"Things We Make and Do" is a core theme in Environmental Studies (EVS) for Paper I of TN TET, focusing on how humans use tools, technology, and materials to meet daily needs. This topic connects children's immediate experiences—household objects, local crafts, simple machines—to broader concepts of human ingenuity, resource use, and cultural heritage.
For TN TET, expect questions on identification of common tools and their uses, traditional crafts of Tamil Nadu, materials and their sources (natural vs synthetic), and the pedagogical approach to teaching these concepts through activity-based methods. The topic integrates science (properties of materials), social studies (occupations, heritage), and environmental awareness (sustainable use of resources).
Mastery requires knowing specific examples relevant to Tamil Nadu's context—palm-leaf crafts, bronze casting, handloom weaving—alongside universal concepts like simple machines and the transformation of raw materials into finished products.
Key Concepts
**Tools extend human capability**: Tools are objects that help us do work more easily—cutting, joining, measuring, lifting. Children should understand that tools solve specific problems (scissors for cutting, hammer for driving nails).
**Simple machines in daily life**: The six simple machines (lever, wheel-and-axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge, screw) appear in everyday objects. A see-saw is a lever; a door handle is a wheel-and-axle; a knife is a wedge.
**Materials have sources**: Materials come from plants (wood, cotton, rubber), animals (leather, wool, silk), earth (clay, metals, stone), or are human-made (plastic, glass, synthetic fibres). Classification by source is exam-relevant.
**Raw materials to finished products**: Understanding the transformation process—cotton plant to thread to cloth, clay to pot, iron ore to tools—helps children appreciate production chains.
**Traditional crafts preserve culture**: Tamil Nadu's traditional crafts (Tanjore paintings, Kanchipuram silk, Thanjavur dolls, palm-leaf manuscripts, bronze icons) reflect regional identity, sustainable practices, and intergenerational skill transfer.
**Technology evolves over time**: From stone tools to metal tools to machines to digital devices—technology changes how we make and do things. Children learn that technology responds to human needs and keeps improving.
**Sustainable making**: Using local, renewable materials and traditional methods often has lower environmental impact than mass-produced synthetic alternatives.
Formulas / Key Facts
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A potter uses a spinning wheel to shape clay into pots. What is the main advantage of using a potter's wheel over shaping clay by hand only?
Q2 · Things We Make and Do · MEDIUM
In Tamil Nadu villages, many baskets are woven using palm leaves or bamboo strips. Which statement best explains why these materials are commonly used for basket-making?
Q3 · Things We Make and Do · EASY
A carpenter is making a wooden chair. He uses a saw to cut wood, a plane to smooth surfaces, and nails to join pieces together. Which of these tools works by separating wood fibers along a line?
Q4 · Things We Make and Do · MEDIUM
Traditional kolam designs in Tamil Nadu are drawn using rice flour or stone powder. Besides decoration, what is another traditional reason for using rice flour for kolam?
Q5 · Things We Make and Do · HARD
A blacksmith heats iron in a furnace until it glows red, then hammers it into a desired shape, and finally cools it in water. Why is the iron heated before hammering?
(d) Flagpole rope → Pulley (wheel with rope to change direction of force)
### Example 3: Traditional Craft Identification
**Question**: A craft from Tamil Nadu uses gold leaf, semi-precious stones, and special gesso work on wooden panels to depict Hindu deities. Name this craft and its place of origin.
**Solution**: This is **Tanjore Painting** (Thanjavur Painting), originating from **Thanjavur district**. Characteristics: rich colours, gold foil, glass beads, surface appearing 3D. Developed under Maratha rulers of Thanjavur (17th-18th century). Received GI (Geographical Indication) tag.
Common Mistakes
**Confusing silk as plant-based** → Silk comes from silkworm cocoons (animal source), not from plants. Jute and cotton are plant fibres; silk and wool are animal fibres.
**Thinking plastic is earth-based because it comes from petroleum** → While petroleum originates underground, plastic is classified as synthetic/human-made because it requires chemical processing and does not occur naturally.
**Mixing up lever types** → Not all levers work the same way. Scissors have effort and load on same side of fulcrum (Class 1 lever). A bottle opener works differently from a wheelbarrow. Focus on the basic principle: lever = rigid bar + fulcrum + effort + load.
**Forgetting the tool-occupation link** → Exam questions often ask which tool belongs to which occupation. A sickle belongs to a farmer (harvesting), not a carpenter. A chisel belongs to a carpenter or sculptor, not a blacksmith.
**Assuming all traditional crafts are outdated** → Traditional crafts like Kanchipuram silk weaving remain economically significant and employ modern looms alongside handlooms. They represent living traditions, not museum pieces.
Quick Reference
1. **Six simple machines**: Lever, pulley, wheel-and-axle, inclined plane, wedge, screw—memorise with one daily example each.
2. **Material sources mnemonic**: **PASE** = Plant, Animal, Synthetic, Earth—classify any material into one of these.
4. **EVS pedagogy for this topic**: Hands-on activities—making clay models, visiting local artisans, collecting and classifying materials—are more effective than textbook reading.
6. **Sustainable angle**: Natural materials (clay, bamboo, palm leaf) are biodegradable; synthetics (plastic) persist in environment—exam may link to environmental awareness.