Summary:
When we look at Earth from space or from the Moon, it looks blue because about three-fourths of the Earth is covered by water. This is why astronauts, or we all call it the “blue planet.”
The largest water bodies are called oceans.
Large bodies of land are called landmasses, and very big continuous areas of land are called continents.
Both land and water affect the Earth’s climate, plants, animals, and human life.
The Distribution of Water and Land on the Earth:
Water and land are not spread equally between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Apart from oceans, smaller water bodies are classified as seas, bays, and gulfs:
Gulf: Part of the sea almost surrounded by land. Example-Gulf of Mexico.
Sea: A Large, salty water body smaller than an ocean. Example, Arabian Sea.
Bay: Broad inlet of the sea where land curves inward. Example- Bay of Bengal.
Most water on Earth is saltwater, which humans and most animals cannot drink. Freshwater is much less common and is found in rivers, lakes, glaciers, underground (groundwater), and the atmosphere.
Oceans:
There are five oceans on Earth: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern (Antarctic) Oceans.
Among the oceans, the Pacific Ocean is the largest, followed by the Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and the Arctic is the smallest.
Oceans'life:
These oceans are connected, and water flows freely between them, supporting a rich diversity of life.
Oceans have a variety of marine plants (flora) like algae and seaweeds, and marine animals (fauna) such as fish, dolphins, whales, and deep-sea creatures. Different parts of the ocean, from the sunlit surface to the dark depths, have different life forms.
Oceans and Disasters:
Oceans also influence weather and natural disasters:
Clouds over oceans bring rain to continents, like the monsoon in India, which is vital for farming.
Oceans can also cause storms, such as cyclones, with strong winds and heavy rain.
A tsunami is a massive wave caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions that can travel long distances and flood coastal areas.
For example-On 26 December 2004, India and another 13 countries around the Indian Ocean were struck by a powerful tsunami caused by an earthquake in Indonesia.
Continents:
Continents are large landmasses on Earth. The number of continents can be counted differently, from four to seven, depending on how we group them:
North and South America can be counted as one or two.
Europe and Asia can be counted as two continents or as one, called Eurasia.
Africa and Eurasia can sometimes be considered one.
The most commonly accepted list includes seven continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.
Asia is the largest continent, followed by Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.
Islands:
Smaller landmasses completely surrounded by water are called islands. Unlike continents, islands are smaller, and there are thousands of them across the world.
Oceans and Life:
Oceans and continents are essential for life. Oceans provide rain to continents, form part of the water cycle, produce more than half of the world’s oxygen, and help regulate the climate.
Oceans have also shaped human life:
People used oceans for migration, trade, and fishing.
Coastal cultures have stories, myths, and legends about the sea.
Oceans bring both blessings and dangers, like storms, but also resources and food.
The Big Questions?
1. What are oceans and continents? What are their names and their distribution?
Answer.
Oceans are very large bodies of salty water that cover about three-fourths of the Earth’s surface. There are five oceans:
1. Pacific Ocean (largest)
2. Atlantic Ocean ( Second Largest)
3. Indian Ocean ( Third Largest)
4. Southern (Antarctic) Ocean
5. Arctic Ocean (smallest)
Continents are large landmasses that cover a little over one-fourth of the Earth’s surface. The most widely accepted division is seven continents:
1. Asia ( largest)
2. Africa ( Second Largest)
3. North America( Third Largest)
4. South America
5. Antarctica
6. Europe
7. Australia ( Smallest)
The Northern Hemisphere has more land, while the Southern Hemisphere has more water.
2. In what ways do oceans and continents impact life on Earth, including human life?
Answer.
Oceans:
The following are the roles of the Ocean in the life of Earth, including human life:
1. It provides rain through the water cycle, which is essential for farming and life.
2. It produces more than half of the world’s oxygen and regulates the climate.
3. It provides food (fish), routes for travel, trade, and migration.
4. It sometimes causes natural disasters like cyclones and tsunamis.
Continents:
The following are the roles of Continents in the life of Earth:
1. It provides land for plants, animals, and humans to live on.
2. It has different climates, cultures, and resources that shape human history.
3. It supports agriculture, settlements, industries, and cultural development.
Oceans and Continents, together, make Earth a livable planet, influencing nature, animals, and human life.
THINK ABOUT IT:
1. If there is such an abundance of water on the planet, why is there so much talk of ‘water scarcity’ or a ‘water crisis’?
Answer.
Although Earth's surface is about 71 % water-covered, about 97% of Earth’s water is salty and not fit for drinking or farming.
Only a small amount ( About 3 %) of freshwater is available in rivers, lakes, glaciers, and underground.
Much of this freshwater is unevenly distributed; some places have plenty, while others have very little.
Pollution, wastage, and overuse of water by humans make the problem worse.
That is why, even though water is abundant on Earth, people face water scarcity in many regions.
2. What ways of saving water are you aware of? Which ones have you seen practised at home, at your school, and in your village, town, or city?
Answer.
The following are common ways of saving water:
1. Turning off taps when not in use.
2. Using buckets instead of showers for bathing.
3. Fixing leaking taps and pipes.
4. Collecting and reusing rainwater (rainwater harvesting).
5. Using water wisely/efficiently in farming, like drip irrigation.
6. Avoiding pollution of rivers, lakes, and ponds.
For example:
At home: Closing taps properly, reusing leftover water for plants.
At school: Repairing leaking taps, spreading awareness among students.
In towns/villages/cities: Some places use rainwater harvesting, water recycling, and awareness campaigns about the mitigation of water pollution.
Questions, activities, and projects:
1. Explain the following terms:
(a) Continent
(b) Ocean
(c) Island
Answer.
(a) Continent – A very large continuous area of land. Examples: Asia, Africa, Europe.
(b) Ocean – The largest body of salty water covering most of the Earth’s surface. Examples: Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean.
(c) Island – A smaller piece of land surrounded by water. Example: Sri Lanka, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
2. Let us draw – Without looking at the maps in this chapter, draw the continents freehand on a sheet of paper and colour them. Then compare your drawing with the map of oceans and continents in the chapter.
Answer. Do it yourself
3. Let us do – On the outline map of the world given below, label all the continents and oceans.
Answer.
4. Solve this crossword:
Across
1. Abundantly produced by the oceans
3. A large expanse of landmass
6. A large continent of which India is a part
8. A major source of pollution of the oceans
10. The coldest continent
Down
2. The largest island on Earth
4. A huge, destructive wave from the ocean
5. The smallest continent
7. The largest body of water on the Earth
9. A landmass (but not a continent) surrounded by the sea or ocean
Answer.
Across:
1. Oxygen (abundantly produced by oceans’ plants like algae)
3. Continent (a large expanse of landmass)
6. Eurasia (the continent where India is located)
8. Plastic (a major source of ocean pollution)
10. Antarctica (the coldest continent)
Down:
2. Greenland (the largest island)
4. Tsunami (a huge, destructive ocean wave)
5. Australia (the smallest continent)
7. Pacific (the largest ocean on Earth)
9. Island (a landmass surrounded by water, but not a continent)
Chapter-Wise Solutions of Class 6 Social Science
- Chapter 1 | Locating Places on Earth
- Chapter 2 | Oceans and Continents
- Chapter 3 | Landforms and Life
- Chapter 4 | Timeline and Sources of History
- Chapter 5 | India, That Is Bharat
- Chapter 6 | The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation
- Chapter 7 | India’s Cultural Roots
- Chapter 8 | Unity in Diversity, or ‘Many in the One’
- Chapter 9 | Family and Community
- Chapter 10 | Grassroots Democracy – Part 1 Governance
- Chapter 11 | Grassroots Democracy – Part 2 Local Government in Rural Areas
- Chapter 12 | Grassroots Democracy – Part 3 Local Government in Urban Areas
- Chapter 13 | The Value of Work
- Chapter 14 | Economic Activities Around Us
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