Nature's Treasures

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argon

78

wind

wind

two-thirds

saline (salty)

22nd

energy

electricity

July

Chipko

living

minerals

fossil

renewable

True

False

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False

True

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True

False

True

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False

A–2, B–4, C–1, D–3, E–5

A–2, B–1, C–4, D–3, E–5

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Air contains about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% argon, carbon dioxide and other gases.

Our body needs oxygen to perform its functions. When we hold our breath for long, the body does not get enough oxygen, which is why we feel uncomfortable.

Moving air is called wind. Examples: a storm (fast wind) and a breeze (gentle wind).

Windmills can be used to run flour mills, to pull up water from a well, and to generate electricity.

Muppandal Wind Farm (Tamil Nadu), Jaisalmer Wind Park (Rajasthan) and Brahmanvel Wind Farm (Maharashtra).

Ocean water is saline (salty), so it is not fit for domestic, agricultural or industrial use; for these we need freshwater.

Rainwater harvesting is the method of collecting and storing rainwater in large quantities for later use. It is an age-old practice in India.

In Rajasthan, stepwells are called Bawadi (e.g. Toorji ka Jhalra, Jodhpur) and in Gujarat they are called Vav.

The Sun provides heat and light; plants make food using sunlight, animals eat plants, and all living beings depend on this energy, so the Sun is the main source of energy.

Solar panels capture the Sun's energy to produce electricity; solar cookers use it for cooking and solar water heaters for heating water.

Van Mahotsav is a week-long forest festival celebrated across India in July, during which new plants and trees are planted and awareness about respecting forests is raised.

The Chipko movement started in the early 1970s in Uttarakhand, where local women encircled and hugged trees to protect them from being felled.

Soil is formed by the disintegration (breaking apart) of rocks by the actions of the Sun, water and living organisms over a long time (thousands of years).

Earthworms are natural agents that help in turning and loosening the soil, making it suitable for plants to grow.

Granite, sandstone and marble. Rocks are used in the construction of houses, buildings, roads, dams and table tops.

Fossil fuels are fuels formed from the remains of microorganisms and plants buried deep inside the earth over millions of years. Three examples are petroleum, natural gas and coal.

Natural gas is used for cooking and for generating electricity; it is also used as CNG, a cleaner fuel for vehicles.

Fossil fuels are found in limited quantities and take millions of years to form. If we continue using them as we do, we will soon run out of them.

Natural resources come from nature, e.g. air and water. Human-made resources are created by human beings, e.g. electric bulbs, furniture and bicycles.

Turn off taps when not in use and fix water leakages; recycling water and rainwater harvesting also help conserve water.

Introduction: Air is a mixture of several gases, and its composition can be shown using a chart of 100 squares.
Key Points:
1. Nitrogen (78%) — Out of 100 squares, 78 are occupied by nitrogen, making it the largest part of air.
2. Oxygen (21%) — 21 squares are occupied by oxygen, which living beings need to survive.
3. Other gases (1%) — The remaining 1 square is occupied by argon, carbon dioxide and other gases.
Conclusion: Air is made up mostly of nitrogen and oxygen, with a small amount of other gases.

Introduction: A firki is a paper pinwheel that rotates when wind blows on it, showing how moving air can be used.
Key Points:
1. How a firki works — When you hold a firki in the wind or run with it, the wind makes it rotate.
2. Relating to a windmill — The working of a windmill is similar to that of a firki, as wind rotates its wings.
3. Uses of windmills — Windmills can run flour mills, pull up water from wells, or generate electricity.
Conclusion: Both firki and windmill use the energy of the wind, which is moving air, to do useful work.

Introduction: Water covers about two-thirds of the Earth's surface, but most of it is saline water unfit for our use.
Key Points:
1. Saline water — Most water is found in oceans and seas, but it is salty and unfit for domestic or farm use.
2. Freshwater sources — Freshwater is present as ice sheets or snow, in rivers and lakes, and underground.
3. Accessible freshwater — Only a small fraction in ponds, rivers, lakes and wells is easily accessible, so freshwater is precious.
Conclusion: Since accessible freshwater is very limited, we must use it carefully and avoid wasting it.

Introduction: Rainwater harvesting is an age-old practice in India of collecting and storing rainwater for later use.
Key Points:
1. Rainwater harvesting — In many buildings, rainwater is collected and stored in large quantities for later use.
2. Stepwells — Stepwells, called Bawadi in Rajasthan and Vav in Gujarat, were built to harvest water.
3. How stepwells store water — They store rainwater and water seeping from nearby lakes, ponds and rivers.
Conclusion: The stone-lined walls of stepwells allow water seepage, making them a unique water-harvesting system.

Introduction: The Sun is the main source of energy on Earth, and the cow-grazing example shows this clearly.
Key Points:
1. Plants make food — Grass leaves need sunlight to grow and to prepare their food.
2. Cow eats grass — When the cow grazes the grass, it gets the energy stored in the grass.
3. Energy from the Sun — So, the energy the cow gets ultimately comes from the Sun.
Conclusion: Since plants depend on the Sun, all animals and humans also depend on the Sun for energy.

Introduction: Forests are large areas with dense growth of plants, and they are very important for living beings.
Key Points:
1. Home for wildlife — Forests are a natural home for many wild animals, birds and insects, giving them food and shelter.
2. Support diversity — The diversity of life forms in forests ensures food for every living being.
3. Forest cover decreasing — Over the years, forest cover has been decreasing mainly due to human activities like large-scale cutting of trees.
Conclusion: Since it takes many years to grow a new forest, we must preserve and use forests responsibly.

Introduction: In a forest, roots and fallen leaves work together to keep the soil rich and fertile, a natural recycling.
Key Points:
1. Roots hold soil — The roots of plants hold on to the soil and prevent it from being washed away.
2. Leaves enrich soil — Fallen leaves decay and enrich the soil with nutrients.
3. New plants grow — The enriched soil is then used by new plants and trees to grow.
Conclusion: This continuous process is an example of recycling in nature that keeps the soil fertile.

Introduction: Soil is a precious treasure that forms very slowly from rocks over thousands of years.
Key Points:
1. Formation of soil — Soil is formed by the breaking apart of rocks due to the actions of the Sun, water and living organisms.
2. Long time — This process of disintegration takes thousands of years to produce soil.
3. Different colours — Soil samples from different places may have different colours because they contain different materials.
Conclusion: Soil samples may also contain sand, insects, worms and the remains of decaying plants and animals.

Introduction: Fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gas are formed from ancient living matter buried in the Earth.
Key Points:
1. Formation — They are formed from the remains of microorganisms and plants buried deep inside the Earth.
2. Long time — It takes millions of years for these remains to be converted into fossil fuels.
3. Why non-renewable — They are found in limited quantities and cannot be replenished within a reasonable period.
Conclusion: Once used, fossil fuels get exhausted, which is why they are called non-renewable resources.

Introduction: Natural resources are of two types based on whether they can be replenished or not.
Key Points:
1. Renewable resources — These get renewed, replenished or restored within a reasonable period of time.
2. Examples of renewable — Air, water and forests are examples of renewable natural resources.
3. Non-renewable resources — These take a very long time to form and get exhausted once used.
4. Examples of non-renewable — Coal, petroleum, natural gas, minerals, soil and rocks are non-renewable.
Conclusion: Since non-renewable resources are limited, we must use all natural resources judiciously.

Introduction: Over-dependence on fossil fuels has resulted in large-scale air pollution from human activities.
Key Points:
1. Vehicles — Burning petrol and diesel in vehicles releases smoke that pollutes the air.
2. Domestic fuels — Burning coal, wood and dung cakes as domestic fuels also produces smoke and pollutes the air.
3. Action to reduce — We can use public transport, walk or cycle, and switch to electric vehicles to reduce air pollution.
Conclusion: Using cleaner fuels and reducing fossil-fuel use can help keep the air clean for all living beings.

Introduction: Cutting down trees on a large scale harms the soil because trees protect and enrich it in many ways.
Key Points:
1. Soil is washed away — Without roots to hold it, the topsoil is easily washed away by rain or wind.
2. Loss of nutrients — There are no fallen leaves to decay and enrich the soil with nutrients.
3. Lower fertility — As a result, the soil loses its fertility and its ability to support new plants.
Conclusion: Large-scale cutting of trees leads to soil erosion and reduces the quality and fertility of the soil.

Introduction: The Sun is the main source of energy on Earth, so no sunlight for a week would affect all three.
Key Points:
1. Solar panels — Without sunlight, solar panels would not be able to capture the Sun's energy and produce electricity.
2. Gas stove — A gas stove would still work, because natural gas is stored underground and does not need daily sunlight.
3. Windmill — Winds are caused by the Sun's uneven heating of the Earth, so windmills would slow down over time.
Conclusion: Without sunlight, solar panels stop at once, windmills slow down, while gas stoves keep working from stored fuel.

Introduction: Rocks and minerals are very useful natural resources that we use in many ways every day.
Key Points:
1. Uses of rocks — Rocks are used in building houses, temples, roads and dams; slate is used for roofing.
2. Tools from rocks — Since thousands of years, rocks have been used to make hand axes and arrowheads.
3. Uses of minerals — Minerals give us metals like aluminium, gold, copper and iron, used in cars, jewellery and electronics.
Conclusion: Even a basic mobile phone contains about a dozen minerals, showing how useful rocks and minerals are.

Introduction: Water is precious, so a plan to use less water in school can help conserve this natural treasure.
Key Points:
1. Turn off taps — Ensure taps are turned off when not in use and leaking taps are fixed promptly.
2. Use buckets — Use bucket water for cleaning instead of running hoses or taps.
3. Reuse and harvest — Reuse water for watering plants and set up rainwater harvesting in the school.
Conclusion: This plan reduces wastage of freshwater and helps keep water sources available for all living beings.

(a) Oxygen. (b) Nitrogen about 78% and oxygen about 21%. (c) When we hold our breath, the body does not get enough oxygen to perform its functions, so we feel uncomfortable and cannot hold it for long; we cannot survive without oxygen even for a few minutes.

(a) The wind. (b) Running flour mills and generating electricity (also pulling up water). (c) Muppandal Wind Farm (Tamil Nadu) and Jaisalmer Wind Park (Rajasthan); they use wind energy to generate electricity.

(a) Ocean water is saline/salty and not fit for domestic, agricultural or industrial use. (b) A small fraction of freshwater in ponds, rivers, lakes and wells is easily accessible. (c) Turn off taps when not in use and fix leakages; recycle water and practise rainwater harvesting.

(a) The Sun is the main source—the cow eats grass, and grass leaves need sunlight to grow. (b) Solar panels and solar cookers (or solar water heaters). (c) Plants make food using sunlight; animals eat plants; we get food from both plants and animals. This cycle is possible due to the Sun, making it the main source of energy on Earth.

(a) Roots hold the soil and prevent it from being washed away; fallen leaves decay and enrich the soil with nutrients. (b) Mainly due to human activities like large-scale cutting of trees. (c) Van Mahotsav is a week-long forest festival in July for planting trees and raising awareness. The Chipko movement (early 1970s, Uttarakhand) involved local women hugging trees to protect them from being felled—both aim to preserve forests.

(a) Soil is formed by the disintegration of rocks by the Sun, water and living organisms over thousands of years. (b) Earthworms are natural agents that turn and loosen the soil. (c) Different soils contain different materials, giving different colours. Roots hold the soil and prevent it from being washed away, while fallen leaves decay and add nutrients.

(a) Petroleum, natural gas and coal. (b) From the remains of microorganisms and plants buried deep inside the earth. (c) They take millions of years to form and are found in limited quantities, so once used they get exhausted—hence non-renewable. When burnt, they produce smoke and carbon dioxide, which pollutes the air.

(a) Walking/cycling to nearby places and using public transport. (b) Electric vehicles do not release any smoke, so they cause less pollution. (c) Burning fossil fuels in vehicles produces smoke and CO2; dumping waste and using coal/wood for cooking also pollute the air. Action: use public transport or electric vehicles to reduce air pollution.

(a) Natural resources come from nature (e.g. air/water); human-made resources are created by humans (e.g. electric bulb/furniture). (b) Renewable: forests; Non-renewable: coal. (c) Coal—non-renewable; natural gas—non-renewable; forests—renewable; minerals—non-renewable.

(a) Freshwater sources are limited and not everyone has equal access, so water must be conserved and used judiciously. (b) Traditional: stepwell (Bawadi/Vav); modern: rainwater harvesting. (c) Turn off taps when not in use, fix leakages, recycle water for gardening and avoid wasting water while bathing/brushing teeth.

Introduction: Air is one of the most precious natural treasures, as no living being can survive without it.
Key Points:
1. Composition — Air is a mixture of gases: 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% argon, carbon dioxide and other gases.
2. Importance of oxygen — Our body needs oxygen to perform its functions; we cannot hold our breath for long.
3. Survival — We can survive without food or water for a few days, but not without oxygen even for a few minutes.
4. Moving air (wind) — Moving air is called wind, which we notice when leaves rustle or clothes sway.
5. Uses of wind — Wind runs windmills, which can pull up water, run flour mills and generate electricity.
Conclusion: Because air supports life and provides wind energy, it is a natural treasure we must keep clean.

Introduction: Water is essential for all life, but only a small fraction of the Earth's water is usable freshwater.
Key Points:
1. Sources of water — Most water is saline, in oceans and seas; freshwater is in ice, rivers, lakes and underground.
2. Limited accessible water — Only a small fraction in ponds, rivers, lakes and wells is easily accessible, so water is precious.
3. Need for conservation — Freshwater sources are limited and are polluted by trash and waste, causing shortage in many places.
4. Methods of conservation — Turn off taps, fix leakages, recycle water, and prevent pollution of water sources.
5. Rainwater harvesting — Rainwater harvesting and stepwells store rainwater for later use, an age-old Indian practice.
Conclusion: Since water is precious and limited, we must conserve it and prevent its pollution for all living beings.

Introduction: The Sun is the main source of energy on Earth, and all living beings depend on it.
Key Points:
1. Plants make food — Sunlight helps plants prepare food, which they and other living beings use for energy.
2. Cow-grazing example — Grass needs sunlight to grow; the cow eats grass, so its energy ultimately comes from the Sun.
3. Heat and light — The Sun provides heat and light used for drying clothes, chillies and raw mangoes.
4. Solar panels — Solar panels capture the Sun's energy and produce electricity for lights and traffic signals.
5. Other uses — Solar energy is used directly for cooking in a solar cooker and for heating water in a solar water heater.
Conclusion: Since plants, animals and humans all depend on the Sun for energy, life on Earth is impossible without it.

Introduction: Forests are natural treasures that shelter wildlife, but their cover has been decreasing due to human activities.
Key Points:
1. Home for wildlife — Forests are a natural home for wild animals, birds and insects, providing them food and shelter.
2. Support diversity — The diversity of life forms in forests ensures food for every living being.
3. Decreasing cover — Forest cover is decreasing mainly due to large-scale cutting of trees by humans.
4. Van Mahotsav — It is a week-long festival in July when new plants and trees are planted to increase green cover.
5. Chipko movement — In the early 1970s in Uttarakhand, women hugged trees to protect them from being felled.
Conclusion: India has a tradition of sacred groves and movements like Chipko, showing the need to preserve forests responsibly.

Introduction: Soil, rocks and minerals are important natural treasures that take thousands to millions of years to form.
Key Points:
1. Soil formation — Soil forms by the breaking apart of rocks due to the Sun, water and living organisms over thousands of years.
2. Importance of soil — Soil supports biodiversity and is used to grow plants; different soils have different colours and uses.
3. Uses of rocks — Rocks are used in houses, temples, roads, dams, roofing (slate), and to make tools like hand axes.
4. Minerals and metals — Rocks are made of minerals, from which metals like aluminium, gold, copper and iron are extracted.
5. Uses of minerals — Minerals are used in airplanes, cars, jewellery, cosmetics and electronics; a mobile phone has about a dozen minerals.
Conclusion: Since soil, rocks and minerals take very long to form, we must conserve and use them responsibly.

Introduction: Fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gas are important non-renewable sources of energy.
Key Points:
1. Formation — They are formed from the remains of microorganisms and plants buried deep inside the Earth over millions of years.
2. Uses — Coal is used to produce electricity; petroleum gives petrol, diesel and kerosene; natural gas is used for cooking and as CNG.
3. Effects — Burning fossil fuels produces smoke and carbon dioxide, which pollutes the air and harms living beings.
4. Limited quantity — Fossil fuels are found in limited quantities and will soon run out if used carelessly.
5. Need to conserve — We must walk or cycle, use public transport, and find alternate sources of energy to conserve them.
Conclusion: Since fossil fuels are non-renewable and polluting, we must conserve them and seek cleaner alternatives.

Introduction: Natural resources are grouped into renewable and non-renewable based on how fast they are replenished.
Key Points:
1. Renewable resources — These get renewed, replenished or restored within a reasonable period of time by nature.
2. Examples of renewable — Air, water and forests are renewable natural resources that nature renews.
3. Non-renewable resources — These take a very long time to form and get exhausted once used.
4. Examples of non-renewable — Coal, petroleum, natural gas, minerals, soil and rocks are non-renewable.
5. Why judicious use — Non-renewable resources are limited, and even renewable ones need time to renew, so wasting them harms the future.
Conclusion: As Gandhiji said, the Earth provides enough for our needs but not for our greed, so we must use resources judiciously.

Introduction: Air pollution makes the air dirty and harmful, and it has increased due to human activities in cities.
Key Points:
1. Cause — vehicles — Burning petrol and diesel in vehicles releases smoke that pollutes the city air.
2. Cause — fuels — Over-dependence on fossil fuels for transport and domestic use causes large-scale air pollution.
3. Effect — health and smell — Polluted air smells of smoke and is not fit for breathing by living beings.
4. Effect — environment — Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide, which harms the environment.
5. Measures to reduce — Use electric vehicles, switch to CNG and LPG, use public transport, and walk or cycle to nearby places.
Conclusion: By reducing fossil-fuel use and choosing cleaner alternatives, we can reduce air pollution and protect all living beings.

Introduction: Nature keeps its resources in use by recycling them continuously through living and non-living processes.
Key Points:
1. Recycling in forests — Fallen leaves decay and enrich the soil with nutrients, which new plants then use to grow.
2. Recycling through animals — Seeds from the droppings of animals and birds grow into new trees, continuing the forest.
3. Recycling in soil — Decaying plants and animals become part of the soil, making it fertile again.
4. Recycling of water — In the water cycle, the Sun evaporates water, which later falls back as rain.
5. Renewal of resources — Air, water and forests are renewed by nature, but they still need time and care.
Conclusion: Nature's recycling shows why we must use resources carefully, so these cycles are not broken.

Introduction: We use many natural resources directly or indirectly in our daily activities, and we must conserve them.
Key Points:
1. Air and water — We use air for breathing and water for drinking, cooking, washing and cleaning every day.
2. Sun and soil — We use sunlight for light and heat, and soil for growing crops and vegetables.
3. Forests — We get wood, fruits, paper and many products from forests for our daily use.
4. Rocks and minerals — Rocks and minerals give us building materials, metals and materials for tools and electronics.
5. Conservation — We must turn off taps, use public transport, plant trees, and avoid wasting resources to conserve them.
Conclusion: By using natural resources responsibly, we can meet our present needs while saving them for the future.