NCERT Textbook - A Busy Month | EVS for Class 4 PDF Download

 Page 1


Balmandir
Bhavnagar, 13 April, 1936
Dear Children,
It is 3 o’clock in the afternoon. There are no
clouds in the sky. The sun is burning hot.
The sparrows, doves and sunbirds have
started working in pairs as they prepare to
make their nests. Some of the birds have
already made their nests. In some of the
nests, the eggs have hatched. The parent
birds are busy feeding the chicks with different kinds of insects
and other things.
In our courtyard also, there is a baby dove. There is another
egg in the nest but it has not hatched yet.
Dove
For the teacher: Gijubhai Badheka lived in Gujarat. He wrote many stories for
children. In this letter you will read about some of the birds that you see all
around. After reading this letter children should be encouraged to observe birds
around them. Discuss about them in your class.
2024-25
Page 2


Balmandir
Bhavnagar, 13 April, 1936
Dear Children,
It is 3 o’clock in the afternoon. There are no
clouds in the sky. The sun is burning hot.
The sparrows, doves and sunbirds have
started working in pairs as they prepare to
make their nests. Some of the birds have
already made their nests. In some of the
nests, the eggs have hatched. The parent
birds are busy feeding the chicks with different kinds of insects
and other things.
In our courtyard also, there is a baby dove. There is another
egg in the nest but it has not hatched yet.
Dove
For the teacher: Gijubhai Badheka lived in Gujarat. He wrote many stories for
children. In this letter you will read about some of the birds that you see all
around. After reading this letter children should be encouraged to observe birds
around them. Discuss about them in your class.
2024-25
Looking Around
128
On the way to Gopalbhai’s house, there
are many stones along the roadside. In
the space between these stones, an
Indian Robin has laid its eggs. Bachubhai
showed it to me. I looked through the
binoculars. I saw that the nest was made
of grass. On top there were soft twigs, roots,
wool, hair and cottonwool. This is how the
robin makes its nest. What a soft and
cozy home for its chicks! The robin is
not like the crow. A crow’s nest is made
of all kinds of things – even pieces of
wire and wood.
I saw a baby bird in the robin’s nest.
It was sitting with its beak wide open.
The mouth was red from inside. In a little while the robin flew
to the nest and put something in the chick’s open beak – may
be a few small insects. By then it was evening. The robin settled
down with its chick.
You know that the Koel sings sweetly. Do you know
that this bird does not make its own nest? It lays its
eggs in a crow’s nest. The crow hatches them along
with its own eggs.
There is a small tree nearby. It has a nest
hanging from its branch. Birds are so
wonderfully different. The crow  builds its nest
high up on a tree. The dove makes its nest
among the thorns of a cactus plant or a
mehendi hedge. The sparrow can be found in
and around our own house. It makes its nest
Koel
Barbet
Indian Robin
Crow
2024-25
Page 3


Balmandir
Bhavnagar, 13 April, 1936
Dear Children,
It is 3 o’clock in the afternoon. There are no
clouds in the sky. The sun is burning hot.
The sparrows, doves and sunbirds have
started working in pairs as they prepare to
make their nests. Some of the birds have
already made their nests. In some of the
nests, the eggs have hatched. The parent
birds are busy feeding the chicks with different kinds of insects
and other things.
In our courtyard also, there is a baby dove. There is another
egg in the nest but it has not hatched yet.
Dove
For the teacher: Gijubhai Badheka lived in Gujarat. He wrote many stories for
children. In this letter you will read about some of the birds that you see all
around. After reading this letter children should be encouraged to observe birds
around them. Discuss about them in your class.
2024-25
Looking Around
128
On the way to Gopalbhai’s house, there
are many stones along the roadside. In
the space between these stones, an
Indian Robin has laid its eggs. Bachubhai
showed it to me. I looked through the
binoculars. I saw that the nest was made
of grass. On top there were soft twigs, roots,
wool, hair and cottonwool. This is how the
robin makes its nest. What a soft and
cozy home for its chicks! The robin is
not like the crow. A crow’s nest is made
of all kinds of things – even pieces of
wire and wood.
I saw a baby bird in the robin’s nest.
It was sitting with its beak wide open.
The mouth was red from inside. In a little while the robin flew
to the nest and put something in the chick’s open beak – may
be a few small insects. By then it was evening. The robin settled
down with its chick.
You know that the Koel sings sweetly. Do you know
that this bird does not make its own nest? It lays its
eggs in a crow’s nest. The crow hatches them along
with its own eggs.
There is a small tree nearby. It has a nest
hanging from its branch. Birds are so
wonderfully different. The crow  builds its nest
high up on a tree. The dove makes its nest
among the thorns of a cactus plant or a
mehendi hedge. The sparrow can be found in
and around our own house. It makes its nest
Koel
Barbet
Indian Robin
Crow
2024-25
A Busy Month
129
anywhere – on top of a cupboard, behind
a mirror, on a ledge. Pigeons also make
their nest like this. Often they make
nests in old or deserted buildings. The
barbet or coppersmith bird can be heard
in the summer with its ‘tuk, tuk, tuk’
call. It makes its nest
in a hole, in a tree
trunk. And the tailor
bird uses its sharp
beak to stitch together two leaves on a bush.
It lays its eggs in the fold of the leaf that it
has made. This is its nest.
The sunbird makes
a nest that hangs from
the branch of a small tree or a bush. The
same evening, we saw a sunbird’s nest. Can
you guess what its nest is made of ? The
nest has hair, grass, thin twigs, dry leaves,
cottonwool, bits of tree bark, pieces of cloth
rags and even spider’s cobwebs.
When I looked through the binoculars,
I could see a chick in the nest. It was sitting
near the small opening in the nest. It was
waiting for its mother to bring some food.
What else can it do – just eat and sleep!
Do you know about the weaver bird? The male weaver bird make
beautifully woven nests. The female looks at all the nests and chooses
the one that she likes the best and decides in which to lay her eggs.
Tailor bird
Sunbird
Weaverbird
Nest
2024-25
Page 4


Balmandir
Bhavnagar, 13 April, 1936
Dear Children,
It is 3 o’clock in the afternoon. There are no
clouds in the sky. The sun is burning hot.
The sparrows, doves and sunbirds have
started working in pairs as they prepare to
make their nests. Some of the birds have
already made their nests. In some of the
nests, the eggs have hatched. The parent
birds are busy feeding the chicks with different kinds of insects
and other things.
In our courtyard also, there is a baby dove. There is another
egg in the nest but it has not hatched yet.
Dove
For the teacher: Gijubhai Badheka lived in Gujarat. He wrote many stories for
children. In this letter you will read about some of the birds that you see all
around. After reading this letter children should be encouraged to observe birds
around them. Discuss about them in your class.
2024-25
Looking Around
128
On the way to Gopalbhai’s house, there
are many stones along the roadside. In
the space between these stones, an
Indian Robin has laid its eggs. Bachubhai
showed it to me. I looked through the
binoculars. I saw that the nest was made
of grass. On top there were soft twigs, roots,
wool, hair and cottonwool. This is how the
robin makes its nest. What a soft and
cozy home for its chicks! The robin is
not like the crow. A crow’s nest is made
of all kinds of things – even pieces of
wire and wood.
I saw a baby bird in the robin’s nest.
It was sitting with its beak wide open.
The mouth was red from inside. In a little while the robin flew
to the nest and put something in the chick’s open beak – may
be a few small insects. By then it was evening. The robin settled
down with its chick.
You know that the Koel sings sweetly. Do you know
that this bird does not make its own nest? It lays its
eggs in a crow’s nest. The crow hatches them along
with its own eggs.
There is a small tree nearby. It has a nest
hanging from its branch. Birds are so
wonderfully different. The crow  builds its nest
high up on a tree. The dove makes its nest
among the thorns of a cactus plant or a
mehendi hedge. The sparrow can be found in
and around our own house. It makes its nest
Koel
Barbet
Indian Robin
Crow
2024-25
A Busy Month
129
anywhere – on top of a cupboard, behind
a mirror, on a ledge. Pigeons also make
their nest like this. Often they make
nests in old or deserted buildings. The
barbet or coppersmith bird can be heard
in the summer with its ‘tuk, tuk, tuk’
call. It makes its nest
in a hole, in a tree
trunk. And the tailor
bird uses its sharp
beak to stitch together two leaves on a bush.
It lays its eggs in the fold of the leaf that it
has made. This is its nest.
The sunbird makes
a nest that hangs from
the branch of a small tree or a bush. The
same evening, we saw a sunbird’s nest. Can
you guess what its nest is made of ? The
nest has hair, grass, thin twigs, dry leaves,
cottonwool, bits of tree bark, pieces of cloth
rags and even spider’s cobwebs.
When I looked through the binoculars,
I could see a chick in the nest. It was sitting
near the small opening in the nest. It was
waiting for its mother to bring some food.
What else can it do – just eat and sleep!
Do you know about the weaver bird? The male weaver bird make
beautifully woven nests. The female looks at all the nests and chooses
the one that she likes the best and decides in which to lay her eggs.
Tailor bird
Sunbird
Weaverbird
Nest
2024-25
Looking Around
130
All the birds are so busy these days. Making a nest and laying
the eggs is only the first step. It is a difficult task to raise the young
ones in the nest which had been made with so much effort.
Birds have many enemies – humans and other animals too.
Crows and squirrels, cats and rats – all of them wait for a chance
to steal the eggs. Many times they even break the nest.
To keep oneself safe from danger, to find food, make a nest,
hatch the eggs and raise the chicks safely – all these are tests for
every bird.
And see – how the birds still sing with joy and spread their
wings and fly freely.
So that is all for now, Salaam
Blessings from your
Gijubhai
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö How many years ago did Gijubhai write this letter?
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö Find out how old your grandfather and grandmother were at
that time.
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö This letter talks about many different birds. How many of
these birds have you seen?
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö How many other birds have you seen? Which ones?
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö Have you seen a bird’s nest? Where did you see it?
2024-25
Page 5


Balmandir
Bhavnagar, 13 April, 1936
Dear Children,
It is 3 o’clock in the afternoon. There are no
clouds in the sky. The sun is burning hot.
The sparrows, doves and sunbirds have
started working in pairs as they prepare to
make their nests. Some of the birds have
already made their nests. In some of the
nests, the eggs have hatched. The parent
birds are busy feeding the chicks with different kinds of insects
and other things.
In our courtyard also, there is a baby dove. There is another
egg in the nest but it has not hatched yet.
Dove
For the teacher: Gijubhai Badheka lived in Gujarat. He wrote many stories for
children. In this letter you will read about some of the birds that you see all
around. After reading this letter children should be encouraged to observe birds
around them. Discuss about them in your class.
2024-25
Looking Around
128
On the way to Gopalbhai’s house, there
are many stones along the roadside. In
the space between these stones, an
Indian Robin has laid its eggs. Bachubhai
showed it to me. I looked through the
binoculars. I saw that the nest was made
of grass. On top there were soft twigs, roots,
wool, hair and cottonwool. This is how the
robin makes its nest. What a soft and
cozy home for its chicks! The robin is
not like the crow. A crow’s nest is made
of all kinds of things – even pieces of
wire and wood.
I saw a baby bird in the robin’s nest.
It was sitting with its beak wide open.
The mouth was red from inside. In a little while the robin flew
to the nest and put something in the chick’s open beak – may
be a few small insects. By then it was evening. The robin settled
down with its chick.
You know that the Koel sings sweetly. Do you know
that this bird does not make its own nest? It lays its
eggs in a crow’s nest. The crow hatches them along
with its own eggs.
There is a small tree nearby. It has a nest
hanging from its branch. Birds are so
wonderfully different. The crow  builds its nest
high up on a tree. The dove makes its nest
among the thorns of a cactus plant or a
mehendi hedge. The sparrow can be found in
and around our own house. It makes its nest
Koel
Barbet
Indian Robin
Crow
2024-25
A Busy Month
129
anywhere – on top of a cupboard, behind
a mirror, on a ledge. Pigeons also make
their nest like this. Often they make
nests in old or deserted buildings. The
barbet or coppersmith bird can be heard
in the summer with its ‘tuk, tuk, tuk’
call. It makes its nest
in a hole, in a tree
trunk. And the tailor
bird uses its sharp
beak to stitch together two leaves on a bush.
It lays its eggs in the fold of the leaf that it
has made. This is its nest.
The sunbird makes
a nest that hangs from
the branch of a small tree or a bush. The
same evening, we saw a sunbird’s nest. Can
you guess what its nest is made of ? The
nest has hair, grass, thin twigs, dry leaves,
cottonwool, bits of tree bark, pieces of cloth
rags and even spider’s cobwebs.
When I looked through the binoculars,
I could see a chick in the nest. It was sitting
near the small opening in the nest. It was
waiting for its mother to bring some food.
What else can it do – just eat and sleep!
Do you know about the weaver bird? The male weaver bird make
beautifully woven nests. The female looks at all the nests and chooses
the one that she likes the best and decides in which to lay her eggs.
Tailor bird
Sunbird
Weaverbird
Nest
2024-25
Looking Around
130
All the birds are so busy these days. Making a nest and laying
the eggs is only the first step. It is a difficult task to raise the young
ones in the nest which had been made with so much effort.
Birds have many enemies – humans and other animals too.
Crows and squirrels, cats and rats – all of them wait for a chance
to steal the eggs. Many times they even break the nest.
To keep oneself safe from danger, to find food, make a nest,
hatch the eggs and raise the chicks safely – all these are tests for
every bird.
And see – how the birds still sing with joy and spread their
wings and fly freely.
So that is all for now, Salaam
Blessings from your
Gijubhai
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö How many years ago did Gijubhai write this letter?
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö Find out how old your grandfather and grandmother were at
that time.
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö This letter talks about many different birds. How many of
these birds have you seen?
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö How many other birds have you seen? Which ones?
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö Have you seen a bird’s nest? Where did you see it?
2024-25
A Busy Month
131
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö Which is your favourite bird? Can you show your friends in
the class how it flies, and what sound it makes?
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö Guess what this bird is –
‘A crown on the head and coins on the tail,
So many shades of blue from top to tail.’
Clue: It is our national bird.
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö Do you know of any other bird that makes its nest in a tree
trunk like the barbet does?
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö If there is a nest inside or around your house, look carefully
at it. Remember, do not go too near the nest, and do not
touch it. If you do, then the bird will not come to the nest
again.
Observe the nest for some days and note down the
following things:
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö Where is the nest made?
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö What is the nest made of?
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö Is the nest ready  or are the birds
still making it?
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö Can you recognise which bird has made the nest?
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö What things does the bird bring to the nest?
Ö Ö Ö Ö Ö Is there any bird sitting in the nest?
2024-25