Anubhav for Class IV

Jambugodha- The Outdoor Lab

Jambugodha Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Panchmahal District roughly 20 kms from Pavagadh and 200 kms from Ahmedabad. The area under the sanctuary is 130 sq. kms with dry deciduous forest, comprising mainly of teak, mahua, bamboo and a number of other tree cover, creepers and shrubs, which grow very naturally. A small part of the sanctuary falls in the adjoining Vadodara district. In fact, it is difficult to believe that such a magnificent forest exists so close to the industrial city of Vadodara. The forest has two water reservoirs – at Kada and Targol. These water bodies add to the aesthetic settings and habitat diversity.

Learning Possibilities:

Living world, an introduction: In class IV, children were introduced to the concept of the living and the non living things along with their characteristics. Children are also aware of their own body and many of the internal organs. Children also need to know that like human beings, other living being also have different organs which perform specific functions. They are also aware of the importance of plans in their life and that they are also part of the living world. They need to know about the functions of different parts of the plant.

Plants – parts and their function: The fact that plants and animals are dependent on each other would be taken up in a typical forest system that is Jambugodha. It would also been taught that plants are an important part of the living world, they are the primary producers and the entire web of food depend on them. The similarities between plants and animals including human being - both need food, water and air to live; both do grow, both reproduce the same kind and both die – would be demonstrated using the available elements around the campsite.

Our environment: In class III and IV information given to children was confined to their immediate natural and social environment. But now it is necessary to give them detailed information about the environment. It is necessary for children to understand interdependence in the environment. The children must also know that man has no control over certain natural happenings and some of the happenings are the result of human activities.

One of the major concepts, Interdependence can be taken up at the outdoor lab in Jambugodha. The surface of the earth has two parts, land and water and it is also surrounded by air. All the living being need land, water and air to survive. Various kinds of plants and animals live on all parts of the earth, some of these live on land and some live in water and many spend most of their life in the air. The necessity of maintaining a balance between the biotic and abiotic components of the environment would be demonstrated through games.

Concept of Wildlife Sanctuary would be introduced at this stage. To maintain the balance and protect wildlife, hunting of wild animals and birds is legally prohibited in our country. With the same target, a number of wildlife and bird sanctuaries and national parks have been set up in India. The campsite, which is part of a wildlife sanctuary also serves the same purpose.

Image Gallery Class VI