Nature’s Treasures Class 6 Notes: CBSE Science Chapter 11

1. Natural Resources: These are materials or substances provided by nature that are essential for the survival of all living beings. They include:

• Air: Required for breathing and essential for life.

• Water: Vital for drinking, growing food, and numerous daily activities.

• Sunlight: Provides energy necessary for plants and animals.

• Forests: Serve as habitats and sources of food, shelter, and raw materials.

• Soil: Necessary for plant growth and supports agriculture.

• Rocks and Minerals: Important for construction and manufacturing.

• Fossil Fuels: Used for energy, transportation, and industry.

2. Human-made Resources: Resources created by humans to satisfy their needs, such as tools, machines, vehicles, and infrastructure. These are made using natural resources.

Classification of Natural Resources

1. Renewable Resources:

1. These are resources that are replenished naturally over a relatively short period.

2. Examples include:

• Air: Constantly being renewed by natural processes like the carbon cycle.

• Water: Recycled through the water cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation).

• Forests: Trees grow back over time, replenishing the forest cover.

• Sunlight: A constant source of energy that will last for billions of years.

2. Non-renewable Resources:

1. These are resources that exist in limited quantities and take millions of years to form. Once depleted, they cannot be easily replaced.

2. Examples include:

• Fossil Fuels: Such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas, are formed from the remains of plants and animals over millions of years.

• Minerals: Metals like iron, gold, and copper are extracted from finite minerals.

• Rocks: Used for construction and industrial purposes, they take millions of years to form.

3. Judicious Use: Since all living beings rely on natural resources for survival, it is essential to use them wisely to avoid depletion and ensure availability for future generations.

Bhoomi and Surya’s Vacation: A Learning Experience

During their school vacation, Bhoomi and Surya visit their grandmother (Ajji) in a village near the Western Ghats. They notice several natural resources around them and learn valuable lessons from their Ajji:

• Air: The air in the village is fresh and cool, unlike the polluted city air.

• Water: Bhoomi and Surya help their grandmother water the plants and fill water troughs for animals. Ajji teaches them the importance of conserving water and using every drop efficiently.

• Sunlight: Ajji explains how sunlight helps plants grow and how it is used to dry chilies and other foods for storage.

Air: A Vital Resource

1. Importance of Air: All living beings need air, specifically oxygen, for survival.

• Breathing Exercise: Try holding your breath for as long as you can. You will notice how important oxygen is for your body’s functions. Most living beings, including humans, need oxygen to survive. Without it, life would not be possible.

2. Composition of Air:

• Air is a mixture of gases:

• Nitrogen: 78% (the most abundant gas in the atmosphere).

• Oxygen: 21% (essential for respiration).

• Other gases: 1% (includes carbon dioxide, argon, and trace gases).

3. Air in Motion (Wind): When air moves, it creates wind. Wind can be strong, like in a storm, or gentle, like a breeze.

• Activity: Making a Pinwheel (Firki): Create a pinwheel and observe how it spins when you blow on it or run with it. This demonstrates how wind causes movement. Windmills work similarly, harnessing the wind’s energy to generate electricity or pump water.

Water: A Precious Resource

1. Importance of Water: Water is crucial for everyday activities, such as drinking, cooking, and cleaning. It is also used in agriculture and industry.

• Sources of Water: Water is available from various sources, including rivers, lakes, groundwater, and rain. However, most of Earth’s water is salty and found in oceans, making it unsuitable for drinking or agriculture.

2. Water Conservation: It is important to conserve water and avoid wastage.

• Activity: Identify areas where water is wasted in your daily life, such as leaving taps running or watering plants inefficiently. Learn ways to reduce this wastage by using water-saving techniques and fixing leaks.

Water Pollution and Its Impact

1. Causes of Water Pollution: Polluted water is harmful to all living beings. Human activities, such as dumping trash and industrial waste into rivers and lakes, pollute freshwater sources.

• Effects of Pollution: Polluted water is unsafe for drinking and can lead to health problems for humans and animals. It also harms aquatic life.

2. Solutions to Reduce Water Pollution:

• Proper disposal of waste.

• Treating industrial wastewater before releasing it into rivers.

• Avoiding the use of harmful chemicals near water sources.

Water Harvesting: A Solution for Water Scarcity

1. Rainwater Harvesting: A technique to collect and store rainwater for future use. In many parts of India, rainwater is collected during the monsoon season and used during the dry months.

• Traditional Methods: In Rajasthan and Gujarat, stepwells (Bawadi and Vav) are used to collect rainwater and water from nearby lakes and rivers. These structures store water for use during periods of water scarcity.

Energy from the Sun

1. Solar Energy: The Sun provides heat and light, which is essential for life on Earth.

• Uses of Solar Energy:

• Plants use sunlight to make food through photosynthesis.

• Solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into electricity.

• Solar cookers and water heaters use sunlight directly for cooking and heating.

2. Dependence on the Sun: All life on Earth, directly or indirectly, depends on the Sun for energy. Without it, the food chain and ecosystems would collapse.

Forests: A Rich Source of Biodiversity

1. Forests: Large areas with dense vegetation, including trees, shrubs, and herbs. They provide habitats for a variety of animals, birds, and insects.

• Products from Forests: Forests provide valuable resources, including wood, fruits, medicines, and raw materials for industries.

2. Forest Conservation: Due to human activities like deforestation, forest cover has decreased, threatening wildlife and biodiversity. It takes many years for new forests to grow, so it is essential to protect and regenerate forests.

• Van Mahotsav: An annual tree-planting festival celebrated in India to raise awareness about forest conservation and increase green cover.

3. Chipko Movement: A historic environmental movement where villagers hugged trees to prevent them from being cut down, symbolising the need to protect forests.

Soil, Rocks, and Minerals

• Soil: Essential for agriculture, soil supports plant growth by providing nutrients and space for roots to grow.

• Activity: Collect soil samples from different locations and observe their colour, texture, and composition. Different soils may contain different materials and organisms.

• Rocks: Used in construction and manufacturing, rocks are formed over millions of years. They are made up of minerals that are used to extract metals like gold, iron, and copper.

• Importance of Rocks: Rocks like granite, sandstone, and marble are important building materials. Some rocks, such as slate and laterite, are used for roofing and construction.

Fossil Fuels: A Limited Resource

• Fossil Fuels: Include coal, petroleum, and natural gas. These fuels are formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals buried deep underground millions of years ago.

• Uses: Fossil fuels are used to power vehicles, generate electricity, and heat homes.

• Non-renewable: Fossil fuels are finite and take millions of years to form, so they will eventually run out if overused.

• Environmental Impact: Burning fossil fuels releases harmful gases like carbon dioxide, contributing to air pollution and climate change.

• Alternatives:

• Electric Vehicles: These vehicles do not produce harmful emissions and help reduce air pollution.

• Renewable Energy Sources: Solar, wind, and hydropower are cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels.

The Importance of Responsible Resource Use

• Conservation: Bhoomi and Surya learn that it is essential to use natural resources responsibly to ensure they are available for future generations. Conservation efforts include:

• Reducing water wastage.

• Protecting forests and wildlife.

• Using alternative energy sources.

• Recycling materials.

• Activity: Make a list of natural resources used in daily activities. Identify ways to conserve these resources and reduce their waste.

Class 6 Science Chapter 11 Important Topics and Subtopics Covered

Class 6 Science Chapters 11 Nature’s Treasures Important Concepts

• Basic Characteristics of Living Organisms: All living things have common traits such as growth, reproduction, and response to stimuli.

• Classification of Animals: Animals can be classified based on various criteria like their habitat (land, water) and diet (herbivores, carnivores).

• Adaptations: Animals and plants have unique adaptations that help them survive in their specific environments. For example, camouflaged animals blend into their surroundings.

• Plant Characteristics: Plants have specific features such as roots, stems, and leaves that perform vital functions like nutrient absorption and photosynthesis.

• Differences Between Plants and Animals: Plants produce their food through photosynthesis, while animals rely on other organisms for nutrition.

Importance of Revision Notes for Class 6 Chapter 11 Nature’s Treasures

• Summarises Key Points: Condenses important concepts for quick review.

• Saves Time: Provides a fast way to revise before exams.

• Highlights Essentials: Focuses on crucial topics and definitions.

• Improves Memory: Helps in better retention of information.   

• Enhances Exam Prep: Targets weak areas for more effective study.

• Clarifies Concepts: Simplifies complex ideas for easier understanding.

• Includes Visuals: Uses diagrams and charts for better grasp.

• Builds Confidence: Prepares students thoroughly for exams.

Tips for Learning the Class 6 Chapter 11 Nature’s Treasures Science

• Familiarise yourself with the definitions and examples of natural and human-made resources.

• Learn the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources.

• Create diagrams or charts to visualise the classification of resources.

• Draw examples of different natural resources to help remember them.

• Think about how natural resources are used in your daily life (e.g., water for drinking, sunlight for growing plants).

• Reflect on how human-made resources are created from natural resources.

• Review practical examples from the chapter, such as Bhoomi and Surya’s vacation experiences.

• Discuss how different resources are used in various settings like forests, cities, and homes.

• Write summaries of each section of the chapter to reinforce understanding.

• Focus on key points like the importance of conserving resources and the differences between resource types.

• Participate in hands-on activities related to the chapter, such as observing natural resources around you.

Conclusion

Natural Treasures are crucial for our survival and well-being. They are divided into renewable resources, which are naturally replenished, and nonrenewable resources, which are limited and take a long time to form. By understanding the types of resources and their importance, we can make informed decisions to use them wisely and ensure their availability for future generations. Conserving natural resources is essential for maintaining ecological balance and supporting life on Earth.

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