Unit 2 · Life Around Us · NCERT Class 4 Our Wondrous World

Nature Trail

Take a walk and nature is everywhere — tall trees, tiny ants, busy birds and creeping vines. Tap each idea to meet the plants and animals around you, learn their parts and homes, and find out how to watch and care for them.

🌿 3 topics⏱ ~12 min📝 10-question quiz

Play with it

Six things on the nature trail

Living things are all around us. Tap each term to explore the plants and animals you might meet on a nature walk.

Explore · Naturetap a term

Learn

The three big ideas

Plants come in kinds: tall trees (like a banyan), bushy shrubs, short soft herbs, and climbing creepers.
Every plant has parts: roots hold it and drink water, the stem carries water up, leaves make food in sunlight, and flowers can turn into fruit.
Plants are living — they grow, need water and light, and give us food, shade and clean air.

Everyday example. A plant in the corner is drooping and its soil is dry. What does it need?

It needs water and some sunlight. Plants are living and must be cared for to grow well.

Some animals are wild and live on their own (a monkey, a deer); some are tame and live with people (a dog, a buffalo).
Animals eat different food: some eat only plants, some eat other animals, and some eat both.
Animals have babies — a cat has kittens, a hen has chicks, a frog starts life as a tadpole.

Common mix-up: Mix-up: a creature being small or quiet does not mean it is not an animal. Ants, butterflies and earthworms are all animals too.

On a nature walk we watch quietly — we look, listen and notice, but never tease or harm any living thing.
We care for nature by watering plants, not plucking flowers needlessly, and keeping water and homes clean.
Plants and animals need each other and us. Trees give us air and fruit; bees help flowers; we must protect them.

Everyday example. On a walk you see a bird’s nest with eggs. What is the right thing to do?

Look from a distance and leave it alone. Touching the nest can frighten the bird and harm the eggs.

Where you'll see it

Nature all around you

A garden visit

In a garden you can spot roots, stems, leaves and flowers, and watch bees and butterflies move from bloom to bloom.

Spotting birds

Sit still near a tree and you may see birds building nests or feeding chicks — watch quietly so they are not scared away.

Caring for a plant

Water a plant, give it sunlight and remove dry leaves, and you will see it grow stronger week by week.