Plants and Animals Live Together Class 3 World Around Us Chapter 5 CBSE Notes 2025-26

Plants and animals are often found together in nature. Wherever there are plants, you will usually find many animals living nearby, on, or even inside the soil around those plants. This chapter explores their relationship, showing how animals and plants depend on each other and share a close connection in their habitats.

Animals Living with Plants Many animals can be spotted living together with plants. Some examples include a frog on a leaf, a tailorbird singing, elephants eating grass, squirrels hiding inside tree hollows, and ants building nests with leaves. Caterpillars may be seen eating leaves, butterflies perch on leaves, woodpeckers peck on tree trunks, moths rest on leaves, barbets make nests in tree hollows, and stink bugs settle on leaves. Even earthworms live in and on the soil near plants.

• Frogs resting on green leaves.
• Squirrels and birds use trees for food and shelter.
• Ants build nests with the help of leaves.
• Caterpillars, butterflies, moths, and beetles are seen on or around leaves and flowers.
• Earthworms and insects are found under the soil, especially near plants.

Life in the Soil Soil is not just dirt; it is full of life. If you stand near a plant and look closely at the soil, you might see that it contains small stones, dry or decaying leaves, and a variety of insects. Soil can feel rough, smooth, hard, or grainy. Sometimes, especially after rain, you may find the soil feels more damp, smells different, and even looks darker. These changes help many small creatures survive in the soil.

• Soil is made up of tiny pieces of rocks, old leaves, roots, and the remains of living and dead animals.
• Between grains of soil, insects such as ants, termites, beetles, and grasshoppers move around.
• After rainfall, earthworms and millipedes come out of the soil, and new plants and grasses may grow.

Different types of animals can be found after rain, including bugs on fruits, flying insects, ants on leaves, butterflies on flowers, and even lizards on rocks. Sometimes, new plants and animals appear after monsoon rains as seeds in the soil sprout into plants and insects emerge from underground.

How Animals Use Parts of Plants Animals use plants and their parts in many different ways. Camels eat the leaves of plants as food. Squirrels and crows collect twigs from plants to build their nests. Sunbirds and butterflies drink nectar from the flowers. Some birds such as owls use tree hollows for nesting. Monkeys love to eat the fruits of plants, and tailorbirds stitch leaves together to build their nests.

• Camels graze on plant leaves.
• Birds and squirrels use branches, twigs, and tree hollows to make homes and raise their young.
• Butterflies and sunbirds feed on flower nectar.
• Owls nest in tree hollows for protection.
• Monkeys eat juicy fruits; tailorbirds use leaves as nesting material.

Some branches and leaves serve as food for caterpillars. Animals like bats and leopards rest on tree branches. Many animals make their shelter and homes on or near plants because plants offer food and protection.

Sounds of Birds Birds living near plants make various sounds. If you close your eyes and listen, you might hear bird songs around you. By cupping your ears and facing the direction of the sound, you may hear bird calls even more clearly. Different birds make different kinds of sounds, such as pigeons making "Gutru Gu" noises. Bird sounds are more common in the early morning and evening than in the afternoon.

• Some days, you might not hear any birds if it is hot or windy or if there are no trees around.

Observation, Questions, and Reflection This chapter encourages observation and reflection. You are asked to notice the color, feel, and smell of soil at different times. For example, try comparing the soil before and after it rains for changes in smell, color, or texture. You can also note which animals and insects you see near different plants during various months.

• Describe animals you see near plants: their shape, size, color, and why they might be there.
• Draw a plant and mark with colored dots where you see different animals and insects.

Life Cycle of a Butterfly: Ordering Activity The chapter also includes a small story to help you understand how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. Observe the changes step by step: first, the caterpillar eats leaves. One day, it stops eating, forms a cocoon, and after some time, it comes out of the cocoon as a butterfly and finally flies away gently.

1. Caterpillar eats leaves continuously.
2. One day, it stops eating.
3. It forms a cocoon.
4. It comes out of the cocoon.
5. Now, it is a butterfly and flies away.

Plants and animals co-exist in almost every environment. Observing their interactions helps us understand their needs and how they help each other survive. Soil houses many small creatures and plant seeds, and animals rely on plants for food and shelter. The sounds, sights, and even smells around plants can tell us stories about the many life forms that live together in harmony.

Quick Recap Table

By observing and understanding these examples, we learn the importance of plants and animals living together. Each small activity, from listening to bird sounds to feeling the soil, helps us learn more about our environment and builds respect for all living things.

CBSE Class 3 World Around Us Chapter 5 Notes – Plants and Animals Live Together 

Looking to revise CBSE Class 3 World Around Us Chapter 5: Plants and Animals Live Together? These revision notes give a clear summary of all important concepts from the NCERT books, covering how plants and animals depend on each other in their surroundings. Understand the roles, examples, and activities that will help you score better in exams.

This guide covers key points about types of plants, animal behavior, and soil life, all explained in easy language for Class 3 World Around Us. Regular practice with these notes helps students remember facts like how animals use plant parts, listen to bird sounds, and observe the life cycle of insects, making learning interactive and fun.