Hinglish

Listen, Speak and Write

Class 6 English · Chapter 9: Spices that Heal Us · NCERT Poorvi section pp. 96–100

Learn

Spices up close: fill in what you know about each spice: the part of the plant (turmeric and ginger: root; cinnamon: bark; clove: dried flower bud; fenugreek, cumin and fennel: seeds; black pepper and cardamom: fruit or seed pods), colour, texture (rough, soft, silky) and taste (bitter, sweet, spicy).

Listening (the wonder herb, Tulsi): Tulsi (holy basil) belongs to the basil family. It was first found in north central India and now grows almost everywhere in India. It is called the Queen of Herbs. Studies suggest it may help lower glucose and cholesterol; it is used for breathing and digestion troubles, and in herbal mouthwash and toothpaste. Its leaves can be eaten raw (after washing) or added to tea.

Speaking: become a spice! Make a paper headband with a coloured card of your chosen spice. Then introduce yourself as that spice: your name, the part of the plant you come from, your colour, texture, taste and benefits. "Hello! I am Haldi, or turmeric. I come from the root of a plant. I am bright yellow…"

Writing: complete a home remedy recipe in clear steps (take a piece of fresh ginger, grate it, mix the juice with honey, warm slightly…), then write a short paragraph on Tulsi using your fact sheet. Explore: spice riddles. "I come from under the ground, / I've been around for thousands of years, / You cook with me daily, / And I help with colds. Who am I?" (Ginger!)

Explore: which part of the plant?

  1. Sort each spice.

Remember

  • Spices come from different plant parts: roots, bark, flower buds, seeds and fruits.
  • Tulsi, the "Queen of Herbs", has many uses; describe spices by part, colour, texture and taste.

Quick check

Which part of the plant is cinnamon?

  1. Bark
  2. Root
  3. Leaf
  4. Flower
Answer

Bark. Cinnamon is the dried inner bark of a tree.

Think about it

Write your own riddle about a spice for your family to guess.

One answer

For example: "Green and small, I hide in pods; / I make tea smell sweet; / I freshen your breath after you eat. Who am I?" (Cardamom!)

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.