5.5 The Information Hunt
Complete textbook exercise solutions — Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade Six English.
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About the chapter
In this lesson, Mona has to collect information for a school project. She learns to use both offline resources, like books and encyclopaedias, and online resources, like websites and videos. The librarian helps her use the library catalogue. The lesson teaches us how to find correct information wisely.
Key points
- Offline resources work without the internet — books, magazines, newspapers, encyclopaedias.
- Online resources need the internet — websites, e-books, videos, e-libraries.
- A library catalogue helps us find books by title, author or topic.
- Offline resources are deep and reliable; online resources are quick and updated.
- We should compare information from different sources.
Words to remember
- resource – a source of information or help
- catalogue – a list of all the books in a library
- encyclopaedia – a book or set of books with facts on many subjects
- reliable – that can be trusted
- research – a careful study to find facts
| Online | Offline |
|---|---|
| Websites, Digital encyclopaedia, Online articles, E-books, Educational videos, E-libraries, Wikipedia, ISRO’s official website | Books, Magazines, Encyclopaedia, Newspapers, Library catalogue, Biographies, Reference books |
| Resource | Answer | Use |
|---|---|---|
| (i) Books | (b) | Detailed information |
| (ii) Magazines | (d) | Latest articles |
| (iii) Encyclopaedia | (a) | Quick facts |
| (iv) Websites | (e) | Updated digital info |
| (v) Videos | (c) | Visual learning |
- (i) A library catalogue helps us to find books in a library.
- (ii) Offline resources work without the internet.
- (iii) Digital encyclopaedias give short explanations and pictures and facts.
- (iv) Newspapers provide current information.
(i) Which source do you trust the most and why?
I trust books and official websites the most. Books are written by experts and checked before printing. Official websites, like ISRO’s, give correct and updated facts.
(ii) Give two examples of online resources.
Websites and digital encyclopaedias.
(iii) Why is it important to use both offline and online sources?
Offline sources give deep and reliable information. Online sources give quick and updated information. By using both, we can check the facts and get correct information.
Mona: Excuse me, madam. May I ask for some help?
Librarian: Of course. What are you looking for?
Mona: I have to write a one-page biography of an Indian woman scientist. There are so many shelves here that I don’t know where to begin.
Librarian: Then let us begin with the catalogue. This is the library catalogue — a list of all the books we have. You can search by title, by author or by topic.
Mona: Shall I search by topic?
Librarian: Yes. Type “Indian scientists” or “women in science”. It will tell you the exact shelf number.
Mona: It shows three biographies and one science magazine. Thank you!
Librarian: Take them to the reading table. And when you finish, come to the computer — I shall show you the online resources too.
Mona: Can I find more there?
Librarian: You can. The ISRO website will give you accurate details of the Mars Orbiter Mission, and a digital encyclopaedia will give you quick facts. But always compare what you read online with what you find in the books.
Mona: I will. Thank you so much, madam. I don’t feel lost any more!
Students should draw this as a proper tree diagram in their notebook, with “Resources” at the top, two branches below it, and the individual items branching out from each.
This is a research activity. Students should collect their own information using the six points given — picture, early life, education, achievements, contribution to India, and interesting facts.
Indian women scientists students may choose: Dr. Ritu Karidhal and Ms. Nandini Harinath (both of the Mars Orbiter Mission team) · Dr. Tessy Thomas (“Missile Woman of India”) · Dr. Janaki Ammal (botany) · Dr. Asima Chatterjee (chemistry) · Dr. Anandibai Joshi (India’s first woman doctor) · Dr. Kamala Sohonie (biochemistry).
| Do’s | Don’ts |
|---|---|
| • Use reliable websites like educational or government websites. (given) • Read e-books, e-magazines and other online sources carefully. • Summarize information in your own words. • Compare the information taken from various websites. | • Depend only on one website for information. • Copy information without understanding it. • Believe in any post / information randomly available on internet. |
Do’s while using offline resources:
- Use the library catalogue to find books.
- Make notes in your own words.
- Handle books with care and return them on time.
Don’ts while using offline resources:
- Don’t tear or write in library books.
- Don’t copy whole paragraphs.
- Don’t make noise in the library.
Example given: It is used in school · We write on it · It has many pages → Notebook
- It is a list · It is kept in a library · It helps us find books → Catalogue
- It is printed every day · It gives current news · We read it in the morning → Newspaper
- It is a life story · Someone else writes it · It uses ‘he’ or ‘she’ → Biography
Students should now write three clues of their own.
This is a drawing activity. Students should make their own poster with images, labels and examples.
Suggested layout: Divide the sheet into two halves. On the left, draw a library shelf with books, magazines, a newspaper and an encyclopaedia, labelled OFFLINE — deep, reliable, well-organized. On the right, draw a computer, tablet and mobile phone with a website, a video and an e-book, labelled ONLINE — quick, updated, easy to search. At the bottom write: “Use both wisely — become a smart researcher!”
This is a visit and speaking activity. Students should visit a library and present their own opinion in class.
Points to observe during the visit: How are the books arranged? · Is there a catalogue, and how does it work? · Which sections exist (story, reference, science, magazines)? · How does one borrow and return a book? · What rules must readers follow?