CBSE Class 3 EVS Chapter 18: A House Like This

Why Do We Need Houses?

Every living being needs a place to live, and for humans, that place is a house. A house is much more than just a building; it's a safe and comfortable space where we eat, sleep, play, and live with our families. Imagine if you didn't have a roof over your head! You would be exposed to the hot sun, heavy rain, cold wind, and even wild animals. Our homes protect us from all these things, keeping us safe and warm. But have you ever wondered why houses look so different from one place to another? This is because houses are built based on many factors, like the climate of the area, the materials easily available, and the lifestyle of the people living there. For example, people living in very cold places need houses that keep them extra warm, while those in areas with heavy rainfall might need houses that are raised above the ground to avoid floods. Let's dive deeper into these fascinating differences!

Different Types of Houses

How Climate and Materials Influence House Building

1. Step 1: Understand the Climate — The weather conditions of a place play a huge role in deciding how a house is built. For example, in areas with heavy snowfall, roofs are often sloped to let snow slide off easily. In very hot regions, houses might have thick walls to keep the inside cool. In rainy areas, houses are built on stilts to protect from floods.
2. Step 2: Check Available Materials — People usually build houses using materials that are easily available in their surroundings. In forests, wood and bamboo are common. In rural areas, mud and straw are plentiful. In very cold places, ice and snow are the only building materials. In cities, bricks, cement, and steel are transported from far away, making pucca houses possible.
3. Step 3: Consider People's Lifestyle — How people live also affects their houses. Nomads, who travel a lot, need houses that can be packed up and moved easily, like tents. People in cities need permanent, strong homes for long-term living. Fishermen living near lakes might prefer houseboats that allow them to live and work on water.

Key Points About Houses

• Houses provide shelter and protection from weather (sun, rain, wind, cold) and danger (animals, thieves).
• The type of house built depends on the climate of the region, the materials available locally, and the lifestyle of the people.
• Pucca houses are strong and permanent, made of bricks, cement, and iron, usually found in cities.
• Kachcha houses are temporary, made of mud, straw, and wood, commonly found in villages.
• Stilt houses are built on poles in rainy, flood-prone areas to stay above water.
• Houseboats float on water and are found in places like Kashmir and Kerala.
• Igloos are dome-shaped houses made of ice and snow, built in very cold regions.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Why do people build houses on stilts in some parts of India?
  A: Step 1: Recall areas with heavy rainfall or floods mentioned in the chapter.
  Step 2: Understand the purpose of stilts.
  Final answer: People build houses on stilts in areas like Assam that receive very heavy rainfall or experience floods. Stilts lift the house above the ground, protecting it from floodwaters and keeping the inhabitants safe.

• Q: What is an igloo made of? Where would you most likely find an igloo?
  A: Step 1: Remember the description of an igloo's material.
  Step 2: Recall the location where igloos are built.
  Final answer: An igloo is made of blocks of ice and snow. You would most likely find an igloo in extremely cold regions near the North Pole, such as the Arctic, where people like the Inuit live.

• Q: Name two different types of houses you might see in a village and two types you might see in a city.
  A: Step 1: Think about houses in rural settings.
  Step 2: Think about houses in urban settings.
  Final answer: In a village, you might see a Kachcha house (made of mud and straw) and sometimes a simple Pucca house. In a city, you would typically see Pucca houses (apartments, bungalows) made of bricks and cement.

• Q: Imagine you are camping in a forest. What type of shelter would you use and why?
  A: Step 1: Consider the need for a temporary, portable shelter.
  Step 2: Recall the type of house that fits this description.
  Final answer: If I were camping in a forest, I would use a tent. A tent is a temporary shelter made of cloth that is easy to set up, take down, and carry from one place to another, making it perfect for camping.

Frequently Asked Questions