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NCERT Class 5 · EVS Based on NCERT Class 5 EVS textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter explores the concept of a 'green school' and how students can contribute to making their school a happy, safe, and environmentally friendly place. It covers waste management, water conservation, energy saving, greenery, traffic safety, fire safety, and respectful behaviour. The big idea is that every student has the power to take small actions that collectively create a clean, green, and caring school environment.
Key Concepts (12)
Green School
A school where we manage our waste, save water, use electricity carefully, and make the campus green by planting more trees and taking care of them.
e.g. A school that has separate bins for dry and wet waste, fixes leaking taps, plants trees, and uses natural light in classrooms.
Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya
A part of the Swachh Bharat Mission started by the Government of India that focuses on keeping schools clean and healthy, including clean toilets, safe drinking water, proper waste management, and hygiene education.
e.g. In a school following this mission, toilets are cleaned daily, drinking water is tested, and students learn to wash hands properly.
Dry Waste
Waste that is not wet or organic, such as paper, plastic, glass, and metal. It is usually collected in a blue bin.
e.g. Old newspapers, empty plastic bottles, and used notebooks are dry waste.
Wet Waste
Organic waste that is biodegradable, such as food peels, leftovers, and garden waste. It is usually collected in a green bin.
e.g. Fruit peels, vegetable scraps, and tea leaves are wet waste.
Recyclers
People who collect items like old newspapers, bottles, and metal to reuse or recycle them. They are also called traditional recyclers or kabadiwalas.
e.g. A kabadiwala collects old newspapers and plastic bottles from homes and takes them to a recycling factory.
Compost Pit
A place where wet waste is collected and allowed to decompose naturally to form compost, which can be used as fertilizer for plants.
e.g. In a school garden, a compost pit is used to turn fruit peels and leaves into rich soil for plants.
Jal Shakti Abhiyan
A campaign to save and protect water. It encourages people to plant trees, catch rainwater, and use water wisely.
e.g. Under this campaign, a school might install a rainwater harvesting system and teach students to fix leaking taps.
Fire Drill
A practice exercise to prepare students and staff to evacuate safely in case of a fire. It includes moving calmly to the nearest exit, crawling low under smoke, and gathering at the assembly point.
e.g. During a fire drill, students leave their classroom in a single line, cover their mouths, and walk to the playground assembly point.
Assembly Point
A safe, pre-decided location outside the school building where everyone gathers after evacuating during an emergency like a fire.
e.g. The school playground is the assembly point where all students must go after a fire alarm.
Traffic Signs
Signs placed on roads to give information, warnings, or instructions to drivers and pedestrians to ensure safety.
e.g. A 'Stop' sign at a school crossing tells vehicles to stop so children can cross safely.
Dignity of Labour
The idea that all types of work, including cleaning and recycling, are valuable and deserve respect.
e.g. Thanking the sanitation worker who cleans the school toilets shows respect for their work.
Ice Stupa
A tall ice tower built in Ladakh that slowly melts in summer to water school gardens. It is a smart way to store winter water for dry months.
e.g. Students in Ladakh help build ice stupas so that their school garden gets water even in summer.
How It Works
Waste Segregation
  1. Identify the type of waste: dry (paper, plastic, metal) or wet (food peels, leaves).
  2. Place dry waste in the blue bin and wet waste in the green bin.
  3. Set aside items like old newspapers and bottles for recyclers (kabadiwalas).
  4. Send wet waste to a compost pit to make fertilizer.
💡 Students often mix wet and dry waste. Remember: wet waste rots (green bin), dry waste does not rot (blue bin).
How to Conduct a Fire Drill
  1. When the fire alarm sounds, stop all activities immediately.
  2. Move quickly and calmly to the nearest exit route. Do not panic. Do not run.
  3. Crawl low under smoke with your mouth covered to breathe cleaner air.
  4. Do not hide in closets or bathrooms.
  5. Help others if it is safe to do so, but never return to the building once you are outside.
  6. Go to the assembly point and stay with your group.
  7. Alert staff or teachers immediately if anyone is missing or injured.
💡 Students often forget to cover their mouth and crawl low. Also, many think they should run — but the rule is to move calmly, not run.
How to Save Water from a Dripping Tap
  1. Identify leaking taps in the school or home.
  2. Report the leak to a teacher or parent immediately.
  3. Collect dripping water in a container to measure how much is wasted.
  4. Fix the tap or replace the washer to stop the leak.
  5. Spread awareness about fixing leaks to save water.
💡 Students think a small drip is not a problem. But even one drop per second can waste many litres in a day.
How to Make a School Greener
  1. Form 'School Explorer Teams' like Green Guardians, Water Watchers, etc.
  2. Observe the school: check for trees, plants, birds, and butterflies.
  3. Identify areas where more plants can be planted.
  4. Plant native trees and create a butterfly garden.
  5. Take care of plants by watering and composting.
💡 Students often think only planting matters. But taking care of existing plants and attracting birds/butterflies is equally important.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing dry and wet waste bins
✗ Dry waste goes in the green bin and wet waste goes in the blue bin.
→ The chapter clearly states that dry waste is collected in the blue bin and wet waste in the green bin. The colours are standard in India.
✓ Dry waste (paper, plastic) goes in the blue bin. Wet waste (food peels, leaves) goes in the green bin.
⚠ Thinking all waste goes to the same place
✗ All waste is thrown into one dustbin and taken to the dump.
→ The chapter emphasizes segregation — dry waste is recycled, wet waste is composted, and items like newspapers go to recyclers. Mixing waste makes it harder to manage.
✓ Waste must be separated: dry waste (blue bin) for recycling, wet waste (green bin) for composting, and items like old newspapers are given to recyclers.
⚠ Forgetting to cover mouth during fire drill
✗ During a fire, I will run out of the building as fast as I can.
→ Running can cause panic and accidents. Also, smoke rises, so you must crawl low and cover your mouth to avoid breathing smoke.
✓ During a fire, move quickly and calmly, crawl low under smoke with your mouth covered, and go to the assembly point.
⚠ Confusing Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya with general cleanliness
✗ Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya means keeping the school clean by sweeping floors.
→ The chapter specifies it includes clean toilets, safe drinking water, proper waste management, and hygiene education — not just sweeping.
✓ Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya focuses on clean toilets, safe drinking water, proper waste management, and hygiene education for all students.
⚠ Thinking only teachers can make a school green
✗ Students cannot do anything to make the school green because they are too young.
→ The chapter shows students forming teams like Water Watchers and Green Guardians to observe and suggest improvements. Students play an active role.
✓ Students can form School Explorer Teams to observe waste, water, electricity, and greenery, and suggest actions to make the school greener.
Compare & Contrast
Type of waste and bin colour
Dry Waste
Wet Waste
Dry waste (blue bin) includes paper, plastic, and metal that can be recycled. Wet waste (green bin) includes food peels and leaves that decompose and can be composted.
Purpose and urgency
Fire Drill
Real Fire Emergency
A fire drill is a practice exercise to learn safe evacuation steps. A real fire emergency requires immediate application of those steps without panic.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: 2 MCQs (1 mark each), 1 Short Answer (3 marks), 1 Long Answer (5 marks) — total 10 marks
Most asked: Waste segregation (dry vs wet waste, bin colours) · Green school concept and actions students can take · Water conservation (dripping taps, Jal Shakti Abhiyan) · Fire safety steps and fire drill procedure · Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya
Don't skip: Explain the concept of a green school and list four actions students can take to make their school greener.; Describe the correct way to segregate waste and explain why it is important.; List the steps to be followed during a fire drill.
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. A green school manages waste, saves water, uses electricity carefully, and plants trees.
  2. Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya ensures clean toilets, safe drinking water, proper waste management, and hygiene education.
  3. Dry waste (paper, plastic) goes in the blue bin; wet waste (food peels) goes in the green bin.
  4. Old newspapers and bottles are given to recyclers (kabadiwalas) for reuse.
  5. A dripping tap can waste many litres of water over time — fix leaks immediately.
  6. Jal Shakti Abhiyan encourages rainwater harvesting and wise water use.
  7. During a fire drill, move calmly, crawl low under smoke, cover your mouth, and go to the assembly point.
  8. Never hide in closets or bathrooms during a fire; never return to the building once outside.
  9. Trees keep the air clean, provide shade, and attract birds and butterflies.
  10. Traffic signs help prevent accidents — always follow traffic rules.
  11. Respect and kindness are shown by waiting for our turn, using kind words, and helping others.
  12. Students can form School Explorer Teams like Water Watchers, Waste Warriors, and Green Guardians.
  13. A white roof reflects the Sun's heat and keeps the room cooler than a black roof.
  14. Mawlynnong in Meghalaya is known as 'Asia's Cleanest Village'.
  15. In Assam, a man planted a forest by himself that is now home to elephants, deer, and birds.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. What are the two main waste categories we separate in schools?

  • A. Dry waste and wet waste ✓
  • B. Clean waste and dirty waste
  • C. Big waste and small waste
  • D. Useful waste and useless waste

Answer: A — The chapter teaches that waste is separated into dry waste (paper, plastic) and wet waste (food scraps, peels) for better management.

Q2. Which colour bin is used for wet waste like vegetable peels and food leftovers?

  • A. Blue bin
  • B. Green bin ✓
  • C. Yellow bin
  • D. Red bin

Answer: B — The chapter clearly states that green bin is used for wet waste such as food peels, leftovers, and vegetable scraps.

Q3. If you paint a black tile and a white tile with the same paint and leave them in the sun, what will happen?

  • A. Both tiles will get equally hot
  • B. The black tile will absorb more heat and feel hotter than the white tile ✓
  • C. The white tile will absorb more heat and feel hotter than the black tile
  • D. The tiles will change colour

Answer: B — Activity 3 in the chapter demonstrates that black surfaces absorb heat and become very hot, while white surfaces reflect heat and stay cooler.

Q4. What is the main purpose of School Explorer Teams in a green school?

  • A. To play games during lunch time
  • B. To observe and find problems related to electricity, water, waste, plants, and traffic safety at school ✓
  • C. To clean the school every day
  • D. To grow vegetables in the garden

Answer: B — The chapter describes that School Explorer Teams like Water Watchers, Electricity Savers, and Waste Warriors observe specific areas to find problems and improvements.

Q5. What do recyclers do with old newspapers that students and families set aside?

  • A. They throw them in dustbins
  • B. They burn them to make energy
  • C. They collect them and reuse or recycle them into new products ✓
  • D. They give them back to students

Answer: C — The chapter explains that old newspapers are given to traditional recyclers who collect and reuse or recycle these items instead of throwing them away.

Q6. Why is saving water important according to the chapter?

  • A. Because water makes the school look clean
  • B. Because water is a precious treasure and even small leaks waste lots of water over time ✓
  • C. Because water is needed only for plants
  • D. Because the government says so

Answer: B — The chapter states that water is precious and even a small leak from a dripping tap can waste a lot of water drop by drop over time.

Q7. What does Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya programme focus on? (Fill in: It focuses on keeping schools ____ and healthy)

  • A. quiet
  • B. green
  • C. clean ✓
  • D. big

Answer: C — The chapter defines Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya as a government programme that focuses on keeping schools clean and healthy with clean toilets, safe drinking water, and proper waste management.

Q8. Which type of School Explorer Team would check if lights are on when no one is using them?

  • A. Waste Warriors
  • B. Water Watchers
  • C. Electricity Savers ✓
  • D. Green Guardians

Answer: C — The chapter lists Electricity Savers as the team that checks whether lights and fans are on when no one is using them and if classrooms use natural light.

Q9. What does a white roof do compared to a black roof?

  • A. A white roof absorbs more heat
  • B. A white roof reflects heat and keeps the building cooler ✓
  • C. A white roof gets dirtier faster
  • D. A white roof costs more money

Answer: B — The chapter explains that a white roof reflects the Sun's heat and keeps buildings cool, while a black surface absorbs heat and becomes warmer.

Q10. What is one important way to make the work of sanitation workers easier and safer at school?

  • A. Give them a holiday every week
  • B. Put waste in the correct bins so they don't have to separate it ✓
  • C. Buy them new uniforms
  • D. Reduce the number of workers

Answer: B — The chapter discusses that proper waste segregation by students makes the work of sanitation workers easier and safer, so they don't have to handle mixed and separated waste.

Flashcards

What is a green school?

A school that manages waste, saves water, uses electricity carefully, and plants trees to make the campus green.

What colour bin is used for wet waste?

Green bin is used for wet waste like food scraps and vegetable peels.

What colour bin is used for dry waste?

Blue bin is used for dry waste like paper, plastic, and cardboard.

What happens when you paint a tile black and a tile white and keep them in the sun?

The black tile absorbs heat and becomes very hot, while the white tile reflects heat and stays cooler.

Name two things Water Watchers check for in schools.

Water Watchers check for leaking taps and whether water tanks are clean and covered.

What do Green Guardians observe at school?

Green Guardians check if there are trees or plants, who takes care of them, where more can be planted, and if birds or butterflies visit.

What is Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya?

It is a Government of India programme that focuses on keeping schools clean and healthy with clean toilets, safe drinking water, and proper waste management.

What do recyclers do with old newspapers and bottles?

Recyclers collect old newspapers, bottles, and other useful items to reuse or recycle them into new products instead of throwing them away.

Why is water wastage from a small dripping tap a problem?

Even a small leak wastes a lot of water over time because drop by drop adds up to many litres.

Name two types of School Explorer Teams and what they do.

Electricity Savers check if lights are on unnecessarily, and Water Watchers look for leaking taps and water being wasted.

Important Board Questions

What is a green school? [1 mark]

A green school manages waste, saves water, uses electricity carefully, and plants trees. Think of what Aasha's brother told her.

Name the colour of bins used for dry waste and wet waste. Which items go where? [2 marks]

Dry waste (blue bin) includes paper and plastic. Wet waste (green bin) includes food scraps and vegetable peels. Remember the segregation game from Activity 2.

Explain with an example how a small dripping tap can waste a lot of water. What is the work of Water Watchers? [3 marks]

Drop by drop water adds up to many litres over days and weeks. Water Watchers check for leaking taps, covered water tanks, and wet places that could breed mosquitoes.

What did Activity 3 teach us about black and white tiles in the sun? How can this help us keep our school cool? Explain with two ways. [5 marks]

Black tiles absorb heat and become hot, white tiles reflect heat and stay cool. Schools can use white roofs AND plant trees for shade, or use windows for natural breeze. Answer should include observation from the activity and two practical applications.

True or False: Recyclers throw away old newspapers instead of reusing them. Give a reason for your answer. [2 marks]

False — recyclers collect old newspapers and items to reuse or recycle them. This is mentioned in the waste management section where the chapter explains what recyclers do with old items.

Assertion-Reason Questions for Our School

Q1. Assertion (A):

A green school must manage its waste properly by separating it into wet and dry categories.

Reason (R):

Separating waste makes it easier to recycle dry waste and compost wet waste, which helps keep the school clean and protects the environment.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why waste separation is important for a green school. The chapter clearly states that waste management is a key part of making a green school.

Q2. Assertion (A):

Painting the school roof white would help keep the school cooler than painting it black.

Reason (R):

White colour reflects heat while black colour absorbs heat from the Sun.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why a white roof is cooler. Activity 3 demonstrates this principle with tiles, showing that white reflects heat and black absorbs it.

Q3. Assertion (A):

Even a small leak in a tap can waste a lot of water over time.

Reason (R):

Water should be saved because we need it for drinking and cooking only.

Answer: C — A is true but R is false — The assertion is true — the chapter states that even small leaks waste a lot of water. However, the reason is not the correct explanation. We need to save water for many purposes (drinking, cooking, cleaning, agriculture, etc.), not just drinking and cooking. The reason water must be saved is that it is precious and limited, not just for household use.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for Our School

Case Study:

Ravi's school started a Green School Project. The Water Watchers team found three leaking taps in the bathrooms, the Waste Warriors found scattered litter in the playground with not enough dustbins, and the Green Guardians found that the school had only two small trees but no compost pit. The Electricity Savers noticed that fans and lights were left on in empty classrooms. All teams gathered data and presented their findings to their teacher.

Q1. Which team would be most concerned about the leaking taps in the bathrooms?

  • A. Water Watchers ✓
  • B. Waste Warriors
  • C. Electricity Savers
  • D. Green Guardians

Answer: A

Q2. What should the Green Guardians recommend as their first action to manage wet waste at the school?

  • A. Plant more trees only
  • B. Build a compost pit to manage wet waste like food scraps ✓
  • C. Remove all the existing trees
  • D. Ask students not to eat in school

Answer: B

Q3. How can Ravi help the Electricity Savers reduce electricity use in the school?

  • A. By turning off lights and fans in empty classrooms and suggesting to use natural light when possible ✓
  • B. By removing all lights from the school
  • C. By keeping all fans running all the time
  • D. By closing all windows so fans work better

Answer: A

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