Environmental Studies / Science
Family, Friends & Relationships Food, Nutrition & Health Natural Resources & Environment Science Concepts EVS Pedagogy
Module 3 · CTET Environmental Studies / Science

Science Concepts

Force, motion, energy, light, sound, electricity, materials.
Force & Motion · Energy · Light · Sound · Electricity
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Learning Objectives

  • Understand the fundamental concepts of Science Concepts
  • Apply key formulas and techniques to solve problems
  • Practice with exam-level questions to build speed and accuracy

Key Concepts

Basic Science Concepts for EVS

Science in EVS introduces children to basic concepts about the natural and physical world. It builds observation skills, curiosity, and scientific thinking. Topics cover biological sciences (plants, animals, human body), physical sciences (matter, force, energy, light, sound), and Earth sciences (weather, seasons, celestial bodies).

Key Concepts

Plants: Parts of a plant and their functions: roots (absorb water and minerals, anchor the plant), stem (transport water and nutrients, support), leaves (photosynthesis - making food using sunlight, CO2, water, and chlorophyll), flowers (reproduction - produce seeds and fruits). Types of plants: herbs (small, soft stem), shrubs (medium, woody stem), trees (tall, thick trunk), climbers (need support), creepers (grow along ground). Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make their own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water, releasing oxygen as a by-product.

Animals: Classification by habitat: terrestrial (land - lion, elephant, cow), aquatic (water - fish, whale, frog), amphibious (both land and water - frog, crocodile), aerial (air - birds, bats). Classification by food habits: herbivores (eat plants - cow, deer, rabbit), carnivores (eat flesh - lion, tiger, snake), omnivores (eat both - bear, crow, human). Adaptations: camels store water in humps, polar bears have thick fur, fish have gills for breathing underwater, birds have hollow bones for flying.

Human Body: Major organ systems: Skeletal system (bones provide structure, protect organs - 206 bones in adults), Muscular system (movement), Digestive system (mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines break down food), Respiratory system (nose, trachea, lungs breathe in oxygen, expel CO2), Circulatory system (heart pumps blood through vessels), Nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves control all functions), Excretory system (kidneys filter waste, produce urine). Sense organs: eyes (sight), ears (hearing), nose (smell), tongue (taste), skin (touch).

Matter and Materials: Matter exists in three states: Solid (fixed shape and volume - table, stone), Liquid (fixed volume, takes shape of container - water, milk), Gas (no fixed shape or volume, fills container - air, oxygen). Changes of state: melting (solid to liquid), freezing (liquid to solid), evaporation (liquid to gas), condensation (gas to liquid). Properties of materials: hard/soft, rough/smooth, transparent/translucent/opaque, soluble/insoluble, float/sink, magnetic/non-magnetic.

Force, Energy and Motion: Force is a push or pull that can change an object's shape, speed, direction, or state of rest. Types: gravity (Earth pulls objects down), friction (resistance when surfaces rub), magnetic force (attraction/repulsion by magnets), muscular force (generated by muscles). Simple machines: lever (seesaw), pulley (flag hoist), inclined plane (ramp), wheel and axle (bicycle), screw, wedge. Energy forms: heat (thermal), light (solar), sound (acoustic), electrical, mechanical. Light travels in straight lines; sound needs a medium to travel; shadows form when light is blocked by an opaque object.

Solved Examples

Example 1
The process by which plants make their own food using sunlight is called:

a) Respiration b) Photosynthesis c) Transpiration d) Germination
Solution: b) Photosynthesis. This process occurs in leaves (containing chlorophyll) where sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide are converted into glucose (food) and oxygen. The chemical equation is: 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight -> C6H12O6 + 6O2. Respiration is how organisms release energy from food; transpiration is water loss from leaves; germination is seed sprouting.
Example 2
Which of the following animals is an omnivore?

a) Cow b) Tiger c) Bear d) Deer
Solution: c) Bear. Omnivores eat both plants and animals. Bears eat berries, fruits, honey, fish, and small mammals. Cows and deer are herbivores (only plants); tigers are carnivores (only flesh). Humans are also omnivores. Understanding food habits helps children understand food chains and ecological relationships.
Example 3
Water changing into water vapor on heating is an example of:

a) Condensation b) Evaporation c) Freezing d) Melting
Solution: b) Evaporation. Evaporation is the process where a liquid changes into a gas (vapor) when heated. The reverse process, where gas changes to liquid, is condensation. Freezing is liquid to solid, and melting is solid to liquid. Evaporation is why wet clothes dry, and condensation is why water droplets form on a cold glass.

Shortcut Techniques

  • States of Matter - S-L-G: Solid (fixed shape/volume), Liquid (fixed volume, variable shape), Gas (variable shape/volume). Think of ice (solid), water (liquid), steam (gas) as a continuous sequence.
  • Plant Parts - Roots to Fruits: Remember the direction: Roots go down -> Stem goes up -> Leaves make food -> Flowers become Fruits -> Fruits contain Seeds. Think of a growing sequence from ground up.
  • Animal Diets - HCO: Herbivores eat Herbs (plants), Carnivores eat Car/flesh, Omnivores eat Overall (everything). Use the first letter of each group to recall the diet type.
  • Changes of State - F-M-E-C: Freezing (L->S), Melting (S->L), Evaporation (L->G), Condensation (G->L). Remember: going up = heat added (melting, evaporation), going down = heat removed (freezing, condensation).
Pro Tip
For CTET EVS science, use simple experiments and demonstrations. Having children grow a bean plant in a cup, observe evaporation of water, or sort materials by properties makes abstract concepts concrete. Connect science to everyday observations - why do we see dew in winter? Why do iron gates rust?

Integrated Approach

EVS covers science, social studies, and environment. Master connections: Water connects to sources (Science), conservation (Environment), purification (Health), transport (Travel), harvesting (Social Studies).

Pro Tip
For CTET, EVS questions test application of pedagogical principles. Choose child-centered, experiential approaches per NCF 2005.

Integrated Approach

EVS covers science, social studies, and environment. Master connections: Water connects to sources (Science), conservation (Environment), purification (Health), transport (Travel), harvesting (Social Studies).

Pro Tip
For CTET, EVS questions test application of pedagogical principles. Choose child-centered, experiential approaches per NCF 2005.

Integrated Approach

EVS covers science, social studies, and environment. Master connections: Water connects to sources (Science), conservation (Environment), purification (Health), transport (Travel), harvesting (Social Studies).

Pro Tip
For CTET, EVS questions test application of pedagogical principles. Choose child-centered, experiential approaches per NCF 2005.

Integrated Approach

EVS covers science, social studies, and environment. Master connections: Water connects to sources (Science), conservation (Environment), purification (Health), transport (Travel), harvesting (Social Studies).

Pro Tip
For CTET, EVS questions test application of pedagogical principles. Choose child-centered, experiential approaches per NCF 2005.

Practice Questions

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