Class 5 EVS (Our Wondrous World) Chapter 1, Water — The Essence of Life, opens Unit 1 (Life Around Us) by exploring freshwater vs saltwater on Earth, the three states of water, the water cycle, groundwater recharge, surface water flow and aquatic plant/animal adaptations.
What Class 5 EVS Chapter 1 Covers
Freshwater Scarcity, Three Forms of Water & Water Cycle illustrates that if all Earth’s water were a glassful, freshwater is just one teaspoon; demonstrates liquid, solid (ice) and vapour (steam) states (Activities 1–2) and models evaporation, condensation and precipitation in a zip-bag water cycle (Activity 3).
Groundwater, Johads & Life in Water shows how rainwater seeps through soil and rock to recharge groundwater (wells, borewells, handpumps, and Rajasthan’s earthen johads), why concrete blocks seepage, how rivers shape land, and how lotus leaves (waxy coating), fish (fins), frogs and water scorpions adapt to aquatic life.
Exercises in Chapter 1
- Let us reflect end-of-chapter questions, Discuss prompts, and Activity investigations.
Read Class 5 EVS Chapter 1 Online
More Chapters
- Next: Chapter 2: Journey of a River
- Hindi medium: Class 5 EVS Chapter 1 PDF in Hindi (Hamara Adbhut Sansar)
- All EVS chapters and the other Class 5 books: Class 5 NCERT books 2026-27
- All Class 1 to 12 NCERT Textbooks: NCERT Books PDF (Class 1–12)
- Every book chapter by chapter: NCERT chapter wise PDF
FAQ
Why is freshwater so precious even though most of the Earth is covered with water?
Over 97% of Earth’s water is salty ocean water; only a tiny fraction (like a teaspoon in a glass) is freshwater available in rivers, lakes, glaciers and underground aquifers for living beings.
How do waxy coatings and long hollow stems help aquatic plants like the lotus?
The waxy coating prevents water from collecting on and rotting the broad leaves, while long flexible stems keep leaves and flowers floating on the surface even when water levels rise.