Summary
Chapter 6 of the Class 3 The World Around Us (EVS) NCERT textbook (Our Wondrous World), "Living in Harmony", teaches children how humans, animals, and plants depend on one another for food, shelter, care, and companionship, using stories and activities to show that living things help each other grow and thrive.
- Plants and Animals Help Each Other — Animals like monkeys and squirrels help plants by spreading seeds to new places, while plants give animals food and shelter. This mutual support keeps nature in balance.
- Uses of Plants — Plants provide humans with fruits, vegetables, medicines, fibre for clothes, wood for houses, fresh air, and shade. The chapter uses a story about Shambhu and the mango tree to show these gifts.
- We Need Each Other — Humans give water, food, and shelter to animals and plants, and in return receive milk, companionship, food, clothing, and protection. Cows, buffaloes, and goats are given as examples of animals humans care for and respect.
- Caring for Living Things Around Us — The chapter encourages children to observe animals closely, keep water and grains out for birds, and even make friends with a plant. A true story from Valparai, Tamil Nadu, shows children celebrating the arrival of Grey Wagtail birds every winter.
Key points & formulas
- 01Animals help plants by dispersing seeds and making the soil fertile through their waste, helping plants grow and spread far.
- 02Squirrels accidentally plant thousands of trees by burying nuts and forgetting where they hid them.
- 03Plants give humans shade, shelter for animals, wood, medicine, fibre, fruits, and fresh air.
- 04Humans take care of animals and plants by giving them water, food, and shelter, and should not hurt animals even if scared of them.
- 05The chapter includes a true story about children in Valparai, Tamil Nadu, who welcome Grey Wagtail birds every winter with posters and sweets.
- 06Grey Wagtails travel from the mountains to warmer parts of India during cold winter months.
- 07Children are encouraged to observe a chosen animal closely and write a short description of its movements, sounds, and behaviour.
Frequently asked questions
01What is Chapter 6 Living in Harmony about?
It is about how humans, animals, and plants all depend on each other. The chapter shows ways we help each other through food, shelter, seed spreading, and companionship.
02How do animals help plants according to this chapter?
Animals help plants by dispersing seeds to new places and making the soil fertile through their waste. For example, a monkey dropping a mango seed can lead to a new plant growing from it.
03How do squirrels help plant new trees?
Squirrels bury nuts in the ground and then forget where they hid them. This accidentally plants thousands of trees over time.
04What are the uses of plants listed in the chapter?
Plants give us shade, shelter for animals, wood, medicine, fibre for clothes, fruits, and fresh air.
05Why should we not hurt animals even if we are scared of them?
Animals generally do not hurt others unless they feel threatened. The chapter teaches that we should treat all animals with kindness and care.
06What is the story of the mango tree about?
A boy named Shambhu and his father sat under a mango tree. When a monkey threw away a mango seed, Shambhu's father explained that a new plant would grow from the seed, showing how animals and plants help each other.
07What is the true story from Valparai in the chapter?
Children and teachers in Valparai, Tamil Nadu, record birds every year and celebrate the arrival of Grey Wagtail birds in winter by putting up welcome posters and distributing sweets.
08What are Grey Wagtails and why do they come to Valparai?
Grey Wagtails, known as Vaalatti kuruvi in Tamil, are birds that travel from the mountains to warmer parts of India during the cold winter months. Children in Valparai welcome them each year.
09What activity involving ants does the chapter suggest?
Children are asked to place three types of food (sweet, fried, and boiled) on the floor and observe which food ants prefer and how many come. They also make guesses before observing.
10How does the chapter suggest children make friends with a plant?
The chapter encourages children to visit a plant when they are feeling sad, upset, or happy, and to talk to it about their feelings. This helps build empathy and care for living things.
11What animals does the chapter say humans get milk and companionship from?
Cows, buffaloes, and goats are mentioned as animals that give us milk and loving company, which is why we treat them with kindness and respect.
12What does the Get to Know an Animal activity ask children to do?
Children choose an animal they see often, such as a dog, cat, crow, or sparrow, observe it closely, and write a short description about its name, movement, sounds, and behaviour.
More chapters in Our Wondrous World
Read Chapter 6 of Our Wondrous World, the Class 3 The World Around Us NCERT textbook (2026-27 edition), online for free: the complete chapter as published by NCERT with every diagram, solved example and exercise, with step-by-step solutions, answers and revision notes. Open the NCERT PDF above, or browse all NCERT Class 3 textbooks.
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