Chapter 8: How Things are Made

Chapter at a Glance

One Sunday, Pihu sees a newspaper picture saying that recycling paper saves trees. Her mother explains that paper, whether in drawing books, newspapers, napkins or chart paper, is made from trees. Pihu notices a rough paper pot made from recycled paper, and together they make their own recycled paper. They soak torn newspaper with fenugreek (methi) seeds overnight, grind it into a pulp, roll it into thin sheets and let them dry. The methi seeds act as a binding material that holds the pulp together.

Pihu then colours pieces of her paper with natural colours like turmeric, spinach, beetroot and henna, and makes a greeting card as a gift for her mother. Natural dyes come from plant parts like leaves, flowers, roots and seeds, and are safe to use on paper, cloth and pots. Book paper is smooth because it is made in factories from wood pulp, which needs many trees and a lot of water and energy. In the past, people wrote on cloth, leaves, wooden boards and palm leaves called talapatra. Today paper can also be made from banana fibre, which saves trees.

The chapter describes different kinds of paper, such as writing paper, newspaper, art paper, cardboard, tissue paper and Braille paper, each suited to a different use. It ends with the 5Rs of waste management: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle. Following them helps us save resources, protect the environment and reduce pollution.

Word Meanings

Important Topics

1. Paper Comes from Trees

• Drawing books, newspapers, napkins and chart papers are all made from trees.
• Making paper needs many trees and a lot of water and energy.
• Recycling paper saves trees.

2. Steps to Make Recycled Paper

1. Collect: old newspapers, fenugreek seeds and water.
2. Soak: tear the paper into small pieces, soak it in water with a few methi seeds overnight.
3. Blend: grind or mash it into a wet pulp.
4. Roll out: spread the pulp on a flat surface into thin sheets.
5. Dry: leave the sheets to dry. Recycled paper is ready.

3. Natural Colours

• Natural dyes come from leaves, flowers, roots, seeds and stems.
• They are safe and are also used to colour clothes and pots.

4. Writing Materials of the Past

• Cloth, leaves, wooden boards and palm leaves (talapatra).
• Banana fibre can be used to make eco-friendly paper.

5. Types of Paper and Their Uses

6. The 5Rs of Waste Management

Question-Answers

Very Short Answer Questions

1. What is paper made from? Trees (wood).
2. What was the pot Pihu noticed made of? Recycled paper.
3. Which seeds were used to make recycled paper? Fenugreek (methi) seeds.
4. Why are methi seeds used? As a binding material.
5. What colour does turmeric give? Yellow.
6. What did Pihu gift her mother? A greeting card.
7. What were palm leaves used for writing called? Talapatra.
8. Name one plant fibre used to make paper. Banana fibre.
9. Which paper is used for packing boxes? Cardboard.
10. Why is tissue paper used for cleaning? It is soft and absorbs water.
11. What helps visually challenged people read? The Braille system.
12. Name the 5Rs. Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle.

Short Answer Questions

Q1. Why is recycled paper rough while book paper is smooth?

Recycled paper is made by hand from old paper pulp. Book paper is made in factories from wood pulp using machines, which makes it smooth and even.

Q2. Why are natural dyes better than artificial dyes?

Natural dyes come from plant parts like leaves, flowers and roots. They are safe for us and do not harm the environment.

Q3. Why should we use paper carefully?

Making paper needs many trees and a lot of water and energy. Wasting paper means more trees are cut, which harms nature.

Q4. What is the difference between Reuse and Recycle?

Reuse means using a thing again as it is, like using a gift bag again. Recycle means turning a used thing into something new, like making new paper from old newspaper.

Q5. How does the Braille system work?

Braille uses patterns of tiny raised dots on thick paper. Visually challenged people feel these dots with their fingers to read letters, numbers and punctuation.

Long Answer Questions

Q1. Describe the steps of making recycled paper at home.

First, collect old newspapers, a few fenugreek seeds and water. Tear the paper into small pieces and soak them in water with the methi seeds overnight. The next day, grind or mash the soaked paper into a wet pulp. Spread this pulp on a flat surface and roll it into thin sheets. Leave the sheets to dry. The recycled paper is ready and can be coloured with natural dyes.

Q2. Explain the 5Rs of waste management with examples.

Refuse means saying no to things that make waste, like single-use cups. Reduce means using less, like writing on both sides of a page. Reuse means using something again, like a gift bag. Repurpose means using an old thing in a new way, like making a pen stand from an old tin. Recycle means turning used things into new ones, like making new paper from old paper. Following the 5Rs saves resources and reduces pollution.

Q3. Describe different types of paper and their uses.

Writing paper is smooth and used in notebooks. Newspaper is thin and used for printing news. Art paper is thick and used for drawing. Cardboard is thick and hard, so it is used for packing boxes. Tissue paper is soft and absorbs water, so it is used for cleaning. Braille paper has raised dots for visually challenged readers.

Textbook Exercise Answers

Which of the 5Rs does each situation show?

Q1. Objects made from paper pulp.

Masks, bowls, pen stands, photo frames, toys, dolls, pots and decorative items.

Q2. One step for each of the 5Rs.

• Refuse: Say no to plastic carry bags.
• Reduce: Use both sides of paper.
• Reuse: Use old jars to store things.
• Repurpose: Make a pen stand from an old tin.
• Recycle: Send old newspapers to the recycler.

Q3. Changes to avoid wasting paper.

Other in-text questions

• Do we waste paper? Yes, by tearing pages, using one side only and throwing away paper that could be reused.
• How can we reduce paper wastage? Use both sides, reuse old notebooks, avoid paper cups and plates, and recycle old paper.