Plants and Animals Live Together

Given: Students are asked to recall personal observations of birds and insects shown in the textbook illustration.

Sample Answer:
I have seen a butterfly, a sparrow, and an ant from the animals shown on page 63.

• Butterfly – I saw a butterfly in my garden sitting on a flower. It was about as big as my palm (I can show its size by spreading my fingers slightly).
• Sparrow – I saw a sparrow sitting on a window ledge. It was about as big as my fist.
• Ant – I saw ants in a line near a tree. They were very tiny — smaller than my fingernail.

(Note: Students should describe their own real observations and use hand gestures to show size in class.)

Given: Animals, birds, and insects are found near plants.

Concept: Plants provide food, shelter, and a safe place for animals.

Answer:
Animals choose to live near plants because:
1. Food – Plants provide leaves, fruits, nectar, and seeds for animals to eat.
2. Shelter – Animals use branches, hollows, and leaves of plants to build nests and hide from danger.
3. Safety – Plants give animals a place to rest and protect themselves from enemies.

Therefore, plants are very important for the survival of animals, birds, and insects.

Given: Students are asked to observe the soil near a plant.

Sample Answer:
The soil under my feet was dark brown in colour. (Note: The colour of soil can vary — it may be reddish-brown, light brown, or black depending on the location. Students should write the colour they actually observe.)

Given: Students pick up soil near a plant and observe it using their senses.

Sample Answer:

How it looks and feels:
The soil looked dark brown and slightly damp. It felt rough and grainy when I rubbed it between my fingers.

Dry/Damp: It was slightly damp.
Texture: Rough and grainy.

What I found in the soil:
I found a few dry leaves and one small insect (a tiny ant) in the soil.

Smell:
The soil had a fresh, earthy smell.

Filled Table:
| My soil felt | Rough ✓ | Grainy ✓ |
| My soil had | Leaves ✓ | Insects ✓ |

(Note: Students should fill in the checkboxes based on their own actual observation.)

Given: During monsoons, more plants and animals appear.

Concept: Seeds and insects remain hidden or dormant during dry seasons and become active when water is available.

Answer:
• New plants: Seeds of plants can remain in the soil for a long time. When it rains, these seeds get water and sprout into new plants. That is why we see more plants during the monsoon.

• New animals: Some insects (like earthworms and millipedes) live deep inside the soil. When the soil becomes wet due to rain, they come up to the surface. Some insects also wait inside the soil or in eggs until the rains come.

Why we could not see them earlier:
During dry and hot months, seeds stay dormant (inactive) in the soil and insects stay hidden underground. Without water and moisture, they do not grow or come out. So we could not see them before the rains.

Given: Students observe animals near a plant and record their observations.

Sample Filled Table:

| I saw … (Describe) | It was on … | What was it doing? |
|---|---|---|
| A small hopping insect | The grass | Jumping around |
| A thin plant that curls | Another plant nearby | Nothing |
| A black bird | A branch of the tree | Singing / chirping |
| A small red bug | A rotting fruit on the ground | Eating the fruit |
| A butterfly with colourful wings | A flower | Drinking nectar |

(Note: Students should fill in the table based on what they actually observe near their plant. The above is a sample answer.)

Given: Students listen carefully to bird sounds around them.

Sample Answer:
Yes, I could hear bird sounds when I closed my eyes and listened carefully.

I heard the cooing sound of a pigeon and the chirping of a sparrow.

When I cupped my ears with my hands and turned towards the direction of the sound, I could hear the bird sounds more clearly. This is because cupping the ears helps collect more sound waves and directs them into our ears, making sounds louder and clearer.

Given: Students recall and record bird sounds and reflect on when they hear them.

Sample Filled Table:

| Name of the bird | Sound made |
|---|---|
| Pigeon | Gutru Gu |
| Sparrow | Chirp Chirp |
| Crow | Caw Caw |
| Cuckoo | Koo Koo |
| Parrot | Tee Tee |

If you do not hear any bird sounds:
If we do not hear any bird sounds, it could be because:
1. There are very few trees and plants nearby for birds to sit on.
2. There is too much noise (traffic, machines) that drowns out bird sounds.
3. It may be the wrong time of day — birds are less active in the afternoon heat.

When do we hear more bird sounds?
• Early morning: Yes, we hear the most bird sounds in the early morning. This is called the 'dawn chorus.' Birds are most active and sing to mark their territory and find mates.
• Afternoon: We hear fewer bird sounds in the afternoon because it is hot and birds rest.
• Evening: We hear some bird sounds in the evening as birds return to their nests.

Conclusion: We hear more bird sounds in the early morning than in the afternoon or evening.