A Journey to the Magical Mountains

Given: The story 'A Journey to the Magical Mountains'.

Minam was a young girl who lived in a small village at the foot of the mighty Himalayas. She enjoyed going on walks and learning from her grandfather. She loved listening to his stories about the mountains, the animals, and the people who lived there. Spending time with her grandfather and exploring nature together was her favourite thing to do.

Given: The story describes a special morning in Minam's life.

One sunny morning, Minam's grandfather told her that it was the perfect day to go on a journey to the mountains. He invited her to come along with him so that she could see the tall peaks, the snow, and the beautiful world of the Himalayas. He wanted to share his love for the mountains with her.

Given: Minam prepared for her journey to the mountains.

Minam packed warm clothes to protect herself from the cold mountain weather. She also packed food and water for the journey. She made sure she had everything she needed to stay comfortable and safe during the long trip to the mountains.

Given: Minam and her grandfather went on a long journey.

Minam and her grandfather stopped near a river for lunch. They sat by the riverside, enjoyed their meal, and rested for a while. They listened to the sound of the flowing water and enjoyed the peaceful and beautiful surroundings of nature around them.

Given: Minam was seeing snow for the very first time.

When Minam saw snow for the first time, she was filled with wonder and excitement. She was amazed by the white, sparkling snow covering the mountains. She and her grandfather even made a small snowman together, which made the experience even more joyful and memorable for her.

Given: The journey to the mountains came to an end.

At the end of their journey, Minam promised her grandfather that she would always love and protect the mountains. She felt a deep connection with nature and understood how important it was to take care of the environment. She promised to keep the mountains safe and beautiful for the future.

This is a personal and open-ended discussion question. Students should think about their own experiences.

Sample Answer:
Yes, my grandmother teaches me many special things. She teaches me how to cook simple dishes, how to grow plants in our garden, and how to respect elders. She also tells me stories from her childhood that teach me important values like honesty, kindness, and hard work. I have learned that we can gain a lot of wisdom from the older people around us, just like Minam learned from her grandfather.

This is a personal and open-ended discussion question.

Sample Answer:
In my surroundings, cows are very important animals. They give us milk, which is used to make curd, butter, and cheese. Bullocks help farmers plough their fields. Dogs help guard our homes and keep us safe. Trees and plants around us give us clean air, shade, and fruits. All these animals and things play an important role in our daily lives, just like yaks and mountain goats help the people living in the mountains.

This is a personal and open-ended discussion question.

Sample Answer:
The park near my school has many trees and a small pond. I feel it should be protected because it gives us fresh air and is home to many birds and insects. To keep it safe, I would:
1. Not throw garbage in or around the park.
2. Water the plants regularly.
3. Tell others not to pluck flowers or break branches.
4. Participate in cleanliness drives.
Just like Minam promised to protect the mountains, I promise to protect the green spaces around me.

Based on the story, the correct matches are:

$$1 \rightarrow b) \text{ Apples}$$
$$2 \rightarrow c) \text{ River}$$
$$3 \rightarrow a) \text{ Yaks}$$
$$4 \rightarrow e) \text{ Mount Everest}$$
$$5 \rightarrow d) \text{ Mountain goats}$$

Explanation:
- Minam's favourite fruit was apples.
- They stopped near a river for lunch.
- Yaks are large animals that live in snowy mountain regions.
- Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world.
- Mountain goats are known for their ability to climb rocks skillfully.

Minam saw the tall peaks of the Himalayas.

(The Himalayas is the great mountain range in which Minam's village was located.)

Her grandfather was once a Sherpa.

(A Sherpa is a guide and helper who assists climbers in the Himalayas.)

They went on a long journey to the mountains.

(A journey means a trip from one place to another.)

Yaks are used by mountain people to carry heavy loads.

(Yaks are strong animals that help carry heavy loads in mountain regions.)

They saw the snow-covered mountains. She and her grandfather made a small snowman.

(Minam and her grandfather enjoyed making a snowman when they saw snow for the first time.)

The day created beautiful memories for Minam.

(The wonderful journey to the mountains left Minam with beautiful and cherished memories.)

The answers to the crossword puzzle are:

Across:
- 2. SHERPA — A Sherpa is a guide who helps climbers in the Himalayas.
- 5. VALLEY — A valley is a low area of land between mountains.
- 7. JOURNEY — A journey is a trip from one place to another.

Down:
- 1. PEAK — A peak is the pointed top of a mountain.
- 3. HIMALAYAS — The Himalayas is the tallest mountain range in the world.
- 4. SNOW — Snow is the white cover found on the tops of mountains.
- 6. YAK — A yak is a large animal used in mountain regions for milk and wool.

The correct matches are:

$$1. \text{ Himalayas} \rightarrow d) \text{ The tallest mountain range in the world}$$
$$2. \text{ Sherpa} \rightarrow a) \text{ Guides and helpers in mountain climbing}$$
$$3. \text{ Journey} \rightarrow c) \text{ A series of connected events or travel from one place to another}$$
$$4. \text{ Yaks} \rightarrow b) \text{ Large, strong animals found in mountains}$$
$$5. \text{ Magical} \rightarrow e) \text{ Something wonderful, amazing, or enchanting}$$
$$6. \text{ Memories} \rightarrow f) \text{ Things we remember and cherish}$$

The correct matches are:

$$1. \text{ Mouth of the river} \rightarrow b) \text{ Mouth}$$
$$2. \text{ Arm of the chair} \rightarrow c) \text{ Arm}$$
$$3. \text{ Heart of the city} \rightarrow d) \text{ Heart}$$
$$4. \text{ Ear of corn} \rightarrow e) \text{ Ear}$$
$$5. \text{ Eye of a needle} \rightarrow a) \text{ Eye}$$

Explanation: Just like 'foot of the mountain' uses a body part word to describe a part of a mountain, these phrases use body part words to describe parts of other objects. For example, the 'mouth' of a river is where it meets the sea, and the 'eye' of a needle is the small hole through which thread passes.

Given: A set of geographical terms related to landforms.

Meanings of the words:

1. Plain — A large area of flat land with few trees.
2. Slope — The side of a hill or mountain that goes up or down at an angle.
3. River — A large natural stream of water that flows towards the sea, a lake, or another river.
4. Plateau — A large area of flat land that is higher than the land around it.
5. Valley — A low area of land between hills or mountains, often with a river running through it.
6. Hill — A raised area of land, smaller than a mountain.
7. Summit — The highest point or top of a mountain.
8. Mountain range — A series or group of mountains connected together.
9. Foot — The lowest part or base of a mountain or hill.
10. Range — A line or group of mountains or hills.

Note: Students should use these meanings to label the corresponding parts in the picture provided in their textbook. For example, the highest point should be labelled 'Summit', the flat raised land should be labelled 'Plateau', the low land between mountains should be labelled 'Valley', and so on.

Concept: 'Because' is used to give a reason.

Here, the reason she ate a sandwich is that she was hungry.

Answer: She ate a sandwich because she was hungry.

Concept: 'But' is used to show contrast or difference between two ideas.

Here, wanting to go out and it being too late are contrasting ideas.

Answer: I wanted to go out, but it was too late.

Concept: 'Because' is used to give a reason.

Here, the reason he was happy is that he got a new toy.

Answer: He was happy because he got a new toy.

Concept: 'Or' is used to give a choice between two options.

Here, going to the zoo and going to the aquarium are two choices.

Answer: We can go to the zoo or we can go to the aquarium.

Concept: 'And' is used to add information or join more than two items in a list.

Here, three items that Aman has are being listed together.

Answer: Aman has a pen, a pencil, and an eraser.

Concept: 'And' is used to add information.

Here, two things that Simran loves are being added together.

Answer: Simran loves to eat mangoes and she loves bananas.

Concept: 'But' is used to show contrast.

Here, running fast and still missing the bus are contrasting ideas — we would expect that running fast means catching the bus, but the opposite happened.

Answer: He ran fast, but he missed the bus.

Concept: 'Because' is used to give a reason.

Here, the reason she stayed home is that she was not feeling well.

Answer: She stayed home because she was not feeling well.

Concept: 'And' is used to add information when both things are true.

Here, the person loves both chocolate and vanilla, so 'and' joins the two ideas.

Answer: I love chocolate and I love vanilla.

Concept: 'Because' is used to give a reason.

Here, the reason the baby is crying is that he is hungry.

Answer: The baby is crying because he is hungry.

This is an oral speaking activity. Below are sample completed sentences to guide students:

Starter 1 (Group A): On a bright summer morning, ...
Completion (Group B): ... Minam and her grandfather set off on their exciting journey to the mountains.

Starter 2 (Group B): One day, a clever squirrel decided ...
Completion (Group A): ... to collect as many nuts as possible before the winter arrived.

More sample starters and completions:
- Starter: 'In a faraway land, there lived ...'
Completion: '... a kind old woman who loved to help everyone around her.'

- Starter: 'The little bird flew high into the sky and ...'
Completion: '... discovered a beautiful garden full of colourful flowers.'

Note: The teacher should encourage students to speak clearly and in complete sentences. The sentences need not be related to each other, but they must make sense.

This is a project and presentation activity. Below is a sample write-up for one animal to guide students:

Sample Animal: Snow Leopard

Habitat:
The Snow Leopard lives in the cold, rocky mountains of Central Asia, including the Himalayas. It is found at heights of 3,000 to 4,500 metres above sea level.

Adaptation:
- It has thick, white-grey fur that keeps it warm in freezing temperatures and also acts as camouflage against the snow and rocks.
- Its large paws act like natural snowshoes, helping it walk on snow without sinking.
- Its long, thick tail helps it balance on rocky slopes and can also be wrapped around its body for warmth.
- Its wide nostrils help it breathe in thin mountain air.

Life Cycle:
Snow leopards give birth to 2–3 cubs in spring. The cubs stay with their mother for about 18–22 months, learning to hunt before they become independent.

Lifestyle:
Snow leopards are solitary animals. They are most active at dawn and dusk. They hunt animals like blue sheep (bharal) and ibex.

How they survive in harsh conditions:
Their thick fur, padded paws, and ability to leap great distances (up to 15 metres) help them survive in the harsh, cold, and rocky mountain environment.

Students should draw or paste pictures of their chosen animal, write captions, and present the chart to the class in a clear and confident manner.

This is a research and exploration activity.

Answer:

The first woman to climb Mount Everest twice was Santosh Yadav, an Indian mountaineer.

Key Facts about Santosh Yadav:
- She was born on 1 September 1969 in Joniyawas, Rajasthan, India.
- She first climbed Mount Everest in 1992.
- She climbed Mount Everest for the second time in 1993, becoming the first woman in the world to climb Everest twice.
- She received the Padma Shri award in 2000 for her outstanding achievement.
- She is an officer in the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
- She is an inspiration to millions of young girls and women across India and the world.

What students should do:
- Collect pictures of Santosh Yadav from newspapers, magazines, or the internet.
- Write down interesting facts about her journey and achievements.
- Make a small scrapbook or poster with her pictures and facts.
- Share what they have learned with the class.

Note: Some sources also mention Pasang Lhamu Sherpa as the first Nepali woman to summit Everest (1993). Students may also research her as an additional explorer.