CBSE Class 4 EVS – Looking around – Takshila-DPS Pune- Patna-Coimbatore

Author: Gauri Kshirsagar

The following notes are from the academic year 2022-23 of DPS Pune- Patna-Coimbatore, compiled by my twin daughters. These notes include all the important material of the chapter which can be asked in the exam, compiled from the EVS textbook, study course material books and the notes from class.

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  CHAPTER 19: ABDUL IN THE GARDEN

Important Points which can be asked as ‘Fill in the Blanks’ or ‘MCQs’:

• We see small and big plants all around us some of them have been planted while others grow on their own.
• Plants with thick strong stems – Peepal tree, Banyan tree
• Bushy plants with woody stems – Hibiscus, rose.
• The main axis of a plant which grows above the ground – Shoot system.
• Annual festival where trees are planted throughout the country and are celebrated in the first week of July. Van Mahotsav
• Pea, bean, rose have tap root system.
• Banyan tree has Ariel roots.
• The shoot system of the plant is above the ground.
• Grapes are examples of climbers plants.
• The shoot system is the main axis of the plant.
• Trees help in cleaning the air as they take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis
• Coconut is an example of a tree.
• Name 5 medicinal plants: tulsi, peppermint/ pudina, neem, aloe vera, turmeric, ginger.
• Carrot, radish, beetroot and turnip have a tap root system
• Banyan trees have Ariel roots
• The shoot system of the plant is above the ground.
• Grapes are examples of climber plants.
• Sunder Lal Bahuguna had been the main person behind the Chipko Movement.
• Ginger and turmeric are the stem part of the plant.
• It was a holiday. Abdul was helping his Abbu in the garden.
• Abbu was clearing the dried leaves and grass from the vegetable beds.
• In trying to pull out grass, Abdul knocked down a stick that was supporting the pea plant (climber).
• Plants absorb minerals and water from the soil through the roots.
• Plants with thick, strong stems (or trunks). Trees
• Abdul then saw that the roots of the grass plant were longer and
• much more spread out than the part of the plant above the ground.
• Abbu remembered that he had to send some radish (mooli) home.
• They had just reached home when a branch of the neem tree in the courtyard broke and fell.
• What looks like the hanging branches are actually the roots of the Banyan tree. These grow down from the branches until they reach the ground. These roots are like pillars that provide strong support to the tree. The banyan tree also has roots under the ground, just as other trees have.
• There is a law against cutting trees or trimming the branches.  Before they do this, they need to take written permission from the government office.
• Desert Oak is a tree that is found in Australia. It grows almost as tall as your classroom wall. It has very few leaves. Imagine the length of about 30 such trees laid down in a line end to end, one after another. That is how long the roots of this tree can be. (roots are 30 times longer than the height of the tree). These roots go deep into the ground till they reach water. This water is stored in the tree trunk. Local people knew about this.  Then there was no water in the desert, the local people use to put a thin pipe into the trunk of the tree, to drink this water.

Types of plants:

TREES:

1. Definition: Plants with thick short stems(or trunks) are called trees.
2. Example: gulmohar, mango, eucalyptus, neem, banyan tree etc.

HERBS

1. Definition: Small plants with soft green stems are called herbs.
2. Example:
   1. Most garden plants
   1. Crop plants like dahlia, balsam, sunflower, spinach and wheat etc.

SHRUBS:

1. Definition: Bushy plants with woody stems are called shrubs. The branches start from almost at the bottom of the stem
2. Example: Hibiscus, rose

      

CREEPERS:

1. Definition: Creepers are weak-stemmed plants that spread horizontally along the soil
2. Example:  pumpkin, watermelon

CLIMBERS:

1. Definition: Climbers take the support of an object for climbing. They cannot grow erect without support.
2. Example: Money plant, grapevine.

Parts of a plant:

A plant can be divided into root system and shoot system.

1. THE ROOT SYSTEM:

Definition: The root system is a part of the plant that grows inside the soil. The roots are non-green in colour.

Q.)What are the different functions of a root?

Ans) The different functions of a root are:

• They fix the plant firmly to the soil and prevent it from getting uprooted.
  • Plants absorb minerals and water from the soil through the roots
  • Some roots also store food in them, for example, radish, turnip, carrot etc.

• THE SHOOT SYSTEM:

Definition: This is the main axis of a plant that grows above the ground. The stem bears branches leaves flowers and fruits.

Types of roots:

There are two common types of roots:

1. TAPROOT

Definition: Some plants have one main root that grows from the end of the stem. Many small side roots grow from the main roots. The primary (main) root  which is thick and prominent grows vertically downwards in the soil. They are tap roots.

For example pea, bean, rose etc. have tap root system.

       

• FIBROUS ROOT

Definition: Herbs and grasses don’t have a strong main root they have numerous roots that developed from the base of stem. These small roots don’t go very deep into the soil but grow sideways in all directions. They are called fibrous roots.

For example: grass, wheat and marigold have fibrous roots.

SPECIAL ROOTS:

The special roots of The Banyan tree are different from other roots.

Roots are not always underground.  Special roots of Banyan trees are different because:-

1. They are modified roots and are found about the ground. They are termed aerial roots.
2. These roots grow from the branches, remain hanging in the air and provide support to the tree.
3. Example: Banyan tree, Screw pine.

MOVEMENTS TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE FOREST:

1. World environment day – It is celebrated every year on 5^th June.

• Van Mahotsav: In our country, we have an annual festival where trees are planted throughout the country. It is celebrated in the first week of July.

• Chipko movement: This movement was started by Sunder Lal Bahuguna to prevent the felling of trees. During this movement, people hugged trees and did not let anyone cut them.

Question and Answers:

Q.1) How is the activity shown in the picture (Man cutting a tree) going to harm our environment?

OR

Q.1) Why are trees important?

Ans) We should not encourage this activity as: (OR Trees are important because:

1. Many animals, birds and insects with lose their habitat.
2. Trees help in cleaning the air as they take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis and release oxygen in this process.
3. They also help in the formation of rainfall and prevent soil erosion.

Q.2) Mayank saw a tree surrounded by cement. Where do you think the tree gets water from?

Ans) The tree has well developed roots growing underground, so they help in absorbing water from deep under the ground.

Q.3) Sohan is burning dried leaves that have fallen on the ground but his friend is burying them in a pit. Which is a better way and why?

Ans)

1. Dry leaves that have fallen on the ground should not be burnt as burning leaves produce smoke which makes the air polluted.  
2. So the dried leaves should be put in a pit, where they rot and mix with the soil. This acts as manure and increase the fertility of the soil.

Q.4) When you tug at grass, why does it not come out easily?

Ans) When you tug at grass, it not come out easily because

1. Grass has numerous roots that develop from the base of the stem.
2. These small roots don’t go very deep into the soil but grow sideways in all directions (fibrous root).
3.  They hold the soil tightly, so it is difficult to take it out.
   

Q.5) Give reasons

1. We need to wear gloves while gardening. Why?

Ans) While gardening we come in contact with soil and dirty water. Both contain germs. We may fall ill if the germs enter our body. So, we wear gloves to prevent direct contact with soil or dirty water.

2. We need to water potted plants at regular intervals in comparison to plants sown into the soil.  Why?

Ans) Plants sown in the soil get a continuous supply of underground water whereas potted plants do not get continuous supply of water and they dry up very fast due to the heat of the Sun. Hence potted plants need to be watered at regular intervals.

3. The rose plant is called a shrub.  Why?

Ans) The rose plant is called shrub because:

1. It is a bushy plant with a wooden stem.
2. The branches start from the bottom of the stem.

4. Cutting trees is harmful for nature. Why?

Ans) Cutting trees is harmful for nature because:

1. Many animals, birds and insects with lose their habitat.
2. Trees help in cleaning the air as they take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis and release oxygen in this process.
3. They also help in the formation of rainfall and prevent soil erosion.

Q.6) Define

HERBS:

Small plants with soft green stems are called herbs.

Example:

1. Most garden plants
2. Crop plants like dahlia, balsam, sunflower, spinach and wheat etc.

STEM:

The part of the shoot system which bears the leaves, flowers, fruits etc. is called the stem.

AERIAL ROOT:

The roots which grow from the branches, remain hanging in the air and provide support to the tree are called aerial roots.

Q.7)  Differentiate between tap root and fibrous root.

Ans)

	TAP ROOT		FIBROUS ROOT
1	Definition: Some plants have one main root that grows from the end of the stem. Many small side roots grow from the main roots.	1	Definition: Herbs and grasses don’t have a strong main root they have numerous roots that developed from the base of stem.
2	The primary (main) route which is thick and prominent grows vertically downwards in the soil.	2	These small roots don’t go very deep into the soil but grow sideways in all directions.
3	For example pea, bean, rose etc. have tap root system.	3	For example: grass, wheat and marigold have fibrous roots.
4	Diagram	4	Diagram

Q.8) Differentiate between Climbers and Creepers

Ans)

	CLIMBERS		CREEPERS
1	Definition: Climbers take the support of an object for climbing. They cannot grow erect without support.	1	Definition: Creepers are weak-stemmed plants that spread horizontally along the soil
2	Example: Money plant, grapevine.	2	Example:  pumpkin, watermelon

Q.9) Differentiate between shoot system and root system.

Ans)

	Shoot system		Root system
1	This is the main axis of a plant that grows above the ground.	1	The root system is a part of the plant that grows inside the soil.
2	The stem bears branches leaves flowers and fruits.	2	They fix the plant firmly to the soil and prevent it from getting uprooted.Plants absorb minerals and water from the soil through the roots Some roots also store food in them, for example, radish, turnip, carrot etc.
3	It is green in colour		It is non-green in colour

Q.10) Differentiate between herbs shrubs.

Ans)

	Herbs		Shrubs
1	Definition: Small plants with soft green stems are called herbs.	1	Definition: Bushy plants with woody stems are called shrubs. The branches start from almost at the bottom of the stem
2	Example: Most garden plants Crop plants like dahlia, balsam, sunflower, spinach and wheat etc.	2	Example: Hibiscus, rose

Extra Questions:

1. Why was it difficult to take out the grass plant?

Ans) Grass has numerous roots that develop from the base of the stem. These small roots don’t go very deep into the soil but grow sideways in all directions (fibrous root). They hold the soil tightly, so it is difficult to take it out.

2. The radish had to be pulled out from the ground. Why?

Ans) Radish is a tap root which grows below the ground. The primary (main) route which is thick and prominent grows vertically downwards in the soil. Radish is eaten as a vegtable. Hence it had to be pulled out from the ground.

3. What happens when trees start growing from cracks in old buildings?

Ans) If theplant is not removed then it will cause cracks and finally break the wall.

4. People of a particular neighbourhood felt that the branches of a tree needed to be trimmed as it was blocking the light. What course of action must they take?

Ans) There is a law against cutting trees or trimming the branches.  Before they do this, they need to take written permission from the government office.

5. How long are the roots of the Desert oak tree?

Ans) Imagine the length of about 30 such trees laid down in a line end to end, one after another. That is how long the roots of this tree can be. (Roots are 30 times longer than the height of the tree).

6. What do the local people get from the Desert oak tree? How do they get it?

Ans) These roots go deep into the ground till they reach water. This water is stored in the tree trunk. Local people knew about this.  Then there was no water in the desert, the local people use to put a thin pipe into the trunk of the tree, to drink this water.

7. Neem is a tree and not a shrub.

Ans) Plants with thick short stems (or trunks) are called trees. Bushy plants with woody stems are called shrubs. The branches start from almost at the bottom of the stem. Hence, Neem is a tree and not a shrub

8. A few seeds (5-6) were soaked overnight in a bowl full of water. The soaked seeds were removed from water and placed on damp cotton wool.

• What difference will you observe in the seeds after soaking?

Ans) Seeds get swollen after soaking water and sprouted after two days

• What care should you take about the cotton wool?

Ans) The cotton needs to be kept moist all the time to prevent drying.

• Try and pull out one little plant from the cotton wool. Were you able to pull it out? Why?

Ans) Yes I was able to pull out but with difficulties, because roots made grip with the cotton.

9. Abbu was clearing the dried leaves and grass from the vegetable beds. Abdul started to pull out the grass from one of the beds. In trying to pull out grass, Abdul knocked down a stick that was supporting the pea plant

• Why was it difficult to pull out the grass?

Ans) When you tug at grass, it not come out easily because Grass has numerous roots that develop from the base of the stem. These small roots don’t go very deep into the soil but grow sideways in all directions (fibrous root). They hold the soil tightly, so it is difficult to take it out.

• Why did the pea plant need a support?

Ans) Pea plant is a climber. Climbers take the support of an object for climbing. They cannot grow erect without support.

• Why did the stick which was stuck in the ground fall very easily?

Ans) Roots fix the plant firmly to the soil and prevent it from getting uprooted. The dried stick does not have functional roots hence it fell easily.

Diagrams:

LEAVES WE EAT AS VEGETABLES

STEMS WE EAT AS VEGETABLES

                                                                         

ROOTS WE EAT AS VEGETABLES

FLOWERS WE EAT AS VEGETABLES

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