CBSE Class 4 Environmental Studies: Chapter 16 - A Busy Month NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 4 PDF

This chapter, 'A Busy Month,' from the CBSE Class 4 Environmental Studies curriculum, delves into the fascinating world of birds and their nests, as well as various animal habitats. Students will explore questions related to the age of historical letters, personal connections to bird species, and the construction of nests. The solutions provide detailed answers about identifying birds, understanding their nesting habits, and observing the life cycle within a nest. Additionally, the chapter includes engaging activities for students to create habitat charts for land, water, and tree-dwelling animals, fostering a deeper understanding of biodiversity and ecological niches. These solutions are designed to help students grasp the concepts thoroughly and prepare effectively for their exams by offering clear explanations and interactive learning prompts.

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Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 4
Subject	Environmental Studies
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	16. A Busy Month

Chapter summary

Chapter 16, 'A Busy Month,' for Class 4 EVS focuses on bird behavior, nest building, and animal habitats. It encourages students to observe birds, identify different species, and understand the materials and locations used for nests. The chapter also includes hands-on activities where students create visual representations of animal habitats, distinguishing between land, water, and arboreal environments. These NCERT Solutions offer clear answers to observational questions and guide students through the creative activities.

Learning outcomes

Understand the concept of time elapsed since a historical letter was written.
Identify and name various common birds and their characteristics.
Describe the process of nest building by birds, including materials used.
Observe and record details about a bird's nest and its inhabitants.
Differentiate between animals that live on land, in water, and on trees.
Create visual representations of different animal habitats.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Bird Nests
Bird Identification
Nest Building Materials
Animal Habitats
Land Animals
Water Animals
Arboreal Animals
Observation Skills
Historical Context
Life Cycles

Important topics

Observing and describing bird nests
Identifying different animal habitats
Understanding bird behavior
Creating habitat charts
Recognizing common birds

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

How many years ago did Gijubhai write this letter?

Solution: The letter mentioned in the chapter was written approximately 75 years ago. This gives us a sense of how long ago Gijubhai was writing and sharing his thoughts on birds and nature.

Question 2

Find out how old were your grandfather and grandmother at that time?

Solution: To answer this, you need to know the approximate age of your grandparents. If the letter was written about 75 years ago, and assuming your grandparents are older, you can estimate their age at that time. For example, if your grandfather is 80 years old now, he would have been about 5 years old when the letter was written. If your grandmother is 78 now, she would have been about 3 years old. (Note: The provided answer in the source is a specific example; students should relate it to their own family members.)

Question 3

This letter talks about many different birds. How many of these birds have you seen?

Solution: This question asks about your personal experience. You should list the birds you have personally seen from the ones mentioned or others you know. For instance, you might have seen crows, sparrows, pigeons, or parrots. It's good to name a few common birds you recognize.

Question 4

How many other birds have you seen?

Solution: Besides the birds mentioned in the letter or discussed in class, think about other birds you might have observed in your surroundings, like parks, gardens, or even flying in the sky. Examples include eagles, kites, mynahs, or woodpeckers. Listing these shows your awareness of local wildlife.

Question 5

Have you seen a bird's nest?

Solution: This is a question about your direct observations. If you have seen a bird's nest, the answer is 'Yes'. If not, you can mention that you haven't had the chance to see one yet.

Question 6

Where did you see it?

Solution: If you answered 'Yes' to seeing a bird's nest, describe the location. Nests are commonly found on tree branches, in bushes, on rooftops, or sometimes on ledges. For example, you might have seen one on a tree in your garden or on a balcony.

Question 7

Which is your favorite bird?

Solution: This question is about your personal preference. Think about which bird you find most interesting, beautiful, or enjoyable to watch. You can choose any bird and explain briefly why it is your favorite, perhaps mentioning its colors, its song, or how it flies.

Question 8

Can you show your friends in the class how it flies, and what sound it makes?

Solution: This is an activity for the classroom. You can try to imitate the flight pattern and the sound of your favorite bird. If you are unsure, you can describe it or look up videos online to help you demonstrate. It's a fun way to share your knowledge about birds with your classmates.

Question 9

Guess this bird: 'A crown on the head and coins on the tail. So many shades of blue from top to tail'.

Solution: The description 'A crown on the head and coins on the tail' along with 'shades of blue' strongly suggests the bird is a peacock. The peacock has a distinctive crest (crown) on its head and a beautiful train of feathers that spread out like a fan (coins on the tail), often displaying iridescent blue and green colors.

Question 10

Do you know of any other birds that make their nest in a tree trunk like the barbet does?

Solution: Yes, besides the barbet, the woodpecker is well-known for making its nest by drilling into tree trunks. They use their strong beaks to create a hole in the wood, which serves as a safe place for their nest.

Question 11 (a)

Where is the nest made?

Solution: Based on the observation described, the nest was made on the branch of a tree. Birds choose locations that offer safety from predators and protection from the weather.

Question 11 (b)

What is the nest made of?

Solution: The nest observed was constructed using natural materials such as straw and dried leaves. Birds gather these materials from their environment to build a cozy and secure home.

Question 11 (c)

Is the nest complete, or are the birds still making it?

Solution: According to the observation, the nest is complete. This means the birds have finished building it and it is ready for eggs or chicks.

Question 11 (d)

Can you recognize what bird it is?

Solution: Based on the observation, the bird identified as the builder or inhabitant of the nest is a crow. Crows are known to build nests using twigs and other materials, often in trees.

Question 11 (e)

What things does the bird bring to the nest?

Solution: The crow brings various items to its nest to make it comfortable and suitable for its family. These items include twigs, straw, and sometimes worms, which are used for construction and lining the nest.

Question 11 (f)

Is there any bird sitting in the nest?

Solution: Yes, the observation noted that one crow was sitting in the nest. This could be a parent bird guarding the nest or resting.

Question 11 (g)

Do you think there are eggs in the nest?

Solution: Based on the observation, it was thought that there were no eggs in the nest at that particular time. However, the presence of a bird sitting in it might suggest nesting activity is ongoing or about to begin.

Question 11 (h)

Can you hear any sound like-chee-chee from the nest?

Solution: Yes, the observation confirmed that a 'chee-chee' sound could be heard coming from the nest. This sound is typically made by young birds (chicks) when they are hungry or calling for their parents.

Question 11 (i)

If there are chicks in the nest, what do the parent birds bring for them to eat?

Solution: When there are chicks in the nest, parent birds work hard to feed them. For crows, this typically includes insects, worms, and grains, which are small enough for the chicks to swallow.

Question 11 (j)

How many times in one hour do the birds come to the nest?

Solution: During the observation period, the parent birds were seen coming to the nest about two to three times within one hour. This frequency indicates how busy the parents are caring for their young.

Question 11 (k)

After how many days did the chicks leave the nest?

Solution: The chicks typically take a significant amount of time to grow and become ready to leave the nest. In this case, it was observed that the chicks left the nest after approximately two months.

Question 12

Make a picture of the nest in your notebook.

Solution: This is a creative activity. You should draw a picture of a bird's nest in your notebook, based on your observations or imagination. Try to include details like the materials used, its shape, and where it is located, such as on a tree branch.

Question 13

You have seen how birds use many different things to make their nests. Use some of these things and make a nest. Make a small paper bird to put in your nest.

Solution: This is a hands-on activity to simulate nest building. You can gather materials like twigs, dried grass, leaves, and cotton. Arrange these materials to form a nest shape. Then, create a small bird from paper or craft materials and place it in your handmade nest. This helps you understand the effort birds put into building their homes.

Question 14 (a)

Make three groups in the class. Each child must draw a picture of an animal and colour it. They should then cut each picture out.

Solution: This is the first step for a group activity. Each student needs to draw an animal of their choice, color it realistically, and then carefully cut out the drawing. This prepares the materials for creating habitat charts.

Question 14 (b)

Children in one group will take the cut-outs of the pictures of animals that live on land. They should then draw soil, grass and some trees on a chart paper. Stick the pictures of the land animals at the correct places on the chart.

Solution: The first group will focus on land animals. After drawing and cutting out their animals, they will take a chart paper, draw elements of a land environment like soil, grass, and trees, and then paste their land animal pictures onto the chart in appropriate locations to represent their habitat.

Question 14 (c)

The second group will take the cut-outs of the pictures of animals that live in water. They should then colour a chart paper blue to show water. Then also draw water-plants, stones etc. They should then stick the pictures of the animals that live in water on the chart.

Solution: The second group will create a habitat for water animals. They will color a chart paper blue to represent water, add details like water plants and stones, and then stick the pictures of aquatic animals onto this chart, showing where they live.

Question 14 (d)

The third group will take the cut-outs of the pictures of animals that live on trees.

Solution: The third group will focus on animals that live in trees. They will use their cut-out animal pictures and likely create a chart representing a forest or woodland environment, where they will then place the pictures of tree-dwelling animals.

Common mistakes

Difficulty in estimating time periods for historical events.
Inability to recall names of common birds or their sounds.
Not understanding the importance of not disturbing bird nests.
Confusing the habitats of different types of animals.

Revision tips

Review the names and characteristics of birds mentioned in the chapter.
Practice observing local birds and their nests, noting down details.
Create your own habitat charts to reinforce learning about animal homes.
Discuss the importance of protecting birds and their nests with classmates.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Approximately how many years ago was the letter in the chapter written?

Q2. Which of the following is NOT typically used by birds to build their nests, according to the chapter?

Q3. What is a common sound mentioned that chicks in a nest might make?

Q4. Which animal is described with 'A crown on the head and coins on the tail'?

Q5. Animals that live in water are typically represented on a chart colored:

Frequently asked questions

What is the main focus of Chapter 16, 'A Busy Month'?

Chapter 16 focuses on observing birds, understanding how they build nests, and learning about different animal habitats on land, in water, and on trees.

How do the NCERT Solutions help students with this chapter?

The solutions provide clear answers to the questions, explain concepts like nest building and habitats, and guide students through the practical activities suggested in the chapter.

What kind of activities are included in this chapter?

The chapter includes activities such as observing bird nests, identifying birds, and creating charts to represent the habitats of land, water, and tree-dwelling animals.

Why is it important not to touch a bird's nest?

Touching a bird's nest can disturb the parent birds, causing them to abandon it, which is why the chapter advises careful observation from a distance.

What information can be gathered by observing a bird's nest?

By observing a nest, students can note its location, the materials used, whether it's complete, the type of bird, what it brings for its young, and the sounds made by chicks.

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