Every bird has its own chirp. From grass to hibiscus, crows to camels, life around us comes in endless variety.
Key idea
The Variety of Life
1
Biodiversity
The variety of plants and animals found in a particular region is called its biodiversity. Every member plays a role — trees give birds food and shelter, animals help spread seeds.
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2
Grouping (classification)
Arranging living things based on shared similarities and differences is called grouping. Different people may pick different features — height, colour, habitat — so groupings can vary.
Key idea
Herbs, Shrubs and Trees
| Height | Stem | Branches arise | Example
HerbSmall — Soft, green — Near the ground — Tomato
ShrubMedium — Hard, thin, woody — Close to the ground — Rose
TreeTall — Hard, thick, woody — High up — Mango
Also worth knowingClimbers need support to climb upward; creepers spread along the ground instead of standing upright.
Key idea
Reticulate vs Parallel Venation
Venation is the pattern of veins running through a leaf.
Reticulate venation
net-like pattern (e.g. hibiscus)
Parallel venation
veins run side by side (e.g. banana, grass)
Key idea
Taproot vs Fibrous Root
Generally, plants with reticulate venation have taproots, and plants with parallel venation have fibrous roots.
Taprootone thick main root with smaller side roots (e.g. mustard)
Fibrous roota bunch of thin, similar-sized roots (e.g. grass)
Key idea
Dicot and Monocot Plants
| Cotyledons | Leaf venation | Root type | Example
Dicot
Two — Reticulate — Taproot — Chickpea, mango
Monocot
One — Parallel — Fibrous — Maize, wheat
Cotyledon
The seed-leaf part inside a seed. Seeds like chickpea split into two parts (two cotyledons — dicot); seeds like maize have just one cotyledon (monocot).
Key idea
Movement and Body Parts
Animal | Movement | Body part used
AntCrawling — Six legs
PigeonWalking & flying — Legs and wings
FishSwimming — Fins
GoatWalking — Legs
Body matches habitatFish have streamlined bodies and fins built for water; goats have legs built for walking on land.
Key idea
Habitats: Land, Water and Both
1
Terrestrial
Living on land — forests, deserts, grasslands, mountains. Example: camel, rhododendron.
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2
Aquatic
Living in water — ponds, lakes, rivers, oceans. Example: sea turtle, fish.
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3
Amphibians
Living both on land and in water. Example: frogs.
Key idea
Adaptations: The Camel Example
| Legs | Humps | Hair
Hot-desert camelLong — One — Short
Cold-desert camelShorter — Two — Long
Other examplesDesert plants store water in fleshy stems. The deodar tree's conical shape lets snow slide off instead of piling up.
Key idea
When Habitats Are Lost
Project Tiger (1973)
A major Indian conservation effort to protect tigers and their forest habitat.
Cheetah Reintroduction (2022)
Brought cheetahs back to Indian grasslands after local extinction.
Sacred groves
Forest patches protected by communities for generations — treasures of undisturbed biodiversity.
Chapter · Key terms to remember
Key Terms
Biodiversity
Variety of plants and animals in a region.
Habitat
The place where an organism lives.
Adaptation
A feature that helps survival in a habitat.
Chapter · Key terms to remember
More Key Terms
Taproot
One thick main root with side roots.
Fibrous root
A bunch of thin, similar roots.
Venation
The pattern of veins in a leaf.
Chapter · Key terms to remember
More Key Terms
Dicot / Monocot
Plants with two / one seed cotyledon(s).
Sacred grove
A community-protected forest patch.
Questions for your notebook
Write these down, then discuss
1
Wheat and Kidney beans — what differences do you find among the roots and leaf venation of their plants?
2
Group these animals by habitat — Horse, Dolphin, Frog, Sheep, Crocodile, Squirrel, Whale, Earthworm, Pigeon, Tortoise — into Aquatic, Terrestrial, and Both.
3
Manu's mother was digging out radish from the soil and said radish is a kind of root. What type of root is it, and what venation would you see in its leaves?
Project as-is — students copy the questions, then the class discusses answers together.