NCERT Class 4 EVS Our Wondrous World Chapter 02 Exploring Our Neighbourhood PDF Download

Chapter 2: Exploring Our Neighbourhood

On Our Way Back Home

The classes got over and the school bell rang. Students talked with excitement about the wonderful books that their teachers showed them in the library. School buses and e-rickshaws were waiting at the gate.

Navya saw her grandfather standing outside the school gate. She ran up to him, "Dada ji, let us take the market route today!"

They walked to the bus stop, where some people were already waiting for the bus.

A bus stopped, the doors opened and everyone boarded the bus one by one. Navya found a seat by the window and watched the people outside.

As the bus passed a red postbox on the corner, Navya pointed to it and said, "Look, a postbox, Dada ji!"

Dada ji said, "Yes, Navya. You could write a letter and post it here". He continued, "When I was young, I used to write letters to my brother, who was studying in a different city. I used to drop letters into the postbox. Then, the postman would take them to the post office. The post office would sort letters according to regions and send them to their destinations. Post offices offer a variety of other services too".

Activity 1

1. Write a letter to a friend and post it.
2. Teacher can take students on a field trip to a post office, to explore various activities that take place there.

Note to the Teacher

Encourage students to write letters to each other in pairs or cyclically in groups of threes, so that all students both send and receive letters. The idea is that the students experience letter writing, and the joy of sending and receiving letters. Explain to the students about the importance of togetherness and communication.

Write

1. Have you or your family members ever sent, or received a letter or a parcel?
2. How does the post office help people stay connected with each other?

Do you know?

Long ago, people communicated using drumbeats and carvings on rocks.

Later, people started sending letters carried by messengers and pigeons.

Much later, the postal service came into being. It was used to send letters, parcels and important documents to others.

With time, new inventions like the telephone, radio and television made it easier to communicate, and share information.

Today, we have mobile phones, and computers that use internet. The internet helps us connect with anyone and anywhere, in seconds!

"Did you not have mobile phones?" Navya asked. Dada ji laughed, "No Navya. Earlier, we used to write letters. Sometimes, it would take weeks to get a reply". "That is a really long time!" Navya exclaimed. Dada ji replied, "Yes, with mobile phones and emails, communication is much faster. However, sometimes I miss the joy of writing and receiving a handwritten letter."

Teacher's Note

Communication has changed a lot over time. Notice how the "Do you know?" box shows the journey from drumbeats and rock carvings to the internet - each method was faster than the one before. When you see a postbox or telephone in your neighbourhood, think about what these objects meant to people before mobile phones existed.

Activity 2

Interview with Elders

1. Discuss with the elders in your neighbourhood and find out how they communicated with each other when they were of your age. Compare their answers to how you and your friends communicate today; and fill in the table below:

Teacher's Note

Before you meet the elders, write down your questions so you do not forget any. Ask one question at a time, listen to the full answer, and note it down in short words in the right box of the table. Thank them when you finish.

Key Points

• People have communicated in many ways over time - from drumbeats and rock carvings to letters, phones, and the internet.
• The postal service allowed people to send letters and parcels to distant places, but it took much longer than communication today.
• Modern technology like mobile phones and the internet lets us communicate with anyone, anywhere, in seconds.
• Each new invention for communication was faster and easier than the one before it.

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