Plants and Animals Around Us

Overview

Plants and animals form the living component of our environment and are essential for human survival. This topic holds significant weightage in CG TET Paper I Environmental Studies section, typically contributing 3-5 questions. It tests your understanding of basic plant and animal life, their interdependence, and conservation measures relevant to the primary classroom.

For CG TET, focus on concepts that a primary school teacher must explain to Classes I-V students. Questions often link this topic to Chhattisgarh's rich biodiversity—its dense forests, tribal communities dependent on forest produce, and conservation efforts in the state. You must know both the scientific concepts and how to make them child-friendly through local examples.

Mastery requires understanding plant parts and their functions, animal classification, food chains, and the importance of conservation. Questions frequently test application—how would you teach a particular concept using the local environment?

Key Concepts

• **Plants as producers**: Plants make their own food through photosynthesis using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. They form the base of all food chains.

• **Parts of a plant and their functions**: Roots absorb water and minerals, stem transports nutrients, leaves prepare food, flowers help in reproduction, fruits contain seeds.

• **Types of plants**: Herbs (tulsi, mint), shrubs (rose, henna), trees (neem, mango), climbers (money plant, grapevine), creepers (watermelon, pumpkin).

• **Animal classification by habitat**: Terrestrial (land), aquatic (water), amphibians (both), arboreal (trees), aerial (flying).

• **Animal classification by food habits**: Herbivores (cow, deer), carnivores (tiger, lion), omnivores (bear, crow).

• **Interdependence of plants and animals**: Plants provide oxygen and food; animals help in pollination and seed dispersal; decomposers recycle nutrients.

• **Food chain concept**: Producer → Primary consumer → Secondary consumer → Tertiary consumer. Example: Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Eagle.

• **Conservation necessity**: Habitat destruction, poaching, and pollution threaten biodiversity. Conservation protects ecological balance.

Key Facts

| Category | Must-Remember Points | |----------|---------------------| | Photosynthesis | Occurs in leaves; chlorophyll gives green colour; produces oxygen as byproduct | | Pollination | Transfer of pollen from anther to stigma; agents include wind, water, insects, birds | | Seed dispersal | By wind (dandelion), water (coconut), animals (berries), explosion (balsam) | | National animal | Tiger; Project Tiger launched in 1973 | | National bird | Peacock | | State animal of CG | Wild buffalo (Van bhainsa) | | State bird of CG | Hill myna (Pahari myna) | | Major forests of CG | Sal and teak forests; cover about 44% of state area | | Wildlife sanctuaries in CG | Indravati National Park, Kanger Valley National Park, Achanakmar Tiger Reserve | | Wildlife Protection Act | Enacted in 1972 to protect wild animals and plants |