4th Class Science Our Clothes Our Clothes

Our Clothes

Synopsis

• Clothes protect us from heat, cold and dust. Clothes are of different types and made in different ways.

• Silk clothes are made from saliva of an insect called silkworm. When the silkworm is in pupa stage it secretes saliva and builds cocoon around itself. These pupae are placed in boiling water and the worms inside are killed. Silk thread is weaved from the pupal case. The threads are then dyed and cloth is prepared.

• Woollen clothes are made in a similar manner except that the thread is prepared from the fleece of sheep. Woollen clothes keep us warm and are widely used in cold climates.

• Cotton clothes are made from cotton plants. Cotton seeds are separated from the cotton bolls and cotton is spun in the form of threads.

• Clothes are manufactured on a large scale in big factories.

• Naphthalene balls and dried leaves of neem keep insects away from the clothes.

• Nylon and terylene are synthetic fibres prepared from carbon compounds.

• We wear different clothes in different seasons. In warm and dry summer days cotton clothes are comfortable because they allow the body heat to escape, absorb heat and keep our body cool.

• In cold winter days we wear thick, warm clothes made of wool to keep our body warm.

• Raincoat and umbrella are useful in the rainy season.

• Socks and shoes protect our feet from heat, dust and cold and prevent germs from entering our body.

• Clothes should be properly rinsed in water and regularly washed. Cotton clothes are washed with soap and water. Silk and woolen clothes need dry cleaning.