Special Edition for

ARMY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Let's Explore
Our
TRUTH IS GOD

Environment
(A Textbook of Environmental Studies)

A Class
3
ARYA BOOK DEPOT
 CONTENTS
1. My Family 7

2 Plants Around Us 14

3. Leaves in Our Lives 22

E

4 Animals Around Us
28
5 Birds-Our Feather Friends 35

6. The Work Around Us 44

Model Test Paper-I 51 E

7. The Food We Eat 52
8. Cooking Food 60

9 The House We Live In 68

10. Our Neighbourhood 76

11. The Water We Drink 81

12. Going Places

88
13. Communication
95
14. Making Pots
103

15. Textiles 109

Model Test Paper-II 116

 1. My Family
Key Points
oFamilies andtheir types
habits
Family members, values, and
Hereditaryfeatures
Oldand physically challenged people
Family each
A is of
a people who lives in the same house and are related to
family group
of a family love and take care of one another. They help
one
other. All members
occasions like festivals, weddings
another in difficult times. They also celebrate happy
feel safe.
and birthdays together. Living in a family makes us

Meet My Family:
There are ******* **
members in my family.
member and
is the oldest
My ***************

member of my
********* is the youngest
My family photo
family. I love my family very much.

TYpes of Families

Nuclear or Small Family

one set of parents
small family is a only
family where
A nuclear or a live together. There is only
(only two generations)
and their children the
children. Being a small family,
mother with one or two
a father, a
close-knit and share their joys
members are

and sorrows together.

Nuclear family
Joint Family sets of parents and
with many
A joint family is big family
a
their
parents, uncles, aunts, and
children. It has grandparents,
than two generations) living
together in the
children (more
ame house.
 mother or
either a
Single Parent Family one
parent,
has only
family
parent children.
A single the
c a r e of

a
father taking
Changing Family Structure
to time due
from time
family changes Single parent family
and size of
a
structure
The
to the following
reasons:

baby
Death in the family Marriage
Birth of a
new

members
Adoption
of family
Moving away

People in My Family with each other

in a family is called
fami
.

relation of people fly

A diagram that shows A family tree always starts from he
generations.
is divided into hole
tree. Every family Our parents, uncles and aunts
grandparents. They
are the first generation.
to the third generation
to belong
Children and cousins belong
the second generation.
Grandfather + Grandmother

.***
***************************** ****

lncle + Aunt Father + Mother Aunt + Ulncle

***************** **********°***°*°° ****°*°**°***°°*°*°°°

°*****'***°**""

Cousin+ Cousin Me +Brother/Sister Cousin + Cousin

********* * * * ° *°**************

***********"

8
 Test Your Knowledge!
I. Name the following relations:
1. Parents of my mother
2. Children of my uncle
3. Sister of my father ***

4. My father's father
II. Who came first? Number them:
Grandfuther
Knowledge-Pedia-
Some peopleadopt childrentocomplete
their family. Adopted children live withto i
Son Father their parents who did not give birth
them but love them equally.

My Extended Family
aunts and
Parents and their children form an immediate family. Grandparents, uncle,
or may not
their children form an extended family. The people in extended family may
are known as
live with you in the same house. But they are also part of your family. They
relatives.
extended family members. The members of an extended family are called
your
called Paternal Relatives. Similarly, people
People related to us through our father are
Maternal Relatives.
related to us through our mother are called
The parents offather are called paternal grandparents (Dadaji-Dadiji).
The parents of mother are maternal grandparents (Nanaji-Naniji).
are our uncles and aunts. Their children are
The brothers and sisters of our parents
our cousins.

Test Your Knowledgel

Answers the following:
1. What is family tree?
* * * * * * * * * .

2. How many generations are there in your family?

T i p s for Teachers
and talk about their family in
the students to make a collage oftheir family photographs
Encourage of different types of families. Students can
discuss
class. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages
the various ways the family members help
each other at the time of need.
 Heredity or Inheritance
sometimes share some physical similar
People in the same family ies. Thes
Thes Ca
similarities passed on from one to another
generation birth. by These
These
nily.similarities
are
are also known as inherited characteristics or hereditary traits of a family Wa
characteristics or hereditary traits may include the following:
Hair colour, texture
Inherited
Facial features Height
Colour of the eyes Tone of the voice Medical conditions
Twins are the two children born at the same time to a mother.
They may or may not look alike. The twins who look alike are
called identical twins. They also have many habits, interest and
talents in common The twins who do not look alike are called
unidentical twins.

Values We Learn from Our Family

Every family has its own set of rules. Identical twins
They are normally formed by the elders of My Granny Says!! ---.
the family and passed on to the younger Our family is our first school.
generations. We learn loving, caring, sharing,
Our kindness, obedience,
family teaches us good values like: and
discipline from our family. We
Greeting our elders must always love and respect our
Being truthful family
Being respectful to our elders
Being polite and respectful
Keeping surroundings clean Knowledge-Pedia
Children who do
----
Helping family members at the time of need not have parents are
called orphans.

Special Care
Elderly People
When people are
young, they are full of energy. They
easily carry on with their daily tasks ca
and activities. As they
grow up, their body becomes
older and weaker.
Old age is a sensitive age in a person's life. At this geof
ife, a person often stage
depends others for certain things.Old
on
People require more care and support.
Take care of old people The physical stre
decreases and the
chances of sickness are more.
10
Care for Elderly Knowledge-Pedia
Ways to take care of elderly people: lst October is celebrated as Old Age

Day all over the world.

Spend time with them and respect them. the
Always talk to them in a polite manner. 13th November is celebrated as

International Day of the Blind'.

Take them for walks and outings like picnics or
movies.
If they are living alone, then call or visit them often.
Encourage them to be physically active.
Bring medicines, water and anything else they need.
Give them food which is easily digestible and good for their health.

Differently-Abled People
We are lucky to have good health and perfectly working body
organs. But, there are many people who cannot see (blind),
hear (deaf), speak (dumb) or walk (lame). They are called

differently-abledpeople. They need extra care and attention.

For this reason, they are also known as people with special
needs. They need our care, support and encouragement.
Physically challenged
Care for Differently-Abled people
them feel loved and wanted. We
We can help differently-abled people by making
should keep the following things in mind while being with them:
them as equal.
Always ask before offering help to them. This will be first step treating
in
Treat them the way we
Try and understand what it is to be like in their position.
would want to be treated.

Respect them. Do not tease or make fun of them.

Spend time with them.
Invite them to your family get together, parties and picnics.

Encourage them to have a hobby and go to school.

their education.
Encourage them to study further and complete

,Read and Recall

related another.
A family is a group of people who are to one

Families may be a nuclear, a joint or a single parent family.

Members of a family have similar hereditary traits.
Every family has got its own rules, customs, and values.
We must take special care of babies, old, sick, and physically challenged people.

11
 EXERCISES

I. Tick ( ) the correct optio:

. set of parents.
1. A nuclear family has only..
C. 3 d. 4
a..1 b. 2
children live with their,
2. In a single parent family, the
a. Mother b. Father C. Either mother or father d. None of then
m
3. People who cannot hear a r e . .

a. Blind b. Dumb C. Lame d. Deaf

4. Children who do not have parents are.

a. Orphan b. Blind C. Sick d. Dumb

5. A family tree always starts from the . .. .

They are the first generation.

a. Grandparents b. Mother c. Children d. Father

II. Given below are certain ways to take care of special people. Draw a
for each
happy face
thing you do and a sad face for each
things you do not do:
1. Take grandparents for a walk.
2 . Read the newspaper to a blind
friend.
3. Serve food and water to old guests. 4. Drive your grandparents to hospital.
5. Invite special
people to my birthday party. 6. Offer seats to old people in a
bus or metro.
II. Answer the
following questions:
1. Differentiate between a nuclear family and a
joint family.
2. What are hereditary traits? List
any three hereditary traits of your family.
3. Why does the structure of a family
changes with time?
A
4. How can we take care of
differently-abled people?
5. List some
special rules or customs of your
family?
IV. Complete the given table with the heip of your friends:
Name of the
Type of family Number of Who is the head of Eldest Youngest
friend they live in family members
m e m b e r

their family? member

1.

2.

3.

12
HOTS
How can we say that all families are similar but different from one another? Discuss in class.

Funpedia
I. Complete the given web chart with respect to your family.

Mother Brother
**********°*******************°************** Good qualities '**************************************

of your family
Father members Sister
************************************ ****°***********°* *****°*******************

II. Interview your paternal and maternal grandparents to fill up the given table.

Name City where Work they did in

Age Their education
they were born their young age
1.

Values-The Building Blocks of Life

I. Think and Answer.
1. Your grandmother wants you to go along with her to the temple. You will:
a. Make an excuse and not go with her.

b. Go along with her happily

2. Your grandfather's spectacles have lost. You will:
a. Help him to find it.
b. Tell him to read the newspaper without spectacles.
3 Your blind friend is feling very sad and bored. You will:
a. Tell him to sleep.
b. Read a funny story for him.

L Do's and Don't in a school.

1. Help ever, hurt never.
2. Respect and spend time with your grandparents.
3. All family members must eat one meal together.
4. Follow the customs and traditions of your family.

3
 2. Plants Around Us
Key Points
Types of plants around us
oUses of plants
New plants grown in India

Plants are our green friends. They are living

things which grow, breathe, prepare their food
on
reproduce. They are found everywhere
-

and
mountains, in deserts, in water, and e v e n below
the sea and oceans.
There area different types of plants around us. Ne
can divide them into different groups according
tothe place where they grow, their size,shape,
and strength.

Trees
Trees tall, big and strong plants with thick woody stem known as the
are
trunk. MOst
of the trees bear fruits and live for
many years. For example, Neem, Peepal, AsnOy
Eucalyptus, Mango and Coconut.

Peepal
Coconut Mango
Shrubs
Shrubs are the bushy plants which have thin wody stems with many branches
8rowing from the base. They live for a few vears. For example, Rose, Mehandi,
Bougainvillea and Hibiscus.

Bougainvillea Hibiscus Rose

Herbs
Herbs are the small plants with thin and weak stems. They also called
are seasonal
plants, they live for a few months only. For example, Mint, Coriander and Chilli.

Mint Coriander Chilli

Climbers
Climbers are the plants with thin and weak
stems. They cannot grow upwards on their
own. They need the support of other thingsto
climb upwards. For example, Pea, Grapevine
and Money plant.

Money plant Graperine

Knowledge-Pedia
The Californian Red Wood are the world's tallesttrees.
Strawberry is the only fruit that bears its seeds on outside.
Bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant in the world. It can grow 35 inches in day.
- - - - - .

Tipsfor Teachers
Take the students around the school to notice the variety of plants around them. Encourage them to
collect fallen leaves, fruits, seeds and flowers and identify them. They can be taught to make and preserve a
herbarium. Tell them to look around and name the things obtained from a plant. Organise a tree plantation
drive with the help of school gardener. Students can also plant sapling as indoor plants for their classroonm.

15
Creepers
Creepers the plants with weak
are
D-
stems but have very big and heavy th
fruits. Creepers cannot support nd
the weight of the fruits. So, they le
with the soil. For
grow along
example, Pumpkin, Watermelon

and Muskmelon. Watermelon Pumpkin

My Granny Says ! We should not pluck flowers
Garden Etiquettes Admire the flowers
from the plant. They grow and
from a distance
look best on plants. After being
Do not walk

on grass
Do not throw
Do
not
scratch
the
plucked they wither away soon.
a
beehive
tree trunks
Do not cut trees or trample over
stones
at

small plants in the garden.

Follow the notice boards put in
parks and gardens.

Test Your Knowledge!

Take help of your mother and name the following:
1. Herbs used to prepare green chutney.
°*°*°***°°**°*e******

2. Heavy vegetables.
o*****

3. Fruits with many seeds.

****** ****°°

Aquatic Plants
Aquatic plants live and grow in water. They have spongy and waterproof bodies with
air spaces, waxy leaves, and stems. Water Lily, Lotus and Water Hyacinth are some
examples of aquatic plants.

Water Lily Lotus

Wateryacnth
16
 Desert Plants
Desert plants are also called thorny plants, because they have
thorns on their body. They grow in dry sandy areas. They do
not need much water to grow as thorns conserve water by not
letting out the moisture content at all.

Non-Flowering Plants
Non-flowering plants are the plants which do not bear flowers.
remain green throughout the year, most of them are used Cactus
They
as decorational plants.

Fern Pine tree Cycas palm

Test Your Knowledge!

Name the following
1. The National flower of India.
2. Plant used to make cricket bats.
3. The branch of science which
deals with the study of plants.
Christmas tree.
4. The scientific name of

New Plants
have been brought
which did not grew earlier in India. They
There are many plants
but now they grow very
well in different parts of our country.
from other countries,
exotic fruits and vegetables
in India t
h We can relish new types of
e

Orchid flowers
Kiwi
Litchi
 Uses of Plants
us in mainy,Knowledge-Pedia
friends. They help
Plants are our green Coconut tree is also known as the
ways such as:
in with a thousand uses. Each and
and pure by taking
tree
the air fresh are of this
every part
tree is useful tous
Keeping They
and giving out oxygen.
undergo training to
carbon dioxide People have tococonut
of the nature' learn to climb
trees.
also called as 'green lungs tea,.
in the form of cereals, sugar
Give food to us
etc.
oils,
coffee, spices, vegetables, fruits, etc.
cotton, jute, and linen,
natural fibres such
as
carts, etc.
Give us windows, houses,
furniture, doors, values.
wood to make medicinal
Give us
neem, mint have
tulsi, eucalyptus, plants.
Plants like ginger, garlic, from
oils, and perfumes
natural colours, paper,
We get rubber,
Read and Recall their size, shape,
on the basis of the place they grow,
different groups
Plants can be divided into
and strength. according to
their type.
climbers or creepers
shrubs, trees,
Plants can be herbs,
water are called aquatic
plants. of useful and
essential things.
Plants growing in us with a number
friends because they provide
Plants are our green

EXERCISES
I. Tick() the correct option:
in o***
. eoeeo

Aquatic plant grows

e******e*

1. d. Forests
C. Mountain
b. Water
a. Desert

water to grow.
2. e******e*oo***aos** plants need less
d. Non-flowering
b. Herbal C. Aquatic
a. Desert

3. It is not a creeper.
d. Musk melon
b. Water melon C. Apple
a. Pumpkin
to grow upwards.
4. They need support
c. Shrubs d. None of these
a. Climbers b. Creepers

is not a herb.
5.
...

c. Coriander d. Mint
b.Rose
a. Mint

18
Il. Given below, are the names of some plants. Mention the type of plant they are:

1. Acacia tree 2. Water hyacinth e************* *******

3. Bougainvillea 4. Tulsi
5. Neem 6. Fern

I1. List any ten things we get from plants:

1. .. 6.

3. 8.

9.
4.

10...
3..

sad facefor every false

IV. Draw a happy face for every true and a
statement:

1. Herbs have thick, hard

and woody stems.

2. Trees are seasonal plants.

dioxide and give out oxygen gas.

3. Plants take in carbon

stems.
4. Shrubs have branched

5. Fern is a flowering plant.

6. Desert plants are

also called thorny plants.

7. Money plant is a creeper.

19
V. Answer the following
question9:
1. Differentiate between a herb and a shrub. Thc
2. What are the special qualities of given plants:

a. Desert plants b. Aquatic plants

3. List some food items we get from plants.
4. Why do creeper grow along with the soil?

5. What are non-flowering plants? What is their use?

HOTS
Plants are also called green lungs of nature? Why?

Funpedia
L. Who says that we seed in the ground only? Get containers like old coffee mugs
can plant a
large mouth bottles, jars, coke tins, old shoes, old pots and clean them properly. Colour and
decorate these items. Grow plants and enjoy their beauty.

II. Collect information about some exotic/imported fruits and flowers. Compare their cost
per
kilogram with our local fruits. Why are they more expensive? Find out.

Values-The Building Blocks of Life

1. What will you do if your classmates are tearing
pages of their notebooks to make paper planes?
*****o***

*°***°°°°°*°°°***°*°**°*°*°°°°°°°*°°°°°°*°*****°*°°°°°°°°°°°°*°°*°*°°°°*°°*°°° °. *****e******e*************

noo*o ***************e***********************************************°************

2. Your parents have presented

you potted saplings as your birthday present. How will you take
care of this beautiful gift?

******. °***°*
*****°°****°°******°**

3 Your mother asks you to keep all indoor

plants out in the sunlight. Why is it important for
the plants to remain in sunlight?

o*°*******°***°°°°°* ***°*
***°******°**°°°°*****

20
Thought of the day

Well Dohe 15
Belterhaln
Well Salldh
So grow plants, nurture them, protect them. They are our lifeline.
 3. Leaves in Our Lives
Key Points
Parts and function of leaves
oVariety of leaves around us
Uses of leaves

Alltheliving organisms require food. It helps them in getting energy, nutrients for their
growth and for the repair of damaged parts of the body. Of all the living organisms,
only green plants can prepare their own food. Thus, they are called producers. The
other living organisms which cannot prepare their own depend directly or indirectly
on
plants for their food requirements. Thus, they are ternmed as consumers. Let us
understand how plants prepare their food.

Leaves
Leaves are one of the most important part of
Lear blade plants.
Lamina} Stalk They are of different shapes, sizes, and texture but
they have the same basic structure.
Side vein-
A leaf is made of a broad flat part known as the
Main vein
lamina or leaf blade.
The leaves are attached the branch the
Parts of a leaf
to by
stalk.
Every leaf has a long tube like structure called the main vein or midrib which
further divides into many side veins for the
transportation of food and water
Leaf Diversity
A Leaf can be grouped as a simple leaf
with one blade or compound leaf with
many leaflets.

Simple leaf Cumpound lear

22
 Different leaves are of different colours, shapes and sizes.

Colour of Leaves
Most of the leaves are green in colour due to the presence
of a green pigment called chlorophyll.
There are many plants like Croton which has red or yellow-
Croton leaves
coloured leaves.

Shape of Leaves
Different leaves have different shapes, lotus has Knowledge-Pedia
round leaves, guava has oval leaves. Peepal leaves Leaves of mint, coriander, tulsi, curTy
We
are triangular and eucalyptus has long leaves. neem, eucalyptus have a peculiar smell.
can identify them by their unique smell.
Leaves of a cactus are in the shape of spines.

Test Your Knowledgel

Name two plants whose leaves are:

1. Rough to touch ***

2. Smooth and shiny ***

3. Needle shaped
4. Of colours other than green

Function of Leaves
the
Green leaves are also called the kitchen or
it the only
food factory of plants because they are Oxygen
(Released into air)

that make their o w n food. Therefore,

living things
ne also called autotrophs. All
green plants are

animals including humans depend on the plants

Energy
he directly or indirectly for their food requirements. (From sunlight)

food in the
Glucose
(Used by plant)
Green leaves prepare their
own

ich presence of sunlight and chlorophyll by using

and carbon dioxide from
the
water from soil Carbon dioxide
(Absorbed from air)
known as photosynthesis.
air. This process is
light and synthesis means
(Photo means
as a
putting together). They release oxygen gas in
Water
(Absorbed through soil)
Food is prepared
by-product of this process.

he form of simple sugars. Photosynthesis

23
Leaves also help in the exchange of gases through stomata. Extra water from th
he
leaves evaporates from the pores called stomata. Stomata are the tiny pores presen
on the surface of leaves.

Test Your Knowledgel

Answer the following questions:
1. Why is oxygen gas important for living beings?
*****

2. Where is extra food stored in plants?

Uses of Leaves
leaves of plants.
Many herbivores like elephants, giraffes, goats, zebras etc., eat the

Goat Cow Elephant

We use tea leaves to prepare tea.

leaves as plates.
People in South India use banana
in use the dried leaves of Dhak
villages
tree to make leaf plates (pattal) and
People
bowls (dona) to serve food in large gatherings

Banana leaf as plate Pattal and dona

Tea

Tips for Teachers

them to observe and differentiate between leaves
of different
Take the students out for nature walk. Help
cards and book coverS
Teach them to shade the shapes of leaves to make greeting
size, shape and texture.
with the design of leaves.
Collect and paste pictures of things

24
 The leaves of neem, tulsi, and My Granny Says!
eucalyptus have medicinal properties. Many people burn dry leaves
of
We use leaf designs on crockery, trees to get rid of garbage. This is
carpets, bedsheets, pottery, and show not a good practice as it causes air
pollution. Dry dead leaves can be
pieces.
used to make compost.
Dried palm and coconut leaves are
used to make a roof of certain types
of huts.
People use Mango and Ashoka tree leaves to decorate their
houses (as toran) on auspicious occasions.
Dry, dead leaves are collected in a large hole in the ground
which is covered with soil. The dead plant parts change into
fertile manure called compost which improves the fertility Compost pit
of the soil.

Knowledge-Pedia
Leaves are collectively known as foliage.
Carotene is a chemical which makes leaves as well as carrots orange in colour.
Trees growing in hilly or mountainous areas have needle shaped leaves, so that rain
and snow can slide off easily from them. Example: Pine tree.

Test Your Knowledgel

Answer the following questions:
1. Which season is also known as the fall?

2. Why does the pine tree have needle shaped leaves?

Read and Recall

Leaves are known as the kitchen or the food factory ofplants.
Leaves prepare food by the process of photosynthesis using water, carbon dioxide and chlorophyll in
the presence of sunlight.
Leaves are of different shapes, sizes, colours, and textures
Leaves are very useful to us in our day to day life.
We use leaves like bay leaf, tulsi, curry leaves, coriander and mint in food to add unique flavours.
We eat leaves of plants like cabbage, fenugreek, spinach, lettuce and so on.
Leaves of heena and indigo are used as a dyeing agent.

25
 EXERCISES

.Tick () the correct option:

1. Leaves Stems pertorm photosynthesis.
2Banana Coconut leaves are used as plate to serve food.
3. Veins Arteries carry food and water in leaves.

4. Plants give out oxygen/carbon dioxide after photosynthesis.

5. Mango/Neem leaves have medicinal value.

I1. Give two examples of each of the following:

1. Medicinal leaves ****************************
********************°*tasem

2 Leaves which are eaten by us ***°°*°*°**********°*****°**

°***********°*********u*

3. Leaves which add flavour to our food * ****°*****°°*****°********* ***********************

4. Leaves used to make roots ************************** *******"****°************v

5. Leaves used to decorate houses ***************************** ^+*** *****************ar

I. Given below, is the diagram of a leaf. Label and colour its parts:

V. Define the following

1. Photosynthesis 2. Chlorophyll 3. Stomata 4. Compst

V. Answer the following questione:

1. Why is leafan important part of a plant?
2. Which things are required for photosynthesis? What are the by products of this process?
How do leaves ditfer from each other? Explain with examples.
26
 4. List any hve ways in which leaves are useful to us.
5. Why is compost added to fields?

HOTS
Name some plants that do not have green coloured leaves.

Funpedia
I. Collect dried leaves of different shapes. Arrange them on a white sheet of
paper in a beautiful pattern.
1. Take the painting colours. Use a toothbrush to
spray colours around
the leaves. Use many colours as
you can.
2. Pick up the leaves gently. You will find
beautiful a design on the white
sheet.
II. Collect leaves of different shapes and sizes. Paste them on
colourful sheets
to create leaf animals.

Values-The Building Blocks of Life

I. What will you do in the
following situations?
1. You find that the leaves of the
plants in your garden are covered with dust. You will
a. Wash them with water so they can breathe easily.
b. Leave them as it is and wait for rains to wash them.
2. You find a
gardener burning dry leaves in a garden. You will:
a. Stop him and teach him how to make compost.
b. Let him burn leaves. It hardly makes a difference to you.
3. Your mother is
preparing a green chutney for dinner. She tells you to help her. You wil:
a. Wash the leaves thoroughly to remove dust and germs.
b. Rinse them in water once.

I1. Leaves also play an

important role in our religious rituals. Mango and banana leaves are
used in various types of worships and
ceremonies. This demonstrates the
importance of leaves in our life.

Banana leaves
Manga leayes7 4