How Things are Made – Class 4 The World Around Us Chapter 8 Notes & NCERT PDF

Class 4The World Around UsChapter 8NCERT book: Our Wondrous World - Class 4

Notes and a simple summary of Chapter 8 of the NCERT Class 4 The World Around Us book, with the official chapter PDF, flashcards, an MCQ quiz and an AI tutor for your doubts.

🎧 Listen to the content

Chapter 8: How Things are Made

Chapter 8: How Things are Made

Introduction

In Grade 3 we learnt that things are made of different materials. In this chapter, Pihu and her mother (Maa) find out how paper is made. Pihu sees a newspaper picture of trees that says recycling paper saves trees. Maa explains that paper is made from trees: drawing books, newspapers, paper napkins and chart paper all come from trees. Pihu notices a rough pot made from recycled paper, and they decide to make recycled paper themselves.

What's in this Chapter

Make Recycled Paper – The book's steps:

  • Collect old newspapers, some fenugreek (methi) seeds and water.
  • Tear the newspaper into small pieces and soak them in water with a few fenugreek seeds overnight. The seeds act as a binding material.
  • Blend or mash the soaked paper and seeds into a wet mixture (pulp) using a grinder, hands or another tool.
  • Spread the paste on a flat base and roll it into thin sheets.
  • Leave the sheets to dry. The recycled paper is ready!

    • Natural Colour Experiment – Children cut the paper into same-size pieces and colour them with the same amount of turmeric, spinach, beetroot and henna, noting the colour and brightness (for example, turmeric gives yellow). Natural dyes come from leaves, flowers, roots, seeds and stems, so they are safe to use. They also colour clothes and pots.

    A Special Gift – Pihu makes a greeting card from recycled paper for Maa. Children can make a card, mask or other item too.

    Paper from wood – Book paper is made from wood pulp, and a large number of trees are cut for it. The steps are similar to making recycled paper. Making paper needs many trees and a lot of water and energy, so we must use paper responsibly. Long ago people wrote on cloth, leaves and wooden boards; in India people used palm leaves called talapatra. Banana fibre can also be used to make paper, which saves trees.

    Types of paper – Writing paper, newspaper, art paper, cardboard and tissue paper have different uses. Tissue paper is thin, soft and absorbs water, so it is used for cleaning. Cardboard is thick and hard, so it is used for boxes. Braille paper has tiny bumps that visually challenged people feel to read and write.

    Making Responsible Choices: the 5Rs –

  • Refuse: say "no" to things that make waste, like single-use paper cups.
  • Reduce: use things carefully, like writing on both sides of paper.
  • Reuse: use something many times, like a gift bag.
  • Repurpose: use something in a new way, like toys from old newspapers.
  • Recycle: turn something into something new, like newspaper into handmade paper.

    • Key Ideas

  • Most paper is made from trees.
  • Old paper can be recycled into new paper at home.
  • Natural dyes from plants are safe for colouring.
  • Different papers suit different jobs.
  • The 5Rs help us reduce waste and protect the environment.

    • Activities from the Book

  • Make recycled paper and colour it with natural ingredients.
  • Make a greeting card or mask.
  • Paste samples of different papers and write their uses.
  • Match everyday situations to the 5Rs.
  • Make toys and decorations from old newspaper.

    • Words to Learn

  • Recycle (पुनर्चक्रण करना) – make something new from used things
  • Pulp (लुगदी) – a soft, wet paste
  • Binding material (बाँधने वाला पदार्थ) – something that holds things together
  • Fenugreek (मेथी) – seeds used here as binder
  • Natural dye (प्राकृतिक रंग) – colour made from plants
  • Absorb (सोखना) – soak up water
  • Refuse (मना करना) – say no
  • Repurpose (नए काम में लेना) – use in a new way
  • Talapatra (तालपत्र) – palm leaves once used for writing

    • Tips for Parents & Teachers

  • Make a small batch of recycled paper at home over a weekend.
  • Keep a box of one-side-used paper for rough work.
  • Carry cloth bags when shopping and talk about which R it is.
  • Visit a paper mill if there is one nearby.

    • Common Mistakes

  • Thinking recycled paper looks the same as book paper – it is rougher.
  • Mixing up Reuse and Repurpose – reuse is the same use again; repurpose is a new use.
  • Using different amounts of colour for each piece – the book says use the same quantity to compare fairly.

    • 💡 Key Learning Points

    • ✓Most paper, like drawing books and newspapers, is made from trees, and making it uses many trees, water and energy.
    • ✓Recycled paper is made by soaking torn newspaper with fenugreek seeds (a binder), mashing it into pulp, rolling it thin and drying it.
    • ✓Natural dyes from turmeric, spinach, beetroot and henna are safe and can colour paper, clothes and pots.
    • ✓Different papers have different uses: tissue paper for cleaning, cardboard for boxes, Braille paper for reading by touch.
    • ✓The 5Rs of waste management are Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle.

    👨‍🏫 Teaching Tips

    • →Start with a newspaper and a leaf and ask: how are these two connected?
    • →Collect old newspapers a week ahead and make recycled paper in groups.
    • →Keep the amount of each natural colour the same so children can compare fairly.
    • →Set up a paper corner with samples of tissue, cardboard, art paper and newspaper.
    • →Show a Braille sample if possible and let children feel the bumps.
    • →Use the book's situations (Maya, Rohan, Sara, Kabir, Priya) to sort actions into the 5Rs.
    • →Arrange a trip to a paper mill if one is nearby.

    📋 Assessment Questions

    1. Can the child list the steps for making recycled paper in order?
    2. Can the child say why fenugreek seeds are added?
    3. Can the child match three types of paper to their uses?
    4. Can the child name and give an example for each of the 5Rs?
    5. Can the child suggest ways to reduce paper waste?

    Ask the AI tutor about Class 4 The World Around Us Chapter 8

    Get question answers, important questions, a quick MCQ quiz or a simple explanation of “How Things are Made”. Free — sign in with Google.

    How the AI tutor works →

    Keep learning

    All chapters in Our Wondrous World - Class 4

    1. 1. Living Together
    2. 2. Exploring Our Neighbourhood
    3. 3. Nature Trail
    4. 4. Growing up with Nature
    5. 5. Food for Health
    6. 6. Happy and Healthy Living
    7. 7. How Things Work
    8. 8. How Things are Made
    9. 9. Different Lands, Different Lives
    10. 10. Our Sky