Like Father, Like Daughter : 5 Amazing Family Traits Explained [Class 5 EVS Lesson]

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This lesson explores CBSE Class 5 EVS Chapter 21 — ‘Like Father, Like Daughter ‘ — a fascinating journey through family traits, habits, and inheritance. Whether you’re studying for an upcoming exam or strengthening your concepts, our engaging animated videos, practice questions and notes offer you the best of integrated learning with interesting explanations and examples. 

Like Father, Like Daughter – What Makes Us Who We Are?

Have you ever wondered why you might sneeze just like your dad or have curly hair just like your mother’s mother? This Chapter teaches us that who we are is a mixture of what we inherit from our family and what we learn from those around us.

The Tale of a Sneeze: Just Like Father!

One afternoon, Ashima sneezed loudly while reading by the window. Her mother laughed, “You sneeze just like your father!” This is a classic example of Like Father, Like Daughter, where a child’s trait or habit is strikingly similar to a parent’s.

What Makes You, YOU? Understanding Traits

Traits come from two main sources:

• Inherited Traits: Given to us by our family, just like in Like Father, Like Daughter. Examples include curly hair, the color of your eyes, and dimples.
• Learned Traits: Skills or habits we pick up from our environment. Speaking a language or playing cricket are not inherited but learned.

Activity: Discover Your Special Trait

Fill out this table for your own family!

Tracing Family Connections in Like Father, Like Daughter

When Nilima visited her nani’s house, she found her cousin Kiran, revealing new family connections. With Like Father, Like Daughter as a theme, tracing family trees helps understand which traits are inherited.

Activity:
Draw your family tree, starting from your grandparents, and note one unique trait for each person. Discover the amazing patterns—like father, like daughter!

Do You Look Like Someone in Your Family? 👀

Often, physical traits like curly hair, the shape of a nose, or mannerisms are inherited. In Like Father, Like Daughter, Nilima’s thick curly hair came from her nani. Her mom’s straight hair? Not inherited!

Fun Task: Measure and Compare Your Hair

• Measure your hair’s length and compare it with other family members.
• Who has the longest hair? Does long hair run in your family?

Families Often Share Physical and Behavioural Traits

Family Traits Visual

Have fun noticing how these similarities play out in your family!

Twins: Same but Different! 👯

Meet Saroja and Suvasini, identical twins who look so similar that even their mama (uncle) gets confused. But they have unique traits:

• Saroja speaks both Tamil and Marathi because she lives in Pune.
• Suvasini practices karate in Chennai with her father.

Discussion: Know Any Twins?

How are they similar? How do they differ? Can you think of ways to tell them apart?

Fun With Traits: What Can You Do?

Some abilities (like rolling your tongue or moving your ears) are inherited.

Try these:

• Can you roll your tongue?
• Move your little toe?
• Make a “V” with your fingers?

Ask your family members to try these too!

The Story of Satti: Facing Challenges With Courage

Satti, affected by polio, leads an active life. She was told polio is caused by a virus, not inherited. It doesn’t mean inheriting everything—especially not diseases like polio, which are prevented by vaccines.

Remember:

• Diseases like polio are not inherited!
• Get vaccinated to stay healthy.

Vaccination helps protect against diseases like polio.

Gregor Mendel: The Father of Genetics

Did you know? Gregor Mendel discovered how traits are passed from one generation to another through his experiments with pea plants. He found that:

Key discoveries:

• Traits (like round or wrinkled peas) are passed in pairs.
• Traits come from parents.

Gregor Mendel Genetics Concept

Final Activity: Traits in Action

Look at your friends:

• Look at your classmates or friends. List one unique trait they have, like dimples or curly hair.
• Discuss whether these traits are inherited or learned.

What We’ve Learned in Like Father, Like Daughter

• Inherited traits, like eye color, come from family.
• Learned traits, like playing the piano, come from our surroundings.
• Some diseases, like polio, are caused by viruses, not inherited.
• Vaccines can protect us from many diseases.

Mirror, Mirror! Family Resemblance Challenge

Stand in front of a mirror and mimic your parents’ or siblings’ facial expressions or habits. Who do you resemble the most? Share your findings with your family!

To read the NCERT text of Like Father, Like Daughter, click here.

To read our notes for the previous chapter Whose Forest ?, click here.