Class 6 Science Chapter 11 Nature’s Treasures Notes & Summary in English for CBSE students
CBSE Class 6 Science Chapter 11 Notes & Summary in English for “Nature’s Treasures” (based on NCERT textbook Curiosity ).
Chapter 11 – Nature’s Treasures Complete Notes
(Complete Notes + Concept-wise Explanation + Summary CBSE Class 6 Science – Curiosity Book)
Chapter Overview
This chapter explains the various treasures of nature such as air, water, sunlight, forests, soil, rocks, minerals, fossil fuels, and natural resources. It highlights the importance of conserving natural resources, understanding renewable and non-renewable resources, and using them wisely.
Topic-Wise Notes and Explanation
1. Air
• What is air?
Air is a mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth. It contains:
- Nitrogen – 78%
- Oxygen – 21%
- Argon, Carbon dioxide and other gases – 1%
• Importance of Air
- Air contains oxygen, which is essential for survival.
- We cannot live without oxygen even for a few minutes.
- Moving air is called wind.
- Wind helps in:
- Moving the pages of a book
- Making a firki (pinwheel) rotate
- Turning the blades of a windmill
• Windmills
Windmills use wind energy to:
- Run flour mills
- Pump water
- Generate electricity
India’s famous wind farms include: - Muppandal (Tamil Nadu)
- Jaisalmer Wind Park (Rajasthan)
- Brahmanvel Wind Farm (Maharashtra)
2. Water
• Uses of Water
Water is required for:
- Drinking
- Cooking
- Bathing
- Washing clothes and utensils
- Irrigation
- Industries
• Sources of Water
- Oceans and seas (salty water)
- Rivers, lakes, ponds (freshwater)
- Groundwater
- Ice and snow (freshwater but difficult to access)
• Water Scarcity
Freshwater is limited, so we must use it wisely.
• Ways to Prevent Water Wastage
- Turning off taps
- Fixing leaking pipes
- Reusing water when possible
- Using buckets instead of showers
- Water harvesting
• Water Pollution
Freshwater gets polluted due to:
- Dumping plastic and garbage in water bodies
- Industrial waste
Polluted water is unfit for consumption.
• Rainwater Harvesting
It is the method of collecting and storing rainwater for later use.
Examples:
- Modern rooftop RWH systems
- Traditional stepwells such as Bawadi and Vav
3. Energy from the Sun
• Role of the Sun
The Sun is the main source of energy on Earth.
Plants need sunlight to make food.
Animals get energy by eating plants or plant-eating animals.
• Uses of Sunlight
- Drying clothes
- Drying chillies, papad, pickles
- Growing plants
- Getting daylight
- Using solar panels, solar cookers, and solar water heaters
• If the Sun is not visible for a few days
- We will need artificial light even during daytime
- Clothes and food items will not dry
- Plants cannot make food properly
- Solar devices will not work
4. Forests
• What are forests?
Forests are large areas covered with many kinds of trees, shrubs, herbs, animals, insects and birds.
• Benefits of Forests
- Provide food, fruits, wood, medicines
- Provide shelter to animals
- Maintain oxygen and carbon dioxide balance
- Prevent soil erosion
- Maintain biodiversity
• Threats to Forests
Large-scale cutting of trees reduces forest cover.
It is difficult to grow a new forest because it takes many years.
• Conservation of Forests
- Van Mahotsav (tree plantation festival)
- Chipko Movement – villagers hugged trees to prevent cutting
- Sacred groves – traditional forest conservation
5. Soil, Rocks and Minerals
• Soil
Formed by the breaking down of rocks over thousands of years by:
- Sun
- Water
- Wind
- Living organisms
Contains:
- Sand
- Clay
- Pebbles
- Humus
- Microorganisms
- Earthworms (help loosen soil)
• Rocks
Used in:
- Buildings
- Roads
- Monuments
- Roofing (slate)
- Bricks (laterite)
Types of commonly used rocks include granite, marble and sandstone.
• Minerals
Rocks contain minerals.
We get metals like gold, silver, copper, aluminium, iron from minerals.
Used in:
- Jewellery
- Electronic devices
- Cars
- Airplanes
- Cosmetics
6. Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels include:
- Coal
- Petroleum
- Natural gas
Formed from remains of plants and microorganisms that got buried millions of years ago.
• Uses
- Petrol and diesel for vehicles
- Kerosene for lamps
- LPG and natural gas for cooking
- Coal for electricity production
• Problems
- They are non-renewable
- Their burning releases smoke and carbon dioxide
- Lead to air pollution
- Will get exhausted if overused
• Ways to Save Fossil Fuels
- Carpooling
- Using public transport
- Cycling or walking
- Using electric vehicles
- Using renewable energy sources
7. Renewable and Non-renewable Resources
• Renewable Resources
Get replenished naturally in a short time.
Examples:
- Air
- Water
- Forests
- Sunlight
- Wind
• Non-renewable Resources
Do not get replenished quickly.
Examples:
- Coal
- Petroleum
- Natural gas
- Minerals
- Soil
- Rocks
8. Responsible Use of Natural Resources
We use natural resources daily, such as:
- Air
- Water
- Soil
- Wood
- Minerals
We must conserve natural resources by:
- Reducing waste
- Recycling
- Planting more trees
- Using less plastic
- Choosing eco-friendly products
Summary of the Chapter
- Nature provides essential resources such as air, water, sunlight, forests, soil, rocks, minerals and fossil fuels.
- Air contains oxygen, which is essential for life.
- Water is needed for many daily activities and must be conserved.
- The Sun is the ultimate source of energy for all living beings.
- Forests support biodiversity and must be protected.
- Soil, rocks and minerals are important natural materials.
- Fossil fuels are non-renewable and cause pollution.
- Natural resources are of two types: renewable and non-renewable.
- We must use natural resources wisely and conserve them for future generations.