A Day With Nandu Class 4 Notes EVS Chapter 3

Nandu Wakes Up

• Nandu woke up after the sun had risen and felt disoriented, thinking he was surrounded by a forest of big grey tree trunks. But it turned out to be his family members, and he smiled at his mother.
• The "forest" he thought he was in was just the legs and trunks of his family.

• As the sun grew hotter, all the elephants felt the heat, and Nandu's grandmother, the oldest in the family, made a trumpet sound and led them into the jungle.
• Everyone followed her, including Nandu. In the jungle, they spread out and each ate their favourite leaves and twigs.
• After eating, they headed to the river. The baby elephants enjoyed playing in the water, but Nandu was scared of it.
• The mother elephants rested in the water and covered themselves in mud.

Fun and Games

• Nandu's cousins were playing by pulling each other's tails. Nandu was too small and scared to join them in the water because he was afraid of falling. But his mother gently nudged him into the water, and soon he started playing like the others.
• While playing with his cousins, a splash of water landed on Nandu's head, making him all wet. He realized his cousins were pouring water on him and joined in the fun.
• Before the sun went down, the elephant herd headed back to the jungle.
• When they reached the forest, Nandu was very tired and snuggled between his mother's front legs, drinking her milk before falling asleep.

New Concepts

1. Elephant Trunk

• The elephant's trunk is an extension of the upper lip and nose.
• It functions for grasping, breathing, feeding, dusting, smelling, drinking, lifting
• Elephant trunks are very powerful-capable of uprooting an entire tree trunk
• Tearing down heavy branches.
• Delivering a forceful blow in self-defense.

2. Herd of Elephant

• A group of elephants is commonly called a herd.
• Herd is led by one female elephant.
• Can range in size from as few as 6 individuals to as many as 100.
• Male elephants tend not to play much of a role in the raising of their young.

3. Forests

Trees which are not planted by humans, but grow naturally in the region is called natural vegetation.
Importance

• Prevents soil erosion.
• Supply oxygen 
• Provides food, fuel etc.
• Shelter to wild animals.

4. Elephant Trumpet

• Loud sound made by elephants.
• Trumpet is produced by pushing air through the trunk.
• Trumpeting elephants may be excited, lost, angry, playful, or surprised.
• Elephants trumpet with panic as they crash through the undergrowth.

Important Points

1. An adult elephant can eat more than 100 kilogram of leaves and twigs in one day.
2. Elephants are the biggest land animals and are different from other animals because of their trunk.
3. They usually move in groups/herds in search of food.
4. They have two tusks along with a trunk which are made of ivory.
5. Hunters (Poachers) kill elephants for their tusks (ivory).
6. The tusks are elongated, continuously growing front teeth of an elephant.
7. The external teeth of the elephant are called tusks.
8. Ivory is used to carve into jewellery and art objects.
9. Animals feel pain and fear like we do, but they are often helpless because they cannot say what happened to them.
10. They are often ill-treated by human beings always for their own selfish needs.
11. Animal cruelty includes many kinds of mistreatment like failing to provide essential care, killing or torturing of an animal.
12. Human beings also sacrifice animals for religious beliefs and superstitions.
13. Horseshoes are things worn by horses to protect their feet (hooves) when they walk –like a shoe
14. Using nails does not hurt the horse if done properly, as the outer part of the hoof cannot sense pain.
15. A place reserved by the government for the conservation of wildlife is called wildlife sanctuary.
16. The oldest female elephant is the leader of the herd.
17. Elephants sleep only for 2-4 hours in a day. They do not rest much.
18. Elephants flap their fan like ears to keep them cool.
19. The elephant herd may have 10 to 12 female elephants and young ones.
20. Male elephants live in the herd till they are 14-15 years old.
21. Elephants and their babies love to play in mud and water.
22. The grey forest Nandu imagined he was in was actually the legs and trunks of his family members.
23. Nani ma trumpeted.
24. Nani ma is the oldest in the herd.
25. Nandu saw his brothers and sisters pulling each other’s tails.
26. Nandu did not go near them as he was small and he was worried they will fall on him.
27. Amma gently pushed Nandu towards the water, telling him to go and play.
28. Fountain of water fell on Nandu’s head.
29. Nandu settled between his mother’s front legs and fell asleep as he drank her milk.