Class 4 EVS NCERT Book Chapter 7 How Things Work

 Page 1


Unit 4
About the Unit
This unit familiarises students with 
various things around them, how 
different things work and also how 
those things are made.
Students observe and test how 
things work by engaging with easily 
available toys, such as spinners and 
paper boats. They try out different 
possibilities with these toys and study 
how things work. They also test out 
which things sink or float by putting 
different things in the water.  
Other than how things work, 
students will also learn about how 
different things are made. They will 
also learn how to prepare handmade 
paper and gradually learn how papers 
are made in large scale through 
machines. This unit gives them a 
chance to understand the properties 
of paper and the making of coloured 
papers too. In the process, students 
will learn sustainable practices 
through 5Rs of waste management 
and get ready to take responsible 
decisions. By experimenting with both 
traditional and modern paper-making 
techniques, they will develop a deeper 
appreciation for the materials we uses 
in everyday life and their connection 
to our environment.
Things Around Us
Chapter 7.indd   102 Chapter 7.indd   102 30-03-2025   09:50:25 30-03-2025   09:50:25
Page 2


Unit 4
About the Unit
This unit familiarises students with 
various things around them, how 
different things work and also how 
those things are made.
Students observe and test how 
things work by engaging with easily 
available toys, such as spinners and 
paper boats. They try out different 
possibilities with these toys and study 
how things work. They also test out 
which things sink or float by putting 
different things in the water.  
Other than how things work, 
students will also learn about how 
different things are made. They will 
also learn how to prepare handmade 
paper and gradually learn how papers 
are made in large scale through 
machines. This unit gives them a 
chance to understand the properties 
of paper and the making of coloured 
papers too. In the process, students 
will learn sustainable practices 
through 5Rs of waste management 
and get ready to take responsible 
decisions. By experimenting with both 
traditional and modern paper-making 
techniques, they will develop a deeper 
appreciation for the materials we uses 
in everyday life and their connection 
to our environment.
Things Around Us
Chapter 7.indd   102 Chapter 7.indd   102 30-03-2025   09:50:25 30-03-2025   09:50:25
 
 Teacher to Facilitate
• Arrange objects, such as 
coins, bangles, wooden 
spinners, leaves, and stones 
for activities including 
spinning, floating and 
sinking. Keep cardboard, 
toothpicks and adhesive 
ready for students to 
undertake these hands-on 
activities.
• Organise group activities 
like making and testing 
spinners, predicting 
and observing floating 
and sinking objects, 
and designing boats 
with different materials. 
Encourage students to 
record these observations.
• Arrange needed materials 
for the floating and sinking 
activities. Encourage 
students to note predictions 
and results. Guide them 
to think critically about 
different shape and 
materials, etc. 
• Organise an exhibition 
where students will be able 
to display their handmade 
boats and share their 
findings.
Note to the Teacher
This unit consists of Chapter 7 — How Things 
Work and Chapter 8 — How Things are Made. The 
key concepts covered in these chapters are listed 
below.
Chapter 7
 • ‘How Things Work’ nurtures student’s 
natural curiosity to try out and observe 
common phenomena around them, 
including spinning, floating and sinking. 
Through hands-on activities with toys, 
papers and other materials used in  
day-to-day life, they will discover the 
patterns, and develop a sense of wonder 
about how things work. 
 • The simple experiments will enable students 
to observe what happens and how things 
work in different situations. In this process, 
they will discover various common patterns 
which gives them new learning about the 
materials. These new discoveries will raise 
their interest and curiosity in things further, 
and it also encourages them to know how 
things work.
Chapter 8
 • ‘How Things are Made’ provides space to 
students to make something with their own 
hands, using locally available material. 
They will learn how to prepare paper pulp 
and make handmade paper out of this. 
They will also learn how paper is made.   
 • By making recycled paper, they will 
discover the beauty of sustainability and 
innovation. They will also learn the 5Rs of 
waste management which are essential in 
today’s world. 
Chapter 7.indd   103 Chapter 7.indd   103 30-03-2025   09:50:25 30-03-2025   09:50:25
Page 3


Unit 4
About the Unit
This unit familiarises students with 
various things around them, how 
different things work and also how 
those things are made.
Students observe and test how 
things work by engaging with easily 
available toys, such as spinners and 
paper boats. They try out different 
possibilities with these toys and study 
how things work. They also test out 
which things sink or float by putting 
different things in the water.  
Other than how things work, 
students will also learn about how 
different things are made. They will 
also learn how to prepare handmade 
paper and gradually learn how papers 
are made in large scale through 
machines. This unit gives them a 
chance to understand the properties 
of paper and the making of coloured 
papers too. In the process, students 
will learn sustainable practices 
through 5Rs of waste management 
and get ready to take responsible 
decisions. By experimenting with both 
traditional and modern paper-making 
techniques, they will develop a deeper 
appreciation for the materials we uses 
in everyday life and their connection 
to our environment.
Things Around Us
Chapter 7.indd   102 Chapter 7.indd   102 30-03-2025   09:50:25 30-03-2025   09:50:25
 
 Teacher to Facilitate
• Arrange objects, such as 
coins, bangles, wooden 
spinners, leaves, and stones 
for activities including 
spinning, floating and 
sinking. Keep cardboard, 
toothpicks and adhesive 
ready for students to 
undertake these hands-on 
activities.
• Organise group activities 
like making and testing 
spinners, predicting 
and observing floating 
and sinking objects, 
and designing boats 
with different materials. 
Encourage students to 
record these observations.
• Arrange needed materials 
for the floating and sinking 
activities. Encourage 
students to note predictions 
and results. Guide them 
to think critically about 
different shape and 
materials, etc. 
• Organise an exhibition 
where students will be able 
to display their handmade 
boats and share their 
findings.
Note to the Teacher
This unit consists of Chapter 7 — How Things 
Work and Chapter 8 — How Things are Made. The 
key concepts covered in these chapters are listed 
below.
Chapter 7
 • ‘How Things Work’ nurtures student’s 
natural curiosity to try out and observe 
common phenomena around them, 
including spinning, floating and sinking. 
Through hands-on activities with toys, 
papers and other materials used in  
day-to-day life, they will discover the 
patterns, and develop a sense of wonder 
about how things work. 
 • The simple experiments will enable students 
to observe what happens and how things 
work in different situations. In this process, 
they will discover various common patterns 
which gives them new learning about the 
materials. These new discoveries will raise 
their interest and curiosity in things further, 
and it also encourages them to know how 
things work.
Chapter 8
 • ‘How Things are Made’ provides space to 
students to make something with their own 
hands, using locally available material. 
They will learn how to prepare paper pulp 
and make handmade paper out of this. 
They will also learn how paper is made.   
 • By making recycled paper, they will 
discover the beauty of sustainability and 
innovation. They will also learn the 5Rs of 
waste management which are essential in 
today’s world. 
Chapter 7.indd   103 Chapter 7.indd   103 30-03-2025   09:50:25 30-03-2025   09:50:25
Every day, we see and use different things around 
us, like the books we read and the toys we play with. 
Some of these things help us work. We use a pencil 
for writing, a bag to carry books, and so on. 
Have you ever wondered how these things work? 
Do they always work the same way in all situations? 
What changes might be needed to make them work 
even better? Let us explore and find out how different 
things around us work. 
Meera and Dhruv love exploring how things work. 
Every weekend, they discover something new to 
explore. That Sunday was no different. Meera 
spun a coin and observed curiously. “Watch this!”, 
she said.
How Things How Things 
Work Work
Note to the Teacher
Ask the students to spin a coin and observe.
7
Chapter 7.indd   104 Chapter 7.indd   104 30-03-2025   09:50:26 30-03-2025   09:50:26
Page 4


Unit 4
About the Unit
This unit familiarises students with 
various things around them, how 
different things work and also how 
those things are made.
Students observe and test how 
things work by engaging with easily 
available toys, such as spinners and 
paper boats. They try out different 
possibilities with these toys and study 
how things work. They also test out 
which things sink or float by putting 
different things in the water.  
Other than how things work, 
students will also learn about how 
different things are made. They will 
also learn how to prepare handmade 
paper and gradually learn how papers 
are made in large scale through 
machines. This unit gives them a 
chance to understand the properties 
of paper and the making of coloured 
papers too. In the process, students 
will learn sustainable practices 
through 5Rs of waste management 
and get ready to take responsible 
decisions. By experimenting with both 
traditional and modern paper-making 
techniques, they will develop a deeper 
appreciation for the materials we uses 
in everyday life and their connection 
to our environment.
Things Around Us
Chapter 7.indd   102 Chapter 7.indd   102 30-03-2025   09:50:25 30-03-2025   09:50:25
 
 Teacher to Facilitate
• Arrange objects, such as 
coins, bangles, wooden 
spinners, leaves, and stones 
for activities including 
spinning, floating and 
sinking. Keep cardboard, 
toothpicks and adhesive 
ready for students to 
undertake these hands-on 
activities.
• Organise group activities 
like making and testing 
spinners, predicting 
and observing floating 
and sinking objects, 
and designing boats 
with different materials. 
Encourage students to 
record these observations.
• Arrange needed materials 
for the floating and sinking 
activities. Encourage 
students to note predictions 
and results. Guide them 
to think critically about 
different shape and 
materials, etc. 
• Organise an exhibition 
where students will be able 
to display their handmade 
boats and share their 
findings.
Note to the Teacher
This unit consists of Chapter 7 — How Things 
Work and Chapter 8 — How Things are Made. The 
key concepts covered in these chapters are listed 
below.
Chapter 7
 • ‘How Things Work’ nurtures student’s 
natural curiosity to try out and observe 
common phenomena around them, 
including spinning, floating and sinking. 
Through hands-on activities with toys, 
papers and other materials used in  
day-to-day life, they will discover the 
patterns, and develop a sense of wonder 
about how things work. 
 • The simple experiments will enable students 
to observe what happens and how things 
work in different situations. In this process, 
they will discover various common patterns 
which gives them new learning about the 
materials. These new discoveries will raise 
their interest and curiosity in things further, 
and it also encourages them to know how 
things work.
Chapter 8
 • ‘How Things are Made’ provides space to 
students to make something with their own 
hands, using locally available material. 
They will learn how to prepare paper pulp 
and make handmade paper out of this. 
They will also learn how paper is made.   
 • By making recycled paper, they will 
discover the beauty of sustainability and 
innovation. They will also learn the 5Rs of 
waste management which are essential in 
today’s world. 
Chapter 7.indd   103 Chapter 7.indd   103 30-03-2025   09:50:25 30-03-2025   09:50:25
Every day, we see and use different things around 
us, like the books we read and the toys we play with. 
Some of these things help us work. We use a pencil 
for writing, a bag to carry books, and so on. 
Have you ever wondered how these things work? 
Do they always work the same way in all situations? 
What changes might be needed to make them work 
even better? Let us explore and find out how different 
things around us work. 
Meera and Dhruv love exploring how things work. 
Every weekend, they discover something new to 
explore. That Sunday was no different. Meera 
spun a coin and observed curiously. “Watch this!”, 
she said.
How Things How Things 
Work Work
Note to the Teacher
Ask the students to spin a coin and observe.
7
Chapter 7.indd   104 Chapter 7.indd   104 30-03-2025   09:50:26 30-03-2025   09:50:26
105 How Things Work
1. Do you think all objects can spin? Make a list of a 
few objects that can spin.
2. Collect the objects mentioned in the table given 
below. Spin and observe them. Then, complete the 
table.
1
Objects I observe I wonder I think
Coin
As it slows 
down, it 
begins to 
shake
Why does 
it start to 
shake as it 
slows down?
Bangle As time 
passes, the 
sound…
Pencil
Piece of 
Stone
Wooden 
Spinner (Top)
Eraser
Chapter 7.indd   105 Chapter 7.indd   105 30-03-2025   09:50:28 30-03-2025   09:50:28
Page 5


Unit 4
About the Unit
This unit familiarises students with 
various things around them, how 
different things work and also how 
those things are made.
Students observe and test how 
things work by engaging with easily 
available toys, such as spinners and 
paper boats. They try out different 
possibilities with these toys and study 
how things work. They also test out 
which things sink or float by putting 
different things in the water.  
Other than how things work, 
students will also learn about how 
different things are made. They will 
also learn how to prepare handmade 
paper and gradually learn how papers 
are made in large scale through 
machines. This unit gives them a 
chance to understand the properties 
of paper and the making of coloured 
papers too. In the process, students 
will learn sustainable practices 
through 5Rs of waste management 
and get ready to take responsible 
decisions. By experimenting with both 
traditional and modern paper-making 
techniques, they will develop a deeper 
appreciation for the materials we uses 
in everyday life and their connection 
to our environment.
Things Around Us
Chapter 7.indd   102 Chapter 7.indd   102 30-03-2025   09:50:25 30-03-2025   09:50:25
 
 Teacher to Facilitate
• Arrange objects, such as 
coins, bangles, wooden 
spinners, leaves, and stones 
for activities including 
spinning, floating and 
sinking. Keep cardboard, 
toothpicks and adhesive 
ready for students to 
undertake these hands-on 
activities.
• Organise group activities 
like making and testing 
spinners, predicting 
and observing floating 
and sinking objects, 
and designing boats 
with different materials. 
Encourage students to 
record these observations.
• Arrange needed materials 
for the floating and sinking 
activities. Encourage 
students to note predictions 
and results. Guide them 
to think critically about 
different shape and 
materials, etc. 
• Organise an exhibition 
where students will be able 
to display their handmade 
boats and share their 
findings.
Note to the Teacher
This unit consists of Chapter 7 — How Things 
Work and Chapter 8 — How Things are Made. The 
key concepts covered in these chapters are listed 
below.
Chapter 7
 • ‘How Things Work’ nurtures student’s 
natural curiosity to try out and observe 
common phenomena around them, 
including spinning, floating and sinking. 
Through hands-on activities with toys, 
papers and other materials used in  
day-to-day life, they will discover the 
patterns, and develop a sense of wonder 
about how things work. 
 • The simple experiments will enable students 
to observe what happens and how things 
work in different situations. In this process, 
they will discover various common patterns 
which gives them new learning about the 
materials. These new discoveries will raise 
their interest and curiosity in things further, 
and it also encourages them to know how 
things work.
Chapter 8
 • ‘How Things are Made’ provides space to 
students to make something with their own 
hands, using locally available material. 
They will learn how to prepare paper pulp 
and make handmade paper out of this. 
They will also learn how paper is made.   
 • By making recycled paper, they will 
discover the beauty of sustainability and 
innovation. They will also learn the 5Rs of 
waste management which are essential in 
today’s world. 
Chapter 7.indd   103 Chapter 7.indd   103 30-03-2025   09:50:25 30-03-2025   09:50:25
Every day, we see and use different things around 
us, like the books we read and the toys we play with. 
Some of these things help us work. We use a pencil 
for writing, a bag to carry books, and so on. 
Have you ever wondered how these things work? 
Do they always work the same way in all situations? 
What changes might be needed to make them work 
even better? Let us explore and find out how different 
things around us work. 
Meera and Dhruv love exploring how things work. 
Every weekend, they discover something new to 
explore. That Sunday was no different. Meera 
spun a coin and observed curiously. “Watch this!”, 
she said.
How Things How Things 
Work Work
Note to the Teacher
Ask the students to spin a coin and observe.
7
Chapter 7.indd   104 Chapter 7.indd   104 30-03-2025   09:50:26 30-03-2025   09:50:26
105 How Things Work
1. Do you think all objects can spin? Make a list of a 
few objects that can spin.
2. Collect the objects mentioned in the table given 
below. Spin and observe them. Then, complete the 
table.
1
Objects I observe I wonder I think
Coin
As it slows 
down, it 
begins to 
shake
Why does 
it start to 
shake as it 
slows down?
Bangle As time 
passes, the 
sound…
Pencil
Piece of 
Stone
Wooden 
Spinner (Top)
Eraser
Chapter 7.indd   105 Chapter 7.indd   105 30-03-2025   09:50:28 30-03-2025   09:50:28
106 Our Wondrous World
Some objects like coins and bangles spin, while 
some other objects like erasers do not spin properly. 
Meera had a question, “How does a top spin?” 
Let us make some spinners and explore.
Note to the Teacher
It is not expected that students come to correct theoretical 
explanations for questions like “How does a spinner work?”, 
“How does it balance?”, “Why does a spinner begin to shake?”. 
The main idea is to give them the opportunity to think and explore 
playing with spinners, to allow them to give possible explanations. 
Encourage students to collect and spin objects in addition to the 
list of objects given in the table on the following page.
Collect things, such as pieces of 
cardboard, toothpicks, an empty 
tube of a  ballpoint pen, and other 
small objects. Make the following 
spinners. Spin them and record your 
observations. 
2
Chapter 7.indd   106 Chapter 7.indd   106 30-03-2025   09:50:29 30-03-2025   09:50:29