English Poorvi Class 7 North, South, East, West Notes

Introduction

The chapter “North, South, East, West” from the CBSE Class 7 Poorvi English book (adapted for Class 6) is a delightful narrative about Shaana, a girl from Rameswaram island, who travels across India with her parents. Through postcards written to her friends, Shaana shares her experiences of exploring diverse landscapes, cultures, and people. The chapter highlights India’s geographical and cultural diversity, environmental changes, and Shaana’s personal growth. These notes provide a detailed summary, key points, vocabulary, and activities to help Class 6 students understand the chapter.

Summary

Shaana, a young girl from Rameswaram, embarks on a journey across India with her parents, visiting various states and union territories. She writes postcards to her classmates, describing her adventures in places like Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Chennai, Puducherry, and back to Rameswaram. Each postcard captures the unique features of the regions, such as glaciers, forests, wetlands, deserts, rivers, plateaus, and beaches. Shaana observes environmental changes, like reduced snow in glaciers and flooding in wetlands, and engages in activities like rafting, surfing, and floating. Her journey reflects her excitement, curiosity, and growing appreciation for India’s diversity.

Key Points

1. Travel and Exploration:
   • Shaana travels to northern (Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh), eastern (Arunachal Pradesh), western (Gujarat), southern (Chennai, Puducherry), and central (Narmada River) parts of India.
   • She crosses the Pamban bridge, a unique train route over the sea, to return home.
   • Each location introduces new landscapes (e.g., glaciers, deserts, wetlands) and activities (e.g., rafting, surfing).
2. Environmental Observations:
   • Shaana notes less snow in Kashmir’s Thajiwas glacier compared to the previous year, indicating global warming.
   • Her mother is sad about frequent flooding in the Sundarbans, suggesting environmental challenges like rising sea levels.
3. Cultural and Geographical Diversity:
   • Shaana encounters diverse cultures, languages, and foods across India.
   • She admires the colorful clothes in Gujarat, mangroves in the Sundarbans, and thick forests in Arunachal Pradesh.
4. Personal Growth:
   • Shaana overcomes her fear of tunnels during train journeys in Goa.
   • She expresses curiosity (e.g., about wetlands) and excitement (e.g., about rafting), showing her evolving perspective.
5. Postcard Format:
   • The chapter uses postcards to narrate Shaana’s experiences, making the story engaging and personal.
   • Each postcard is dated and addressed to her classmates or parents, reflecting her emotions and observations.

Vocabulary

Here are important words from the chapter with their meanings:

• Chirping: Short, sharp sounds made by birds (e.g., birds chirping in Himachal Pradesh).
• Snoring: Loud noise made while sleeping (e.g., Shaana’s father snoring, mistaken for bears).
• Rafting: Travelling down a river in an air-filled rubber boat (e.g., on the Narmada River).
• Surf: A water sport involving riding waves on a board (e.g., in Puducherry).
• Dive: Swimming underwater with special equipment (e.g., attempted at Olaikaadu beach).
• Pebbles: Small, smooth stones (e.g., collected at Olaikaadu beach).
• Wetlands: Areas like the Sundarbans where mangroves grow in seawater.
• Plateaus: Flat, elevated landforms (e.g., seen in Goa).
• Glaciers: Large masses of ice (e.g., Thajiwas glacier in Kashmir).
• Mangroves: Trees that grow in coastal saline water (e.g., in the Sundarbans).

Postcard Details

The following table summarizes Shaana’s postcards, including dates, locations, and key observations:

Themes

1. Diversity of India:
   • The chapter showcases India’s varied geography (mountains, deserts, beaches) and cultures (languages, clothes, food).
   • Examples: Gujarat’s desert vs. Arunachal’s forests, surfing in Puducherry vs. rafting on the Narmada.
2. Environmental Awareness:
   • Shaana’s observations (less snow, flooding) highlight climate change and its impact on ecosystems.
   • Her mother’s sadness about the Sundarbans emphasizes the need for environmental protection.
3. Adventure and Learning:
   • Shaana’s activities (rafting, surfing) and curiosity (about mangroves, tunnels) reflect a spirit of adventure and learning.
   • Her travels broaden her understanding of India’s landscapes and people.
4. Family Bonding:
   • Shaana’s interactions with her parents (snowball fights, rafting, surfing) show a close family bond.
   • Her parents’ playful behavior (splashing water) adds a lighthearted tone.

Vocabulary Matching

Match words like “glaciers,” “wetlands,” “pebbles,” and “rafting” with their descriptions or pictures (e.g., glaciers = large ice masses).

Subject-Verb Agreement

• Learn rules like:
  • Plural subjects (e.g., Amma and Appa) take plural verbs (are).
  • Singular subjects like “it” take “is” or “was.”
  • Collective nouns (e.g., class) can be singular or plural based on context.
• Example: “A pair of sunglasses is essential” (singular verb for “pair”).