We and Our World
We and Our World
We and Our World
OUR WORLD
(Class-IV)
Publication Division
1. Family Relationships 1
4. An Ideal Home 27
6. Waste Management 44
7. The Works We Do 53
8. Leisure Time 62
9. Directions 69
Do You Know?
Foster children are
not adopted but live
with the family for a
fixed period.
A ‘family’ consists of a married couple and their children, both natural (born to
that couple) and adopted. Family members share a common residence and
surname. Some members of a family may live away from their family home for
education, jobs, etc.
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their elders. They learn how to arrange
their books and toys, sew buttons, fold
their clothes, polish their shoes and lay
the table for family meals. They also
learn family crafts like weaving,
painting, jewellery making, pottery, etc.
Joint Family
A joint family has parents
and their married children
living together. It consists of
a number of nuclear families
living under the same roof.
Mostly, they share a
common kitchen and hold a
common property. Sharing
space teaches the children
cooperation, living in
harmony and caring for the
members of the family.
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Nuclear Family
A nuclear family consists of a married couple and
their unmarried children. In a nuclear family, the parents
and siblings provide all the support, companionship
and advice to the children, as their cousins, uncles,
aunts or grandparents do not live with them. There is
greater interaction among the parents and the children
in a nuclear family.
Angad’s uncle works in a bank. He has been transferred to Ladakh. His wife
and two children are also going with him. The whole family is feeling very
sad. Angad’s uncle, Sandeep and his wife, Priya rent a house in Ladakh.
Their children Riya and Vikas miss their grandparents, uncles, aunts and
cousins. Their parents are helping them to adjust to a nuclear family.
Angad’s friend—Parth
Angad went to Parth’s house to see his baby
sister—Shweta. Parth told him that she grew up in his
mother’s body. She was delivered in a hospital and
brought home. Angad wondered where she would
sleep and what she would eat!
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Changing Family System in India Do You Know?
The family system is changing very All the family members get
fast. Joint family system, which was together for celebrations like
very strong in India, is changing as weddings, festivals and the
people are moving to different parts of birth of a child.
the country and the world. They migrate
to other places in search of better jobs and educational opportunities or suitable
climate.
Whatever the type of family may be, each member of the family is important. A
family provides an environment of care, protection, love and belongingness.
Do You Know?
Family unity can be encouraged in following
ways:
(a) Treat all the members with respect.
(b) Forgive and forget.
(c) Spend quality time together.
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Something to Know
(a) Uncle and Aunt (b) Parents and siblings (c) Both
Help Box
support, joint, chores, important, respect
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C. Match the following:
2. The older family member pass on the family traditions to the older
generation.
4. What are the advantages of sharing your home with other members of
family?
5. State two reasons that are responsible for changing family fibre in India.
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ALUE
Based Question:
Each member of a family is important, unique and has special qualities. What
special qualities of your family members do you admire and appreciate?
Map Skill
Look at the political map of India. Trace the boundaries of the following:
• Delhi
• Uttar Pradesh
• Assam
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Something To do
1. Discuss with your parents and list five moral values that are important for every
person—
(a) Truth
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
2. Extended family includes paternal and maternal families. Meet your extended
family and fill the following:
3. Prepare a family album. Write down a small poem or few lines about any three
family members.
4. Family celebrations are a time of enjoyment for all the members of a family.
Name a family celebration that you enjoy the most and explain the reason for
the same.
5. The size of the family increases with the birth of a baby or by marriage. There
must have been a marriage or a birth of a baby in your family in recent years.
How do you address the new member?
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6. See your old family album or talk to your grandparents. Compare the house in
which they lived when they were your age, with the house you live now.
Area (Urban/Rural)
Size
Number of members
Materials used
7. Riddle Game
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Sensitivity
2 Towards Others
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The children develop a caring attitude
towards others by watching their parents
and other people around them. Children
learn many things from their friends also.
Activity:
List two good habits that you have learnt from your friends.
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grandparents want. On the other hand, the grandparents love their grandchildren
very much and never forget to buy them gifts like their favourite fruit, toy, storybook,
etc. They are very happy to take the grandchildren to school, park or some other
place of their choice.
Do You Know?
Braille was invented by Louis Braille. In an accident, he
lost his eye-sight. He had great interest in reading
which persuaded him to find the ways of reading and
writing. Finally, he introduced a way to read and
write—by touching the raised dots on paper. This script
Louis Braille
was named Braille in his honour.
(a) Watching films (b) Reading books (c) Watching their parents
Help Box
depend, participation, sign, bond, parents
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C. Match the following:
3. How can you respect the feelings of the hearing and visually impaired
children?
5. How can the special children grow into useful members of the society?
ALUE
Based Question:
Raju was not able to walk or talk. He joined a special school where his mother
carried him on her back. His teacher, Brij Sir, taught him to read and write. It
was very difficult for him but his classmates, his physiotherapist, Devi ma’am,
encouraged and helped him do physical exercise to strengthen his hand and
leg muscles. Love, care and patience have changed Raju’s life. He can move
around the school on his wheelchair now!
1. What special facilities does Raju need in the school?
2. How can Raju’s classmates help him?
3. Suppose you are a friend of a hearing impaired child. How would you help
him to overcome the difficulties that he/she might face in school?
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Something To do
1. Most sighted people believe that blind people need a lot of help. By answering
the following questions, you will understand that blind people can lead a
normal life. Give one reason in support of each answer.
(e) Can she/he read with the help of a special script, Braille?
(g) List three important points that you will keep in mind if you take a blind
person to a market.
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
2. Visit a blind school, a school for hearing and speech impaired children or an
old age home. Watch carefully. How will the visit sensitise you to their needs?
For the Teacher: Please sensitise your class about ‘Bad Touch’ and ‘Good Touch’ by
showing a clipping from television show ‘Satyamev Jayate’. Guide them to report to their
parents/teachers if something/someone scares them.
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Celebrating Our
3 Diversity
The School was organising an Inter-House Celebration and the theme was
—The Indian Culture. The six houses of the school were ready with their
presentations that highlighted the unique diversity of our country. They had
carefully selected some special occasions that are celebrated in different parts of
our country.
The students had collected the information with the help of their parents,
teachers, the library and the internet. They had put in a lot of effort in preparing
posters, stage properties, scripts and costumes for each presentation.
The programme was inaugurated with the lighting of the lamp by the Chief
Guest. The Principal delivered the welcome speech.
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Ganesh Chaturthi—Presented by Hansraj House
The House Captain narrated that
Ganesh or Vinayak Chaturthi is
dedicated to the birth of Lord Ganesh,
the God of good beginning, knowledge,
success, wisdom and remover of
obstacles. The festival is celebrated in
the month of August or September,
mainly in Maharashtra and South India.
The curtain rose to show people buying
idols of Ganpati. The images were then
taken home, worshipped with kumkum,
flowers, fruits and sweets. Lord Ganesh
After the celebration, the images were taken out in a procession for visarjan
(immersion into a river or sea) after a few days. The children chanted Ganpati
bappa moraya, pudchya varshi laukaraya (Father Ganpati, come again soon next
year).
Do You Know?
The great freedom fighter, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak made Ganesh
Utsav a public celebration by inculcating a pride for Indian Culture,
music, poetry and dance.
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Goddess Durga and offer them puri, halwa, channe and other gifts on the eighth
day—ashtami.
The spectators, who were watching the presentation, clapped when they saw
the pond that the children had created with light blue sarees!
Navratri and Durga Puja are celebrated as Dusshera in Northern India. The
celebrations continue for ten days. The festival ends when the effigies of Ravana,
Kumbhakarana and Meghnada are set afire to celebrate the victory of good over
evil.
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feelings towards others. The family
Do You Know?
elders give ‘Idi’—presents or money
to the youngsters as blessings. The lunar calendar depends on
the movement of moon around
A student dressed in sharara- the earth and the solar calendar
kameej and dupatta told everyone depends on the motion of earth
that the holy book of Muslims, the around the sun.
Quran, came into existence during
this month. Prophet Mohammad was chosen by God to be his messenger.
The highlights of Onam are Pookalam (floral rangoli), new clothes for the family,
and the grand feast called Onasadya. It consists of various types of curries
(parippu, sambhar, rasam), kootu, pappadam, pradhaman, paisam, rice, mango
pickle and coconut chutney. The Snake-boat races and the famous Kathakali
dance attract thousands of tourists to Kerala.
Do You Know?
Pulikkali Tiger Dance is a popular feature of Onam
celebration where hundreds of men, dressed as
tigers, dance to the beat of drums. It takes four hours
to paint and decorate each person to look like a lion!
The best dancer and decorated lion man are awarded prizes!
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Navroz—Presented by Sarojini House
The House Captain narrated—Jamshed-e-Navroz is a Parsi New Year. It is
celebrated on the first day of the first month of Shehenshahi calendar which is
followed by followers of Zoroastrian faith. The festival celebrates rejuvenation and
rebirth. Parsis clean and decorate their homes with rangolis made up of jasmine
and rose flowers.
Do You Know?
Parsis are a small religious community of India. They arrived in Gujarat
region from Iran. A major part of Parsi population lives in Mumbai. They
are the followers of the Iranian prophet Zoroaster. The holy book of Parsis
is Zend Avesta.
The marriage rituals may differ but the essence of all weddings is the union of
a couple and bonding of the two families.
The Inter-House Celebration came to an end with a lot of appreciation for the
students and teachers who had presented the best features of Indian culture in a
wonderful way.
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Something to Know
✓ ) the correct option:
A. Tick (✓
Help Box
rebirth, Mahabali, Navratri, culture, Ramadan
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C. Match the following:
1. Synagogue (a) Thanksgiving
2. Navratri (b) Effigies
3. Dusshera (c) Fire temple
4. Pookalam (d) Dandia
5. Id-ul-fitr (e) Floral rangoli
ALUE
Based Question:
Festivals are a time of fun, frolic and family get together. Each festival gives us
a message. Write down the value that you learn from your favourite festival.
Map Skill
On a political map of India, locate, colour and label the following:
• Maharashtra
• Gujarat
• Tamil Nadu
• Karnataka
• Kerala
• Andhra Pradesh
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Something To do
1. Identify the festival:
2. Survey your neighbourhood and make a list of all the festivals that are
celebrated. Find out the delicacies (special dishes) associated with each
festival. Which is your favourite festival and special dish?
3. Solve the word puzzle with the help of the hints:
D Y G U R U D W A R A N B V
J G A S D F G H J K L M N C
S I N D O O R X C V B G F X
N K P U B D A A D S R T Y X
T G A S X D M T R R E D N Z
R Q T S V G A S J K N Q A S
E Z I H W E D T Y U I W E E
O Z L E Y U A I O P K Y T R
S F H R U L N A V R A T R I
C N Q A Z I R W Q I H I O P
Hints:
(a) This festival marks the victory of good over evil.
(b) He presides over the Nikah.
(c) It is considered as an auspicious time to start new ventures.
(d) Whose idols are worshipped during Ganesh Chaturthi?
(e) Id is celebrated during this month.
(f) What is a Muslim wedding known as?
(g) A ritual in Hindu wedding.
(h) Where does a Sikh wedding take place?
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