NCERT Class 1 Environmental Studies • Classic CBSE EVS

Chapter 9: Keeping Our Earth Green & Clean

Q: What are the three magical R's for protecting our environment? Explain each briefly.

Model Answer:1. REDUCE: Use fewer things and avoid creating unnecessary waste.2. REUSE: Use things again instead of throwing them away (e.g., using glass jars to store pulses).3. RECYCLE: Turn used paper, plastic, and metal waste into new useful products.

Q: What kind of garbage goes into:(a) The GREEN Dustbin?(b) The BLUE Dustbin?

Model Answer:• GREEN Dustbin (Wet / Biodegradable Waste): Fruit and vegetable peels, leftover food, tea leaves, fallen leaves.• BLUE Dustbin (Dry / Recyclable Waste): Paper, plastic bottles, glass bottles, metal cans, cardboard boxes.

Q: Why are single-use plastic bags harmful to our soil, water, and stray animals?

Model Answer:Plastic never decomposes, blocks city drains causing floods, and chokes cows and birds when they accidentally swallow plastic bags.

Q: What should you always carry in your pocket when going to the market with your parents?

Model Answer:A reusable cloth bag (or jute bag) instead of asking for plastic carry bags.

Q: What happens when wet kitchen food peels and dry garden leaves are buried in a compost pit?

Model Answer:They decompose into rich, dark organic compost (manure), which makes garden plants grow healthy and strong without chemicals.

Q: Fill in the blanks:(a) We must always throw trash into the _______ (dustbin / street).(b) Trees make our air fresh and _______ (clean / polluted).(c)

Model Answer:(a) dustbin(b) clean(c) 22nd April

Q: State True or False:(a) Burning dry leaves and plastic on the roadside creates toxic smoke that hurts our lungs.(b) Turning off lights and fans when l

Model Answer:(a) True. Smoke pollutes air and harms lungs.(b) True. Conserving electricity protects the planet.

Q: Why does saving paper directly help save trees in forests?

Model Answer:Because paper is manufactured from wood pulp cut from trees. Using both sides of paper saves trees from being chopped down.

Q: If there is no dustbin nearby while eating a banana on the street, what should you do?

Model Answer:Hold the peel in a napkin or bag and carry it until you find a proper dustbin. Never litter on the pavement.

Q: Match each waste item with the right bin:1. Banana peel &emsp;&emsp;&emsp; (A) Blue Dustbin (Dry)2. Plastic water bottle (B) Green Dustbin (Wet

Model Answer:• 1. Banana peel → (B) Green Dustbin• 2. Plastic bottle → (A) Blue Dustbin• 3. Old newspaper → (C) Blue Dustbin

Waste Segregation, Blue & Green Dustbins, No Plastic & Planting | CBSE Session 2026–27

Core Pedagogical Competencies & Concepts

Theme of 'Keeping Our Earth Green & Clean': Exploring human community networks and societal roles.
Fostering civic responsibility, mutual respect for community helpers, and safety rules.
Developing environmental stewardship and neighborhood awareness.

All Textbook Exercises & In-Text Tasks (16 Questions)

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Q1 Clean Earth • The 3 R's

What are the three magical R's for protecting our environment? Explain each briefly.

[3 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
1. REDUCE: Use fewer things and avoid creating unnecessary waste.
2. REUSE: Use things again instead of throwing them away (e.g., using glass jars to store pulses).
3. RECYCLE: Turn used paper, plastic, and metal waste into new useful products.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Reduce explained 1 M

Reuse explained 1 M

Recycle explained 1 M

Q2 Waste Segregation • Green vs Blue Dustbins

What kind of garbage goes into:
(a) The GREEN Dustbin?
(b) The BLUE Dustbin?

[3 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
• GREEN Dustbin (Wet / Biodegradable Waste): Fruit and vegetable peels, leftover food, tea leaves, fallen leaves.
• BLUE Dustbin (Dry / Recyclable Waste): Paper, plastic bottles, glass bottles, metal cans, cardboard boxes.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Green bin = wet/food waste 1.5 M

Blue bin = dry/recyclable waste 1.5 M

Q3 Plastic Pollution • Say No to Single-Use Plastic

Why are single-use plastic bags harmful to our soil, water, and stray animals?

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
Plastic never decomposes, blocks city drains causing floods, and chokes cows and birds when they accidentally swallow plastic bags.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Does not decompose / chokes drains 1 M

Harmful/fatal to animals 1 M

Q4 Cloth Bags • Eco Alternative

What should you always carry in your pocket when going to the market with your parents?

[1 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
A reusable cloth bag (or jute bag) instead of asking for plastic carry bags.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Cloth or jute bag 1 M

Q5 Composting • Kitchen Magic

What happens when wet kitchen food peels and dry garden leaves are buried in a compost pit?

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
They decompose into rich, dark organic compost (manure), which makes garden plants grow healthy and strong without chemicals.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Turns into organic compost / manure 2 M

Q6 Fill in the Blanks • Clean Earth

Fill in the blanks:
(a) We must always throw trash into the _______ (dustbin / street).
(b) Trees make our air fresh and _______ (clean / polluted).
(c) We celebrate Earth Day on _______ (22nd April / 1st January).

[3 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
(a) dustbin
(b) clean
(c) 22nd April

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

dustbin 1 M

clean 1 M

22nd April 1 M

Q7 True or False • Ecology

State True or False:
(a) Burning dry leaves and plastic on the roadside creates toxic smoke that hurts our lungs.
(b) Turning off lights and fans when leaving an empty room saves electricity.

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
(a) True. Smoke pollutes air and harms lungs.
(b) True. Conserving electricity protects the planet.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

(a) True 1 M

(b) True 1 M

Q8 Saving Paper • Saving Trees

Why does saving paper directly help save trees in forests?

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
Because paper is manufactured from wood pulp cut from trees. Using both sides of paper saves trees from being chopped down.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Paper comes from tree wood pulp 1 M

Saving paper prevents tree cutting 1 M

Q9 Littering • Public Cleanliness

If there is no dustbin nearby while eating a banana on the street, what should you do?

[1 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
Hold the peel in a napkin or bag and carry it until you find a proper dustbin. Never litter on the pavement.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Carry until finding dustbin, never litter 1 M

Q10 Matching • Waste Items & Bins

Match each waste item with the right bin:
1. Banana peel (A) Blue Dustbin (Dry)
2. Plastic water bottle (B) Green Dustbin (Wet)
3. Old newspaper (C) Blue Dustbin (Dry)

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
• 1. Banana peel → (B) Green Dustbin
• 2. Plastic bottle → (A) Blue Dustbin
• 3. Old newspaper → (C) Blue Dustbin

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

All 3 bin matches correct 2 M

Q11 Clean Water Bodies • River Care

Why should factories and people never dump sewage or chemical waste into rivers?

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
It poisons fish and river life and makes river water undrinkable and toxic for humans and crops.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Kills aquatic life and poisons drinking water 2 M

Q12 Odd One Out • Waste

Find the odd one out: [Apple core, Orange peel, Plastic wrapper, Tea leaves].

[1 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
Plastic wrapper is non-biodegradable dry waste, while the others are natural biodegradable wet kitchen waste.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Plastic wrapper with reason 1 M

Q13 Planting Campaign • Vanamahotsava

What is the annual Indian tree-planting festival celebrated in July called?

[1 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
Van Mahotsav (Forest Festival).

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Van Mahotsav 1 M

Q14 Clean School Campus • Swachh Bharat

How can students participate in keeping their school campus clean?

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
By picking up stray wrappers, keeping classrooms tidy, not scribbling on walls, and sorting cafeteria waste.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Classroom cleanliness and picking wrappers 2 M

Q15 Think and Share • Electricity Conservation

Why should we turn off the tap and switch off lights during daytime?

[1 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
To conserve natural resources and reduce energy consumption.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Conserves natural resources 1 M

Q16 Environmental Pledge

Recite the Earth Day pledge.

[1 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Model Answer:
'I promise to protect nature, plant trees, save water, avoid plastic, and keep my Earth green, clean, and beautiful!'

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Earth Day pledge 1 M

🌟 NEP 2020 Competency-Based Case Study

Keeping Our Earth Green & Clean Civic Context Study

Every child is an important member of a vibrant neighborhood community. In 'Keeping Our Earth Green & Clean', learners explore how mutual support, civic awareness, and safety create a peaceful environment.

Analytical Task: How does understanding 'Keeping Our Earth Green & Clean' help us become caring and responsible citizens?

Evaluation & Model Answer:

It helps us appreciate the work of others, follow community rules, protect public places, and ensure the safety and happiness of everyone around us.

Rubric: 1.5 M for community understanding + 1.5 M for civic action