NCERT Solutions for Class 3 EVS Chapter 11: Making Things – Free PDF Download

Chapter 11 of Our Wondrous World (Class 3 EVS) is Making Things. It looks at how potters shape clay into pots, why bricks and other materials are used to build homes, and why different homes are built differently. These Class 3 EVS Chapter 11 solutions are also useful as quick revision notes before exams.

The Potter and Clay Pots

Q: Who makes the many different objects made of clay, and how?
A: The textbook explains that many beautiful objects like surahis, diyas, matkas and handis are made of clay, shaped by potters. As the clay spins on a potter’s wheel, it slowly takes on different beautiful shapes, which is fascinating to watch.

Using Pots and Firing Them in a Kiln

Q: What are clay pots used for, and why are they fired in a kiln?
A: Clay pots are mainly used to store food and drink. Potters also make piggy banks, diyas and many decorative items. Raw (unfired) pots are baked in a kiln (a large oven) to make them hard and strong — without this, the pots could break easily.

The Full Process of Making a Pot

Q: What is the complete process of making a pot from clay?
A: According to the textbook, the potter first takes clay and wets it, mixing in water. He then kneads it thoroughly, like dough. Next, the clay is placed on a spinning stone wheel and shaped by hand. Once shaped, the pots are dried in the sun, and finally taken to be fired in a kiln, after which the pot is ready for use. Sometimes potters also add special patterns to the pots to make them more beautiful.

Patterns and the Art of Design

Q: Where do potters and artists get their ideas for design?
A: The textbook explains that artists get most of their design ideas from nature — such as the texture of leaves, or the patterns seen on the skin and feathers of animals and birds. Inspired by these natural patterns, potters and artists carve beautiful designs onto clay pots and other objects.

Bricks and Building Materials

Q: Are all houses made only of bricks, and what other materials are used to build homes?
A: No, not all houses are made only of bricks. According to the textbook, houses are built using various materials such as mud, brick, stone, grass/thatch, wood, cement and steel. The materials used for building change depending on what is available in an area and the local climate.

Why Mud Houses Are Better for the Environment

Q: Why are mud houses considered better for the environment?
A: Mud houses need much less extra energy (like fans or heaters) to stay cool or warm, because they naturally stay cool in summer and warm in winter. This means mud houses save energy and are considered eco-friendly. Most homes in neighbourhoods today, however, are found to be made of brick, stone and cement.

Testing the Strength of a Wall

Q: Which of two walls built with bricks arranged differently is stronger, and what role do safety rules play at home and school?
A: The textbook’s activity shows that a wall where bricks are interlocked (arranged in alternating rows) is stronger, while a wall with bricks stacked in a straight, unbroken line can fall over easily if pushed. Similarly, both homes and schools have safety rules in place, so that accidents can be avoided.

Why Homes Are Different Types

Q: Why are different types of homes built?
A: According to the textbook, homes differ for several reasons — according to the size and needs of a family, according to the money a family has available, and because different kinds of buildings are built for different purposes, such as schools, offices, hospitals, homes and places of worship.

Let’s Reflect (a) Write

Q: Briefly describe the process of making a pot, the kiln, and the materials used to build homes.
A: To make a pot, clay is wetted, kneaded, shaped on a wheel, dried in the sun, and then fired in a kiln. A kiln is a large oven that bakes dried, raw pots to make them hard and strong. Homes are built using materials such as mud, brick, stone, grass, wood, cement and steel.

(b) Draw and (c) Discuss

Q: How can different types of homes be drawn, and how should we discuss why homes differ?
A: Three types of homes can be drawn and coloured: a raw mud hut, a pucca (solid) brick-and-cement house, and a wooden-roofed hill house. In discussion, it can be explained that the design of homes differs according to family size, the money available, and the home’s purpose (living, studying, treatment, or worship).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the steps in making a clay pot?
Wetting and kneading the clay, shaping it on a wheel, drying it in the sun, and firing it in a kiln.

Why do potters and artists use patterns from nature?
Because natural patterns, like leaf textures or animal skin/feather patterns, inspire the beautiful designs they carve onto pots and other objects.

Why are mud houses more eco-friendly?
Because they naturally stay cool in summer and warm in winter, needing much less energy for fans or heaters.

Written by Satish

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