A Busy Month – Class 4 EVS NCERT Solutions

Explore the solutions for A Busy Month, Class 4 EVS NCERT. This chapter teaches us about different birds and their nesting habits, helping us understand the wonderful diversity in nature. We learn about various birds’ adaptations, their parenting behavior, and how they build unique nests. The chapter also explores different types of animal teeth and their functions.

Chapter Summary (English)

The chapter “A Busy Month” is written as a letter by Gijubhai Badheka, describing various birds and their nesting habits during spring. He observes different birds like sparrows, doves, robins, and sunbirds making their nests using various materials. Each bird has its unique way of building nests – from the tailor bird’s stitched leaf nest to the weaver bird’s woven home. The chapter also explores different types of bird beaks, feet, and animal teeth, showing how these adaptations help them survive in their environment.

अध्याय सारांश (Hindi)

यह अध्याय गिजुभाई बधेका द्वारा लिखे गए एक पत्र के रूप में है, जिसमें वसंत के दौरान विभिन्न पक्षियों और उनकी घोंसला बनाने की आदतों का वर्णन किया गया है। वे गौरैया, कबूतर, रॉबिन और सनबर्ड जैसे विभिन्न पक्षियों को विभिन्न सामग्रियों का उपयोग करके अपना घोंसला बनाते हुए देखते हैं। प्रत्येक पक्षी के घोंसला बनाने का अपना अनूठा तरीका है – दर्जी पक्षी के सिले हुए पत्ते के घोंसले से लेकर बुनकर पक्षी के बुने हुए घर तक। इस अध्याय में विभिन्न प्रकार की पक्षियों की चोंच, पैर और जानवरों के दांतों की भी जानकारी दी गई है, जो दर्शाता है कि ये अनुकूलन उन्हें अपने वातावरण में जीवित रहने में कैसे मदद करते हैं।

Word Meanings

Exercise Solutions

1. How many years ago did Gijubhai write this letter?

Gijubhai wrote this letter on April 13, 1936. Since the current year is 2024, this letter was written 88 years ago. We can calculate this by subtracting: 2024 – 1936 = 88 years.

2. Find out how old your grandfather and grandmother were at that time.

Let me calculate my grandparents’ ages in 1936: * My grandfather is now 75 years old (born in 1949) * My grandmother is 70 years old (born in 1954) This means they were not born when this letter was written in 1936. In fact, my grandparents were born 13 and 18 years after this letter was written.

3. This letter talks about many different birds. How many of these birds have you seen?

In my area, I have seen several birds mentioned in the letter: * Sparrows – very common in our garden * Doves – often seen on our terrace * Crows – seen everywhere in the neighborhood * Pigeons – numerous around our house * Sunbirds – occasionally visit our garden flowers * Koel – heard their sweet calls, especially in summer In total, I have seen 6 out of the birds mentioned in the letter.

4. How many other birds have you seen? Which ones?

Besides the birds mentioned in the letter, I have seen several other birds in my area: * Parrots – bright green, often seen in pairs * Mynas – common in our garden * Eagles – sometimes soaring high in the sky * Peacocks – seen in nearby parks * Owls – occasionally spotted at night These birds add to the wonderful diversity of bird life in our surroundings.

5. Have you seen a bird’s nest? Where did you see it?

Yes, I have seen several bird nests. The most memorable one was a sparrow’s nest in our balcony, built behind a wall-mounted light fixture. I also observed a crow’s nest high up in the neem tree near our house. We were careful not to disturb these nests and watched from a safe distance as the parent birds raised their chicks.

6. Which is your favourite bird? Can you show your friends in the class how it flies, and what sound it makes?

My favorite bird is the peacock. To show my friends how it moves and sounds: * Flight movement: I would spread my arms like wings and move them slowly, as peacocks usually make short, heavy flights * Sound: I would imitate their distinct “mayaaw mayaaw” call * Dance: I would demonstrate their beautiful dance by spreading my arms like their tail feathers and moving gracefully The peacock is special because it’s our national bird and has such colorful, magnificent feathers.

7. Guess what this bird is – ‘A crown on the head and coins on the tail, So many shades of blue from top to tail.’

This riddle describes our national bird, the Peacock (Mor). The crown refers to the distinctive crest on its head, the coins refer to the eyespots on its tail feathers, and the multiple shades of blue represent its iridescent neck and body feathers. The peacock is known for its spectacular display during the monsoon season.

8. Do you know of any other bird that makes its nest in a tree trunk like the barbet does?

Yes, several other birds make their nests in tree trunks: * Woodpeckers – they drill holes in tree trunks * Owls – they often use existing tree cavities * Parakeets – they also nest in tree hollows These birds use tree cavities as they provide natural protection from predators and harsh weather.

Observation Activity Questions

9. Where is the nest made?

The nest I observed was built by sparrows in our balcony. It was carefully constructed in a corner between the ceiling and wall, protected from rain and wind. This location provided good safety for the eggs and chicks.

10. What is the nest made of?

The sparrow’s nest I observed was made of various materials: * Small twigs for the basic structure * Dry grass and straw for padding * Soft feathers for lining the inside * Bits of string and cloth pieces * Some paper strips they found All these materials were woven together to create a warm, cozy home.

11. Is the nest ready or are the birds still making it?

Based on my observation, the nest is still under construction. I can see the parent birds making frequent trips carrying nesting materials like twigs, grass, and feathers. They carefully weave each new piece into the existing structure, making the nest stronger and more comfortable for their future chicks.

12. Can you recognise which bird has made the nest?

Yes, I can identify that sparrows have made this nest because: * I see the parent sparrows regularly visiting the nest * The size of the nest is small and compact, typical of sparrow nests * The nest’s location near human habitation is characteristic of sparrows * The materials used and the construction style match sparrow nest patterns

13. What things does the bird bring to the nest?

I have observed the birds bringing various items to their nest: * Small twigs and dry grass stems * Soft feathers that they find * Cotton wool and thread pieces * Small pieces of paper * Sometimes even bits of plastic strings They carefully select each item and incorporate it into their nest structure.

14. Is there any bird sitting in the nest?

Yes, I can see a female sparrow sitting in the nest most of the time. She only leaves for short periods to find food. The male sparrow often brings food to her while she sits on the eggs. This shows how both parents work together to care for their future chicks.

15. Do you think there are any eggs in the nest?

Yes, I believe there are eggs in the nest because: * The female bird spends most of her time sitting in the nest * She only leaves for brief periods * The male bird frequently brings food for her * The birds are very protective and alert near the nest These behaviors are typical when birds are incubating their eggs.

16. Can you hear any sound like ‘chee chee’ from the nest?

Not yet. Since the eggs haven’t hatched, there are no chick sounds. However, I can hear the parent birds making ‘chee chee’ sounds when they communicate with each other or when warning other birds to stay away from their nest.

17. If there are chicks in the nest, what do the parent birds bring for them to eat?

The parent birds bring several types of food for their chicks: * Small insects like caterpillars and grasshoppers * Tiny worms * Small grains and seeds * Breadcrumbs from nearby They make frequent trips throughout the day to keep their growing chicks well-fed.

18. How many times in one hour do the birds come to the nest?

During my one-hour observation, I counted that the parent birds visited the nest approximately 15-20 times. The frequency of visits includes: * Bringing nesting materials (6-7 times) * Bringing food (8-10 times) * Regular checking and maintenance (3-4 times) This shows how hardworking and dedicated the parent birds are.

Teeth-Related Questions

19. Your age:

I am 10 years old.

20. How many teeth do you have?

I have counted 24 teeth in total. This includes both my milk teeth and permanent teeth as I am in the stage where some of my permanent teeth are growing.

21. Have any of your teeth fallen or broken? How many?

Yes, 8 of my milk teeth have fallen out naturally. Fortunately, none of my teeth have broken. This is normal at my age as milk teeth gradually get replaced by permanent teeth.

22. How many new teeth do you have?

I have 8 new permanent teeth that have grown in place of my fallen milk teeth. These include: * 4 front teeth (incisors) on top and bottom * 4 molars (big teeth at the back) These new teeth are stronger and bigger than my milk teeth.

23. How many of your milk teeth have fallen, but no new teeth have come in their place?

Currently, there are 2 spaces where my milk teeth have fallen out, but the new permanent teeth haven’t grown yet. I can feel that the new teeth are about to come as those spots feel a bit bumpy.

Imagine and Share Questions

24. If you did not have front teeth, how would you eat a guava?

Without front teeth, I would: * Cut the guava into small pieces first * Place the pieces directly on my tongue or back teeth * Use my lips and tongue to move the food * Chew with my back teeth instead of biting It would be quite difficult and messy to eat without front teeth!

25. How would you eat roti with no back teeth?

With no back teeth, eating roti would be challenging: * I would tear the roti into very small pieces * Soften it with dal or curry * Let it become soft enough to swallow * Use my tongue to mash it against my front teeth This shows how important our back teeth are for grinding food.

26. What kind of things could you eat with no teeth?

Without any teeth, I would only be able to eat: * Soft foods like curd, custard, and kheer * Mashed vegetables and fruits * Smooth soups and juices * Soft khichdi or porridge * Ice cream and puddings This shows how teeth are essential for eating a varied, healthy diet.

27. Draw a picture – how would you look without teeth?

When I draw myself without teeth, I notice several changes: * My cheeks would look sunken * My lips would fold inward * My smile would look very different * My face shape would change This helps me understand how teeth not only help us eat but also maintain our facial structure.

28. Find out from old people who don’t have teeth – what things can they not eat?

After talking to my grandmother who has few teeth, I learned that she cannot eat: * Hard fruits like raw apples and guavas * Nuts and hard snacks * Tough meats * Crusty bread or hard rotis * Raw vegetables like carrots * Corn on the cob This shows how important it is to take care of our teeth.

Art/Activity Based Questions

29. Make a nest using different materials

To make my own bird’s nest, I used: * Small twigs collected from the garden * Dry grass and leaves * Cotton wool and thread pieces * Paper strips * A small paper bird made with colored paper Steps I followed: 1. Arranged twigs in a circular base 2. Wove grass and leaves between the twigs 3. Added soft materials like cotton inside 4. Placed the paper bird in the nest This activity helped me understand how skillfully birds build their nests.

Group Activity Questions

30. Group Chart Making Activity

In our class activity, we divided into three groups: Group 1 (Land Animals): * Drew and colored animals like dogs, cats, cows * Created a green background with grass and trees * Added details like mountains and paths Group 2 (Water Animals): * Drew fish, crabs, and dolphins * Made a blue background for water * Added water plants and stones Group 3 (Tree Animals): * Drew monkeys, squirrels, and birds * Created a large tree with many branches * Added details like nests and fruits This activity helped us understand different animal habitats.

Drawing Activity

31. Draw and label a bird commonly seen in your area

I chose to draw a sparrow, labeling these parts: * Beak – for picking up food and nest materials * Wings – for flying and balance * Tail – for steering while flying * Feet – for perching and walking * Eyes – for spotting food and danger * Feathers – for flying and keeping warm Through this drawing, I learned about the different body parts of birds and their functions.