Maharashtra Board Class 4 EVS Chapter 2 The Inter relationships between Living Things PDF Download

The Inter-Relationships Between Living Things

A Riddle To Solve

An age old tree with a thick strong trunk. Gives deep, dark shade from the scorching sun. Like an old man's beard with many strands. It has ropes for swinging from every branch.

Which is this tree in the picture?

Can You Tell?

Plants in our surroundings are useful to us in different ways. The names of some plants are given below. For what purpose do we use their leaves?

Betel vine, Flame of the forest (Palas), Fenugreek (Methi), Vasaka (Adulsa), Curry leaf plant

Teacher's Note

In India, we use betel leaves, curry leaves and fenugreek leaves every day in our homes for food and medicine.

Exam Trick

Remember the names of useful plants by thinking of what you eat at home. Curry leaves are in your kitchen, so they are easy to remember.

Points to Remember

Food, water and air are the main needs of all living things.
Different living things have different needs.
A mouse drinks less water than an elephant.
Plants give us leaves, fruits, flowers and seeds.
We use different plant leaves for different purposes.

The Needs Of Living Things Are Met In Their Environment

We have many needs like food, water, air, clothes and shelter. All these needs are met in our surroundings.

In fact, food, water and air are the needs of all living things. They are all fulfilled in the environment. But there are differences in the needs of each kind of living things. For example, the water that a mouse drinks in an entire day would not be enough for an elephant even at one time.

Teacher's Note

Every living thing in India depends on its environment for survival. A fish cannot live on land just like we cannot live underwater.

Exam Trick

Remember: Each animal gets what it needs from nature. Fish need water, birds need trees, and we need both food and water.

Points to Remember

All living things need food, water and air.
Different animals need different amounts of water.
All needs are met in the environment.
The environment gives us everything we need.
Some animals need plants, some need meat.

Think About It

Butterflies feed on the nectar of flowers. Can a frog do the same? A sheep eats the leaves of shrubs. Can a tiger do the same? A fish can breathe in water. But can a pigeon do that? Bulrushes grow in water. Can a lemon tree do so?

Can You Tell?

If fish leave the water, will they be able to live on land?

Try This

Take two small boxes. Label them box 1 and box 2. Fill them three-quarters with soil. Make the soil moist enough to sow seeds.

Sow two sprouted moth (matki) seeds in each box.

Give two spoons of water to the soil of box 1, only once every day. Give four spoons of water to the other box four times a day. Do this for six days.

What Will You See?

The plants in box 1 are growing well. But the plants in box 2 have begun to rot.

What Does This Tell Us?

Plants that are not aquatic plants cannot grow in marshy areas.

If they get more water than they need, they rot.

Teacher's Note

In India, farmers know that too much water kills crops. Rice needs water but wheat needs less water, so farmers plant them in different seasons.

Exam Trick

Remember: More water = dead plants. Just like you cannot drink 10 glasses of water at once, plants also die if they get too much water.

Points to Remember

Different plants need different amounts of water.
Plants that need less water will rot in marshy areas.
Box 1 plants grew better than box 2 plants.
Water requirement is different for different plants.
Too much water is bad for non-aquatic plants.

Any type of living thing will be found only where all its needs are fulfilled.

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