Maharashtra Board Class 5 EVS Part I Chapter 11 Our Home and Environment PDF Download

Our Home And Environment

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On the way to your school, or market, or when you travel to another town, you see many things. Observe carefully the houses that you see. Note the construction, shape, building material and other aspects of the different houses. Do some of the houses resemble the specimens shown above?

(1) What materials are used for building houses?

(2) Compare any two types of houses that you saw and note down the differences.

(3) What are the different things from which a house gives us protection?

(4) In what way are the houses 'A', 'B' and 'C' different? Which of them appears to be the safest?

(5) Which of the above houses are mainly seen in cities? Which are seen mainly in the rural areas?

(6) Think about your own environment and the climate there and choose the most suitable house for yourself by putting a tick in the box near the picture.

We saw different types of houses in the pictures. Their main uses can be listed as follows:

A shelter

A resting place

Protection against the sun, the wind, the cold and the rains

Protection from wild animals

Keeping ourselves safe from anti-social elements.

Teacher's Note

Houses are different in every place in India. In villages, people build houses with local materials like wood and mud. In cities, people build big apartments with cement and bricks.

Exam Trick

Remember the main uses of a house: Shelter, Rest, and Protection. These three words start with S, R, and P. Write SRP on your hand before the exam!

Points to Remember

A house gives us shelter and protection from bad weather.
Different houses use different materials.
Houses are built based on the climate of the region.
A house is a place to rest and be safe.
Houses protect us from wild animals and bad people.

Make Friends With Maps

The above figure shows a map of India and the types of houses that are common in the respective regions since ancient times. Note how the construction or structure of the houses changes from region to region.

(1) Regions of heavy rainfall

(2) Regions of medium rainfall

(3) Regions of low rainfall

(4) Desert regions

(5) Marshy regions

(6) Mountainous regions

(7) Plains.

Teacher's Note

Different parts of India have different weather. In Kerala, it rains a lot, so houses have sloped roofs. In Rajasthan, it is very hot and dry, so houses are built with thick walls to keep cool.

Exam Trick

Remember: Heavy rain = Sloped roof. Desert = Thick walls. Mountains = Strong walls. Just match the weather to the house type!

Points to Remember

Houses are built differently in different regions of India.
Heavy rainfall areas need sloped roofs so water flows down.
Desert areas need thick walls to keep heat out.
Mountainous regions need strong houses to handle snow.
Plains have flat-roofed houses that are easy to build.

People build houses to suit the climate of their region, using the natural resources that are available. Differences in the construction and building materials give rise to the different types of houses.

Water, food, clothing and shelter are the basic needs of every human being. However, these needs are not fulfilled in the case of each and every person. Then the following situations arise.

Around us, we see many people who lack shelter. They seek shelter at the roadside, on footpaths, under bridges, in tumbledown buildings, in railway or bus stations and even on open grounds. Many people are forced to be 'homeless' because they have insufficient or no means of livelihood.

A section of our society being homeless is a social problem. That is why, the government implements many schemes to provide homes to the homeless. In some of the cities, the government makes 'night shelters' available to the homeless.

(a) Observe the map and the pictures of houses and complete the following chart.

Why people become homeless: Lack of affordable housing, Poverty, Unemployment, Inadequate income, Physical and mental disorders, Natural disasters.

(b) Find and note down the reasons why these differences occur in the construction of houses according to the regions.

What's The Solution?

Construction work is going on opposite Ajit's house. That means constant loud noise and a lot of dust in the air. Ajit and his family have to suffer this all the time. What can Ajit do to find a way out of this problem?

We all have a right to clean potable water, sufficient food, a safe shelter and education.

Teacher's Note

Some people in India are homeless and live on the streets. The government tries to help them by building cheap homes and night shelters. We should also help poor people by sharing what we have.

Exam Trick

Remember: Homeless people = Social problem = Government schemes help. Think of it like a student without a school bag. Society and government help the student get a bag, just like they help homeless people get homes.

Points to Remember

Many people in India do not have homes and live on the streets.
Poverty and unemployment are big reasons why people become homeless.
The government makes night shelters for homeless people in cities.
Shelter is a basic right like food, water, and education.
We should help people who do not have homes.

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