ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES-II TEXTBOOK PART-1 Name: _________________________________________ 03/10/2022 11:12:42 AM Section: ________________ Roll No.: ______________ School: ________________________________________ Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 1
TEXTBOOK FEATURES Art-Integrated Learning There are more than 100 ways to wear a sari. Here are four popular ways. Lesson plans provided for art-integrated learning 8 Life Skills Be Amazed Activity and project-based learning for deeper exploration and critical engagement with the Fascinating facts and trivia concepts learned related to the concept Student Reflection Captures student's perception of their understanding of a lesson I Explore Machines sent into space help us learn about our 7 Encourages students to extend neighbouring planets the concept learned to advanced and heavenly bodies. application scenarios Example: Mangalyaan was sent to study Mars in The Northern The Coastal Plains 2013 by India. Mountains I Apply What things would you carry with you when you visit the region? Focuses on the application of 6 the concepts and connects the concepts to real-life scenarios 1I Will Learn About What is the Earth? Indicates the learning outcomes to be covered in the lesson (A) a star (B) a planet maps and what we can see on a map (C) a satellite (D) an asteroid how a map is used how a map is made I Think making a map Introduces the concept SKILL-BASED 2and arouses curiosity about it among students Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 2 03/10/2022 11:12:47 AM
English Fun Encourage your child to find the start and end points of a journey on a map. Archaeologists and historians When you travel, show them the road have been able to read the you will take using maps on your ancient languages, except mobile phone. one. No one can read the language of the Indus Valley A Note to Parent Civilization yet. Ideas to engage parents in Connect the Dots out-of-classroom learning of their child to reinforce the A multidisciplinary section to connect the lesson theme with 10concepts other subjects 9 1) Name two occupations where A collection of many planetary people make things. systems and clouds of gas and dust is called a galaxy. There are countless 2) What does a factory worker do? g.alaxies. The name of our galaxy is the Milky Way. All these galaxies are Train My Brain a part of the universe. 5 Checks for understanding to gauge I Understand the level of comprehension among students on an on-going basis Explains the sub-concepts that form the basis of the Early human beings lived in groups. They used leaves and animal skins to cover themselves. They 4concept in detail used the parts of the animals that they hunted in different ways. INQUIRY-BASED I Remember Concepts organised using a question-answer approach to foster a mindset of inquiry and 3 Introduces new concepts by reasoning building on the prerequisite knowledge or skills required Reflection Time! to understand the concept Thought-provoking questions to encourage reflection on the concept and on how it is related to the student's life, experiences and the world around Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 3 03/10/2022 11:12:49 AM
CONTENTS 1) Measuring Time in History Inquiry-Based 01 04 2) Ideas that Changed Our Lives Art-Integrated Learning Inquiry-Based Theme History 3) The Shape of the Earth Skill-Based 08 Art-Integrated Learning 14 4) Latitudes and Longitudes; Skill-Based Theme Continents and Oceans 21 Geography Art-Integrated Learning 25 5) Landforms and Water Bodies 31 Art-Integrated Learning Inquiry-Based 6) Understanding Rivers Skill-Based Art-Integrated Learning 7) India’s Rivers Skill-Based Art-Integrated Learning Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 4 03/10/2022 11:12:54 AM
8) The Northern Mountains Art-Integrated Learning Skill-Based 38 46 9) The Northern Plains Skill-Based Art-Integrated Learning Theme Geography Life Skills 52 Student Reflection 54 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 5 03/10/2022 11:12:57 AM
CLASSKLAP AND NEP 2020 ClassKlap by Eupheus partners with schools, supporting them through the steps of planning, teaching, learning, personal revision and assessment to equip students with the desired knowledge and skills for the primary school level. ClassKlap presents their latest series which has been created to fulfil the vision of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Here are some salient features of this series: NEP-aligned learning tool Description Skill-based lessons Lessons are structured as per Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy in textbook and workbook (Remember-Understand-Apply-Analyse-Evaluate-Create) and LSRW (Listening-Speaking-Reading-Writing) skills for English. Inquiry-based lessons Lessons are structured based on a Socratic approach using a in textbook and question-answer format, aiming at discovery-based learning as per workbook NEP guidelines. Exploratory activities in the workbook further facilitate holistic learning of the skills/concepts. Highlight features Features such as Poetry Corner, Maths Lab, Think Like a Scientist, Life Practice worksheets Skills and others to help learners engage in research, application-oriented learning, and the development of scientific temper; Student Reflection sheets foster the skill of reflecting on one’s own learning progress. Practice worksheets are aligned with the goals of sharpening critical thinking, evidence-based thinking, and higher-order thinking skills, as per NEP guidelines. The books contain the following overarching features recommended in the NEP 2020: a spiralling progression of frameworks adopted for Grammar, Maths and EVS inclusive representation of gender and diversity for the heterogeneous Indian classroom learner-centred content using effective and age-appropriate language multiple types of questions with scaffolded and independent practice for students All in all, the ClassKlap curriculum ensures foundational literacy and numeracy skills, develops subject-specific competencies, enhances key 21st century skills such as creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking, while promoting environmentally sensitive and culturally responsive democratic citizenship among students. — The Authors Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 6 03/10/2022 11:13:01 AM
1 Measuring Time in History Human beings are the only animals that measure time. We measure time in different ways. Clocks and calendars are some of the most common ones. What is a calendar? A clock and a calendar A calendar is a chart that shows the days, weeks and months of a year in an organised way. Sometimes it also contains information about certain events such as seasons and festivals. Calendars are in fact one of the greatest inventions that have given us a common language to talk about time! A calendar Can you think of when you and your family last looked at the calendar or discussed dates? Besides calendars, we also use timelines. What is a timeline? A timeline is a line on which events are marked. A timeline shows the important events that took place in certain periods in time and the order in which they happened. Look at the timeline below. towards 5000 BCE towards CE 2020 300 BCE 200 BCE 100 BCE 1 BCE 1 CE 100 CE 200 CE 300 CE A timeline showing years in BCE and CE 1 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 1 03/10/2022 11:13:09 AM
Did you observe the timeline to see how the years are marked? When events are marked on a timeline, BCE and CE are used to number the years. What are BCE and CE? BCE is used to label the years for events that happened before the birth of Jesus Christ. CE is used for events that took place after the birth of Jesus Christ. When counting years on the BCE-side of the line, older years have greater numbers. The later events have smaller numbers. Study the timeline of Alexander the Great, who was born before Christ, and see how the years are marked. 400 BCE THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER 300 BCE 356 BCE 336 BCE 326 BCE Birth of Crowned Attack on Alexander as king India by Alexander's army A timeline showing the life of Alexander This is not the same on the CE-side of the line. After the birth of Jesus Christ, the years are numbered in ascending order. Here, older years have smaller numbers. More recent years have larger numbers. Read about the life of Emperor Akbar. See how events in Akbar’s life are marked on a timeline. THE LIFE OF EMPEROR AKBAR 1500 CE 1600 CE 1542 CE 1556 CE 1569 CE Birth of Became Birth of Akbar's Akbar king of the son Salim Mughal (later Emperor Empire Jahangir) A timeline showing the life of Emperor Akbar 2 Measuring Time in History Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 2 03/10/2022 11:13:15 AM
Have you observed that in some timelines BC and AD are used? BC and AD are the older terms that were used in place of BCE and CE. Read about them below. Old term Full form New term Full form BC BCE Before Common Era AD Before Christ CE Common Era Anno Domini (‘the year of the Lord’ in Latin1) What is the difference between the uses of calendars and timelines? We use calendars to plan or to know details like which day a certain date is on in our day-to- day lives. Timelines are not used so regularly. Timelines have more specific uses like when we want to think about the history of a person or the order of certain events. Reflection Time! 1) Can you imagine a world in which human beings do not measure time? What would this mean for everyday life? How would life be different from the one we are used to at present? 2) If you were in-charge, what changes would you make to the calendar, holidays, and amount of time that people spend on things? Would you make office hours longer or shorter for your parents? How would your daily routine look? Think about it and discuss it with a partner. 3) What would you use: a calendar or a timeline? ● You need to know on what day your parent’s anniversary is this year. ● Y ou want to gift them a summary of important events from their lives, like the day they met for the first time, the day they got married, the day you were born, etc. 1Latin – a very old language that was spoken in Ancient Rome 3 Measuring Time in History 03/10/2022 11:13:16 AM Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 3
2 Ideas that Changed Our Lives Have you ever wondered why human beings live their lives very differently from animals? This is mainly because human beings have a strong ability to observe and learn many different things. We also try to find out more about the world around us and create newer things. Three main activities have helped human beings live very different lives: explorations, discoveries and inventions. These give us the ideas that have changed our lives! What is exploration? When people travel to unknown areas, they learn about them. Searching An explorer’s ship for a place, or finding out more about an unknown place, is called exploration. Explorers are people who travel and find out more about a place. People from Europe started exploring the world in the 15th and 16th centuries. In those days, people mostly travelled across Asia, Africa and Europe by land. However, the different roads passing Land and sea routes used by traders and explorers through those lands were controlled by their rulers. So, people had to find new ways to reach these places. That was why the explorers set out to find new sea routes to reach far away places. That was how some of them discovered new places. 4 03/10/2022 11:13:31 AM Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 4
Read about some notable explorers. Vasco da Gama Ferdinand Magellan (1460-1524) was the (1480-1521) was the first European to first person who went discover a sea route around the world. to India from Europe. Vasco da Gama Ferdinand Magellan Alexandrine Tinne Yuri Gagarin (1835-1869) explored (1934-1968) was the the path followed by first person to travel the river Nile in Africa to space. for the first time. Alexandrine Tinne Yuri Gagarin Do you know who discovered America? It was Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer, who discovered America in 1492. Christopher Columbus However, the spirit of discovery did not let people stop at just finding new places. The ones who found it interesting discovered many important things which we use even today! What is a discovery? Finding or learning about something that no one knows about is called discovery. Discoveries are made in every field. Let us read about a few of them. ● O ne of the most important discoveries made by early human beings was finding out how fire could be created and used. ● Charaka was a very learned man from ancient India. He discovered the Fire importance of cleanliness for proper digestion and good health. He is commonly known as the ‘Father of Medicine’ in India. ● L ook at the tips of your fingers. Can you see patterns on your skin? These are called fingerprints. Each human being has a different set of fingerprints. About 100 years ago, fingerprints began to be used to find criminals. A fingerprint Ideas that Changed Our Lives 5 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 5 03/10/2022 11:13:34 AM
Discoveries are important because they have helped humans evolve. They are the foundations of the cities that we live in today. Without such discoveries, we would still be in jungles. Did you know that very often discoveries lead to Stove Matchstick inventions? Inventions generally make our lives simpler. For example, the discovery of fire led to many different inventions that use fire. The discovery of fire Fire extinguisher Inventions that came from the discovery of fire But, what is an invention? The process of designing and creating something new, which did not exist earlier, is called invention. All tools and machines are examples of inventions. They help us complete our work faster and make our lives easier. Read about some important inventions below. Wheel The wheel is one of the most important inventions. It made travel and transport faster as well as easier. Paper The Chinese invented paper to wrap delicate materials. People found out that it was useful for writing too. Ballpoint pen In 1938, L J Biro invented the first ballpoint pen. Before this, people only used fountain pens that needed to be dipped in ink. 6 Ideas that Changed Our Lives Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 6 03/10/2022 11:13:36 AM
So, how is a discovery different from an invention? Discovery Invention A discovery is finding a piece of information, An invention is the creation or designing of a place or an object that already exists for something entirely new. the first time. Example: fire Example: stove Reflection Time! 1) Explorers are also known as adventurers. What are the factors you can think of which made their journeys difficult? Can you think of some inventions which may have helped them overcome the difficulties? 2) If you look around, almost everything is a discovery or an invention. What are some of the most important inventions according to you? Ideas that Changed Our Lives 7 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 7 03/10/2022 11:13:36 AM
3 The Shape of the Earth I Will Learn the shape of the Earth and its movements About why the Earth is an oblate spheroid how we know that the Earth is an oblate spheroid comparing the planets in the solar system I Think Rashi is reading a book about the Earth. She tells Meher about a famous astronomer named Kepler. Meher: Who is an astronomer, Rashi? Rashi: An astronomer studies stars, planets and natural events that occur in space. Meher: Wow! Tell me one interesting thing that you have read. Rashi: It was Johannes Kepler, a German astronomer, who discovered that planets do not travel in circles around the Sun. They travel along an elliptical or oval-shaped path. Meher: Wow! Johannes Kepler An ellipse 8 03/10/2022 11:13:38 AM Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 8
Q. What does an astronomer study? (B) people’s futures (D) people (A) the oceans (C) stars, planets and natural events in space I Remember An oblate spheroid THE SHAPE AND MOVEMENTS OF THE EARTH The Earth is the third planet from the Sun. The shape of the Earth is similar to that of the other planets. The Earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate spheroid. This means that it is flattened at the top and bulging near the middle. The Earth moves in two ways. These movements are rotation and revolution. Rotation Revolution A planet or satellite spins around itself. This A planet or satellite travels around a heavenly movement is called rotation. All planets in body along a fixed path. This movement is our solar system rotate. called revolution. All planets revolve around the Sun. The Earth takes about 24 hours to The Earth takes 365 1/4 days to complete one complete one rotation. The Earth’s rotation revolution around the Sun. The Earth’s revolution causes days and nights. causes seasons. The rotation of the Earth The revolution of the Earth around the Sun When we stand in an open field, we cannot see the true shape of the Earth. It looks flat. When we look at the ocean, we see a line where the sky appears to meet the ocean. This The Shape of the Earth 9 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 9 03/10/2022 11:13:42 AM
line at which the sky and the Earth appear An imaginary line about which a body to meet is called the horizon. We will rotates is called an axis. read more about it later. But if the Earth is shaped somewhat like a ball, why does it A planet or heavenly body has a fixed path appear flat to us? along which it travels. This is called an orbit. I Understand UNDERSTANDING THE SHAPE OF THE EARTH In ancient times, people believed that the Earth was flat. They thought that if they kept sailing in one direction for a long time, they would fall off the edge of the Earth! During ancient times, the famous Greek philosopher, Plato, believed that the Earth was a sphere. However, he had no evidence to prove this. A painting imagining the His student, Aristotle, observed the movement and positions of edge of a flat Earth the stars to conclude that the Earth was not flat but had a curved surface. Finally, in the sixteenth century, an explorer named Ferdinand Magellan began sailing west from Spain. He and his team continued sailing towards the west for a long time, until they came back to where they had started. Their journey showed that it was not possible to fall off the Earth. It confirmed that the Earth is round in shape. 12,714 km The Earth's axis passes through its centre and connects the top of the Earth to its bottom. 12,756 km This diameter of the Earth from top to bottom is The diameter across about 12,714 km. The diameter across the Earth the Earth is about 12,756 km. Thus, the diameter from the top to the bottom is shorter than the diameter across the Earth. This shows that the Earth is an The diameter from the oblate spheroid. top to the bottom Train My Brain 1) What are the two main movements of planets? 2) Whose journey around the world was the evidence that the Earth is a spheroid? 10 The Shape of the Earth Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 10 03/10/2022 11:13:43 AM
I Apply Ship at sea PROOF THAT THE EARTH IS AN OBLATE SPHEROID There are other ways to prove that the Earth is an oblate spheroid. The position from where we look at the horizon affects how we see it. The curve of the horizon can be seen from high above the surface of the Earth. The following methods can be used to see this. From the Earth's surface: We can use binoculars to observe ships that appear to 'sink' below the horizon. As they sail away from us, they go across the curve of the Earth's surface. From a great height: The International Space Station (ISS) Earth as seen from the orbits the Earth at a distance of about 400 km. From this International Space Station (ISS) distance, the curve of the Earth can be seen. From space: An astronaut can see the complete shape of Earth as seen from space the Earth from the Moon or from space. This is because the Moon is at an average distance of 3,84,400 km away from the Earth. I Explore 1) Draw the axis for the given picture of the Earth. 2) Look at the given picture. It shows the sizes of the Sun, the Earth, the Moon and 11 other planets. • Which planet is the largest? • Which planet is the smallest? The Shape of the Earth Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 11 03/10/2022 11:13:48 AM
• What can you observe about the shapes of the planets? Size of the Sun and other planets Be Amazed This is a famous picture called 'Earthrise'. It shows the view of the Earth from the Moon's surface. It was shot in 1968 by William Anders. It is one of the most famous pictures in the history of space travel. Connect the Dots English Fun Do you know how our planet, ‘Earth’, got its name? All the planets are named after Greek gods and goddesses. However, the name ‘Earth’ simply means ‘ground’. It comes from the Old English word ‘ertha’. In German it is ‘erde’. 12 The Shape of the Earth Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 12 03/10/2022 11:13:53 AM
Maths Fun You know the diameter of the Earth both from top to bottom and across. What is the difference between the two? Calculate and share with a friend. A Note to Parent Encourage your child to research and read more about the Earth and fascinating facts related to outer space. You can even read or watch videos together. New Words 1) planet – a natural, ball-shaped body that revolves around a star 2) sphere – shaped like a ball 3) satellite – a natural or an artificial object that revolves around a planet 4) evidence – facts to show that something is true or false; proof 5) diameter – a straight line passing through the centre of a circle or sphere which connects one side to the other The Shape of the Earth 13 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 13 03/10/2022 11:13:54 AM
4 Latitudes and Longitudes; Continents and Oceans I Will Learn latitudes and longitudes About the positions of continents and oceans the continental drift finding a sea route from one place to another I Think There are many other people who can tell us about the Earth. Rashi: Meher, can you guess what an oceanographer studies? Meher: I do not know! Rashi: An oceanographer studies the oceans. They study plant An oceanographer and animal life under the sea. An oceanographer also studies the movement of ocean water. They even get to dive into the ocean in special vehicles! Meher: Wow! Now I want to be an oceanographer! Q. Can you guess what an oceanographer studies? (A) the stars and planets (B) the oceans (C) lakes and rivers (D) rain and snow 14 03/10/2022 11:13:55 AM Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 14
I Remember There are four main directions: The North Pole is the point north (N), south (S), east (E) at the top of the Earth. The and west (W). South Pole is the point at the bottom. So, north is the direction towards the North Directions Horizontal and vertical lines Pole, and south is the direction towards the South Pole. The axis of the Earth passes through these poles. Based on these points, we can draw imaginary vertical and horizontal lines around the Earth. These lines are placed at regular intervals. They are called longitudes and latitudes. They are measured in degrees. Example: 1° N Latitudes Longitudes 90o Latitudes are imaginary horizontal lines Longitudes are imaginary vertical lines around the Earth running from east to west. connecting the North Pole to the South Pole. The Equator is the imaginary line that divides The Prime Meridian and 180° meridian are the Earth into two horizontal halves. They imaginary lines that divide the Earth into two are called the northern and the southern vertical halves. They are called the eastern hemispheres. and the western hemispheres. Latitudes are used to study the different Longitudes help us to know the different climatic zones. time zones. Latitudes and Longitudes; Continents and Oceans 15 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 15 03/10/2022 11:13:57 AM
Every place is situated on a latitude and longitude. The Using coordinates to find a coordinates of a place mark the point where a latitude and a place on the internet longitude cross one another. This can be used to locate any place on the Earth. Even the place where you are, at this very moment, has exact coordinates! Example: 27.1750° N, 78.0419° E are the coordinates of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. If you look for these coordinates on the internet, it will direct you to the Taj Mahal. I Understand Let us now learn about continents and oceans. A map showing continents and oceans CONTINENTS Continents are the very large land masses on the Earth. There are seven continents. From the largest to the smallest, the seven continents are as follows: 1) Asia 2) Africa 3) North America 4) South America 16 Latitudes and Longitudes; Continents and Oceans Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 16 03/10/2022 11:13:58 AM
5) Antarctica 6) Europe 7) Australia People live on all the continents except Antarctica. The South Pole is located in Antarctica and is mostly covered with ice. OCEANS Oceans are extremely large bodies of salty water that cover three-fourths of the Earth’s surface. They are the biggest source of water on the Earth. The oceans separate some of the continents from each other. The five oceans of the world, from the largest to the smallest, are as follows: 1) The Pacific Ocean: It covers nearly one-third of the Earth's surface. The deepest point in the world’s oceans, Challenger Deep, is located in the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. The Mariana Trench is located near Japan. 2) The Atlantic Ocean: It covers nearly one-fifth of the Earth's surface. 3) The Indian Ocean: It is the only ocean to be named after a country — India. 4) The Southern Ocean: It is also called the Antarctic Ocean. It is the ocean that surrounds Antarctica. 5) The Arctic Ocean: It is located in the northern hemisphere and mostly in the north polar region. It is the shallowest of the world’s oceans. Look at the map of the world on the previous page to see the positions of oceans and continents. Train My Brain 1) What are latitudes and longitudes? 2) Name any two continents and two oceans. I Apply Layers of the Earth The Earth’s appearance has been changing since its formation. Inside the Earth, the temperature is very high. This has melted the rocks at the centre of the Earth. We live on the hard, outermost, rocky layer of the Earth. This is called its crust. This layer is cooler and harder compared to the Earth's interior. The crust is made of many sections. The continents are located on these Latitudes and Longitudes; Continents and Oceans 17 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 17 03/10/2022 11:13:59 AM
sections. Millions of years ago, these sections of rock were a part of one big piece, and all the continents were joined together. After many years of moving around, the continents have moved to their current positions. This is called the continental drift. 225 million years ago 150 million years ago 65 million years ago present day Continental drift The continents are always moving around very slowly. Even now, the continents are constantly moving. Most of the time, we cannot feel the effects of these movements. However, sometimes, they can be felt. Example: A section of the continent of Asia moved recently. The movement caused this land to push against the rest of the continent. This caused a major earthquake in Nepal in 2015. I Explore Use an atlas to find the cities mentioned in the box below. Mark these cities on the world map. Label all the oceans as well. Next, connect the cities by drawing the shortest possible sea routes on the map. a) New York, North America to Sydney, Australia b) Mumbai, Asia to Rio de Janeiro, South America c) London, Europe to Shanghai, Asia 18 Latitudes and Longitudes; Continents and Oceans Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 18 03/10/2022 11:14:00 AM
Be Amazed As you have read, the continents are constantly moving because of the movements happening deep under the surface of the Earth. The continent of Australia is moving northwards, away from its original position. Connect the Dots English Fun The first letters of the four directions make a word. Unscramble the word, and complete the sentence. ESWN – _____________ My parents like to watch the ___________ on TV. Latitudes and Longitudes; Continents and Oceans 19 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 19 03/10/2022 11:14:01 AM
Maths Fun When we look at the clock and tell the time, we use AM (am) or PM (pm). AM stands for the Ante meridian, which means ‘before midday’, PM stands for Post meridian, which stands for ‘after midday’. A Note to Parent Spend time learning about the continental drift by reading about it online or watching videos with your child. Encourage your child to think of the continents as pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle. New Words 1) vehicle – a machine used to travel from one place to another 2) interval – gaps; breaks 3) hemisphere – a half-sphere 4) climatic zone – a zone of the Earth having similar temperature and receiving the same amount of sunlight 5) appearance – the way that something looks 20 Latitudes and Longitudes; Continents and Oceans Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 20 03/10/2022 11:14:01 AM
5 Landforms and Water Bodies Have you ever wondered why the Earth is not the same everywhere? Just as people have physical features like height, weight, physical structure and so on, the Earth also has certain physical features. These are of two kinds — landforms and water bodies. What are physical features? Physical features are the different types of land or landforms and water bodies on the Earth. The ups and downs on the Earth’s surface create landforms and water bodies. Can you name such features of the Earth that you know? See if you can recognise some of them in the picture. Different types of physical features 21 Visa_G4_SST_L05_TB_Part 1_V1_new.indd 21 03/10/2022 11:55:19 AM
The following are the major landforms on Earth: A plain is a flat area on the surface of the Earth. A plateau is a raised land with a flat top. So, a plateau looks like a Hills table. A hill, on the other hand, is an area of land which is naturally higher than the surrounding area. Landforms that are much higher than the surrounding areas are Mountains called mountains. Mountains are tall, rocky areas of land. They have peaks and are taller and usually much steeper than hills. Mountains are so tall that their peaks can get cold and icy. A valley is the land between hills or mountains. It is lower in height and is usually v-shaped. The areas of land covered by water are called water bodies. And like landforms, there are different types of water bodies. Water bodies cover up most of our planet. In fact, the surface of Valleys the Earth is mostly covered by very large saltwater bodies called oceans. A sea is a large saltwater body. But it is smaller than an ocean. Many seas join the oceans. For example, the waters of the Arabian Sea join the Indian Ocean. A lake is a large body of water that is surrounded by land. Some lakes are so big that in the past, some people called them seas. Lakes are still, unmoving bodies of water. Ponds are smaller than lakes. Lake A river is a flowing body of water that follows a course on land. Rivers usually start from glaciers or lakes and flow into larger rivers or the sea. River A glacier is a slow-moving river of ice. Glaciers are found on mountainsides and other cold regions. An iceberg is a large piece of ice, broken off a glacier, floating Glacier out to a sea or an ocean. 22 Landforms and Water Bodies Visa_G4_SST_L05_TB_Part 1_V1_new.indd 22 03/10/2022 11:55:21 AM
Land near or around water forms unique landforms. For example, a piece of land that is surrounded by water on all sides is called an Island. Sometimes, a body of land is Island surrounded only on three sides Arabian Bay of Sea Bengal by water. Such a landform is Indian called a peninsula. A part of the peninsula is connected ocean to a larger piece of land, while the rest extends into the water. Indian peninsula Sometimes, when a river flows into an ocean or a sea or another large water body, it forms a delta. A river delta is formed by the deposition of soil at the mouth of a river. It often looks like a triangle. Have you ever travelled to a place to see a famous landform or water body? What was it? Discuss with a partner. Physical features of the Earth can be shown on a map. This helps us understand the shape of large stretches of land. How can we show physical features on a map? A map is usually a flat drawing of a place as seen from above. So, how can we show the differences between tall mountains, hills, plateaus, plains and waterbodies on a map? We use colours. The colours used on a map for each physical feature are mentioned in the key of the map. Study the map given on the next page with the help of the key to know the physical features of India. Landforms and Water Bodies 23 Visa_G4_SST_L05_TB_Part 1_V1_new.indd 23 03/10/2022 11:55:22 AM
Physical map of India Reflection Time! 1) How do you think the Earth would look had there been no landforms? Would people still enjoy travelling as much? 2) Is there any landform or water body that you would like to visit? Which one and why? 24 Landforms and Water Bodies Visa_G4_SST_L05_TB_Part 1_V1_new.indd 24 03/10/2022 11:55:23 AM
6 Understanding Rivers I Will Learn rivers and parts of a river About the important uses of rivers the pollution of rivers ways to reduce river pollution I Think Mr Irani’s school friend has come to visit the Irani family after many months. Meher: Hello, Ajay Uncle! How are you? Ajay Uncle: Hi, Meher. I have been busy with work. Meher: Yes, I heard you telling Papa and Ma that you were A polluted river doing some work to keep Mumbai’s rivers clean. What work do you do for the rivers? Ajay Uncle: Well, Meher, I work with an NGO that cleans Mumbai’s rivers. We organise events to pick up the waste thrown into rivers. We talk to school children about keeping rivers clean. We also speak to the government to make cleanliness rules strict. It is very important to clean rivers because the health of our villages and cities depends on them. Meher: Oh! Are rivers really that important? Q. Who is responsible for keeping rivers clean? (A) children (B) the government (C) adults (D) all of the above Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 25 25 03/10/2022 11:14:13 AM
I Remember Rivers provide water, which is necessary for all kinds of life forms. Various kinds of organisms live in rivers. Many kinds of plants and trees grow only near rivers. Also, many animals and A river is a large natural stream of insects get food and water from rivers. They are flowing water. Usually, rivers flow important for the growth of civilizations. Many towards a large water body like a important ancient cities started near rivers. sea or ocean. Sometimes, rivers also flow into caves under the ground. A river begins on high ground or in hills or mountains and flows down from the higher ground to the lower ground. It begins as a small stream and gets bigger as it flows onward. The journey of a river is divided into upper, middle and lower courses. Upper Course JOURNEY OF A RIVER Lower Course The place where a Middle Course The mouth of the river is river begins is called its where it meets a large source. It is usually on Here, the river slows down. water body such as a high land. The water flows The slope of the land is less. sea or an ocean. The down very fast. It carries The river deposits sediments mouth falls in the lower rocks and other materials along the middle course. course of the river. A river with it. Sediments are the muddy sometimes forms a delta and rocky materials brought at the mouth. source down by a river from the mountains or hills. slope flow of water A delta is a land made of the land sedimentary deposits left by of a river flowing into a large water body. A delta is usually a triangular piece of land. mouth (delta) 26 Understanding Rivers Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 26 03/10/2022 11:14:14 AM
source mouth (delta) tributary distributary river bank A picture showing the course of a river Smaller streams W hen the main Soil brought down from mountains by and rivers from river breaks in the rivers is called silt. During the rainy season, different places middle, different rivers become full and flow over their which join the streams are formed. banks. As a result, neighbouring areas get main river are These are called flooded. When the water from the flood called tributaries. distributaries. flows away, mud or silt is left behind. I Understand USES OF RIVERS Some ways in which rivers are helpful to people are shown in the picture below. Let us discuss the uses in more detail. USES OF RIVERS 1) Agriculture: Silt brought down from mountains by rivers is very fertile. It is good for growing Understanding Rivers 27 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 27 03/10/2022 11:14:16 AM
crops. Thus, it is helpful to farmers. Crops also need water to grow. A riverboat Rivers provide water for farming. The process of supplying water from a river to the fields to grow crops is called irrigation. This water A dam used to is supplied in the required amount at regular intervals. generate electricity 2) Fishing: Rivers are a source of food such as fish, crabs, prawns and Rafting on a river so on. These are sources of food for many humans and animals. 3) Transportation: Travelling by waterways is the cheapest form of transportation. Rivers provide natural and easy ways to travel or transport goods by boats and steamers. 4) Generating electricity: Several rivers move from from higher areas to lower areas. The force of water falling from a great height can be used to generate electricity. Dams help in holding water and generating electricity. 5) Recreation: People also use rivers for recreation. Some of these recreational activities include swimming, boating, fishing, birdwatching and so on. In the higher areas, river rafting is popular. In the lower areas, parasailing is popular. Train My Brain 1) What is a river bank? 2) Mention any two uses of rivers. I Apply RIVER POLLUTION Unfortunately, nowadays, rivers are being polluted. Here are some reasons for river pollution. 1) Waste from farms, cities and factories is dumped in rivers. 2) People throw plastic into rivers. Fish, birds and other creatures might eat this plastic and die. 3) After various festivals, people immerse idols of gods and goddesses into rivers. Very often, the paint used on these idols poisons underwater creatures. 4) Often, dead animals are also dumped in rivers. The water from polluted rivers can cause many diseases. The Ganga is one of the most polluted rivers in India. 28 Understanding Rivers Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 28 03/10/2022 11:14:18 AM
I Explore WAYS TO REDUCE RIVER POLLUTION Look at the pictures of polluted rivers. Plan a presentation in groups of five to find ways by which rivers can be kept clean. Make sure the ways can be used by common people. Be Amazed Given below are some important rivers of the world. 1) River Nile in Africa 2) River Yangtze in Asia 3) River Amazon in 4) River Danube in Europe South America The River Nile is around 6,690 km long. It is longer than the distance between Kashmir in the north and Kanyakumari in the south of India! Connect the Dots English Fun Play a game of river names with your partner. See who can name more rivers the fastest! Maths Fun River Nile is 6690 km long. It flows through 11 different countries. If one cricket pitch is around 20 m long, how many cricket pitches would fit in the length of River Nile? Understanding Rivers 29 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 29 03/10/2022 11:14:24 AM
A Note to Parent Ensure that as a family you avoid any activities that pollute rivers or other water bodies. Help your child understand the role of common people in reducing pollution and also how water pollution affects us. New Words 1) NGO – Non-Governmental Organisation; a group of people who want to help citizens without being a part of the government 2) civilization – a group of people who live together and share the 3) fertile same culture 4) waterway – rich in nutrients to produce more crops 5) generate – a river or a body of water that boats and ships use to go 6) dam 7) recreation from one place to another 8) immerse – to make; produce 9) idol – a wall built across a river to store water – things people do for fun – lower something in water – a statue of a god or goddess 30 Understanding Rivers Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 30 03/10/2022 11:14:24 AM
7 India’s Rivers I Will Learn the main rivers of India, their tributaries and About distributaries the sources and features of the main rivers of India the main uses of Indian rivers the underground rivers I Think Meher: When I flew from New Delhi to Chennai, I saw very few green patches of land from the plane. Ajay Uncle: Why do you think you saw very few green patches of land? The view of land from a plane Meher: I think it is because forests are being cut down. Ajay Uncle: That is right! Without tall trees to block out the Sun, our rivers are drying up. There is a lack of water for drinking and irrigating crops. Q. How do rivers help farmers? (B) provide water for irrigation (A) provide fish (D) is used for river rafting (C) is used for travel Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 31 31 03/10/2022 11:14:25 AM
I Remember India has many rivers, big and small. Some of the important rivers of India are the following. • Indus • Ganga • Narmada • Tapi • Godavari • Krishna • Mahanadi • Brahmaputra All the major Indian rivers have their source at one of Rivers that flow throughout the the following. year are called perennial rivers. Example: Indus, Ganga and 1) The Himalayan and the Karakoram mountain Brahmaputra ranges in northern India: The rivers originating here have long courses and run from the source Rivers which do not have a constant to the seas. These are called the Himalayan flow of water throughout the year rivers. Example: Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra are known as non-perennial rivers. They have a seasonal or periodic 2) The Vindhya and the Satpura mountain ranges flow. Example: Mahanadi, Godavari and the Chota Nagpur Plateau in central India and Krishna or the Sahyadri hills (Western Ghats) in western India: These are called peninsular rivers. Example: Mahanadi, Krishna, Kaveri and Godavari The Himalayan rivers have water throughout the year. Thus, they are also known as perennial rivers. Many peninsular rivers do not have a constant flow of water throughout the year. These rivers are known as non-perennial rivers. Let us learn more about some important rivers of India. HIMALAYAN RIVERS 1) Indus: It is one of the longest rivers in the world. Five major tributaries meet the Indus in Punjab (‘punj’ meaning ‘five’ and ‘ab’ meaning ‘water’) in Pakistan. These are the Chenab, Jhelum, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. 2) Ganga: It is the longest river in India. It meets the River Yamuna at Prayagraj (earlier called Allahabad). The Chambal and Betwa rivers are tributaries of the Yamuna. The Son river is a tributary of the Ganga. The Hooghly in West Bengal is a major distributary of the Ganga. 3) Brahmaputra: Beginning in Tibet, the Brahmaputra enters India through Arunachal Pradesh and flows through Assam. It then meets the Ganga in Bangladesh and flows into the Bay of Bengal. 32 India’s Rivers Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 32 03/10/2022 11:14:25 AM
PENINSULAR RIVERS 1) Mahanadi: The major tributaries of Mahanadi are Shivnath, Jonk and Hasdeo. It flows through the states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. 2) G odavari: Some tributaries of the Godavari are Pranhita and Indravati. It flows through Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. 3) Krishna: The Tungabhadra is the largest tributary of the Krishna river. The Krishna flows through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. 4) Narmada and Tapi: These rivers flow from east to the west. The Narmada and Tapi flow through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Rivers of India India’s Rivers 33 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 33 03/10/2022 11:14:29 AM
I Understand SOURCES OF INDIAN RIVERS The source of a river, very often, is in the mountains or hills. Mountains like the Himalayas and the Karakorams are very high. They have snow on their peaks. This snow melts in summer and flows down the mountainsides in small streams. These streams flow into rivers. Such rivers are called snow-fed rivers. When rivers are formed due to the melting of glaciers, they are called glacier-fed rivers. The rivers of central and southern India are mostly rain-fed rivers. This means that they receive water from the monsoon rains. Snow or glacier-fed rivers of northern India Rain-fed rivers of central and southern India • perennial rivers • n on-perennial rivers — they lose a lot of • flow slowly when they reach the plains water during summer • fewer waterfalls (A waterfall is formed • flow faster than rivers of northern India when water falls from a great height.) due to rocky and uneven land • many waterfalls Example: Jog Falls in Karnataka FEATURES OF INDIAN RIVERS • In the high areas, a river flows fast. It rubs against rocks and breaks them into smaller pieces. It carries these small rocks and stones as well as soil down along with it. • A river leaves small rocks and stones as well as soil at the bottom of valleys or takes them down to the plains. • T hese rivers also form large basins. A river basin is the High areas of the Ganga area which gets water and silt from the main river and its tributaries. This is how the Ganga makes the plains very fertile for cultivation. • T he rain-fed eastern peninsular rivers such as Mahanadi, Krishna and Godavari, flow eastwards like the Ganga. They deposit silt in the middle and lower courses. Deltas form at their mouths. These rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal. 34 India’s Rivers Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 34 03/10/2022 11:14:30 AM
• S ome of the main rain-fed peninsular rivers like Narmada, Periyar and Tapi, flow westwards. They flow faster than the northern rivers and do not deposit as much silt in the middle and lower courses. They do not form deltas. These rivers flow into the Arabian Sea. Train My Brain 1) How can we classify Indian rivers? 2) Name any three peninsular rivers of India. I Apply IMPORTANT USES OF INDIAN RIVERS Some important uses of Indian rivers are as follows. 1) Agriculture • R ivers carry soil rich in nutrients (silt). Silt that is carried by the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari and so on is useful for agriculture. • The large basins and deltas of rivers provide a lot of fertile land for farming. • River water is diverted through canals to areas where there is no water. 2) Electricity • T he Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river is an example of a dam built to generate hydroelectricity. 3) Religion • M any rivers in India are considered to be sacred. Many religious events are performed on the banks of these rivers. 4) Fishing • F ishing is done in the Hooghly river in West Bengal. Similarly, many Indian rivers are a source of fish for Indians. 5) Transportation • Some waterways are used for transportation. Example: the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly rivers flowing from Uttar Pradesh to West Bengal, the Bramhaputra in Assam India’s Rivers 35 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 35 03/10/2022 11:14:31 AM
6) Recreation • Rishikesh, on the banks of the Ganga, is a famous spot for river rafting. I Explore Sometimes, in the middle course, a river might disappear from the surface of the Earth. This does not always mean that it has dried up. Sometimes, a river finds a crack in the ground and begins to travel under the ground. A few underground rivers from around the world are the Neglinnaya in Moscow and the Fleet in London. Be Amazed The Sundarban delta formed by the River Brahmaputra and the River Ganga is the largest delta in the world. The Sundarban delta is one of the most fertile areas in the world. Connect the Dots English Fun The word ‘upriver’ (or upstream) refers to the direction of the river’s water source , that is, the direction opposite to the flow of the river. ‘Downriver’ (or downstream) refers to the direction in which the river flows. Science Fun Hydroelectricity is generated from rivers and waterfalls. What are the other ways in which electricity can be generated? Make a scrapbook to describe these other methods. 36 India’s Rivers Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 36 03/10/2022 11:14:34 AM
A Note to Parent The film Drowned Out shows the story of the Narmada Bachao Andolan. Try and watch it online. Discuss with your child about the effects of large dams on small communities. New Words 1) stream – a small river-like body of water 2) glacier – a thick mass of ice that covers a large area of land 3) sacred – holy 4) canal – a n artificial waterway for navigation or irrigation India’s Rivers 37 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 37 03/10/2022 11:14:34 AM
8 The Northern Mountains I Will Learn the location and extent of the Himalayas About the three Himalayan ranges and their importance the effects of the climate on plants, animals and people equipment needed while climbing mountains I Think Morad is excited to go on a trip to the Himalayas. Meher wants to know more about the trip. Morad: I am really excited about this trip. Meher: Why? Morad: Imagine exploring the glorious Himalayas on a Biking on a bike. Imagine being surrounded by snow. I will also get mountain path to see yaks! Meher: OK. Will you get to see camels too? Q. Will Morad get to see camels in the Himalayas? (A) yes (B) no 38 03/10/2022 11:14:35 AM Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 38
I Remember The Northern Mountains are like a giant wall. They stretch A mountain range is a across the northernmost part of India going up to the geographical area marked north-east into Arunachal Pradesh. They consist of the by a row of mountains that Himalayas, the Karakoram and the Kailash mountain ranges. usually have similarities in A part of the Karakoram range, however, lies in Pakistan. features. It is also known as a ‘mountain chain’ or ‘belt’. THE HIMALAYAS The Himalayas are the highest mountain ranges in the world. In Sanskrit, ‘him’ means ‘snow’ and ‘aalay’ means ‘abode’. Together, ‘Himalaya’ means ‘abode of snow’. It got its name because a large part of the Himalayas is covered with snow throughout the year. THE EXTENT OF THE HIMALAYAS The Himalayas In India, the Himalayas stretch across Jammu and Kashmir in the north-west to Arunachal Pradesh in the north-east. The Himalayan mountains extend Extent of the Himalayas in India across the following. • Jammu and Kashmir • Himachal Pradesh • Uttarakhand • Sikkim • Arunachal Pradesh • Nagaland • Meghalaya • Manipur • Mizoram • hilly regions of Assam • hilly regions of West Bengal The Northern Mountains 39 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 39 03/10/2022 11:14:41 AM
I Understand THE THREE HIMALAYAN RANGES The Himalayas are divided into three parallel mountain ranges. 1) Himadri, also known as the Greater Himalayas 2) Himachal, also known as the Middle or Lesser Himalayas 3) Shiwalik, also known as the Outer Himalayas The Himalayan Ranges Let us now read about the mountain ranges that make the Himalayas. THE HIMADRI RANGE Himadri is the northernmost range. These mountains are always covered with snow. Mount Everest with a height of 8,848 m is the highest mountain in the world. It is a part of the Himadri Range. Huge masses of moving ice called The Himadri Range The Ganga flowing through glaciers are found in this range. These the Gangotri valley glaciers melt and form rivers. The River Ganga originates in the Himalayas from a glacier called Gangotri. Climate in the Himadri Range THE HIMACHAL RANGE To the south of the Himadri Range lies the Himachal Range. Mountains in the Himachal Range are not as high as those in the Himadri. Beautiful valleys like Kashmir and Kullu and hill stations such as Mussoorie and Nainital are located in this region. Rohtang Pass, an important mountain pass, is located in this range in Himachal Pradesh. 40 The Northern Mountains Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 40 03/10/2022 11:14:49 AM
The Himachal Range Rohtang Pass Nainital Climate in the Himachal Range THE SHIWALIK RANGE Terai region The Shiwalik Range The Shiwalik is the southernmost and the lowest range of the Himalayas. This range has an average height of 3000 m to 4000 m. The Shiwalik Range extends from the Tista river in Sikkim, across Uttarakhand moving towards the north-west to the Beas river and into northern Pakistan. Towards the south of the Shiwalik Range is the flat, marshy area called the Terai region. Climate in the Shiwalik Range IMPORTANCE OF THE HIMALAYAS 41 The Himalayas are important because of the following reasons. 03/10/2022 11:14:58 AM • They protect us from enemy attacks by forming a natural wall. The Northern Mountains Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 41
• They keep India’s climate warm by providing protection from the cold winds coming from northern Asia. • They stop the rain-bearing monsoon winds from going further north, thus ensuring good rainfall over the Northern Plains. • They provide us with useful resources such as wood, medicinal herbs and fruits. • They are the source of rivers such as the Ganga, the Yamuna and the Brahmaputra. Train My Brain 1) What does the word ‘Himalaya’ mean? 2) Name any one resource that we get from the Himalayas. I Apply Why do the Himalayan Mountains have such diversity? As there is difference in the climate of the three ranges, plants and animals found in each of the three ranges are different. It also affects the occupations of the people. THE HIMADRI RANGE Plants Animals People • fir • mountain dogs • Few people live in • chir • yaks this region as it is • deodar • snow leopards very cold. • People work as guides and helpers and help the tourists and mountaineers who visit the region. Deodar trees Snow leopard Helpers for mountaineers 42 The Northern Mountains Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 42 03/10/2022 11:15:03 AM
THE HIMACHAL RANGE Animals People Plants • yaks • People grow apples, • mules cherries and • fir • horses peaches as the • deodar climate is favourable. • pine Pine trees Yak Apple orchard THE SHIWALIK RANGE Animals People Plants • tigers • People grow wheat • elephants and rice. • varieties of pine • rhinoceros and spruce • Tea plantations are also common. • sheesham Spruce trees Rhinoceros Tea plantation The Northern Mountains 43 Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 43 03/10/2022 11:15:11 AM
I Explore Mountaineers from all around the world visit the Northern Mountains. They hope to climb the hills and mountains in this region. Mountaineers carry special equipment to keep themselves safe. These include the following. • caps or helmets • jackets • special shoes • backpack • climbing ropes • torch Special equipment used by mountaineers Look at the picture. Try to name the mountaineering equipment that you notice. Be Amazed Some animals found in the Himalayas are very rare. Example: Himalayan black bear, red panda, snow leopard, the Himalayan tahr Connect the Dots English Fun Have you heard of the writer Ruskin Bond? He lives in Landour near Mussoorie and has spent most of his life in the Himalayan region. He writes books mainly for children. Many of his books have also been made into films. The Blue Umbrella is one example. 44 The Northern Mountains Visa_G4_EVSII_Book_TB_P1.indb 44 03/10/2022 11:15:18 AM
Search
