NCERT Solutions for Class 3 EVS Chapter 4: Getting to Know Plants – Free PDF Download

Chapter 4 of Our Wondrous World (Class 3 EVS) is Getting to Know Plants. It follows Gopu, Simmi and Raj as they notice the many different kinds of plants around them on their way to school, and uses their observations to introduce trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, creepers and vines. These Class 3 EVS Chapter 4 solutions are also useful as quick revision notes before exams.

Story: All Kinds of Plants

Q: What do Gopu, Simmi and Raj notice on their way to school, and what do they say about plants?
A: Walking to school, Gopu, Simmi and Raj see beautiful flowers, hills and streams. Simmi says plants come in many different sizes and shapes — very small, small, large, and bushy — while Raj says some are thin and bent, and others are straight and tall.

Q: What difference do the children notice in leaf surfaces?
A: Gopu notices that some plants have rough leaves, while others have completely smooth leaves. Simmi adds that the jamun tree’s leaves are somewhat thick and shiny.

Q: How does Raj’s jamun tree change through its flowers and fruit?
A: Raj describes small white flowers appearing on the jamun tree, followed by small green fruits that later turned dark red and purple. The children enjoyed plucking the ripe, purple-coloured fruit, and also liked spending time in the tree’s cool shade.

Q: According to the textbook, what does a tree look like?
A: A tree has one large woody trunk with many branches spreading out from it. Leaves grow on these branches, and its roots go deep into the ground. The textbook shows pictures of trees such as mango, coconut, khejri and jackfruit.

Shrubs

Q: What did Gopu and Raj observe about a shrub?
A: Seeing a beautiful plant with red flowers, Gopu said it did not have one big trunk like a tree; Raj pointed out that it had many brown stems instead. The textbook explains that bushy, brown-stemmed plants like this are called shrubs, and that the tulsi (basil) plant is also a shrub. Shrubs are defined as medium-sized plants with several stems, whose branches spread close to the ground.

Q: Pulses like arhar, masoor, moong and urad come from what kind of plants?
A: The textbook explains that these pulses are the seeds of shrubs.

Herbs and Grass

Q: What are herbs, and what is special about grass?
A: The textbook explains that herbs are very small plants with very soft stems that never become as hard as wood. Grass is also a type of herb — its leaves are thin and flat, and its stems are hollow. Mint, tomato, coriander and mustard are examples of herbs.

Q: Grains like rice, wheat, millet, jowar and ragi are the seeds of what? Why are sugarcane and bamboo called grasses?
A: All of these grains are the seeds of large grasses. Sugarcane and bamboo are also a type of grass — bamboo is a special kind of grass that does not dry out even after more than a year.

Creepers and Vines

Q: What did Simmi say about the money plant and the pumpkin plant?
A: The money plant has a very long, thin stem and cannot stand on its own — without support, it spreads along the ground as it grows. The pumpkin plant is also a vine and spreads along the ground. The textbook explains that creepers and vines have thin, flexible stems: creepers climb upward using the support of other plants, while vines grow along the ground. Some creepers even take food from the plant that supports them. Examples: money plant and jasmine (creepers); pumpkin, bottle gourd and snake gourd (vines).

Q: Are plants like marigold, neem and ber trees, shrubs, creepers, or vines?
A: This depends on their size — the textbook groups marigold and neem with trees like mango and jamun (big trunk, branches), while ber is classed as a shrub (medium size, several stems). Children are encouraged to find and identify these plants for themselves nearby.

Activities: Befriending a Plant, Identifying Leaves, Studying Bark

Q: What are children asked to do in the “Befriend a Plant” activity?
A: Children are asked to choose a shrub or a thick-trunked tree they would like to befriend, give it a name (as they might for a pet), water and care for it every day, and record the number of its leaves, flowers or fruits in a table.

Q: What did Gopu say about the smell of leaves, and how did Raj’s brother identify fruits?
A: Gopu observed that leaves such as tulsi, coriander, curry leaf, mint and lemongrass all have different smells. The textbook explains that Raj’s brother cannot see, but he can quickly identify fruits like mango, pineapple, jackfruit, guava and jamun just by their smell — making children more aware and sensitive towards visually impaired children.

Q: What happens in the “Learning About Bark” activity?
A: Children are asked to carefully look at and touch a tree’s bark, then place paper over it and rub a pencil or crayon repeatedly over the paper so that an impression of the bark’s pattern appears on it. This can help identify trees, and children may also spot insects, birds and small creatures living on the bark along the way.

Parts of a Plant

Q: In the reference picture, which parts of the tomato plant were shown?
A: The picture of the tomato plant showed five parts: the root (underground), the stem, the leaf, the flower, and the fruit. The textbook explains that when learning about plants, we use these very parts — root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit and seed.

Let’s Reflect (End-of-Chapter Questions)

Q: What would happen if there were no plants?
A: This is an open discussion question for the class. Points to consider: without plants, we would have no oxygen to breathe, no food (grains, fruits, vegetables), no shade or wood, and no home or food for animals and birds.

Q: How does the root help a plant grow?
A: The root anchors the plant firmly in the ground and draws water and nutrients from the soil, helping the plant grow.

Q: What work does the stem do for a plant?
A: The stem keeps the plant standing upright and supports its leaves, flowers and fruits, while also carrying the water and nutrients taken in by the roots to the rest of the plant.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a tree and a shrub?
A tree has one large woody trunk with branches spreading from it, while a shrub is medium-sized with several stems and branches that spread close to the ground.

What is the difference between a creeper and a vine?
Creepers climb upward using the support of other plants, while vines grow and spread along the ground; both have thin, flexible stems.

Name some examples of herbs mentioned in the chapter.
Mint, tomato, coriander and mustard are given as examples of herbs, along with grasses like rice, wheat and bamboo.

Written by Satish

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