Lesson Notes: The Great Indian Desert.

Words to know:

Sand dunes - Small hills of sand. They are formed when wind carry a large amount of sand and deposit it at a particular place.

Oasis - fertile area in the desert, where underground water is available.

Answer the following in a few words:

1. What is an oasis?

It is a fertile area in the desert where underground water is available.

2. A useful animal of the desert – Camel.

3. The Pink city of Rajasthan – Jaipur.

4. What kind of winds blow in Thar Desert?

In Thar Desert hot and dry winds blow, it is called dust storms.

5. What is the land around an oasis like?

The land around an oasis is fertile.

6. Name two festivals of Rajasthan.

Teej, Holi, Dussehra, Diwali, and ID.

7. Two main handicrafts of Rajasthan: beautiful toys, jewellery and decorative items of brass.

8. Two main festivals of Rajasthan: Gangaur and Teej

9. The people who move from place to place: nomads.

10. The plants that grows in a desert: Cactus and keekar.

11. Define the terms (a) Desert:-A desert is an area covered with loose sand. The land is sandy and rocky. It is very little vegetation and water, as it receives little or no rainfall.

Oasis: At some places, underground water comes to the surface and form lakes and ponds. Such a place is called oasis. Date palm grows there. The land around an oasis is fertile.

12. Why are Ranthambore and Sariska famous for?

Sariska and Ranthambore are famous wild life sanctuaries set up. It is famous for tigers protected here.

13. How was IndiraGandhhi Canal benefited the people of the Thar Desert?

Indira Gandhi Canal is a big irrigation project. The Thar Desert is watered by Satluj River. This canal is helping farmers to grow different crops such as wheat, jowar, and bajra. The canal provides drinking water and supports irrigation in that region.

14. Why is the camel important to the people of the desert region?

Or

Why the camel is called the ship of the desert?

Camel can travel vast distance in the desert because they have padded feet. It is called the “Ship of the desert” because it is a very useful animal in the desert. It provides milk. Camel hair is used to make clothes and its skin to make tents. And also used to plough the fields and draw water from wells.

Class activity: Draw a desert scene. Apply fevicol over the parts that should be covered with sand and sprinkle sand over it to make your picture.

(24-05-15-Activity)

Bring fevicol or glue stick, plastic camel, palm tree, cactus and A3 size paper.

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