Water — A Precious Gift — Class 3 EVS (CBSE)
From the current NCERT Our Wondrous World Grade 3 book, Unit 3: Gifts of Nature, Chapter 7. Water is one of nature's greatest gifts — let us learn to value and save it.
1. Why this chapter matters
We cannot live without water. Learning where water comes from, how we use it, and how to save it helps children treat water as the precious gift it is and become responsible about it.
2. Key ideas
- Sources of water: rain, rivers, lakes, ponds, wells, hand pumps, and taps.
- Uses of water: drinking, cooking, bathing, washing, cleaning, and giving to plants and animals.
- All living things — people, plants, and animals — need water to live.
- Water is precious and limited, so we must not waste it.
- We should save water (close taps, reuse water) and keep it clean and safe.
3. Let's understand
Water comes to us from many sources. Rain fills our rivers, lakes, and ponds; we also get water from wells, hand pumps, and taps at home.
We use water all day — to drink, cook, bathe, wash clothes and dishes, and clean our homes. Farmers use it for crops, and animals drink it too. In fact, no living thing can survive without water.
But clean water is limited, so we must use it carefully. We can save water by closing taps tightly, mending leaks, and reusing water (for example, using leftover water for plants). We should also keep water clean by not throwing waste into rivers and ponds. Water is a precious gift — let us never waste it.
4. New words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| source | the place where something comes from |
| well | a deep hole dug to reach underground water |
| precious | very valuable and important |
| waste | to use carelessly or throw away |
| reuse | to use again instead of throwing away |
5. Activity corner
Keep a "water diary" for one day. Write:
- Three ways your family used water
- One place you saw water being wasted
- One way you can save water at home
6. Common mistakes
- Mistake: Thinking water will never run out. Fix: Clean water is limited, so we must not waste it.
- Mistake: Leaving taps running. Fix: Close taps tightly and mend leaks to save water.
- Mistake: Throwing waste into ponds and rivers. Fix: Keep water clean so it is safe for people, plants, and animals.
7. Let Us Think
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Name four sources of water. Rain, rivers, lakes, ponds (also wells, hand pumps, taps).
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Write three uses of water. Drinking, cooking, and bathing (also washing and cleaning).
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Why is water called a precious gift? Because all living things need it and clean water is limited.
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Write two ways to save water. Close taps tightly and reuse water (for example, for plants).
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How can we keep water clean? By not throwing waste into rivers, ponds, and other water sources.
8. Answer key
- Rain, rivers, lakes, ponds.
- Drinking, cooking, bathing.
- Because every living thing needs it and clean water is limited.
- Close taps; reuse water.
- By not putting waste into water sources.
9. Quick revision
- Sources of water: rain, rivers, lakes, ponds, wells, taps.
- Uses: drinking, cooking, bathing, washing, cleaning, plants, animals.
- All living things need water.
- Water is precious and limited — do not waste it.
- Save water and keep it clean.
Unit 3: Gifts of Nature
This chapter is part of Unit 3: Gifts of Nature. The three chapters in this unit are:
- Chapter 7: Water — A Precious Gift
- Chapter 8: Food We Eat
- Chapter 9: Staying Healthy and Happy
