Class 5 EVS · Chapter 6

6. Some Unique Places

Answers to all Write, Discuss, Find out, Activity and Let us reflect questions. NCERT Our Wondrous World, Class 5 EVS (CBSE) · Unit 3: Incredible India.

Find out

Look at the map for the southernmost point of India.

The southernmost point of India is Indira Point. It is in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

1In which sea are the Andaman and Nicobar Islands located?

They are in the Bay of Bengal. The Andaman Sea lies to their east.

2Name the other islands you know.

Lakshadweep, Majuli (Assam), Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu), Diu and Elephanta (Maharashtra).

Activity 1

Make a paper roll stand up, first without and then with paper triangles at the bottom. Does it stay upright?

Without the triangles, the roll falls over easily.

With the triangles stuck around its base, the roll stays upright. The triangles support it, just like big roots support a tree.

Think

Why do you think some birds and animals are found only on these islands?

The islands are surrounded by sea on all sides. Birds and animals there cannot easily move to other places. Over a long time, they became special to these islands.

Write

1Draw or write about your favourite fish or other sea animal.

My favourite sea animal is the dolphin. It is a smart mammal. It breathes air and lives in groups. It loves to jump out of the water and play.

2List at least three living things found in the sea.

Fish, crabs, starfish, octopus, sea turtles, corals and seaweed.

Discuss

1Why do you think life under the sea is just as important as life in the forests?

The sea is home to many plants and animals. Tiny sea plants give us a lot of oxygen. The sea gives food to millions of people. Life on Earth depends on healthy seas too.

2How do you think the coral reef helps the fish and other sea creatures?

Coral reefs give fish a safe home and hiding places. They also give food and a safe place to lay eggs.

How do you think their knowledge might have helped the people of North Sentinel Island stay safe?

They know nature well. They may have noticed the sea moving back and animals running to higher ground. So they moved to high land in time and stayed safe.

Sundarbans

1What do you find in the mangrove forest? List any three.

Mangrove trees with breathing roots, Royal Bengal tigers, crocodiles, crabs, fish and many birds.

2What do you think makes this place different from other forests?

It grows in muddy, salty land where the river meets the sea. Water flows in and out with the tides. The trees have roots sticking out of the water to breathe.

In what ways do people in Sundarbans depend on the mangrove forests?

People get fish, crabs, honey and wood from the forest. Many earn by fishing and by taking tourists on boats. The mangroves also protect their homes from storms and waves.

Discuss: Why is it important to take care of places like the Sundarbans?

Mangroves protect the coast from cyclones and big waves. They are home to tigers and many other animals. Many people depend on them for a living.

Find out: Do you see any living thing that has something special to help it live where it does?

A duck has webbed feet that help it swim. A cactus stores water in its thick stem to live in dry places.

Northeast India

Can you name the seven Northeastern states?

Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. Along with Sikkim, they make up Northeast India.

1Look at the picture. Identify three things being sold in the market.

Bamboo baskets, pickles in jars and handwoven clothes and caps.

2Identify the festival from the picture.

Bihu — a famous festival of Assam. Women in the picture are doing the Bihu dance.

3Why do you think the houses are built on bamboo structures?

This region gets very heavy rain. Raised houses stay safe from floods, dampness and animals. Bamboo grows in plenty here, and it is strong and light.

4What animals do you see in the picture?

An elephant and a hornbill.

5What does this picture tell you about the people who live with nature in the Northeast of India?

People use things from nature, like bamboo and cotton, to build houses and make crafts. They live close to forests and animals. Their festivals, music and dance are linked with nature.

Discuss

Choose an animal or bird near you that needs protection. Create a protection plan.

Bird: House sparrow

Our plan: Keep bowls of water and grains on balconies. Put up nest boxes. Plant native trees and shrubs. Do not use chemical sprays on plants.

Activity 2

Make a small bird’s nest. What makes a good nest? What does the nest need to keep the eggs safe?

A good nest is strong and cup-shaped. It has a soft lining of cotton or feathers. It should be dry, warm and hidden from other animals.

Activity 3

Root bridge challenge: Connect two chairs using string or sticks to hold a small toy.

Twist and tie many strings or sticks together. Like roots, many strands joined together make a strong bridge.

Western Ghats

1Locate the Western Ghats on the map and name the six states it passes through.

Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

2What animals can you spot in the forest?

Lion-tailed macaque, hornbill, leopard, deer, elephant, Nilgiri tahr (mountain goat), snake, frog and many birds.

3What are the people doing in the picture?

They are plucking tea leaves in a plantation.

4Why do you think forts were built on hilltops instead of flat land?

From a hilltop, enemies can be seen from far away. It is very hard for enemies to climb up and attack. So hill forts were safer.

Give the names of three rivers that start from the Western Ghats.

Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri.

Activity 4

Pick a fruit or vegetable from your state and list its local varieties.

Example — Mango (Maharashtra): Alphonso (Hapus), Kesar, Payri, Totapuri and Rajapuri.

Write

List three protected areas in the Western Ghats.

Silent Valley National Park (Kerala), Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala) and Bandipur National Park (Karnataka).

Let us reflect

1What surprised you the most about the places visited in this journey? Why?

The living root bridges surprised me the most. People shaped tree roots into bridges strong enough to walk on.

2Which place would you like to visit the most and what would you do there?

I would like to visit the Andaman Islands. I would see coral reefs from a glass-bottom boat and watch the colourful fish.

3How is your region similar or different from one of the places in the story?

My region is like the Western Ghats. It has hills, forests and forts. But it does not have the sea or mangroves like the Sundarbans.

4Match the aquatic animals with their features.

Animal	Feature
Dolphin	Smart mammals that breathe air and live in groups.
Sea turtle	With hard shells, return to the beach where they were born to lay eggs.
Coral	Tiny sea animals that form colourful reefs and homes for fish.
Seahorse	Fish that swims upright, face looks like that of a horse.
Clownfish	Lives safely among stinging sea anemones.
Starfish	Has no brain but can regrow its arms, if lost.
Jellyfish	Has a soft, transparent body and stings with its tentacles.
Octopus	Has eight arms and can change its colour to hide.

5What is special about mangroves?

Mangroves grow in salty, muddy water where rivers meet the sea. Their roots come out of the water to breathe. They hold the soil and protect the coast from waves and storms.

6How do people in different regions live in harmony with nature?

In the Northeast, people grow living root bridges and use bamboo for houses.
In the Sundarbans, people wear masks on the back of the head to stay safe from tigers.
In the Western Ghats, forest people use plants for food and medicine without harming the forest.
The Apatani people grow rice and fish together without machines or fertilisers.

7Make a collage by pasting pictures depicting vibrant India.

Collect pictures of places, people, festivals, animals and food from different states and paste them on chart paper.

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