Water— A Precious Gift

The answer is Rain. Rain falls down from the clouds to the earth but never goes back up in the form of rain. (Water does go back up as water vapour/evaporation, but rain itself only comes down.)

I think it will rain today because:
1. The sky is covered with dark, grey clouds.
2. There is thunder and lightning in the distance.
3. The air feels cool and humid.
4. Birds are flying low and returning to their nests.

I think it will not rain today because:
1. The sky is clear and bright blue with no clouds.
2. The sun is shining strongly and the air is dry.
3. There is a gentle warm breeze blowing.
4. Birds are flying high in the sky.

*(Note: Students should write their own observations based on the actual sky they see. The above are sample clues.)*

Sample Observations (students should record their own):

- Heavy or light rain: The rain today was moderate — not too heavy, not too light.
- Size of raindrops: The raindrops were medium-sized. During heavy rain, drops appear bigger.
- Speed of raindrops: They came down quite fast.
- Sheets of water: During very heavy rain, individual drops are hard to see; water falls like a curtain or sheet.
- Direction of rain: The rain was mostly falling straight down, but when the wind blew, it slanted. The wind pushes the raindrops sideways, which is why the direction changes.
- Collected rainwater: The rainwater collected in a vessel looked slightly dirty/muddy because it picks up dust and particles from the air and the ground.

*(Students should draw a picture of the rain they observed in their notebooks.)*

(i) Will it rain again?
If the sky still has dark clouds and the air is cool and moist, it may rain again. If the clouds have cleared and the sun is out, it may not rain soon. *(Students should give their own reason based on observation.)*

(ii) Did it rain only in your area?
Rain usually falls over a large area, so it likely rained in nearby places too. We can ask neighbours, relatives in nearby towns, or check the news to find out.

(iii) Did the rain make everyone happy?
Rain makes farmers happy because their crops get water. Children enjoy playing in the rain. However, people who work outdoors (like construction workers or vendors) may find heavy rain difficult. People whose homes flood may feel worried. So rain makes some people happy and causes problems for others.

Where does rainwater go?

1. On soil/mud: Rainwater soaks (gets absorbed) into the soil. It slowly moves underground and may join streams, ponds, or get stored between rocks as groundwater. This is the source of water in wells.

2. On hard surfaces (roads, concrete): Rainwater cannot be absorbed. It flows away into drains, streams, or collects in low-lying areas as puddles.

3. On leaves and plants: Some water is absorbed by plant roots; some drips off leaves.

4. In low areas: Water collects in puddles, ponds, and lakes.

5. Streams and rivers: Water flowing in streams joins rivers, which eventually flow into seas and oceans.

After the rain stops and the sun comes out:
The sun heats the water in puddles, ponds, and wet surfaces. The water evaporates (turns into water vapour) and goes back into the air. This water vapour later forms clouds, and the cycle continues.

Activities for which we need water:
1. Drinking
2. Cooking food
3. Washing utensils/dishes
4. Bathing/showering
5. Brushing teeth
6. Washing clothes
7. Cleaning the house/mopping floors
8. Watering plants and crops
9. Flushing the toilet
10. Washing fruits and vegetables
11. Making tea, juice, or other drinks
12. Swimming
13. Putting out fires
14. Industrial uses (making things in factories)

Water used for brushing teeth:
If we keep the tap running, we use about 2–3 mugs of water. If we use a mug and turn off the tap, we use only 1 mug. It is better to use a mug to save water.

Water used for a shower:
A short shower of 5 minutes uses about 30–40 litres of water. A bucket bath uses only about 15–20 litres. Using a bucket is more water-efficient.

*(Students should measure and record their own usage.)*

Sample Answer:
Yes, once the water supply in our area was cut off for a day due to a pipe repair. We had to:
1. Use the water stored in our overhead tank and buckets.
2. Be very careful not to waste any water.
3. Use less water for bathing and washing.
4. Our neighbours helped us by sharing some water.

This experience taught me how precious water is and why we should always store some water and never waste it.

*(Students should write their own personal experience.)*

Sample Answer:

Vessels used at home today:
- Plastic water bottles
- Steel/plastic water tanks (overhead)
- Plastic buckets and mugs
- Glass/steel jugs and bottles
- Refrigerator water bottles

Vessels elders used in the past:
- Clay/earthen pots (matka/ghada) — these keep water cool naturally
- Copper vessels (lota, gaggar) — copper is believed to purify water
- Brass pots
- Wooden barrels

Were they different? Yes, earlier people mostly used clay, copper, and brass vessels. Now we mostly use plastic and steel.

Different names (examples):
- Matka / Ghada (clay pot) — Hindi
- Gaggar (brass/copper pot) — Punjabi
- Handi — clay cooking/storage pot
- Kolshi — Bengali clay pot

*(Students should draw their chosen vessel and write its local name. They should also observe and count how many different kinds of vessels their classmates have drawn and note any patterns or designs on them.)*

What happens to water after we use it:

1. Water used for bathing, washing clothes, and cleaning becomes dirty (called wastewater or greywater). It flows through drains into sewage systems.

2. Water used for cooking may be poured down the drain or some is absorbed into food.

3. Water used for flushing toilets goes into the sewage system and is treated at sewage treatment plants.

4. Dirty water that is not treated can flow into rivers, ponds, and the ground, polluting them.

What we can do:
- Reuse water from washing vegetables or rice to water plants.
- Reuse water from washing clothes to flush toilets or mop floors.
- Avoid adding too many chemicals (soap, detergent) to water.
- Never throw garbage or chemicals into water bodies.

Water helps us keep things clean, which is important for our health. After use, it becomes dirty, but we can reduce, reuse, and recycle water to protect this precious gift.

Yes, everyone must get clean drinking water.

Water is essential for survival. It is considered sacred in many cultures. Yet, in many places people walk long distances to get water, and many people do not have access to clean drinking water. This is unfair.

Actions I can take:
1. Keep a pot or bottle of clean drinking water outside my home so that anyone who is thirsty — a postman, a sanitation worker, a traveller — can drink.
2. Offer water to guests and visitors who come to my door.
3. Set up a birdbath so birds and insects also get water, especially in summer.
4. Not waste water so that more is available for everyone.
5. Spread awareness among friends and family about saving water.

This tradition of keeping water outside homes is practised in many parts of India, especially in summer, and it is a beautiful act of kindness.

How to Prepare a Birdbath:

Materials needed:
- A shallow and wide container (an old big bowl, base of an old pot, or a bucket — less than 10 cm deep)
- Some medium-sized stones
- Smaller pebbles
- Fresh water
- A scrubber (kept only for the birdbath)

Steps:
1. Take the shallow, wide container.
2. Place some medium-sized stones inside it so that birds can perch (stand) on them while drinking.
3. Add smaller pebbles along the sides to make sloping edges. This also helps insects use the water safely without drowning.
4. Pour fresh, clean water into the container.
5. Place the birdbath in your yard, balcony, or terrace where birds can easily find it.
6. Change the water frequently (every day if possible) so it stays fresh.
7. Clean the birdbath with a scrubber twice a week. Important: Do not use this scrubber for kitchen utensils — keep it only for the birdbath.

Why is a birdbath important?
In hot summer months, birds and insects find it very hard to get water. A birdbath provides them with water to drink and cool down. It is a small but very kind act towards nature.

Sample Answer (students should write their own observations):

I watched the rain carefully for several days. On one day, it rained heavily. The raindrops were big and fell fast. The rain was first falling straight down, but when the wind blew, it started slanting. I collected some rainwater in a bowl. It looked slightly dirty and had some dust particles in it, even though it came from the sky.

I noticed that the water on the mud road soaked into the ground quickly, but on the cemented road, water collected in puddles and flowed into the drain. In the garden, the soil absorbed the water and the plants looked fresh and green after the rain. After the rain stopped and the sun came out, the puddles slowly disappeared — the water evaporated. It was wonderful to see how rain gives life to everything around us.

Sample Answer (students should write about their own local water source):

Near our town, there is a river called the Gomti (or students write their local river/pond/well name). It is a large river that flows through our city. The water from this river is taken to a water treatment plant where it is cleaned and purified. After treatment, it is supplied to our homes through underground pipes. We use this water for drinking, cooking, and all daily needs.

However, in recent years, the river has become polluted because people throw garbage and waste into it. So now the water needs a lot of treatment before it can be used. In the past, people used to drink water directly from the river after filtering it through a cloth. Today, because of pollution, that is no longer safe.

We must keep our rivers and water bodies clean so that everyone can get safe drinking water.

*(Students should replace the example with their actual local water source and write their own observations.)*

Instructions for students:

Draw your birdbath in your notebook. Show:
- The shallow container
- Stones and pebbles inside
- Water in the container
- Birds perching on the stones and drinking water
- Any insects near the water

Sample names of birds and insects that may visit:

*Birds:*
- Sparrow
- Crow
- Pigeon
- Myna
- Bulbul
- Sunbird

*Insects:*
- Butterflies
- Bees
- Ants

*(Students should write the names of the actual birds and insects they observe visiting their birdbath.)*

Activities that waste or pollute water:

*Wastage of water:*
1. Leaving the tap running while brushing teeth or washing hands.
2. Taking very long showers instead of bucket baths.
3. Washing cars with a running hose pipe.
4. Overwatering plants.
5. Leaking taps and pipes that are not repaired.
6. Playing with water unnecessarily.

*Pollution of water:*
1. Throwing garbage, plastic, and waste into rivers, ponds, and lakes.
2. Pouring chemical waste, oil, or paint into drains.
3. Using too much soap, detergent, or pesticides that flow into water bodies.
4. Open defecation near water sources.
5. Washing clothes and utensils directly in ponds or rivers.

Three Solutions to avoid wastage and pollution:

Solution 1 — Use water wisely:
Turn off the tap when not in use (while brushing teeth, soaping hands, etc.). Use a mug and bucket instead of a shower or running tap. Fix leaking taps immediately.

Solution 2 — Reuse water:
Water used to wash vegetables or rice can be used to water plants. Water from washing clothes can be used to mop floors or flush toilets. This reduces the total amount of water we use.

Solution 3 — Keep water bodies clean:
Never throw garbage into rivers, ponds, or lakes. Do not pour chemicals or waste into drains. Participate in or organise clean-up drives near local water bodies. Spread awareness in the community about keeping water clean.

Conclusion:
Water is a precious gift. Every drop counts. By being careful, reusing water, and keeping it clean, we can make sure that there is enough clean water for everyone — people, animals, birds, and plants.