NCERT Class 5 EVS Our Wondrous World Chapter 01 Water The Essence of Life PDF Download

Unit 1: Life Around Us

About the Unit

This unit at the preparatory stage highlights the crucial role of nature as a home to animals, birds and insects. Students in Grades 3 and 4 have explored soil, air and water. They also learned how life evolves in different landforms depending upon the availability of soil, air, water and sunlight.

This unit in Grade 5 presents the importance of water in life and ecosystems. It also covers its various forms, movement, and role in shaping land and supporting habitats. The unit conveys water as a unique and limited essence of life - showing how it helps in sustaining the life on Earth. It also gives examples from the lives of people, who stay close to nature. They enjoy clean treasures from nature and develop various materials available from nearby forest and surroundings. Their lifestyles and productions with locally available materials reflect how life can be happy, and creative in the lap of nature.

[Figure: Illustration showing various animals and plants near water and trees, See in your textbook]

Note to the Teacher

This unit includes two chapters: Chapter 1 'Water - The Essence of Life' and Chapter 2 'Journey of a River'. Following are the key concepts covered in these chapters.

Chapter 1: Water - The Essence of Life

• 'Water - The Essence of Life' introduces students to its various forms and different sources (freshwater and saltwater) of water. It also highlights the importance of water in different activities in the society. This chapter introduces the continuous movement of water in different forms through the water cycle. It also explores how water shapes the land and supports life in freshwater habitats, and highlights the need to conserve water.

Chapter 2: Journey of a River

• This chapter follows the story of the river Godavari from its origin to its delta. Through maps, stories and illustrations, it explores the tributaries of Godavari and aquatic life in the river. It familiarises students with the dams built on the river. Students learn how the river gets polluted. This chapter highlights the ways rivers support ecosystems, people and culture. After reading this chapter students will understand that water is a limited and shared resource which must be used wisely.

How to Facilitate

• Encourage students to think about water bodies near their homes or schools. Inspire them to explore where the water comes from and where it goes.
• The Activity 6 in Chapter 1 on mustard seed shows how rivers flow from higher to lower ground and follow the shape of the land. Use the map of India to explore which rivers flow into which seas and how landforms (like mountains) guide their direction.
• Talk about what happens to rainwater in their school or neighbourhood. Use this to start a conversation on how cities and villages plan for water.
• Help students list different ways in which water plays an important role in our life. Connect this to ideas of sharing and saving water. Let them think about how water is stored in their homes (tanks, pots, etc.) and how a dam works as a big water storing unit.
• Engage students in role-plays to critically think about both the scarcity and excess of water.
• Encourage students to discuss with their parents or grandparents about festivals, stories, or memories connected to rivers. This will help them see rivers not just as physical things, but as part of their community and culture.

Chapter 1: Water - The Essence of Life

It is raining. Afreen rushed to the window where Jyoti was already watching tiny raindrops slide down the glass. "Where do you think all this water comes from, and where does it go?" asked Afreen.

Come, let us follow the journey of water. But first, let us see how much water there is on Earth.

Although most of the Earth's surface is covered with water, the majority of it is salty, leaving less amount of freshwater. All living beings - people, animals, birds, and plants - depend on freshwater to survive. It is essential for drinking, growing crops, and carrying out daily activities. Many plants and animals also live in freshwater. Without water, life would not be possible.

Now, imagine if all the water on earth were in this glass, then the freshwater would only be as much as in a teaspoon!

[Figure: Comparison of 200 ml of water and 5 ml of water in containers, See in your textbook]

Discuss

1. Do you think we can drink the water present in the oceans?
2. What can ocean water be used for?

Do You Know?

'Johads' in Rajasthan are traditional small earthen dams built to collect rainwater and recharge groundwater.

The salt pans of Gujarat are vast flatlands where seawater is dried to collect salt. It is one of the largest salt producing areas in India.

[Figure: Salt pans of Gujarat with workers collecting salt, See in your textbook]

Teacher's Note

When the book says "if all the water on earth were in this glass, then the freshwater would only be as much as in a teaspoon," it is using a comparison to show how little freshwater we actually have. This does not mean we are counting the entire volume of Earth's water; it is a ratio to help you understand scarcity. Think of it this way: if you divide all Earth's water into 200 equal parts, only about 5 of those parts are freshwater. This makes it clear why conserving freshwater is so important.

Activity 1

Where can we find freshwater? Identify the different freshwater sources from the images given below and write their names.

[Figure: Sources of Water - multiple images showing a pond, a river, glaciers, a mountain lake, groundwater, a well, and rain clouds, See in your textbook]

Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia. It helps regulate river flow to prevent floods.

Water has Different Forms

Jyoti was curious, "Is there water in the air too? And is snow a form of water?".

We already know the different forms of water - liquid (as in rain), solid (as in ice) and vapour (as in steam). Let us understand more about this through a simple activity!

Teacher's Note

Water can exist in three states: liquid (water you drink), solid (ice cubes), and gas or vapour (steam from hot water or invisible water vapour in air). When you see a puddle disappear on a sunny day, the liquid water is turning into vapour and rising into the air - this is called evaporation. When you see water droplets on a cold mirror in the bathroom, the vapour in the steam is turning back into liquid - this is called condensation. These changes of state are key to understanding how water moves around Earth in the water cycle.

Key Points

• Most of Earth's water is salty ocean water; only a small fraction is freshwater that living things can use for drinking, farming, and daily activities.
• Water exists in three different forms: liquid (like rain and rivers), solid (like ice and snow), and vapour (like steam and invisible moisture in the air).
• Freshwater comes from many sources including lakes, rivers, mountains, glaciers, groundwater, wells, and rain.
• Both saltwater and freshwater are important; saltwater can be used to produce salt and for other purposes, while freshwater is essential for all life.

This is a preview of the first 5 pages. To get the complete chapter, click below.