Unit 3 of Poorvi celebrates nature and its gifts through three readings. The prose piece 'Neem Baba', adapted from S. I. Farooqi, is a conversation between a girl named Amber and a wise old neem tree she calls Neem Baba. The tree explains its ancient origins, its many names in different languages, and its countless uses: neem twigs clean teeth, neem leaves soothe measles and destroy germs, neem seed powder protects crops from pests and stops mosquitoes from breeding, and neem oil and wood are used for soaps, toothpaste and furniture. The poem 'What a Bird Thought', an anonymous verse, follows a baby bird whose idea of the world grows as it grows: first it thinks the world is a small blue shell, then a nest of straw, then a place made of leaves, and finally, flying beyond the tree, it realises the world is far larger than it ever imagined. The third reading, 'Spices that Heal Us', is a letter from a grandmother (Daadi) sharing home remedies using common kitchen spices, such as turmeric for energy and pain, fenugreek for sugar control, ginger for cough and cold, and fennel for digestion, while reminding readers to consult an elder before using them. Together the unit teaches respect for trees, curiosity about the world, and the traditional wisdom of natural remedies. Refer to the illustration in the NCERT textbook.

The story in steps

Amber sits under a neem tree and begins talking to it as Neem Baba.
Neem Baba tells Amber about neem’s old origin, many names, and where it is found.
He explains that people value neem because it cures diseases and is useful in many ways.
Amber and Neem Baba talk about neem leaves, bark, flowers, fruits, and roots being used in medicines.
Neem Baba tells how neem seed powder helps farmers by protecting crops and stopping mosquitoes and insects.
He also shares daily uses of neem, and Amber thanks him and promises to learn more.

'Neem Baba' adapted from S. I. Farooqi (prose)Uses of the neem tree and personification'What a Bird Thought' (poem)A growing view of the world'Spices that Heal Us' and home remediesModal verbs and comprehension

Key ideas & terms

Neem Baba: The wise old neem tree that talks to Amber, explaining its origins and many uses.
Personification: A figure of speech giving human qualities to non-human things, as when the neem tree speaks and leaves 'whisper'.
Azadirachta indica: The scientific (Latin) name of the neem tree, derived from the name Persians gave it.
'What a Bird Thought': An anonymous poem showing how a baby bird's view of the world grows wider as it grows up.
Home remedies: Natural cures using kitchen spices, shared in the letter 'Spices that Heal Us'.
Modal verbs: Helping verbs such as may, should, can, must, need to and used to, taught through the spices letter.

शब्दार्थ · Word meanings

whispering: speaking very softly
thought-provoking: interesting and makes us think
grace: blessing
twigs: small thin branches
measles: disease with fever and red spots
itching: feeling the need to scratch
breed: grow
locusts: flying insects that damage crops
termites: insects that damage wood
stagnant: not flowing
cost-effective: good result with less cost
purifies: removes harmful particles

Extra questions & answers

Who is Neem Baba and who talks to him?

Neem Baba is a wise old neem tree, and a girl named Amber talks to him to learn about the tree and its many uses.

Give two uses of the neem tree mentioned in 'Neem Baba'.

Neem twigs are used to clean teeth and neem leaves soothe measles and destroy germs; neem seed powder also protects crops from pests.

How is neem useful to farmers?

Neem seed powder sprayed on crops keeps away locusts, termites and insects, stops mosquito breeding in standing water, and increases crop yield.

Why is the story of the neem tree called thought-provoking?

Because the tree has so many names and so many medicinal and practical uses that it makes people think about how valuable it is.

How does the baby bird's idea of the world change in 'What a Bird Thought'?

It first thinks the world is a small blue shell, then a straw nest, then a world of leaves, and finally realises the world is much larger.

Why did the bird think the world was made of straw?

Because it lived in a nest made of straw, nestled warmly by its mother, so straw was all it could see around it.

What did the bird realise when it flew beyond the tree?

It realised it did not really know how the world was made, and that the world was far bigger than it had imagined.

In 'Spices that Heal Us', why does Daadi share natural cures?

She learnt them from her grandmother and wants Vikram and Vaibhavi to remember them and share these helpful home remedies with their friends.

Name two spices and one use each from Daadi's letter.

Turmeric (haldi) improves energy and reduces body pain; ginger (adrak) gives relief from cough, cold and pain.

What warning does Daadi give about using natural cures?

She advises that one must always consult an elder before using these herbs and spices as remedies.

Let us do these activities before we read.

I A tree is useful to us in many ways. Mention some of these uses. Write them in the picture given below.

Trees give us many useful things. They give us oxygen to breathe and clean the air, shade from the sun, wood for furniture and houses, fruits and leaves to eat, medicines from bark and leaves, shelter for birds and animals, and they keep the soil and water safe.

II Neem is a common tree in our country. Discuss in groups of four and fill Columns 1 and 2 with what you know about the neem tree and what you want to know. Column 1. What do you know? Column 2. What do you want to know?

Column 1 - What do you know: Neem has bitter leaves, its twigs are used to clean teeth, its oil is used in soaps, it has medicinal value. Column 2 - What do you want to know: Where was neem first found, what are its different names, how does it help farmers and cure diseases, and why is it called the magic tree.

Let us discuss

Amber found many facts about the neem tree from Neem Baba. Fill up the fact sheet based on what Neem Baba told her. LET US KNOW OUR NEEM Common name: Given by: Period of birth: Born at: Found in: Common names: Names given by scientists: 1. 2. Names given by others: 1. 2.

Common name: Neem, Given by: Iranians. Period of birth: Millions of years ago. Born at: North India or Myanmar. Found in: Many Asian and African countries and some parts of America. Common names: Nimb in Hindi, and Nim, Leemba, Nimori, Nimbamond, Nimbe, Nimo; Sanskrit names Arishta, Nimba, Nimbaca. Names given by scientists: 1. bitter grace of God 2. nature's gift to man / cleanliness-parting tree. Names given by others: 1. magic tree 2. the tree of the twentieth century.

Let us discuss

1. How is neem useful to farmers?

Neem is very useful to farmers. Powder of neem seeds mixed with water and sprayed on plants stops locusts from eating them. In rice fields it stops mosquito breeding and increases crop yield. It saves crops from termites that eat roots and from other insects that eat crops. It is cost-effective and natural.

2. Mention some of the uses of the neem tree.

Neem leaves, bark, flowers, fruits and roots are used to make medicines for many diseases. Twigs are used to clean teeth, leaves protect stored clothes and grains from insects, oil is used to make soap and toothpaste, wood makes termite-proof furniture, it purifies air, and it stops mosquito breeding in stagnant water. Leaves are also used to give comfort during measles.

Let us think and reflect

I You just read about the neem tree. Write any two facts that surprised you the most.

Two surprising facts are that the neem tree was born millions of years ago in North India or Myanmar and now grows in many Asian, African and American countries, and that its name Neem was given by Iranians while Indians gave it many names like Arishta meaning one who cures diseases.

II Complete the following sentences. 1. Amber played in the shade of ______________________.

Amber played in the shade of the neem tree (Neem Baba) in her courtyard.

II Complete the following sentences. 2. Neem seed powder protects crops from ______________________.

Neem seed powder protects crops from locusts, termites and other insects that eat crops.

II Complete the following sentences. 3. ______________________ is a cost-effective method to stop mosquitoes from breeding in stagnant water.

Putting the powder of neem seeds in stagnant water is a cost-effective method to stop mosquitoes from breeding.

II Complete the following sentences. 4. One reason why doctors advise us to use neem leaves for someone suffering from measles is ______________________.

One reason is that neem leaves have chemical properties that destroy germs, give comfort from itching and do not allow germs to breed.

III Which parts of the neem tree are used to make medicines?

Leaves, bark, flowers, fruits and even roots of the neem tree can be used to make medicines to cure many diseases.

IV Why is the story of neem tree thought-provoking?

The story is thought-provoking because it shows how a tree born in India long ago got Sanskrit names like Arishta and later the name Neem from Iranians, and today is known worldwide by many names for its great usefulness and healing powers.

Let us learn

I Study these words from the text. • something • neem oil • cleanliness-parting • well known • grandmother • seed powder • childhood • well trained • thought-provoking Put the compound words given above in their trees. These words are known as compound words. There are three types of compound words, based on how the words are separated. • Open compound words: spaces between the words. • Closed compound words: no spaces between the words. • Hyphenated compound words: hyphens between the words. Open compound words ___________ Closed compound words _ Hyphenated compound words ___________

Open compound words (written with a space): neem oil, seed powder, well known, well trained. Closed compound words (joined together): something, grandmother, childhood. Hyphenated compound words: cleanliness-parting, thought-provoking.

II Words that tell us what a person is doing are called verbs. In the table given below, match the verbs in the first column showing action in the present to verbs in the second column showing action in the past. Make a sentence with any one form of the verb. One has been done for you. Present Past Answer Sentence 1. become (i) made 1. (iv) I want to become a teacher when I grow up. 2. find (ii) gave 3. make (iii) told 4. discover (iv) became 5. tell (v) found 6. give (vi) discovered

Matches: 1. become - (iv) became, 2. find - (v) found, 3. make - (i) made, 4. discover - (vi) discovered, 5. tell - (iii) told, 6. give - (ii) gave. Example sentences: I found a neem leaf on the ground. She made toothpaste from neem oil. We discovered many uses of neem. He told us a story about Neem Baba. They gave the tree a new name.

III Amber speaks to Neem Baba as if speaking to a person. This figure of speech is called personification. Let us look at some more examples. • The leaves whispered in the wind. • The flowers danced merrily in the breeze. Now, discuss it with your classmates and teacher.

Personification means giving human qualities to non-human things. Here Neem Baba talks like a person. Other examples show leaves whispering and flowers dancing like humans. Students can discuss more examples like the sun smiled or the wind shouted.

Let us listen

You will now listen to a boy speaking to his mother. As you listen, select the correct statements. (refer to page 101 for transcript) 1. The mother was surprised to know that Peepal Baba had planted trees all over the country.

True. The mother was surprised and asked how he planted so many trees all over the country as a child.

You will now listen to a boy speaking to his mother. As you listen, select the correct statements. 2. The mother disliked the work being done by Peepal Baba.

False. The mother liked the work and said it is wonderful and that we should learn from him and plant more trees.

You will now listen to a boy speaking to his mother. As you listen, select the correct statements. 3. The mother wanted to know more about Peepal Baba.

True. The mother asked who he is, what he does, where he got the idea and how he came to be known as Peepal Baba.

You will now listen to a boy speaking to his mother. As you listen, select the correct statements. 4. The boy decided to take care of trees by listening to Peepal Baba’s journey.

True. At the end the boy agrees with his mother that they must tell others to plant and save trees like Peepal Baba.

You will now listen to a boy speaking to his mother. As you listen, select the correct statements. 5. The boy was worried about what his teacher had told him.

False. The boy was excited to share what his teacher had told him about Peepal Baba, not worried.

Let us speak

Collect dry leaves of four different trees and plants around you. 1. Make one card as given below. On the top, draw the shape of the leaf looking at the dry leaf and colour it. Inside the card, write the name of the tree/plant the leaf is taken from and one of its uses.

Activity to do: I collected neem, peepal, mango and tulsi leaves. I drew the shape of a neem leaf on top of the card and coloured it green. Inside I wrote: Name - Neem, Use - Leaves are used to make medicines and protect grains from insects.

2. Now, speak about the whole process of making the card in front of the class.

I will say: I went to the park and collected dry leaves, pressed them in a book, then took a card, drew the leaf shape by looking at the real leaf, coloured it, and wrote its name and use inside. It was fun to learn about leaves.

3. Ask your classmates to identify the leaf and tell them one of its uses. After they answer, open the card, and share what you have written.

I showed the leaf drawing to the class and asked them to guess. They guessed neem. I told them its leaves keep insects away. Then I opened the card and read what I had written.

Let us write

You have read about Neem Baba and learnt many things about the neem tree. Look at the trees in your neighbourhood and write a paragraph about any one tree that you like. • Where it is (roadside/park, etc.) • How it looks (height, tree trunk, leaves, flowers, etc.) • Why you like it (shade, medicinal properties, shelter, beauty, etc.) • Give a title to your paragraph.

My Favourite Tree - The Peepal Tree. There is a big peepal tree near the park in my neighbourhood. It is very tall with a thick brown trunk and wide branches. Its leaves are heart-shaped and rustle in the wind, and it gives cool shade. I like it because it gives fresh air, shelter to many birds, and its leaves and bark are used in medicines. People worship it and children play under it.

Let us explore

When people from Persia came to India and saw that a common tree of their country was freely growing here, they started calling the tree Azad Darakhte Hindi. So, the scientific name of Neem in Latin became Azadirachta indica. Neem has different names in the Indian languages. Discuss with your teacher and find out which Indian languages these names belong to. Name Nimb Nim Leemba Nimori Nimbamond Nimbe Nimo Indian

Nimb - Hindi and Sanskrit region, Nim - Hindi/ Bengali, Leemba - Gujarati, Nimori - Rajasthani, Nimbamond - local tribal languages, Nimbe - Kannada, Nimo - Konkani/Goan. (Students should confirm with teacher as names vary by state). The Persian name Azad Darakht-e-Hindi means free tree of India, giving scientific name Azadirachta indica.

Let us do these activities before we read.

I Look at the picture and discuss what you see in the picture with your teacher and classmates. Think of a time when you worked hard. What did you do then? • How did it help you? • How did it make you feel? Also, discuss in groups.

In the picture I see birds and nests. When I worked hard to learn cycling, I practised every day. It helped me balance and ride without support. It made me feel proud and happy.

II Where do you see birds? What do you see the birds doing?

I see birds on trees, on rooftops, near water and in the sky. I see them flying, building nests, feeding their babies, chirping and looking for food.

III Do you want to fly like a bird? Why?

Yes, I want to fly like a bird because I could see the world from high above, travel quickly to new places and feel free in the sky.

IV What does a baby bird think about its world?

A baby bird thinks its world is only as big as what it can see - first its shell, then its nest. As it grows and sees more, its idea of the world becomes bigger.

V Read the sentences and replace the underlined words with their correct meanings. S.No. Sentences Meanings 1. The colour of the feather was not dark but pale. 2. The butterfly moved lightly and quickly on to the flower. 3. Finally, I finished my bird painting after trying many times. 4. The pretty flowers were the prize for the gardener’s hard work. at last light labour fluttered

1. pale - light, 2. fluttered - moved lightly and quickly, 3. Finally - at last, 4. labour - hard work. So: The colour was not dark but light. The butterfly fluttered onto the flower. At last I finished my painting after trying many times. The flowers were the prize for the gardener's labour.

Let us discuss

I Read the poem again. Identify the main idea of each stanza. There are two extra sentences are given. 1. The bird steps out into the world. 2. The bird lived happily in a small world. 3. The bird becomes blind due to leaves. 4. The bird flies away as an adult. 5. The bird is unhappy with the straw nest. 6. The bird lived in a cosy nest with its mother.

Stanza 1 - 2. The bird lived happily in a small world (small round pale blue shell house). Stanza 2 - 6. The bird lived in a cosy nest with its mother (nest made of straw). Stanza 3 - 1. The bird steps out into the world (fluttered from nest and thought world is made of leaves). Stanza 4 - 4. The bird flies away as an adult (flew beyond the tree, fit for grown-up labours). Extra sentences 3 and 5 are incorrect.

II Look at the pictures 1–4 and write the matching line from the poem for each. 1. 2. 3. 4.

Picture 1 (egg shell): I thought the world was small and round, And made of pale, blue shell. Picture 2 (nest with mother): I thought the world was made of straw, And nestled by my mother. Picture 3 (bird among leaves): I said the world is made of leaves, I have been very blind. Picture 4 (bird flying over tree): At length I flew beyond the tree, Quite fit for grown-up labours.

III Answer the following with a word from the poem and check the answers with your partner. 1. What was the shape of the bird’s first house? _ O _ _ _

ROUND

III Answer the following with a word from the poem and check the answers with your partner. 2. What was the bird’s second nest made of? _ _ R _ _

STRAW

III Answer the following with a word from the poem and check the answers with your partner. 3. What did the bird see when it came out of its nest? L _ _ _ E _

LEAVES

III Answer the following with a word from the poem and check the answers with your partner. 4. What did the bird do at the end? _ _ _ W

FLEW

IV Now, recite the poem aloud along with your teacher and classmates.

Activity: Recite the poem with correct rhythm and pronunciation, pausing at the end of each line and showing the growth of the bird from shell to nest to leaves to sky.

Let us think and reflect

I Write whether the following sentences are True or False. 1. The bird changed its house two times.

False. The bird had two homes — first the egg-shell and then the straw nest it built — and then it flew away. So it changed its house once (from shell to nest), not twice.

I Write whether the following sentences are True or False. 2. The neighbours tell the bird about the world.

False. The bird says I don't know how the world is made, And neither do my neighbours.

II Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 1. I thought the world was made of straw, And nestled by my mother. (i) Who lived in the nest along with the baby bird?

The baby bird's mother lived in the nest along with the baby bird.

II Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 1. I thought the world was made of straw, And nestled by my mother. (ii) Complete the following by choosing the correct option. The bird thought the world was made of straw because __________. A. it lived in a straw hut B. its nest was made of straw C. its mother fed straw to it D. there was straw all around

B. its nest was made of straw

II Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 1. I thought the world was made of straw, And nestled by my mother. (iii) Which word tells us that the baby bird was warm and comfortable?

The word nestled tells us the baby bird was warm, safe and comfortable close to its mother.

II Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 2. I said the world is made of leaves, I have been very blind. (i) Why did the bird think the world was made of leaves?

Because after fluttering from its nest it could only see leaves all around, so it thought the whole world was made of leaves.

II Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 2. I said the world is made of leaves, I have been very blind. (ii) What does the set of words ‘I said’ mean? A. flew B. shouted C. spoke D. cried

C. spoke

II Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions given below. 2. I said the world is made of leaves, I have been very blind. (iii) Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence. The bird felt that it had been very blind because it could not the leaves from n __ e the nest.

The bird felt that it had been very blind because it could not see the leaves from inside the nest.

III Why did the baby bird think that its first world was small, round and blue?

Because its first world was its egg. The pale blue shell was small and round, and that was all the bird could see from inside, so it thought the whole world was small, round and pale blue.

IV Where did the bird go when it fluttered from its straw nest?

When it fluttered from its straw nest it went out among the leaves of the tree to see what it could find.

V What quality did the bird say it had, when it flew away?

The bird said it was quite fit for grown-up labours, meaning it had become adult, strong and ready for hard work.

VI Who do you think were the bird’s neighbours? Why do you think so? Discuss.

The bird's neighbours were probably other birds living on the same tree or nearby trees. Like the bird, they also do not know how the big world is made, which shows that knowledge grows as we explore.

Let us learn

I Let us write some rhyming words. One has been done for you. Words from the poem Stanza 1 Stanza 2 Stanza 3 Stanza 4 well shell New rhyming words fell Now, complete a new stanza with rhyming words at the end of each line. I fly high and I fly low, But one thing I surely k , Whenever I wish to rest, My little nest is the t.

Rhyming words: well - shell - fell, bell, sell; other stanzas: other - mother, find - blind, labours - neighbours. New stanza completion: I fly high and I fly low, But one thing I surely know, Whenever I wish to rest, My little nest is the best.

II The poet uses words like ‘pale’, ‘blue’, ‘round’, ‘straw’ and ‘little’ to describe the bird’s nest. Read a few more describing words. pointed green thin brown small wooden hanging round Now, use the describing words given in the box to create six sentences based on the given picture. 1. …………………………………… 2. …………………………………… 3. …………………………………… 4. …………………………………… 5. …………………………………… 6. ……………………………………

1. I see a small green bird on the branch. 2. There is a round wooden nest hanging from the tree. 3. The nest has thin brown twigs. 4. The tree has pointed green leaves. 5. A brown hanging nest is small but strong. 6. The bird has a thin pointed beak.

Let us listen

You will listen to a short poem. As you listen, fill in the missing words. You can listen to the poem more than once. (refer to page 102 for transcript) I’m a parrot, my name is Paro, My feathers are g and they glow. In the morning, I spread my wings, _ _ _ around and see wonderful things. Come with me through the skies so _ l _ _, To places old and places new. Among the _ _ e _ _, where the breeze is light, Many new s t ___ s, oh, what a sight!

My feathers are bright and they glow. In the morning, I spread my wings, Fly around and see wonderful things. Come with me through the skies so blue, To places old and places new. Among the trees, where the breeze is light, Many new stories, oh, what a sight!

Let us speak

Speak about which bird you would like to be. Include the following points. • Which bird are you? [I am ….......…….] • What do you look like? [I am ….......……. in colour. I am a big/small bird. I have ….......…….] • Where do you live? [I live in ….......……. It is (where) ….......…….] • What do you do during the day? [ I ….......……. I also ….......…….] • Do you have any message for humans? [ I want to tell the humans ….......…….]

I am a peacock. I am bright blue and green in colour. I am a big bird. I have a long beautiful tail with eye-like feathers. I live in forests and near villages, where there are tall trees. During the day I dance when it rains and I look for grains and insects. I also take care of my babies. I want to tell humans to protect forests and not hunt birds.

Let us write

I Read how the bird perceived its world. My world was small, round and light blue at first. After that my world was warm and comfortable. It was made of straw. In this world I could only see leaves whenever I stepped out. In the end, my world became big. It had the sky and the earth as a part of it.

This is an example paragraph showing how the bird's view of the world grew from egg to nest to leaves to sky.

II Now, discuss with your teacher and classmates how you think the world would look to the following. 1. a baby 2. a fish

A baby sees the world as its mother's lap, crib and toys nearby. A fish sees the world as water all around, with plants, rocks and other fish.

III Now, write five sentences each, for both 1 and 2, in your notebooks. You can take help from the example given in I.

For a baby: My world is soft and warm. It is made of my mother's arms and a small crib. I see bright toys above me. Everything seems close and safe. As I grow, my world becomes bigger. For a fish: My world is cool and blue. It is made of water everywhere. I see green plants and sandy bottom. I swim with other fish all day. Beyond water there is a strange world of air.

Let us explore

I The bird’s first home was made of a shell. Later its home was among leaves and made of straw. • Look at your home carefully and make a list of all the materials it is made of. • Why do you think our homes are not made of straw? • If you had to own a home of your choice, what would it look like and what materials would you like to use? • How is a home different from a house? Discuss with your classmates and teacher.

My home is made of bricks, cement, iron, wood, glass and tiles. Our homes are not made of straw because straw is not strong, it can catch fire, get wet and cannot protect from rain, wind and thieves. My dream home would be near trees, with brick walls, tiled roof and large windows for light and air. A house is a building made of materials, while a home is where we live with family, love and care.

II Look at the different kinds of nests and homes the birds make. Have you seen any? Discuss these type of nests with your teacher and classmates. • Look at the list of some workers who build houses. Find out the work they do and write, as shown in the example. You can think of other workers and add them too. Workers Their work Example: mason lays bricks and stones 1. painter 2. electrician 3. plumber 4. carpenter 5. architect 6. 7.

1. painter - paints walls and ceilings, 2. electrician - fits wires, switches and lights, 3. plumber - fits pipes and taps for water, 4. carpenter - makes doors, windows and furniture from wood, 5. architect - designs the house plan, 6. welder - joins iron parts, 7. labourer - helps carry materials.

Let us do these activities before we read.

I A spice is any seed, fruit, root, bark, leaf or any other part of a plant used to give taste and colour to our food. Try to recall the names of three spices that are used for cooking in your home. Write them below and share your answers with your teacher. 1. _______ 2. _ 3. _________

1. Turmeric (haldi) 2. Cumin seeds (jeera) 3. Black pepper (kali mirch)

II Given below are pictures of some spices. Work in pairs and write what you call them in your language. Their names in English are given in the last column. Share your answers with your teacher. S.No. Spice Name in your language Name in English 1. Turmeric 2. Fenugreek 3. Cumin seeds 4. Asafoetida 5. Cinnamon 6. Clove 7. Ginger 8. Black pepper 9. Fennel seeds 10. Cardamom

Example in Hindi: 1. Turmeric - Haldi, 2. Fenugreek - Methi, 3. Cumin seeds - Jeera, 4. Asafoetida - Heeng, 5. Cinnamon - Dalchini, 6. Clove - Laung, 7. Ginger - Adrak, 8. Black pepper - Kali mirch, 9. Fennel seeds - Saunf, 10. Cardamom - Elaichi. Students write in their own mother tongue.

III Do you know if these spices can be used for something else other than cooking? Let us find out by reading the letter given below.

Yes, besides cooking many spices heal us. They help in digestion, reduce pain, control sugar, cure cough and cold, keep teeth healthy and freshen breath. We will read Daadi's letter to learn more.

Let us think and reflect

I Read the given lines and answer the following questions. ‘When I was a child, I learnt them from my grandmother. She used to find cures for most of the weather-related common illnesses in the kitchen.’ 1. Where exactly in the kitchen did her grandmother find the cures?

Her grandmother found the cures in the spices present in the kitchen.

I Read the given lines and answer the following questions. ‘When I was a child, I learnt them from my grandmother. She used to find cures for most of the weather-related common illnesses in the kitchen.’ 2. Give one example of weather-related common illnesses.

Examples are cough, cold, body pain or fever caused by change in weather.

I Read the given lines and answer the following questions. ‘When I was a child, I learnt them from my grandmother. She used to find cures for most of the weather-related common illnesses in the kitchen.’ 3. What kind of relationship did the speaker have with her grandmother?

The speaker had a loving and respectful relationship with her grandmother and learned traditional home remedies from her.

II Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence. Daadi soaked methi seeds overnight and drank the water in the morning to manage _ and _.

Daadi soaked methi seeds overnight and drank the water in the morning to manage sugar level and body weight in control.

III Circle the spice that is not useful for body pain according to Daadi’s letter. 1. Turmeric 2. Fennel seeds 3. Ginger 4. Black pepper

2. Fennel seeds. According to the letter turmeric, ginger and black pepper help relieve body pain, while fennel seeds help in digestion.

IV Why did Daadi ask Vikram and Vaibhavi to share the natural cures with their friends?

Daadi asked them to share the cures so that their friends can also use simple natural remedies and stay healthy, and the knowledge continues to spread.

V What was Daadi’s final advice to Vikram and Vaibhavi?

Daadi's final advice was to try to remember the cures, share them, identify herbs and spices in the kitchen, and always consult an elder before using them.

VI How do we know that natural cures are passed from one generation to another?

We know because Daadi learnt them from her grandmother as a child and now she is teaching them to her grandchildren Vikram and Vaibhavi.

VII Why do you think we should know about the healing properties of spices?

We should know because spices are easily available at home, can give quick relief for small problems, have fewer side effects, keep us healthy naturally and connect us to traditional knowledge.

Let us learn

I You have read the uses of spices in the letter. Complete the following table with the help of your teacher. You may use the words from the box given below. Part of the plant: root/bark/leaves/flower buds/fruit/seeds Texture: rough/soft/silky Taste: bitter/sweet/sour/salty/spicy Spice Name Part of the plant Colour Texture Taste Turmeric Fenugreek Cinnamon Clove Black pepper Cardamom

Turmeric - root, yellow, rough, bitter/spicy; Fenugreek - seeds, yellow-brown, hard/rough, bitter; Cinnamon - bark, brown, rough, sweet/spicy; Clove - flower buds, dark brown, hard/rough, spicy; Black pepper - fruit/seeds, black, rough, spicy; Cardamom - fruit/seeds, green, soft/silky, sweet/spicy.

II Read the sentences given below. • You may share them with your friends. • You should try to remember these cures. • It can help control cough and cold. • You must consult an elder before you use them. • I need to soak the methi seeds overnight. • I used to put heeng water on your tummy. The underlined words are known as helping verbs. These are called modal verbs or modals. Each modal verb has a different function. Column A Helping verbs Column B Functions (i) may a. past habit (ii) should b. suggestion (iii) can c. compulsion (iv) must d. advice (v) need to e. ability (vi) used to f. necessity 1. The words given in Column A are helping verbs. Match the helping verbs in Column A with their functions in Column B.

(i) may - b. suggestion, (ii) should - d. advice, (iii) can - e. ability, (iv) must - c. compulsion, (v) need to - f. necessity, (vi) used to - a. past habit.

II Read the sentences given below. 2. Complete the following dialogues with any four modals from the table given above. (Use a modal only once.) Ajay : Anand had fever last week. He (i) _______ take good rest. Suman : Yes, he (ii) _ or he will fall ill again. Ajay : He (iii) _ take grandmother’s natural cures. Suman : Yes, we (iv) _______ remember how effective they are.

Ajay: Anand had fever last week. He should take good rest. Suman: Yes, he must or he will fall ill again. Ajay: He can take grandmother's natural cures. Suman: Yes, we need to / used to remember how effective they are. Any four modals used once correctly is accepted, example: (i) should, (ii) must, (iii) may, (iv) need to.

Let us listen

You will listen to the benefits of Tulsi (Holy Basil), a common herb. As you listen, complete the fact sheet given below. (refer to page 102 for transcript) THE WONDER HERB 1. Name Tulsi Family: _______ 2. First found in _ 3. Now found everywhere in India 4. Known as The _ of herbs 5. Can decrease levels of _ and cholesterol 6. Used to treat disorders of breathing and _ 7. Is used to make mouth wash and _ 8. We can have Tulsi leaves by eating them _ or adding them while making _______

1. Family: basil, 2. First found in north central India, 4. Known as The Queen of herbs, 5. Can decrease levels of glucose and cholesterol, 6. Used to treat disorders of breathing and digestion, 7. Is used to make mouth wash and toothpaste (and herbal hand sanitiser), 8. We can have Tulsi leaves by eating them raw or adding them while making tea.

Let us speak

1. Daadi told Vikram and Vaibhavi about many spices. Choose one spice and introduce yourself as that spice to the class. 2. Before you speak, make a spicy headband for the spice you chose. Follow the steps given below. Cut out strips of a paper 2 inches wide. Join two ends to make a band that can fit your head. Make a small card with a picture of a spice. Colour it. Attach the card on your headband. Use the headband while introducing yourself as the spice. 3. Mention the following while speaking. • your name • part of the plant • colour • texture • taste • benefits

Example: Hello, I am Turmeric (Haldi). I am a root part of the plant. I am yellow in colour. My texture is rough and hard. My taste is bitter and spicy. I improve energy and digestion and reduce body pain. People use me in food and as medicine.

Let us write

I Vikram’s grandmother shared two natural cures to cure his cough in her earlier letter. It was kept outside and a few drops of rain fell on it. Some of the words got washed away by the rain. Help Vikram complete the natural cures. Use the phrases given in the box below. There are two phrases that you do not need. some leaves of basil for cough amount of honey the mixture for high fever a piece of fresh ginger you can have it grind to get home remedy Natural Cures for Cough 1. To prepare this home remedy, you just need ginger and honey. First, take , grate it and take the juice from it. Take about two teaspoons of this juice and add about two and half teaspoons of honey to it. Mix it properly. Warm slightly on very low heat for a minute. Then about three to four times a day to get relief from cough. Have patience to see the effect as natural cures with ginger and honey might take some time to show results. 2. To prepare the second for cough, take about 10 grams of each— long pepper, dried ginger and basil leaves. Add four to six small cardamoms and a fine powder. If you take this powder with an equal , it will give you relief from cough.

1. First, take a piece of fresh ginger, grate it and take the juice. Warm the mixture slightly on very low heat. Then you can have it about three to four times a day. Have patience as natural cures for cough with ginger and honey might take some time. 2. To prepare the second home remedy for cough, take long pepper, dried ginger and basil leaves, add cardamoms and grind to get a fine powder. If you take this powder with an equal amount of honey, it will give you relief from cough.

II Now, write a short paragraph on Tulsi based on the completed fact sheet in ‘Let us listen’.

Tulsi, the Wonder Herb, belongs to the basil family. It was first found in north central India and now grows everywhere in India. It is known as the Queen of Herbs. It can decrease glucose and cholesterol levels and improve blood pressure. It treats breathing and digestion disorders and is used to make mouthwash, toothpaste and hand sanitiser. We can eat Tulsi leaves raw or add them to tea to calm the mind and protect from pollution.

Let us explore

I Now that you have read about many spices, can you guess the spices based on the riddles given below? 1. When your tummy felt funny I was used by your granny I made you fit and fine And brought back your smile. Who am I? 2. I come from under the ground Thousands of years, I’ve been around. For cooking you use me daily From cold I can cure you surely. Who am I?

1. Asafoetida (Heeng) - it is put as heeng water on tummy to relieve gas. 2. Ginger (Adrak) - it is a root from under the ground, used in cooking for more than 4000 years and cures cough and cold.

II Fill in the blanks to complete the riddle below. Write another riddle of your own and ask your family members to guess the spice. 1. Brownish- _____ in colour, and _ to taste, I help everyone, to _ their weight. Who am I? Ans: Fenugreek (methi) 2. _________ _ _ _____________

1. Brownish-yellow in colour, and bitter to taste, I help everyone, to control their weight. Who am I? Fenugreek (methi). 2. Example new riddle: Green and tiny, in pods I hide, Sweet and spicy, I freshen your breath wide. Who am I? Cardamom (Elaichi).

III Close your eyes and learn about spices by smelling and feeling them. The teacher may also provide a few different spices to try.

Activity: Close eyes, smell and touch turmeric, clove, cinnamon and cardamom. Turmeric feels hard and smells earthy, clove smells strong and feels like a nail, cinnamon smells sweet and feels like bark rolls, cardamom smells fresh and feels soft pods.