After the long vacation, when Ravi started going to school again, he noticed that the only playground next to his school was dug up. People said that the only playground next to his school was dug up. People said that a huge building with many flats will be constructed there. Ravi was almost in tears, when he realised that the big playground with its soft grass, marigolds and butterflies is gone for ever. He shared his feelings with his classmates. In the assembly, the Principal too sadly observed, "See how environment is changing." In the class Ravi asked his teacher, What is environment? Whatever you see in your surroundings, said the teacher. Ravi thought aloud, That means, the school building, tables, chairs in the classroom, even that open field, the road, the garbage, my friends-all are parts of our environment. yes said the teacher, but wait..... Some objects are created by nature-for example, mountains, rivers, trees, animals. Others are made by people-for example roads, cars, clothes, books. Now work in pairs. Make a list with your classmate sitting next to you, of the creations of nature and by human beings. Ravi, Paramjeet, Jessy, Mustafa, Asha were all excited about making the list. Why is our environment changing? asked Iqbal. It's all because of needs. They are increasing day by day; we are therefore modifying and at times even destroying our natural surroundings, the teacher replied. From the above conversation you understand that the place, people, things and nature that surround any living organism is called environment. It is a combination of natural and human made phenomena. While the natural environment refers to both biotic and abiotic conditions existing on the earth, human environment revel the activities, creations and interactions among human beings.