Next Step – The World Around Us: The New NCERT–aligned Environmental Studies Series for Today’s Learners
The latest NCERT syllabus and the vision of NEP 2020 have reshaped how Environmental Studies (EVS) must be taught in Indian classrooms. It is not just about learning facts but much more. Today, it is about experiencing the world, questioning what we see, thinking critically and taking informed decisons. Schools are expected to shift from rote memorisation to competency-based learning where children observe, explore and apply.
To meet these expectations, Viva Education introduces Next Step: The World Around Us, an NEP-aligned EVS book series for Classes 1 to 5. The new series follows the latest NCERT themes, and incorporates strong pedagogical foundations that make learning meaningful, joyful and relevant.
Aligned to NCERT 2023: A Clear and Accurate Mapping
The series provides precise alignment with the updated NCERT EVS curriculum. Each chapter directly corresponds to NCERT themes, ensuring complete curriculum coverage without gaps or overlap. Let’s have a look at some examples to understand better.
- Class 3
Family and Friends → Living and Learning with Family
Going to the Mela → A Fun-Filled Funfair
Celebrating Festivals → It’s Spring Time!
- Class 4
Community life, neighbourhood, plants, animals and communication are aligned with chapters such as Our Community, Nature Trail and All About Food.
- Class 5
Themes like Water, Journey of a River, Seasons, Rivers, India’s Diversity, and Fibre to Fabric map seamlessly to Next Step chapters.
This ensures that schools following the NCERT framework can smoothly adopt the series as their primary EVS CBSE textbooks for Classes 1 to 5.
Designed for Modern Classrooms: Key Highlights
Next Step: The World Around Us has been developed with a strong pedagogical foundation. The following elements make it stand out.
1. A Six-Stage Learning Pathway
The series introduces a unique learning progression that helps children move from basic awareness to advanced thinking. Let’s have an understanding of these stages.
- Foundational Stage: Recall of basic facts
- Understanding Stage: Explaining concepts in their own words
- Problem-solving Stage: Applying learning to real-life situations
- Analytical Thinking: Comparing, connecting and examining more deeply
- Strategic Thinking: Planning solutions and giving logical reasons
- Innovation Stage: Creating new ideas or solutions
This scaffolded progression directly supports NCERT’s competency-based approach, making the series a package of reliable NEP-aligned EVS books for schools.
2. STW: See, Think and Wonder
Each chapter opens with an STW activity that sets the stage for meaningful, inquiry-based learning. Instead of diving straight into the content, children begin by exploring a visual stimulus or scenario that draws them into the theme. STW encourages students in the following ways.
- Observe a picture (See): Learners look closely at an image, scene or illustration and notice details, patterns, actions and relationships. This step strengthens observation skills and helps children develop the habit of mindful looking rather than passive viewing.
- Relate it to their existing knowledge (Think): Students reflect on what they have noticed and connect it to their own experiences, prior learning and understanding of the world. This helps them build conceptual bridges and activates important background knowledge that enriches the lesson.
- Express curiosity about what they want to know (Wonder): Children are encouraged to ask questions, express what confuses them and imagine possibilities. This step transforms the classroom into a space driven by curiosity and inquiry.
By beginning with STW, each chapter naturally hooks the learner, builds anticipation and gently leads them towards deeper thinking. This structured process not only strengthens enquiry skills but also enhances visual literacy by training children to observe, interpret and question meaningfully. It supports critical thinking by encouraging students to analyse before the teacher begins explaining.
Additionally, STW mirrors NEP 2020’s emphasis on experiential and discovery-based learning. It shifts the classroom dynamic from teacher-led to learner-driven, making lessons more interactive and ensuring that children take ownership of their learning from the very first page of the chapter.
3. Theme-based Structure
The chapters in Next Step: The World Around Us are thoughtfully organised under broad, meaningful themes that mirror how children naturally experience the world. Themes such as Community and Neighbourhood, Nature Talk, Health and Lifestyle, and Our Earth and Environment help students learn concepts in a connected and coherent way rather than in isolation.
This approach aligns closely with NCF recommendations, which emphasise the importance of integrated, real-life learning. When topics are grouped thematically, children can understand relationships more clearly—for example, how neighbourhood helpers support the community, how plants and animals depend on each other, or how seasons influence daily life.
4. Integration of SDGs
A distinctive feature of the series is its thoughtful integration of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each theme includes small, actionable steps that encourage students to adopt responsible habits in their daily lives. These actions may include saving water, segregating waste, planting trees, conserving electricity, or choosing eco-friendly alternatives.
By embedding SDGs into everyday learning, the series helps children understand that sustainability is not a distant global issue but something they can contribute to in simple and meaningful ways. This encourages environmental awareness, civic responsibility and a sense of global citizenship from a young age.
Moreover, this approach strengthens value-based learning. Children begin to see themselves as active participants in creating a cleaner, greener and more sustainable world – qualities that NEP 2020 identifies as central to education.
5. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
To nurture well-rounded individuals, the series incorporates Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through short, relatable case studies. These scenarios present real-life situations involving friendship, family, empathy, cooperation, honesty or negotiation. Children are encouraged to reflect on how they would respond, what emotions are involved and what choices would be the most responsible.
SEL activities support the development of some important life skills listed here.
- Empathy
- Self-awareness
- Decision-making
- Emotional regulation
- Teamwork
- Respect for others
These elements are essential for character building and are strongly recommended under NEP 2020’s holistic development framework. By regularly engaging with SEL tasks, learners become more mindful, compassionate and confident in handling everyday challenges.
6. Focus on 21st Century Skills
To help learners meet the demands of a rapidly changing world, the series integrates activities that develop essential 21st century skills. Students are encouraged to think creatively, communicate clearly, collaborate effectively and solve problems with logic and confidence.
Let’s have a look at some examples.
- Open-ended questions promote creativity.
- Group activities strengthen communication and teamwork.
- Observation-based tasks encourage critical thinking.
- Real-life scenarios build problem-solving abilities.
These skills go beyond curriculum knowledge. They equip children with the mindset and abilities needed for future learning, innovation and responsible citizenship. By engaging in these activities at a young age, students develop adaptability, curiosity and resilience—qualities that will support them across all subjects and future careers.
Which of these 21st-century skills is the most important for students?
Assessment Methods That Truly Reflect Learning
The series moves away from memory-based evaluation and includes the following assessment tools.
- Assertion and reason exercises
- Case-based questions
- Picture-based questions
- Skill-focused worksheets
- Practice sheets
- A 360-degree holistic progress card
These tools support both formative and competency-based assessments recommended by NCERT.
Rich Digital Support for Teachers and Learners
As part of the Viva Education EVS books for classes 1 to 5, the series is backed by a robust digital ecosystem which provides the following resources.
- Chapter animations
- Interactive activities
- Worksheets
- Teachers’ manuals
- Test generators
This combination of print and digital learning enhances classroom engagement.
Why Schools Should Prefer Next Step: The World Around Us
Schools adopting the new NCERT syllabus need materials that are modern, engaging and aligned with national academic priorities. Next Step stands out as the ideal choice due to the following enhancements it offers.
✓ Complete NCERT alignment: Ensures smooth adoption of the revised curriculum.
✓ Inquiry-based pedagogy: Promotes exploration, questioning and real-world application.
✓ Age-appropriate, child-friendly content: Designed for the developmental stages of Classes 1 to 5.
✓ Strong focus on SDGs: Instils responsible environmental and social habits.
✓ Integrated SEL components: Helps children grow socially, emotionally and ethically.
✓ Digital teaching and learning support: Enables effective blended learning.
✓ 21st-century skill-building: Prepares students for future challenges with creativity and critical thinking.
✓Smooth NEP implementation: Reflects all major NEP and NCF recommendations, making it easy for schools to transition without additional training pressures.
Together, these features make Next Step: The World Around Us a comprehensive, modern and future-ready EVS CBSE textbooks for Class 1 to 5 that enrich both teaching and learning.
Conclusion
Next Step: The World Around Us is not just a textbook series—it is a complete teaching-learning solution designed for modern classrooms. As an NEP-aligned EVS book series, it supports experiential learning, promotes sustainable living, integrates SEL and builds essential 21st-century skills. Supported by digital tools and designed in alignment with the latest NCERT syllabus, the series serves as the ideal combination of Viva Education EVS books for classes 1 to 5.
For schools looking to adopt an EVS series that is relevant, engaging and future-ready, Next Step: The World Around Us offers everything needed to create confident, curious and responsible learners.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is Next Step: The World Around Us?
It is Viva Education’s NCERT-aligned EVS series for Classes 1 to 5, designed according to NEP 2020 and NCF guidelines. The series supports experiential learning, inquiry, SDGs and 21st-century skills.
2. Is the series aligned with the latest NCERT syllabus?
Yes. Each chapter is precisely mapped to NCERT themes for Classes 3–5, ensuring complete alignment without gaps or overlap.
3. What teaching approach does the series follow?
The books use a Six-Stage Learning Pathway and the STW (See, Think, Wonder) method to promote inquiry-driven, child-led learning.
4. Does the series incorporate NEP 2020 recommendations?
Absolutely. The series integrates experiential learning, competency-based progression, SEL, SDGs, and foundational skill development as recommended in NEP 2020.
5. What digital resources are provided with the series?
Teachers and learners get access to chapter animations, worksheets, activities, test generators and teacher manuals through Viva Digital.
6. How does the series support 21st-century skills?
Activities are designed to build creativity, communication, critical thinking and problem-solving—core competencies for future learning.
7. Is this series suitable for CBSE schools?
Yes. The series is created specifically for CBSE schools looking for EVS textbooks aligned with NCERT 2023 and NEP 2020 guidelines. It fits perfectly as an EVS CBSE textbook for Classes 1–5.
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