CBSE Class 3 EVS for 2026-27 introduces children to the world around them through six big themes presented in simple stories, pictures, and hands-on activities — Family and Friends, Food, Shelter, Water, Travel, and Things We Make and Do. This subject is also coming in a new and fresh NCERT book, Our Wondrous World under the new NEP 2020, which retains the same spirit of learning by doing but with new chapters and themes.
If you are a parent or a student looking to understand the CBSE Class 3 EVS for this year, this blog does just that in the easiest way possible: chapters, topics, and fun activities that you can do at home.
What Has Changed in CBSE Class 3 EVS for 2026-27?
For a long time, CBSE Class 3 Environmental Studies was taught using the NCERT book Looking Around having 24 chapters around six themes. CBSE schools are shifting to NCERT's new books of the Preparatory Stage (2026-27) based on the NEP 2020. In this new book equivalent to EVS for Class 3, the scenes, stories, and reflection sections, such as "Let Us Think" and "Let Us Explore," are based on real-life situations.
The good news for parents and students is that while the book title and sequence of chapters might be slightly different, all the key concepts are the same: children learn about family, food, water, shelter, travel, plants, animals, and their environment. This is why we've organised this guide around both the classic themes (which many schools and parents still search for) and the updated approach.
CBSE Class 3 EVS Chapters – Theme-Wise Overview
The six major themes are the foundation of the EVS syllabus for class 3 2026-27:
|
Theme |
What It Covers |
Skills Children Build |
|---|---|---|
|
Family and Friends |
Relationships, feelings, helping each other |
Empathy, communication |
|
Food |
Where food comes from, healthy eating, food habits |
Observation, healthy choices |
|
Shelter |
Types of houses, materials used, climate effect |
Comparing and reasoning |
|
Water |
Sources of water, uses, saving water |
Environmental awareness |
|
Travel |
Means of transport, past vs present travel |
General knowledge |
|
Things We Make and Do |
Simple tools, work, community helpers |
Creativity, practical thinking |
Themes are not introduced in one chapter, but across a number of chapters, so that children develop understanding gradually rather than too much at once.
Chapter-Wise Topics and What Kids Learn
Here are some of the popular CBSE EVS chapters and what they teach — it can help you in both the old and new CBSE EVS books, which are based on the National Curriculum Framework:
|
Chapter Topic |
Key Learning |
|---|---|
|
Poonam's Day Out |
Daily routines and family time |
|
The Plant Fairy |
Parts of a plant and how they grow |
|
Water O Water |
Sources of water and the water cycle basics |
|
Changing Times |
How life and tools have changed over the years |
|
Our Friends – Animals |
Animal homes, food, and care |
|
Left-Right |
Directions, roads, and safety while travelling |
|
Bhali's Store |
Buying, selling, and community shops |
|
Clothes We Wear |
Different fabrics and clothes for different seasons |
These chapters are presented in a story format to make it more enjoyable for children to read rather than just memorise facts — one of the greatest strengths of the EVS subject at this age.
Read More: CBSE Class 3 EVS Syllabus 2026-27: Topics, Tips & Best Study Resources
Fun and Easy EVS Activities for Each Theme
It's much easier to learn about EVS with hands-on EVS activities. These are easy suggestions that parents and teachers can implement for each theme:
|
Theme |
Simple Activity |
|---|---|
|
Family and Friends |
Make a small family tree with photos or drawings |
|
Food |
Sort pictures of food into "healthy" and "junk" categories |
|
Shelter |
Draw and compare a village hut and a city apartment |
|
Water |
Track daily water usage at home for one week |
|
Travel |
Make a timeline of transport — bullock cart to airplane |
|
Things We Make and Do |
Create a simple craft using recycled materials |
Of course, these are small, low-cost activities that will help the children relate what they have learned in the textbooks to the real world, and that's the whole point of EVS.
Why Environmental Studies Matters for Young Learners?
Environmental Studies is not only a subject, but it is also a child's first introduction to scientific and social observation of the world. It softly integrates science, social studies, and moral instruction, enabling kids to:
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Use senses to learn about their environment
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Develop early environmental responsibility, such as water saving, and plant care.
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Understand respect for community helpers and other lifestyles
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To lay a solid groundwork for Science and Social Science in higher classes.
Due to this strong foundation building role, most schools regard EVS as an equally important subject in the primary years as Maths and Language.
In addition to NCERT textbook, students also use structured practice books to edit chapters and solve easy questions. Oswaal Books Class 3 Workbooks are a popular choice for chapter-wise revision and picture-based questions, as they are organized in the same chapter-wise format as NCERT and are specifically created to keep the young learners from getting overwhelmed.
Simple Tips to Help Kids Enjoy EVS at Home
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Connect lessons to daily life. When preparing food, discuss where the ingredients are from.
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Use pictures and drawings. Young learners will remember pictures rather than just words.
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Ask "why" questions. Rather than read a fact, ask the question: “Why is it important to save water?”
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Take short nature walks. Identify plants, birds and various types of houses in the immediate surroundings.
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Revise with activity sheets. Chapter concepts are reinforced in a non-threatening manner through simple worksheets.
Summary
The CBSE Class 3 EVS curriculum for 2026-27 retains its emphasis on teaching children about the world around them, including their family, food, homes, water, travel and daily life, as well as the familiar theme-based approach and the newer textbook titled ‘Our Wondrous World' which is aligned with the NEP 2020. With the help of regular NCERT chapters, EVS activities for hands-on practice and revision resources such as Oswaal Books, parents and teachers can transform Environmental Studies into a meaningful and fun subject for young learners instead of another exam to prepare for.
Related CBSE Class 3 Books & Study Materials
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The main topics are grouped into six themes: Family and Friends, Food, Shelter, Water, Travel and Things We Make and Do (plants and animals, homes, water and community).
Yes. CBSE schools are implementing a new NCERT book for EVS for Class 3 under NEP 2020, which is more story-based and activity-led with similar EVS themes.
In the old book of NCERT, Looking Around, there were 24 chapters. The newer Our Wondrous World book is structured with larger units of work, but the themes are similar to the 24 chapters.
Children sort food pictures, draw family trees, monitor their water consumption, and take brief nature walks to help them relate what they learn in the classroom to real life.
Yes, EVS does set the stage for Science and Social Science with its simple introduction of basic concepts of nature, community and environment in a story format.
