:

1. Uninvited visitors: Sparrows, crows, pigeons, ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, lizards, and sometimes stray cats.
2. They come because they find food, water, warmth, or shelter in our homes.
3. Feelings: I feel happy when sparrows come and sit near the window. I feel a little scared when I see cockroaches or lizards.
4. I like sparrows and butterflies because they are beautiful and harmless.
5. When I do not like an animal (like a mosquito), I try to gently shoo it away or use a net. I do not hurt them because animals generally do not harm us unless they feel threatened.

Given: A discussion question about interdependence of plants, animals, and humans.

Answers:

1. How are we dependent on plants and animals?

• We get food (fruits, vegetables, grains, milk, eggs) from plants and animals.
• We get clothing (cotton from plants, wool from sheep).
• We get shelter (wood from trees for building homes).
• Animals like dogs give us companionship and protection.
• Plants give us clean air (oxygen) to breathe.

2. How do plants help animals?

• Plants provide food (leaves, fruits, seeds) to animals.
• Plants provide shelter and shade to animals and birds.
• Plants give oxygen which animals need to breathe.

3. How do animals help plants?

• Animals disperse seeds by carrying them on their fur or by eating fruits and dropping seeds far away.
• Animals like squirrels bury nuts and forget them, accidentally planting new trees.
• Animals make the soil fertile through their waste (droppings), which acts as manure.
• Bees and butterflies help in pollination, which helps plants reproduce.

4. How do you look after plants and animals?

• I water plants regularly.
• I keep a bowl of water and grains for birds.
• I do not pluck leaves or flowers unnecessarily.
• I do not hurt or tease animals.

5. How do animals and plants depend on us?

• Pet animals depend on us for food, water, and shelter.
• Plants in pots depend on us for watering and care.
• Many animals depend on humans for protection from harm.

Given: An observation and writing activity about a chosen animal or bird.

Sample Description (Sparrow):

• Name and description: I chose a sparrow. It is a small brown and white bird with a short beak and tiny feet.
• When and where I first saw it: I first saw it sitting on my windowsill one morning when I was having breakfast.
• Alone or with friends: It was with two other sparrows. They seemed to be friends.
• Movement: It hopped quickly on the windowsill and flew in short, fast bursts. It flapped its wings very rapidly.
• Sounds it made: It made a cheerful 'chirp-chirp' sound repeatedly.
• What I observed: I saw it pecking at some crumbs of bread I had left on the windowsill. It also ruffled its feathers and shook itself, which looked like it was taking a dust bath.
• What surprised me: Once it flew straight towards the glass window, got confused, and then flew away quickly. It made me laugh!

(Students should write their own personal observations based on the animal or bird they have chosen.)

Given: An observation activity about ants and their food preferences.

My Guesses (before the activity):

1. Ants will come for the food.
2. Their favourite food will be the sweet food (sugar/jaggery).
3. Yes, ants will come.
4. They will come from small cracks in the floor or from outside the room.
5. Most ants will look similar — small and black or brown — but some may be bigger (soldier ants) and some smaller (worker ants).
6. They will go to the sweet food first.
7. Many ants (maybe 20–50 or more) will come.
8. They will carry tiny pieces of food back to their nest to store it.

What I Observed (after the activity):

• The ants came within a few minutes.
• Most ants went to the sugar/jaggery first — they love sweet food!
• They came in a long line (a trail) from a crack near the wall.
• Most ants looked similar but a few were slightly bigger.
• They worked together to carry pieces of food much bigger than themselves back to their nest.
• It was amazing to see how organised and hardworking the ants were!

Conclusion: Ants prefer sweet food. They are very clever, hardworking, and work together as a team.

Given: A role-play and acting activity.

Answer:

1. What Gopa did when Ali whispered 'Frog':

Gopa would have crouched down low, bent his knees, and made big jumping movements. He might have spread his arms wide like a frog's legs and made a 'croak-croak' sound. He would have moved in short, quick jumps across the floor.

2. What Sukhiya did when Surya whispered 'Peepal tree':

Sukhiya would have stood very straight and tall with her feet firmly on the ground (like roots). She would have spread her arms wide and moved her fingers gently like leaves swaying in the breeze. She would have stood still and calm, showing how a big, strong tree stands.

(Students should enjoy acting out their own animals and trees in class.)