11. Nature's Treasures
Answers to in-text questions, activities and Let us enhance our learning. NCERT Curiosity, Class 6 Science (CBSE).
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Activities and In-text Questions
I can hold my breath for about 30–40 seconds. After that I feel uncomfortable and need to breathe out.
Our body needs oxygen all the time. So we cannot survive without oxygen.
Uses: drinking, cooking, bathing, washing clothes and utensils, cleaning, watering plants, growing crops and in industries.
Sources: rain, rivers, lakes, ponds, wells, tube wells, springs and the sea.
| Activity | How is water wasted? | Ways to reduce wastage |
|---|---|---|
| Hand washing | Tap left running while rubbing hands | Close the tap while applying soap |
| Washing clothes | Rinsing under running water | Use a bucket; reuse rinse water for mopping |
| Washing utensils | Tap kept open all the time | Use a tub of water for washing |
| Taking shower | Long showers | Use a bucket and mug |
| Cooking | Water for washing vegetables thrown away | Use it to water plants |
| Gardening | Watering with a pipe at noon | Water in the morning or evening with a can |
| Brushing teeth | Tap left running | Use a mug of water |
- Plants make food
- Drying of clothes
- Drying grains, chillies, papad and pickles
- Making salt from seawater
- Cooking in a solar cooker
- Making electricity with solar panels
The friend who says that the cow gets energy from the Sun through grass is correct.
Grass needs sunlight to make food. The cow eats grass. So the Sun is the main source of energy for the cow.
- We may have to depend on artificial lighting during daytime also.
- Plants will not be able to make food.
- Clothes and grains will not dry, and it will become colder.
Wood, fruits, honey, medicinal herbs, gum, bamboo and paper (from wood pulp).
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| Location | Observation with naked eye | With magnifying lens |
|---|---|---|
| Farm after ploughing | Dark brown, soft, moist | Small roots, earthworms, tiny insects |
| Garden | Dark, loose | Dead leaves, small roots |
| Roadside | Light brown, hard and dry | Small pebbles, pieces of plastic |
| River bank | Grey, sandy | Fine sand grains |
Soils from different places differ in colour and texture because they contain different materials.
| Vehicle | Fuel |
|---|---|
| Scooter, motorcycle | Petrol |
| Car | Petrol, diesel or CNG |
| Bus | Diesel or CNG |
| Truck, tractor | Diesel |
| Auto-rickshaw | CNG or LPG |
| Electric scooter | Electricity (battery) |
Petrol and diesel are the most common fuels.
- Share vehicles (car-pool) and use public transport.
- Switch off the engine at red lights.
- Use electric or CNG vehicles.
- Use solar energy and do not burn garbage.
- Plant more trees.
| Activity | Natural resource |
|---|---|
| Washing clothes | Water |
| Making clay toys | Soil (clay), water |
| Collecting firewood | Forest (wood) |
| Making kites | Bamboo, paper (from trees), wind |
| Having breakfast | Food from plants and animals, water, fuel |
Let us enhance our learning
| Item | Name | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Tap with water | atwre → water | Renewable |
| Windmill | ndiw → wind | Renewable |
| Forest | refost → forest | Renewable |
| Rock | ocrk → rock | Non-renewable |
(i) Nature has all the resources to meet human needs. — True
(ii) Machines are a resource found in nature. — False. Machines are human-made resources.
(iii) Natural gas is a non-renewable resource. — True
(iv) Air is a renewable resource. — True
(i) A fuel commonly used in two wheelers like scooters or bikes is (b) Petrol.
(ii) An example of a renewable resource is (b) Water.
Renewable: forests
Non-renewable: coal, natural gas, minerals
Petroleum takes millions of years to form. It is found in limited quantity. Once used, it cannot be replaced within a reasonable time.
Trees take many years to grow big. A forest has many plants and animals that depend on each other. Once a forest is cut, the soil also gets washed away. So it takes a very long time to restore a forest.
| Activity | Resource | Way to reduce use |
|---|---|---|
| Bathing | Water | Use a bucket instead of a shower |
| Cooking | LPG (fossil fuel) | Use a pressure cooker; cover the pots |
| Going to school | Petrol | Walk, cycle or use public transport |
| Writing | Paper (trees) | Use both sides of paper; recycle |
| Using lights and fans | Electricity (coal) | Switch them off when not in use |
- Breathing by living beings
- Drying of clothes
- Flying kites and running windmills
- Burning of fuels (fire needs air)
- Plant saplings and take care of them.
- Celebrate Van Mahotsav in the community.
- Grow plants in pots on balconies and terraces.
- Stop people from cutting trees.
- Make a school garden with the eco-club.
(i) Solar energy (energy from the Sun) is being used for cooking.
(ii) Benefit: It is free and does not cause pollution. Drawback: It cannot be used at night or on cloudy days.
Roots of trees hold the soil. Without trees, rain and wind wash away the top fertile soil.
Fallen leaves that decay and add nutrients are also lost. So the soil becomes poor.
- Burning fossil fuels in vehicles and factories releases smoke and carbon dioxide.
- Burning garbage, crop waste and wood produces smoke.
Action: Use public transport, cycles or electric vehicles.
The solar panels would not produce electricity. The family may have no electricity.
The gas stove would still work. The windmill could still pump water if wind blows.
Report: Should trees be cut for industries and housing?
We need wood, paper and land for houses and industries. But cutting trees on a large scale is not justified.
It destroys the homes of animals and birds. It causes soil erosion, air pollution and less rainfall.
Suggestions: Plant more trees than we cut. Recycle paper and wood. Use other materials where possible. Cut trees only in a planned way.
- Fix all leaking taps and pipes.
- Put up “Save Water” posters near taps.
- Appoint student water monitors to close running taps.
- Use leftover drinking water to water plants.
- Set up rainwater harvesting on the school roof.
This will save groundwater and electricity used for pumping. More water will be left for others and for the future.