NCERT Solutions for Class 4 EVS Chapter 8: How Things are Made – Free PDF Download

Chapter 8 of the Class 4 EVS textbook Our Wondrous World is How Things are Made. It looks at how paper is recycled and coloured, different types of paper and their uses, and the 5Rs of waste management.

Last Updated: September 23, 2026

NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers – Chapter 8: How Things are Made

Activity 1 (Page 119) — Make Recycled Paper

Q: Collect old newspapers, fenugreek seeds, and water. Prepare the paper pulp by soaking and blending the materials, roll it into thin sheets, and leave the sheets to dry.
A: Soak torn newspaper pieces in water for a day (fenugreek seeds help soften and bind the pulp), blend or mash it into a smooth pulp, spread it thinly on a screen or cloth, press out excess water, and leave it to dry in the sun to form recycled paper.

Activity 2 (Page 120) — Natural Colour Experiment

Q: Cut the recycled paper into equal-sized pieces and colour them using natural ingredients (turmeric, spinach, beetroot, henna), keeping the quantity of each ingredient equal, then record your observations.
A: Turmeric gives a yellow colour, beetroot gives a pink/red colour, spinach gives a light green colour, and henna gives a brownish-green colour — natural dyes generally give softer, less bright colours than chemical dyes, and their intensity can vary with how much of the ingredient is used.

Activity 3 (Page 121)

Q: Make a greeting card, paper mask, or any such item using the recycled paper you made.
A: Students use their dried, coloured recycled paper sheets to cut, fold, and decorate a greeting card or mask as a simple craft project.

Discuss (Page 122)

Q1: Do you think that we waste paper?
A: Yes, a lot of paper is wasted every day — for example, writing on only one side of a page, throwing away slightly used notebooks, or using too many paper napkins.

Q2: How can we reduce wastage of paper?
A: By using both sides of a page, reusing old notebooks as rough books, printing only when necessary, and recycling used paper instead of throwing it away.

Activity 4 (Page 123)

Q: Observe various paper types — writing paper, newspaper, art paper, cardboard, tissue paper — paste samples and note their practical uses.
A: Writing paper — used for notebooks and letters; Newspaper — used for printing news, thin and cheap; Art paper — smooth and glossy, used for printing and craft; Cardboard — thick and sturdy, used for boxes and packaging; Tissue paper — soft and thin, used for wiping and wrapping.

Activity 5 (Page 125)

Q: Discuss the given situations and identify which of the 5Rs of waste management (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle) each one represents.
A: Sample answer: Carrying a cloth bag instead of taking a plastic bag — Refuse; Printing on both sides of paper — Reduce; Using an old jar to store pulses — Reuse; Turning a plastic bottle into a plant pot — Repurpose; Sending old newspapers to be made into new paper — Recycle.

Let Us Reflect (Page 127)

(Exact page wording should be cross-checked against your physical copy.)

Q1: What are some objects that you can make using paper pulp?
A: Paper pulp can be used to make new sheets of paper, greeting cards, paper masks, decorative boxes, and craft items like paper bowls or bookmarks.

Q2: Write down one step you can take for each of the 5Rs.
A: Refuse — say no to plastic straws; Reduce — use less paper by writing on both sides; Reuse — reuse old bottles for storage; Repurpose — turn old T-shirts into cleaning cloths; Recycle — give old newspapers for recycling.

Q3: Discuss the changes you can bring in your daily life using the 5Rs rule to avoid paper wastage.
A: Sample answer: using both sides of every page, reusing old notebooks as rough books, avoiding unnecessary printing, collecting waste paper separately for recycling, and repurposing old paper into craft items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are handmade products often considered special?
Because they involve individual skill and effort, and no two handmade pieces are exactly identical, giving each one a unique character.

Can you name a few materials commonly used to make everyday objects?
Common materials include wood, clay, cotton, metal, and plastic, each suited to making different kinds of objects.

Written by Satish

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