Helpful Animals Chapter Notes | Science Class 2 ICSE PDF Download

Introduction

Animals play a big role in our lives by helping us in many ways. Some animals live with us on farms or at home and are called domestic animals. They provide us with food, clothing, and other useful things. This chapter explains how animals like cows, goats, and bees help us, and why we should take care of them.

Domestic Animals

• Animals tamed by humans are called domestic animals.
• They are kept on farms or in backyards of homes.
• Examples include buffaloes, cows, donkeys, goats, camels, and horses.

Animals Give Us Food

Milk:

• Cows, goats, and buffaloes provide milk.
• Milk is used to make curd, butter, khoya, ghee, cream, paneer, and cheese.
• Milk is added to tea, coffee, and shakes.
• Drinking milk every day is good for health.

Eggs:

• Hens, geese, and ducks give us eggs.
• Eggs are healthy and can be eaten boiled, scrambled, poached, or as omelettes.
• Eggs are used in making cakes and pastries.

Meat:

• Some people eat the meat of goats, sheep, fish, crabs, and prawns.
• Meat from sea animals like fish, crabs, and prawns is called seafood.
• People who eat meat are called non-vegetarians.

Honey: 

• Bees provide honey and wax from beehives.

Animals Give Us Clothing

• Wool: Wool is the hair that grows on the body of sheep. It is used to make woollen clothes that we wear in winter. We also get wool from yak and rabbit. 
• Silk: We get silk from silkworms. It is a fine, soft fibre that is used to make silk cloth. 
• Leather: We make leather from the skin of some dead animals like snake and kangaroo. Leather is used to make wallets, jackets, shoes, bags, belts, etc. 

Animals Help Us in Agriculture (Growing Plants)

• Role of Oxen: Animals like oxen are used to assist in farming activities.
• Drawing Water: Oxen help draw water from wells, which is essential for irrigating crops and ensuring plants get enough water to grow.
• Working in Fields: Oxen are also used to work in the fields, such as pulling plows to prepare the soil for planting. This makes it easier for farmers to cultivate crops.

Animals Give Us Manure and Fuel

• The dung of animals like cows, buffaloes, horses and camels is used as manure (food for plants).
• Dried dung is used as fuel.

Animals as Means of Transport

• Animals like horses, camels, mules, ponies, and elephants carry loads or people.
• These animals are called beasts of burden.
• Camels are known as the "ship of the desert" because they can travel long distances without food or water.

Other Things from Animals

• Feathers from birds are used to fill pillows.
• Horns and hooves of animals are used to make various items.

Pet Animals

• Some animals like cats, dogs, and parrots are kept as pets at home.
• Pets are friendly; dogs guard homes, and parrots provide company.
• We should take good care of pets and be kind to them.