The Purple Devil and Boramma’s dairy / Geography case study & worksheet / Page 1 of 2
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GEOGRAPHY WORKSHEET

From Devil to Angel!

Dr Chandra Shekhar Balachandran

Key geography concepts: /
  1. Location.
  2. Human-environment interaction.
  3. Geographic communication (through maps, narratives, etc.).
  4. Environment as a system.

Other subject linkages: /
  1. Environmental Science (EVS)
  2. Economics
  3. Languages
  4. Fine and Performing Arts

Definition: / A resource is something that can be used to fulfill human needs, if it is technologically feasible and culturally acceptable.
Opening: / Famous American essayist,Ralph Waldo Emerson (25 May 1803 – 27 April 1882) said, “A weed is a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered.”
Generally, when we find plants that we can’t control, we call them weeds...
…until we find some use for them.
The story: / The full story, with pictures etc., is at:
Vocabulary check: /
  • Noxious
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  • Resource
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  • Weed

  • Diffusion
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  • Maritime
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  • Bund

  • Succulent
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  • Nutrient
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  • Photosynthesis

  • Bund
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  • Altitude
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  • Latitude

  • Inland
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  • Fog
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  • Biogas

References: /
  1. FAO document mentioning origin and spread of water hyacinth:
  2. Ralph Waldo Emerson. “The Fortune of the Republic.” Lecture delivered at the Old South Church, Boston, 30 March 30 1878. Read the entire essay here:
  3. To learn about Creative Commons Licensing:

Activities: / Activity 1: Word detective. In the puzzle given on the Activity 1 sheet, there are 21 words that relate to this study. They are hiding in that jumble of letters. Try to find them all! If you don’t know what a word means, find out! You can ask your friends, your teachers, your parents, etc. or you can look it up in a dictionary.
Activity 2: Yediyur lake as a system. Here is a list of words. Read the definition of a system given on the Activity 2 sheet. With your team-mates, write the words that should go in each of the lists on that sheet. Notice that not all these are mentioned in the story. So, you have to ask questions, find the answers, and then write the words. It’s a real challenge!
Rain water / Human waste / Photosynthesis / Soil carried by rain water
Animal waste / Sunlight / Hyacinth growth / Hyacinth harvest
Higher milk yield / Cow fodder / Buffalo fodder / Mrs Boramma’s profits
Plant waste / Carbon dioxide / Sunlight / Oxygen
Activity 3: Take it away!The Activity 3 sheet challenges you to explore other aspects of the story that are not covered here. Some suggestions have been given there. What other questions come to your mind?
Activity 4: Get walking! There is no sheet given for this activity. Form a group of explorers. Ask your teacher if he or she can take you on a field trip in your locality to look for bodies of water which may have hyacinth growing. Write your findings in your geography notebook. If you can, request an adult to pluck a hyacinth plant for you. If this is possible, carry it carefully to school to show others. (Remember to wash your hands and feet thoroughly with lot of soap and water after you handle the plant!). If possible, make drawings, photographs, or video of your findings. In school, make a presentation to everyone (students, teachers, etc.) using any method you like. The methods can be singing, dancing, skits, paintings, slides, posters, etc. If you have learned how to make maps, you can also map the area with the water body.
If you have questions or want to share your findings with others on the internet, contact The Indian Institute of Geographical Studies at

Creative Commons License: Permission to copy, use, distribute, non-commercially, with attribution: The Indian Institute of Geographical Studies, 2012-.

The Purple Devil and Boramma’s dairy / Geography case study & worksheet / Page 1 of 5

ACTIVITIES

Creative Commons License: Permission to copy, use, distribute, non-commercially, with attribution: The Indian Institute of Geographical Studies, 2012-.