Page 161 - Innovator's Science-8

forests shrink and dry up, making them less capable of supporting the
animals that live there. Elephants, which are naturally suited to forest life,

struggle to survive when their environment changes too quickly To help
animals move safely between forested regions, wildlife experts have
identified and marked specific routes known as corridors. These corridors
connect different parts of the forest, allowing animals like elephants to

travel without entering human settlements and creating conflict.
This series of events shows how closely all parts of nature are linked. To
Elephants passing
through freely a understand how nature maintains its balance, it is essential to study the
forest corridor
different components of our environment.

HOW DO WE EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTAND OUR SURROUNDINGS?

You learnt that different habitats support various kinds of plants and animals.
A habitat is a place where a living organism resides. It can be as small as the
bark of a tree or as large as a forest. In every habitat, the plants and animals
depend on and adjust to one another and their surroundings to survive.

A habitat
Let us explore two nearby habitats and observe both the living things (plants
and animals) and non-living things (like air, water, and soil) present in each.

Activity-1 Aim: To observe two different habitats and iden fy the living (plants and animals)
and non-living (air, water, soil, etc) components present in each, to understand
Experiential Learning
how they support each other.
(Do this ac vity in groups, with the guidance of your teacher.)
• Choose any two nearby habitats. These could be a pond, a forest, an agricultural
field, or even a large tree like a banyan, mango, or pilkhan (white fig).
• Observe and list the living beings and non-living things in each habitat.

• Record your observa ons in a table like the one below.
Table 1: Components of Two Habitats

Habitat Living Beings Non-living Things
Pond Fish, frogs, _____________ Water, ____________
Forest Birds, grass, ______________ Air, _____________

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