Social Studies 5

Approved by Government of Nepal,
Ministry of Education, Curriculum Development Centre, Sanothimi, Bhaktapur

Social Studies

& Creative Arts

5

Editor : • Dr. Anirudra Thapa
• Nawa Raj Prasai
• Mahabir Paudyal
• Youba Raj Dhakal
• Suresh Shah

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 1

Social Studies

& Creative Arts 5

Name : ...................................................
Class : ................. Roll No. : ..............
Section : .................................................
School : .................................................

Oasis Publication Pvt. Ltd.

Anamnagar, Kathmandu
Tel: 4225190, Fax: 4227718
Authors:
Nawa Raj Prasai
Mahabir Paudyal
Youba Raj Dhakal
Suresh Shah
Edition:
2075 B.S.
Copyright ©
Publisher
Computer Layout:
Oasis Desktop Group
Printed in Nepal

Foreword

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts -5 has been designed to facilitate teaching Social Studies
to students of English medium schools. The series draws upon the general guidelines, course
content and teaching methods as envisioned in the syllabus designed by the Curriculum
Development Center (CDC). The broad objective of Social Studies is to impart “cultural
literacy” to students so that they develop into responsible citizens. The significant part of being
culturally literate is to know and critically understand one’s social and cultural surrounding.
Social Studies, therefore, is an interdisciplinary subject that incorporates history, geography,
culture, sociology, and politics. Due to its interdisciplinary nature, teaching Social Studies
to young students is as exciting and purposeful as it is challenging to deliver. The effective
teaching, therefore, begins with the availability of quality teaching materials. Oasis social
studies series aims at adding to and upgrading the existing textbooks.

This series follows the course rationale and framework stipulated in the CDC course grid
and judiciously clusters course contents around a person’s interrelationship with the family,
community, nation, and the world. Due to the desired outcome of the CDC syllabus, this series
has adopted “critical thinking” as the pedagogic philosophy. We have consciously avoided
the tendency of overloading textbooks with neatly summarized bullet points, a tendency, we
believe, defeats the purpose of developing “critical thinking” in students. Instead, this series
has adopted creative approach to teaching Social Studies. That is, it not only requires students
to know what a family, community, or a nation is but to understand how an individual’s
civic, cultural and political life is intricately related to larger social units. The exercises are
designed to not only test students’ ability to comprehend facts and information but also think
and reason about what they learn.

The series takes up the task of providing quality teaching materials and invites instructors to
approach teaching Social Studies creatively. Therefore, each book in the series addresses the
age-specific mindset and psychology of the students. For example, books for primary level
abound with stories, sketches, profiles and illustrations. In the higher level, the books focus
more on factual information with appropriate examples and illustrations. In class nine and
ten, we have made effort to address the SEE requirements without much deviating from the
textbooks prescribed by the government with significant updates on data, facts, and current
affairs. While exploring the flexibility allowed by the SEE testing scheme, the books still adhere
to functional pedagogy in that they aim to make students understand concepts and ideas
through presentation, examples and illustrations. Overall, through pre-reading activities, in-
class activities and project works the series fosters participatory pedagogy.

Lessons feature real life stories, contextual dialogues, ethnographic profiles, and pictorial
illustrations. The series also incorporates latest available statistics and incorporates changes
and new provisions made in the constitution of Nepal, 2072. The figures and maps in the
books follow standard cartographic rules and conventions so that students learn map works
in an authentic way. Instead of including overtly ambitious project works, we have focused
on providing interesting do-able project works that allow students to gain insight into social
and cultural issues through self-discovery. Where required, we have also provided general
guidelines for the project work so that instructors and students can undertake the task head
on. As books are designed for students of English medium schools, we have taken special care
to avoid odd-sounding English expressions that use Nepali structures and grammar.

Our special thanks go to Oasis Publication for publishing and bringing the series to the
teachers and learners. We owe many thanks to Harischand Bista, the Managing Director of
the Publication, who has made it his passion to bring this series to completion. We hope, Oasis
Social Studies, while fulfilling the course objectives, will make teaching and learning Social
Studies an enjoyable activity in the classroom.

Authors March 2018

Contents

Unit : 1 Me, My Family and My Neighours 7-26

Lesson : 1 .1

Work and Profession in My Neighbourhood.................................. 8

Lesson : 1.2

Being Good to One's Neighbours ..................................................... 12

Lesson : 1.3

Maintaining a Healthy Community ................................................ 16

Lesson : 1.4

Social Harmony ................................................................................... 20

Lesson : 1.5

Listening to Other's Problems ........................................................... 23

Projects, Unit Revision and Test Your Knowledge....................... 25

.Unit : 2 Our Traditions, Customs and Social Values 27-44

Lesson : 2.1
Customs and Traditions ..................................................................... 28
Lesson : 2.2
Unity in Diversity ............................................................................... 32
Lesson : 2.3
My Heart Belongs to Nepal ............................................................... 36
Lesson : 2.4
Heroes of the Society .......................................................................... 39
Projects, Unit Revision and Test Your Knowledge..................... 43

Unit : 3 Social Problems and Their Solutions 45-63

Lesson : 3.1

Bad Habits Can Kill ............................................................................. 46

Lesson : 3.2

Anti-social Activities .......................................................................... 49

Lesson : 3.3
Preserving Our National Culture ..................................................... 53
Lesson : 3.4
Social Service Organizations ........................................................... 56
Projects, Unit Revision and Test Your Knowledge..................... 61

Unit : 4 Civic Awareness 64-86

Lesson : 4.1

Fundamental Rights and Duties ..................................................... 65

Lesson : 4.2

Preserving National Heritage .......................................................... 71

Lesson : 4.3

Social Norms ...................................................................................... 75

Lesson : 4.4

District Assembly and District Coordination Committee.............. 78

Lesson : 4.5

Civility and Ability to Solve Problems ........................................... 82

Projects, Unit Revision and Test Your Knowledge..................... 85

Unit : 5 Our Earth 87-119

Lesson : 5.1

Nepal: Physical Features ................................................................. 88

Lesson : 5.2

Nepal: Climate and Life-style ......................................................... 91

Lesson : 5.3

Soils in Nepal .................................................................................... 95

Lesson : 5.4

Vegetation in Nepal .......................................................................... 98

Lesson : 5.5

Our Neighbouring Countries I ........................................................ 101

Lesson : 5.6
Our Neighbouring Countries II ...................................................... 106
Lesson : 5.7
A Map and a Globe ........................................................................... 111
Lesson : 5.8
Mapping Nepal................................................................................. 115
Projects, Unit Revision and Test Your Knowledge..................... 118

Unit : 6 Our Past 120-143

Lesson : 6.1

The Study of History ........................................................................ 121

Lesson : 6.2

Nepal in the Ancient Times ............................................................. 125

Lesson : 6.3

Our National Heroes I ...................................................................... 129

Lesson : 6.4

Our National Heroes II .................................................................... 133

Lesson : 6.5

The President And the Prime Minister .......................................... 139

Projects, Unit Revision and Test Your Knowledge..................... 141

Unit : 7 Our Economic Activities 144-158

Lesson : 7.1

Different People, Different Occupations ........................................ 145

Lesson : 7.2

School Is Our Property ...................................................................... 148

Lesson : 7.3

Nepali Goods for Nepali Economy ................................................. 151

Lesson : 7.4

Economic Activities in Nepal ........................................................... 154

Projects, Unit Revision and Test Your Knowledge..................... 157

Creative Arts......................................................................... 159-172

Unit Me, My Family

1 and My Neighbours

In this unit, we will learn:

• to identify our neighbours’ occupation and professions.
• to respect every occupation and profession.
• to appreciate the importance of work.
• to be good neighbours by helping each other in need.
• to recognize the importance of health and help maintain a healthy environment in

the community.
• the meaning of social harmony and the importance of maintaining harmony in the

community.
• to solve social problems and the problems in our neighbourhood with mutual

cooperation.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 7

Lesson Work and Profession in
My Neighbourhood
1.1

Pre-reading Activities

Take a few minutes and list the names of your family members and name the
work each member does for living. Then, briefly write why the work your
parents do is important in the neighbourhood. Share your views with the class.

Reading

From Grade I to IV, you have learnt many things about neighbours and the
neighborhood. You know what a neighbour means. Just in case you have
forgotten, here is a short reminder. A neighbour is a person with whom you
live in a community. Neighbours help each other in their time of need. And a
neighbourhood refers to a small community in which each family is familiar
with other families. Here are some activities
that the neighbours in Sashikala's community
do.

In Sashikala Tamang's neighborhood, you will
find a variety of people engaged in different
professions. Sashikala's father, Krishnaman, is
a hotelier. He has a hotel in Nagarkot where
tourists from all over the world come and
stay. Krishnaman has made many foreign
friends who write him emails. Krishnaman comes to his home once a week

on Saturdays. He meets with the people of his
neighbourhood and asks if he can be of any help.

Kabindraman does the plumbing. He is a plumber.
He fits and repairs pipes, water tanks, and taps
so that there is a good supply of water to homes.
Sometimes, he does not even have time for a meal.
He goes to work early in the morning and returns
home in the evening. But on Saturdays, he does not

8 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

leave the house except to attend the community meeting. In
the meeting, all the people of the neighbourhood gather and
discuss community problems and share ideas to solve them.
Their aim is to make the community a better place to live.
Upendra KC is an officer at the Ministry of Finance. He goes
to work everyday at 10. He is a tax officer. "You have to pay
your taxes," he tells all his neighbours when they meet on
Saturdays.
Rajan Kumar and his wife are tailors. They make school
uniform. Everyone visits them to get their children's school
uniform stitched.
Damodar and Hareram grow crops and vegetables. They
first supply their products to the neighbourhood and sell
the rest in the market.
If different people work in different sectors in the
neighbourhood, then they have to depend on each other’s
help.

In the community every job is valuable. Every occupation or profession
supports another profession. So, every occupation has its own importance.

Free the Words

reminder : message that helps you remember something
tax : money you pay to government for the services you get
profession : job, occupation

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 9

In-class Activities

In the table below list the names of your neighbours and their professions.
Take help from your parents or elders.

Neighbours Professions How s/he helps the community
1.
2.
3.
4.

Exercise

1. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. A neighbourhood is a small community.
b. In a neighbourhood, people should not live in harmony.
c. Krishnaman is a hotelier because he runs a hotel.
d. Kabindraman is a busy plumber.
e. Damodar and Hareram sell their products to the
markets first.

2. Fill in the blanks with the right word.
a. A good neighbour ....................you in need.
b. In a neighbourhood each family is ................ with other families.
c. Upendra KC is an officer at ................... .
d. Every profession supports other ...................

3. Answer these questions.
a. What is a neighborhood?
b. When does Krishanman come home?

10 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

c. What does Kabindraman do?
d. How does Rajan Kumar serve his community?
e. Why is every work valuable in a community?

4. Identify the following occupations.

a. b.

............................................. .............................................
............................................. .............................................

c. d.

............................................. .............................................
............................................. .............................................

5. Write a paragraph about what your parents do.
Begin as:

My father is .................................. . He ................................... My mother
is ............................... . She ......................... Both of my parents help their
neighbours. ................................................................

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 11

Lesson Being Good to One's
Neighbours
1.2

Pre-reading Activities

In the table below, write the names of your neighbours. Then, in the
next column, write how you greet them. What do you say when you
meet each of them? What do they tell you?

Names of my neighbours The way I greet them This is what they tell me

Reading

You already know how important neighbours are. Without the help of our
neighbours, we cannot do many personal and social works. Suppose that
you have a wedding ceremony or bratabandha or saptaha purana, etc. at your
home. If your neighbours do not come to help your family or if they do not
come to your home at all, will such occasions become happy ones? No. We
depend on our neighbours for
many things. So it is important
to have a good relationship with
our neighbours.

Good manner is the key in
maintaining a good relationship
with our neighbours. If
we behave well with the
neighbours, they will like us.
Politeness is very important in
the neighbourhood. Speaking

12 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

politely promotes good feelings among the neighbours. For example, when
we meet our neighbours, we say "Hello," or "Namaste" or "Good morning". We
smile at each other and enquire about health. We greet our neighbours saying,
"How are you, uncle? Have you had your meal?" When we separate, we say,
"See you", "Good bye". These words express polite greetings and farewells.
Such behaviour helps to have a warm relationship with our neighbours. On
the contrary, if we are rude to each other, if we do not speak with one another
when we meet, instead of love and support, suspicion and hatred take root in
the neighbourhood.

We should respect our elders and love the younger members in our
neighbourhood. It is important to invite neighbours to our home when we
have some functions like bhoj (party), birthday, nwaran, bratabandha, etc. It is
equally important to take part in the functions at our neighbours' houses.
Our neighbours may be rich or poor. They may be Buddhists, Muslims or
Christians. We should not hurt their feelings with our behaviour. After all, we
are all humans. Good manners, politeness, and mutual help are the strengths
of a good neighbourhood.

Free the Words

greetings : expressions like "Hello", "Namaste"
farewell : something you say or do to one who is leaving like
"See you", "Good bye"
suspicion : the feeling that you cannot trust
related to each of two or more persons,
mutual : especially given or done in return



In-class Activities

Get into small groups of 4-5 students. Imagine each of you in the group is
the neighbour living in the same community. You can assume an imagined
salutation such as kaka, bhanja, didi, thulo daju, etc., if you like. Then, meet
and greet each other. Show your role play to the class.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 13

Exercise

1. Fill in the blanks with correct words.
a. We.......................... (depend/don't depend) on our neighbours for
many things.
b. It is............................... (important/useless) to have a good relation
with our neighbours.
c. The most important behaviour that helps to have good relations
with neighbours is........................... (politeness/pride).
d. When we do not trust each other, there is a feeling of.....................
(love/hatred).

2. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. Without the participation of neighbours, a special
occasion becomes useless.
b. Good manners help us keep good relations with
neighbours.
c. Speaking politely makes our neighbours feel bad.
d. Feeling of hatred is born out of suspicion.
e. We should not hurt anyone on the basis of religion or
caste.

3. Answer these questions.
a. Why is it important to keep a good relationship with our neighbours?
b. What helps to keep a healthy relation with the neighbours?
c. How should we treat the elders and young people in the
neighbourhood?
d. Why is it necessary to invite neighbours to your house on special
occasions?
e. What are the three strengths of a good neighbourhood?

14 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

4. Write some polite words that you use while talking to elder
neighbours and with your friends.

Example: Excuse me, Namaste ..................................................
5. Write a paragraph about how you behave with your neighbours.
Begin like this:

................................ is my closest neighbour. ................................................ .
He/she.................................................. . ........................................................ .
............................................................................................................................ .
.............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
Now, write a paragraph stating how your neighbours behave with you.
............................................................................................................................ .
.............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 15

Lesson

1.3 Maintaining a Healthy
Community

Pre-reading Activities

Look at the following picture.

The picture shows the community
leaders explaining the villagers
about ways of maintaining a
healthy life. Imagine you were one
of the health workers. Now, write
what you would tell the villagers.
Write a few tips you want to give to
people to stay healthy.

Source: U.S. Global Health Agency

Reading

What is a community? A community is
like a family. People of a community live
in one place or in a district. They may
have different religions and occupations
but their basic interests are similar. A
community, therefore, is a social unit like
a family and a neighbourhood.

To keep the community healthy and
sound, everyone must work and
cooperate. Helping each other in need
makes the community a good place to live for all. We should know when to
help others and when to seek help from them.

16 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

Take an example of these two communities. Community A has rich people.
They are businessmen and traders, but the road in their community is bad
and bumpy. A cloud of dust rises when the vehicles pass by. The roof of the
health post building is crumbling. Water leaks from the roof when it rains.
When somebody in the community is sick, nobody comes to help. People of
this community may be rich but they do not make a good community.

In Community B, there live mostly farmers, wage labours, and drivers. When
the road goes bad, they come
together and go on a delegation
to the Department of Road. If the
Department does not offer them
help they collect the money by
themselves. Some donate money
for the purpose; others contribute
labour. Similarly, in case the roof
of the school begins to leak, they
are quick to repair it. They have
an Aama Samuha which collects
money from every family and
saves it. The Samuha offers loans
for community services. In this
community, there was no health post. So, they took a delegation to the Ministry
of Health and put their demands forward.

The Ministry has agreed to provide them with some funds. The community
agreed to donate labour to construct the building. Now, every person of this
community is working to build a health post. They get together on Saturdays
and begin to work. Some carry bricks, others lay them and some others do
the carpentry. Very soon, a health post too is going to be in operation in this
community.

A community cannot develop when it has a lot of problems. For it to develop,
every person should work according to his or her ability and skill. There are
a number of ways in which one can help the community. Take note of the
following:

• We should help the community members in times of sickness, death,
marriage, festivals and natural disasters.

• It is everyone's duty to make the community a better place.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 17

Free the Words

community : a group of people living in a particular area

bumpy : full of potholes, uneven surface

crumble : fall apart

delegation : a group of people assembled to meet the authority

contribute : offer; provide

loan : an amount of money that is borrowed for a certain period of time

In-class Activities

Look at the pictures below and write what is happening.
a. b.

c. d.

Exercise

1. State True or False against the following statements.
a. A community is almost like a family.
b. We can live without a community.
c. The basic interests of people in a community are
similar.
d. Helping each other is not important in a community.

18 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

e. Every person should work for the community
according to his/her capacity.

f. It is the duty of a few able people to develop the
community.

2. Fill in the blanks.
a. People in a community live in ........................ .

b. A community is a ...................................... like a family.

c. Everyone must work from his/her side to keep the
community ....................... .

d. Everyone should work together to make the community a ...................
place.

e. I, you and .....................make a community.

3. Answer these questions.
a. What is a community?

b. What should everyone do to keep the community healthy and
sound?

c. Write three problems Community A has.
d. Write three good things about Community B.

e. In what ways can a person help his/her community?

4. Write about an event during which you or your parents or elders
offered a community service.

5. Make two groups in your class. Ask one group to list out the
community tasks in a village and another group to list out the
community tasks in an urban area. Then, write all those tasks in the

table below.

Community tasks in a village Community tasks in an urban area

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 19

Lesson Social Harmony

1.4

Pre-reading Activities

Imagine for a moment that all the fingers of your hands are equal in length.
Then, think how you would be able to do things everyday. Would it be an
advantage or a discomfort? Make a list of things you wouldn't be able to
do if you had all the fingers equal in size and length. Then tell the class the
importance of having fingers with varied length. Think about what would
happen if there were no difference or diversity in our society like a hand with
all the fingers equal in length?

Reading

Just look around your class and your friends. Do they all look similar? Some
have fair complexion, others dark. Some may be tall, others short; some strong
others less strong. Despite these differences, all the students sit closely in one
classroom and show love and regard for each other. Otherwise, the classroom
would not be a classroom. It would be a disorderly place.

A community is somehow like a
classroom. If you go to find out the
differences in your neighbourhood,
you will find a lot of them. There
are the Brahmins, the Kshetris, the
Janajatis, the Tamangs, the Gurungs,
the Jhas, the Chaudharys and so on in
our community. They may be different
in terms of skin colour. Those from the
hill origin may have much fairer complexion than those from the Terai.

Now think of the status; in our community some people may be very rich;
others may be moderately wealthy and the others may have problems
managing daily needs. If we look down upon the last group, it is not fair.
20 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

As a responsible person, it is our duty to have respect and sympathy for
the poor. We should also help them if we can. Poor people should not feel
discriminated by the rich. We should listen to their woes and pain; we should
look for solutions to keep the society happy. We must cultivate the habit
of loving fellow citizens and treating everyone equally to maintain social
happiness.

Free the Words

complexion : colour of a person's face
moderate : reasonable, good
sympathy : a feeling of support and care for something
discriminate : to treat a person or group unfairly
woes : suffering, troubles
cultivate : develop

In class Activities

Get into small groups of 4-5 students. Imagine that each group is a mini
community. Also, imagine that each member of the group follows different
religion, culture, and speaks different language. Prepare a code of conduct
for your group/ community so that you live maintaining social harmony.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 21

Exercise

1. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. A classroom is another example of a community.
b. Love and regard for each other keeps the community
united.
c. People of the same caste and religion live in a community.
d. No one should look down upon the poor people.

e. A society is happy when everyone in it is happy.

2. Answer these questions.
a. What may become of a classroom without love and regard for each other?
b. How are people from the hilly region different from the people of Terai?
c. How should we treat the poor and disadvantaged people in the
community?
d. How can we maintain social happiness?

2. What sort of people live in your community ? Do they live in a
harmony? Write in a small paragraph.

...............................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................

...............................................................................................................................

4. Look at the pictures below. The pictures show some social problems
that our community is facing. Write what is wrong in each picture
and how we can help solve such problems.

................................................... ...................................................
................................................... ...................................................
................................................... ...................................................

22 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

Lesson Listening to Other's
Problems
1.5

Pre-reading Activities

Take some time to think about a problem faced by your neighbour. Then,
tell the class how you would help the suffering neighbour.

Reading

Rojita Nakarmi is sad today not for herself but for one
of her neighbours. Mukesh Uncle, her neighbour, is
troubled because of his son, Rochak. Rochak should
be in higher Grade now but he is still in Grade
V. It is because he is in bad company. He does not
go to school. Instead, he loiters with the bad boys
of his neighbourhood. He smokes; he even drinks
sometimes. When Mukesh once scolded him, Rochak
ran away from home and did not return for a week.

Mukesh is sad that his son is spoilt. He told Rojita
about this. Mukesh almost cried as he told her about
Rochak. Rojita listened to him empathetically. "What
if someone in my family were like Rochak? How
miserable my parents would be!" She thought to herself. She felt very bad
about it. But she told Mukesh Uncle not to worry. "I will talk to Rochak brother
about it. I will try to convince him to give up bad habits and begin to study,"
she promised him.

Like Mukesh, many people in our neighbourhood have problems; they have
sad stories to tell. Some have problems in their family; others have problems
in earning a living. As a good citizen, we must understand their sorrows and
pains as our own. This is called empathy. Empathy is being able to understand
other's pains and sorrows. We must listen to their pains and troubles. We should
try to comfort them. We should offer solutions to their problems if we can. If
we cannot, we should express our empathy and love for them. Sometimes, the
comfort and consolation we offer can be of great help.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 23

Free the Words

trouble : worry
loiter : to be somewhere without reason
scold : chide
spoilt : become worse, disobedient
miserable : very unhappy
convince : to make someone to believe that something is true
consolation : comfort

In class Activities

Think about the problems each of the following persons in the
neighbourhood is facing. Write at least three things you would do to help
them.

a) Rajat Tuladhar lost his family home due to the Earthquake of 2072
and the Tuladhar family is still living in a tent. Winter is approaching
and the family does not have enough warm clothes to survive in the
severe cold.

b) Sana Khatun lives in a small poor community of Bara district. She
is very old and lives alone as a widow. Often, villagers accuse her
of practicing witchcraft. They mistreat her simply because most
villagers believe in superstitious ideas such as witchcraft. How would
you help to protect her life and dignity in the community?

Exercise

1. Fill in the blanks.
a. Mukesh is ........................ by his son, Rochak.
b. Rochak is in a bad ...................... .
c. We must understand others' .................... as our own.
d. We should try to offer ..................... to the problems if we can.

24 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

2. Answer these questions.
a. Why is Rojita sad?
b. What is the problem with Rochak?
c. What did Rojita tell Mukesh Uncle?
d. What is empathy?
e. How should we treat people who have problems?

3. Write a paragraph about a neighbour who has a serious problem.

4. How would you respond to someone who misbehaves and mistreats
you?

Projects for Unit One

1. The school building in your community is in a poor state. It needs an
immediate repair. Suggest some measures to address the problem and
write a letter to your Municipality/Rural Municipality, requesting
for the funds.

2. Suppose that one of your neighbours has lost properties in floods.
Write five ways to address his problems.

In this unit, you have learned that:

• a neighbour is a person with whom you live in a community.
• each person in the neighbourhood works for a living.
• we should respect each work.
• we must be a good neighbour by helping each other in need.
• we should greet and be polite to our neighbours.
• we should respect and help each other in our neighbourhood.
• we can build a healthy community by supporting each other.
• we live in diversity; we must recognize differences among people.
• a neighbourhood is like a family; we should listen to others’ problems

and try our best to solve them.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 25

Test Your Knowledge

1. Fill in the blanks below with a suitable word/short phrase.
A good neighbour is one who .................................... . In our neighbour’s

time of need we should ............................................... your neighbour is
frowned upon in society................................ is the most essential thing
required to build a strong community.

If we behave disrespectfully towards our neighbors, .............................. . A
community requires ............................. between people of different creeds.

We should offer _____ or ______ to someone who is troubled, for it may
be of great help.

2. Answer these questions.
a. What are the qualities of a good neighbour?
b. Why is empathy a necessary trait for a member of the society?
c. How does difference in profession help build a stronger society?
d. The participation of all people in the neighborhood is required for
a successful and enjoyable social gathering. Do you agree with this
statement? Why or why not?
e. As a student, how can you contribute to making your community a
better place?

3. What different activities come under empathy? Write few of them.
4. Activities
Using the skills you have acquired, create a short skit on "Listening to

Other’s Problems" and act it out in front of the class.

26 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

Unit Our Traditions, Customs
and Social Values
2

In this unit, we will:

• understand the meaning and importance of traditions and customs.
• differentiate good traditions and customs from bad ones.
• recognize and appreciate our traditions and cultures.
• respect elders in the community and greet people with proper salutations.
• understand the meaning and importance of social and cultural diversity.
• live amidst diversity and recognize differences.
• learn about our country’s diversity in terms of religion, culture, language, geography, and

ethnicity.
• cultivate the feeling of national belonging.
• learn about the lives of famous national personalities and their contribution to the nation

and community.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 27

Lesson

2.1 Customs and Traditions

Pre-reading Activities

In small groups of four/five students, make a list of at least three customs
or traditions observed in your community. For each tradition or custom,
make a separate list of "good things" and "bad things" that go with it.
Then, share your ideas with the class.

Reading

We honour our guests. We follow the precept,
"Atithidevo Bhava", that is, the guest is as good as
a god. We say darshan, namaste or pranam while
greeting them. We get together with friends and
relatives during festivals like Holi, Chhath and
Dashain. We share our problems with each other
and discuss the ways to solve them. We do all this
because it is a part of our tradition.

Tradition is a set of beliefs, customs,
practices and norms which are
passed down from one generation
to another. Sometimes, a tradition
becomes so powerful that it
establishes itself as a rule of society.
Therefore, tradition is an asset of
any society. But it is important to
know which traditions and customs
are good for society and which are
bad. Some traditional practices may harm our social life. Take, for example,
gambling during Dashain and Tihar. In the name of tradition, people gamble
throughout the night and sometimes lose all their money. Likewise, smoking
marijuana at Shivaratri is equally bad. Youths throng the shrines of lord Shiva,
buy marijuana and smoke. Some of them become addicted and ruin their lives.

28 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

In many parts of the country, people still
believe in shamanism. Shamanism is a
belief that bad things happen because
of the influence of gods or spirits and
shamans claim that they can contact gods
and spirits and cure the sick people. In
Nepal, shamanism is known as Dhami-
Jhakri pratha. When somebody falls ill,
the person is taken to a shaman instead
of a doctor. It puts the life of the sick
person at risk.

Untouchability is another bad tradition. Some people believe that low-caste
persons should not be allowed to enter the homes of upper caste people.
The so-called low-caste people are denied of different kinds of rights. This is
very common in rural areas of our country. Discrimination between sons and
daughters is yet another bad practice that has been rooted in our society. We
should work to eliminate such practices.

There are good things about some
traditions too. Take for example, Teej
and Bhai Tika. During these festivals,
married women visit their birth homes
and meet their relatives. As a result,
the bond between brothers and sisters
becomes stronger. We should be able
to differentiate between good and bad
traditions. We should promote the good ones and abolish the bad ones.

Free the Words

precept : a rule of action
asset : property, wealth
gambling : practice of playing cards for money
marijuana : Ganja, the dried leaves that are smoked as a drug
throng : to gather in a crowd
ruin : destroy
eliminate : remove
abolish : end

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 29

In-class Activities

Write three good and three bad things about any traditional festival you
celebrate in your community.

Festival Good things Bad things

Exercise

1. Here is a list of activities we do to carry on with our tradition. Some
of them are good while others are bad. Write 'should be promoted'
for the good ones and 'should be abolished' for the bad ones.

a. Throwing parties a month before Teej ........s..h...o..u..l.d....b..e...a..b..o..l.i..s.h...e..d........

b. Gambling during Tihar ..................................................

c. Believing in shamanism ..................................................

d. Sharing experiences during festivals ..................................................

e. Looking down upon low-caste people ..................................................

f. Regarding the guest as a god ..................................................
g. Respecting elders ..................................................

h. Smoking marijuana during Shivaratri ..................................................

30 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

2. Think of at least three good and three bad customs in your society
and list them in the table below. Also, write ways to reform the bad
customs.

Good customs Bad customs Ways to reform bad
customs

3. Look at the pictures below and write what is happening.
a. b.

c. d.


4. Answer these questions.

a. What is a tradition?
b. List three good activities that we do as part of a tradition.
c. What is shamanism?
d. What should we do to good and bad traditions?
5. Perform a drama in your class highlighting the importance of our
traditions, customs and social values.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 31

Lesson Unity in Diversity

2.2

Pre-reading Activities

Think of the community you live in and answer the following questions.
• What languages do people speak?
• What are the main festivals people celebrate?
• What are the main castes that they belong to?

Reading

There are different castes, languages, traditions, cultures, and customs
in Nepal. So, Nepal has a diverse society. Let us start with caste. There are

different castes and ethnic groups in Nepal. The Brahmins, the Chhetris, the
Newars, the Tamangs, the Tharus, the Sherpas, the Gurungs, the Limbus, the
Rais, the Thakalis, the Yadavs, the Rajbansis, etc. are some castes and ethnic

32 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

communities of this country. These groups inhabit particular regions. Sherpas
and Lamas inhabit the Himalayan region. Brahmins and Chhetris live in the
hills and valleys. They also live in Terai. Newars inhabit towns and cities. Most
of them are in Kathmandu Valley. The majority of Limbus and Rais live in the
eastern hills. The Tharus, the Rajbansis and the Yadavs live in Terai.

Like castes, languages, customs, costumes and festivals are also different.
Sherpas have their own language. Lhosar is the main festival. They wear thick
clothes.

Brahmins and Chhetris live in the hills and Terai. Mostly, they speak Nepali
and celebrate festivals like Dashain, Tihar, Ramnawami, and Teej. Men wear
traditional daura suruwal and women wear gunyu, choli. These days, dress
patterns of Brahmin and Chhetri people are changing. Brahmins living in Terai
wear thin kurta and pyjamas.

The Yadavs, the Rajbanshis and the Jhas live in Terai. They speak Maithili and
Bhojpuri. People in Terai celebrate Chhath, Holi and Bibaha Panchami. Madhesi
people wear dhoti, kurta and gumchha. Women wear sari and blouse. Limbus
and Rais follow both Buddhism and Hinduism. They celebrate festivals like
Sakela, Chandinach, Udhauli and Ubhauli. They have their own languages.

Wearing ornaments is an important aspect of Nepali culture. Women in the
Terai wear tika, nathiya, chandrahar, chudi, kangana, earrings, payal, etc. Bulaki,
dhungri, mundri and tilahari are popular among women living in the hills and
mountains.

Though languages, cultures and castes are different, Nepali people live
together in unity and harmony. This is the biggest strength of Nepali society.

Free the Words

diverse : of different kinds
inhabit : live
harmony : agreement in feelings, interests

In-class Activities

Work in a small group of 4-5 students. As a group prepare a poster that
reflects the cultural diversity of our country. You may gather photos or
images and write caption to explain what they are. You may even colour it
to make it interesting. Then, display the poster in the class.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 33

Exercise

1. Match the following: festivals of people living in Madhesh
Sherpas/Lamas Sakela, Udhauli, Ubhauli
Rajbansis/Yadavs ornaments of women living in Terai
Rais/Limbus live in the high hills and mountains
Payal/Chandrahar inhabitants of Terai
Holi/Chhath

2. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. Nepal is a diverse society because people of different
cultures, religions and castes live here.

b. Newars basically live in towns and cities.

c. Lhosar and Chhath are the festivals of Brahmins and
Chhetris.

d. Despite linguistic and cultural differences, people in
Nepal live in unity.

e. Unity in diversity is a weakness of our country.

3. Answer these questions.
a. Why is Nepal called a diverse society?
b. List some castes and ethnic groups living in Nepal.
c. What is the main religion of Brahmins and Chhetris? What is their
language?
d. What ornaments do women of Terai and hills wear?
e. What does "unity in diversity" mean?

34 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

4. Look at your school calendar and complete the following table. Take
help from your teacher if necessary.

Festivals Date Castes/Ethnic groups who celebrate it Remarks

Dashain 2074/ / / Brahmins, Chhetris, Rais, Limbus.... National holi-
day

5. Saya thari goda eutai chal
Saya thari baja eutai taal
What is the main theme of this song? Write a short paragraph.
.......................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................... .

6. Draw pictures of costumes people in your community wear in
different festivals. Also write about their costumes.

7. Make a list of some major castes along with the languages of the
people in your community.

S.N. Castes Languages

1

2

3

8. Translate the following into as many languages as you can: "We all
are Nepali, Nepal is our common home, we live in unity."

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 35

Lesson

2.3 My Heart Belongs to Nepal

Pre-reading Activities

In small groups of four/five students, discuss specific culture, food and
tradition that can only be found in Nepal. Share your ideas with the
class and discuss how unique traditions and cultures make our Nepalese
identity.

Reading

Texas, USA
Janurary 29, 2018

Dear Mother,

Please accept my greetings from far away. How is everything? I hope you are
fine.

You may be thinking that your son has forgotten
you after coming to the US. You may be thinking I
have forgotten to speak the Nepali language. You
may be thinking that I have become an American.
You may also be thinking that I will marry an
American woman and never return to Nepal.
Your worries are genuine but I have not forgotton
Nepal.

It has been six years since I arrived in this
country. I came here for higher study. Then I
began to work. Now I have my own car; I have
a beautiful apartment to live in. But these are
nothing. My heart longs for Nepal, my mother,
my identity and my true name. There is not a
single day I go to bed without thinking of my
country. I think of Mt. Everest, the highest peak
36 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

in the world. I think of other Himals like
Lhotse, Kanchanjunga and Annapurna.
I think of the beautiful rivers of my
country: Gandaki, Koshi, Karnali and the
clean blue water flowing in them. I think
of Pashupatinath, Kathmandu Durbar
Square, Janaki Mandir of Janakpur and
Krishna Mandir of Patan. How can I forget
the national parks which give shelther to
thousands of rare birds and animals? The
memory of Chitwan, Langtang and Rara National Park is fresh in my mind.

The places like Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha, Mt. Everest, rivers, and
temples make me feel proud of my country. Some Americans ask me, "Where
are you from?" I say, "I'm from the country of Mt. Everest and Buddha." "You
are from a great country," they say.

Here in America, I may earn money, but nothing will give me more happiness
than to return home and do something good for the society. I'm planning to
return next year. I will work to preserve the historical, cultural and natural
heritages of my country because they are part of my identity and pride.

So mother, please do not think I am lost in America. I'm coming home soon. I
want to live the rest of my life with you in Nepal.

Your Son,
Mukesh Baral

Free the Words

genuine : true

apartment : a set of rooms, flat

long : to feel a strong desire

identity : name

preserve : protect

heritage : public property of historical and cultural importance

In-class Activities

Write a letter to an imagined or a real foreign friend. In the letter, highlight
the most interesting aspects of Nepal and her culture that you love. Also,
invite your friend to visit Nepal.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 37

Exercise

1. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. Mukesh Baral is writing the letter in memory of the USA.
b. He is writing to his mother.
c. He wants to stay in America forever.
d. He plans to work to preserve natural and cultural
heritages of Nepal.
e. One should not love his/her country.

2. Complete the following table with the things that Mukesh Baral is
proud of.

Rivers Lakes Mountains National Buildings/
Parks Palaces

3. Answer these questions.
a. Who is Mukesh writing to, to his own mother or his motherland?
b. What, according to Mukesh, does his mother think of him?
c. Where is Mukesh's heart? Why?
d. What does he think of when he thinks of Nepal?
e. What is his reply when Americans ask him, 'Where are you from?'
f. What does he plan to do when he returns to Nepal?

4. Write three things about Nepal that you are very fond of.
5. Write the main theme of the following stanzas:

a. Lagdachha malai ramailo merai pakha pakhero
Himalchuli muntira pani bharne pandhro
b. He aama Nepal timilai
Sansarko ramri banaula

6. List out the things that give an identity to your community.

38 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

Lesson

2.4 Heroes of the Society

Pre-reading Activities

Before you begin reading this lesson, make a list of persons you think are
heroes. Draw a table and write who they are, what they have done, and
why you think they are heroes.

Reading

Namgel Lama, Ashok Chhantyal, Jeevan KC and Kiran Pandey are in Grade V.
Namgel is from Sindhupalchowk. Ashok is from Myagdi, Jeevan KC is from
Taplejung and Kiran Pandey is from Gothatar, Kathmandu. In their class, they
tell their friends about people from their district who have contributed to the
betterment of society.

Namgel Lama: Charimaya Tamang is the pride of my
district. She was born in 1976 in my village. But she
could not study. She belonged to a poor family. So she left
school. When her father died, Charimaya was trafficked
into sex trade in Mumbai. When she became free, she
returned to her village and had the traffickers jailed.
Since then, she has been working to stop girl-trafficking.

Charimaya has opened an organization. It is called
Shakti Samuha. This organization works for women who are sold into brothels
in India. It helps the victims return home. It also provides them with work
and place to live. Shakti Samuha has 150 members. It is looking after 500 girls.
In July 2011, she was given the award of Hero Acting to End Modern-Day
Slavery by Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State. Her organization 'Shakti
Samuha' was also awarded with Ramon Magsaysay award 2013. She was also
awarded Dayaram Pariyar Human Rights Memorial Award by the National
Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in 2016. Now she is famous all over the
world.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 39

Ashok Chhantyal: Mahabir Pun is perhaps the best
known person from my district who has done great
service to the society. He was born in Nangi village of
Myagdi district. After finishing high school, Pun worked
as a teacher for about 12 years in four schools. In 1989, he
won a scholarship to study at the University of Nebraska,
USA. He graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor's Degree in
Science Education.

After graduation, he returned to his village in Nangi. Here,
Pun founded the Himanchal High School with a special focus on computer
education. He then returned to the University of Nebraska for a Master's
Degree in Educational Administration.

On his return to Nepal, he campaigned for the donation of used computers
in Japan, Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, and the USA. Pun began taking
computer classes to students and fellow teachers. But it was difficult to
establish a telephone service and the Internet. In 2001, donors and volunteers
helped him rig a wireless connection between Nangi and the neighbouring
village of Ramche. By 2003, Nangi had a wireless connection to the Internet.
Later, he began working to develop a wireless distance-learning project.

For his great works, Pun has won many awards. In 2004, he received the Overall
Social Innovations Award from the Global Ideas Bank. In 2007, Pun was given
the Magsaysay Award, considered by some to be the Nobel Prize of Asia. The
award gave recognition for "his innovative application of wireless computer
technology in remote mountain areas in Nepal." Pun is one of four Nepalis
to receive the Award, and the only one to receive the Magsaysay Award for
Community Leadership. Later in 2007, the University of Nebraska awarded
Pun an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters for this outstanding
work for his country, Nepal.

Jeevan KC: Dr. Sanduk Ruit is a gem of my district. He is
an eye surgeon and lives in Kathmandu now. He was born
in the remote Olangchungola Pass in Taplejung District in
1955. The nearest school was an eleven days' walk away
from his village. But he studied hard. After he became a
doctor, he developed a method of curing eye cataract at a
low cost. Dr. Ruit started the Tilganga Eye Center in 1994.
His efficient model of eye care is now practised in various
parts of the world.

40 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

On 18 May 2007, Ruit was appointed as an Honorary Officer of the Order of
Australia "for service to humanity". In June 2006, Dr. Ruit was presented the
Ramon Magsaysay Award.

Kiran Pandey: Uttam sir is the most important
person of my society. Uttam Sanjel was born in
Gothatar, Kathmandu. When he was 25 years
old, he went to Mumbai, India to become a hero
in the movie. In Mumbai, he saw children living
in the streets and train station platforms. Then he
realized that real heroes are those who work for helpless people. He returned
to Nepal and opened a school for the poor children. He is the founder of
Samata Shiksha Niketan, which means "a place for all to study."

Samata Shiksha Niketan was established in 2001 with 850 students. It charges
a fee of Rs 100 per month for Nursery to Class 10. Uttam Sanjel has expanded
the school in 42 districts of Nepal: Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Kavre
Palanchowk, Sindhupalchowk, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Makwanpur, etc. are
some of them. The school is educating thousands of students. His ultimate
goal is to build 75 schools, one in each district of Nepal.

Free the Words

traffic : trade something illegally
trafficker : someone who is engaged in trafficking
brothel : a building where women are forced to let their bodies

scholarship sexually used for a certain cost which goes to the
graduation owner.
rig : money provided to a student for study
recognition : completion of a programme of study
innovative : to fit
gem : the act of accepting
cataract : creative
: something that is admired for its excellence
expand : a condition in which one's eye becomes cloudy and is
ultimate unable to see
: to make something larger
: final

In-class Activities

Think of someone like Charimaya Tamang from your community. Prepare
a brief biographical note about the person. Include details about his or her
contribution to the nation or community. You may also include relevant
photos to make the biography attractive.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 41

Exercise

1. Complete the following table with information about the social
workers mentioned in the lesson.

Personalities Born: Date/ Work for the Awards
Charimaya Tamang Place society

Mahabir Pun

Dr. Sanduk Ruit

Uttam Sanjel

2. State whether the following statements are True or False.

a. Charimaya Tamang was educated in Sindhupalchowk.
b. Shakti Samuha is an NGO that works to stop

girl-trafficking.
c. Mahabir Pun had his higher studies in the USA.
d. Mahabir Pun developed wire-less connection to

Nangi in 2001.
e. Dr. Sanduk Ruit is a nose surgeon.
f. Uttam Sanjel wants to open schools only in cities.

3. Answer these questions.
a. How does Shakti Samuha serve the society?

b. Where was Mahabir Pun born? What did he do before he went to
the US?

c. Who is Sanduk Ruit ? How has he contributed to the society?

d. What did Uttam Sanjel see in Mumbai?

e. When was Samata Sikshya Niketan established? How expensive is
the school?

42 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

4. Make a list of at least three famous people from your district or
village. Write about the social work they have done.

S.N. Social workers Services done to the society
1.
2.
3.

Projects for Unit Two

1. Write about at least two social customs or traditions existing in your
community. Also write how they are good or bad. Show your report
to the teacher.

2. In "My Heart Belongs to Nepal" Mukesh Baral writes about his love
for his motherland. Write a letter to him, telling what he should do to
make this country better.

In this unit, you have learned that:

• we have a set of beliefs, principles, and norms that are passed from
one generation to another; they are called traditions.

• customs and traditions might be good as well as harmful for the
society; we have to follow and preserve good traditions.

• there are different castes, religions, and languages in our country;
they make the nation diverse.

• despite cultural diversity, we have unity among us; unity gives us
strength and promotes social harmony.

• we love our nation; we feel attached to her; this feeling of belonging
to the nation is called nationalism.

• many people have made great contribution to our nation; they are
our heroes and we should respect them.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 43

Test Your Knowledge

1. Write very short definitions of the following words. Use a dictionary
if necessary.

social hero; untouchability; diversity; patriotism; slavery; praxis;
conformity

2. Answer these questions.
a. Give two examples of bad traditions still present in our society and
suggest ways to abolish them.
b. Some cultural festivals have both good and bad aspects to them. Is
it possible to only preserve the good while removing the bad?
c. What character traits must a person have to become a social hero?
d. Why is it necessary to preserve our cultures and traditions? Is
westernization inherently a bad thing?
e. What sort of hero would you like to be in the future? Write a few
lines about it.

3. Activities
Create a small booklet with the biography of one Social Hero of Nepal.

4. List out the activities that you need to do to become a good person
of your community.

5. If you meet renowned social workers, doctors, businessmen, artists,
educationalists, etc. of your district, what sort of questions will you
ask them? Prepare any five questions.

44 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

Unit Social Problems
3 and Their Solutions

In this unit, we will learn:

• to identify social problems and find their solutions.
• to examine the harmful effects of bad habits such as smoking and drinking.
• to avoid bad habits such as smoking, drinking, and drug abuse.
• the meaning and effects of anti-social activities such as gambling, theft, and illegal

acts.
• the meaning and importance of national culture.
• the importance of preserving national culture.
• the importance of social service and organizations that are devoted to social work.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 45

Lesson Bad Habits Can Kill

3.1

Pre-reading Activities

Imagine someone in your home smokes or drinks. You dearly love him.
He honestly tries to quit such habit but cannot. Now you have a family
problem. As a younger member of the family, how would you help him
quit the bad habit? Make a list of things you would do.

Reading

In Grade IV, you read a story about Dhan Bahadur and Kul Bahadur. Actually
the story was about the advantages of good habits and harmful effects of
bad habits. Good habits serve the interests of the family and
neighbourhood. Bad habits not only ruin one's health but also
destroy the family and earn a bad name in the community.
Therefore, it is necessary for everyone to stay away from bad
habits and follow the good ones.

Smoking: Smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco is a bad
habit. Smoking affects our lungs; it can also cause cancer. It
makes people cough and cry. It can also cause death. Therefore
we should advise our elders not to smoke if they do. Smoking
can be given up. So if we find anyone smoking, we should tell
him or her to quit the habit. In Nepal, smoking in public places
such as parks, cinema halls, playgrounds is illegal. If we find
people smoking in public places like streets and parks, we

should inform the police.

Drinking: Drinking alcohol such as wine, liquor, etc. is an
equally dangerous habit. Some people drink beer, rum, whisky,
gin, etc. Drinking directly affects our health; it may lead to
fatal liver diseases. When we spend money on drinking, it
leaves us penniless. Instead of spending money on alcoholic
drinks, we should spend it on buying healthy drinks such as

46 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

juice. Drinking hampers our thinking ability. After drinking, people lose their
senses and self-control. Driving while being drunk often results in accidents.

Drug addiction: Drug addiction is the most dangerous habit.
Drug is a chemical that makes our body dull. When people
begin to take drugs, they cannot give it up easily. Such
individuals are called drug addicts. They do not care about
anything in the family and the neighbourhood.

When drug addicts don’t get drugs, they become restless. They
even start stealing things to buy drugs. Drug addiction makes
people unhealthy. Taking drugs by means of a syringe often
leads to infection. Many people get incurable diseases such as AIDS through
drug abuse. Many die of addiction as well.

If we find someone drinking, smoking or taking drugs in our family,
neighbourhood or the community, we should tell them about the bad effects.
We should encourage them to give up such habits. It is not impossible to quit
any habit. It just requires a strong will. We also need institutions such as drug
rehabilitation centres to help people who have become addicts.

Free the Words

ruin : destroy or damage

cancer : fatal disease

liquor : alcohol

penniless : having no money

drug addiction : habit of taking drugs (especially narcotic drugs)

incurable : (disease) that cannot be cured

encourage : to tell people to do something

rehabilitation : special programme to help people having bad

habits such as drinking and drug addiction

In-class Activities

Get into a small group of 4-5 students. Imagine that your group is taking
part in a national “Anti-Smoking Poster Competition” organized by the
Ministry of Health. Think about possible ways of designing the poster
with interesting slogans. Discuss in the group and write out at least three
anti-smoking slogans that are new and original. Paste them on the dis-
play board.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 47

Exercise

1. Look at the pictures below and write how the activities shown in
the pictures affect the family and the society.
a. b. c.

2. State whether the following statements are True or False.
a. Good habits keep the family and neighbourhood in order.
b. When drunk, people become wise.
c. If we find someone smoking, we should ignore it.
d. Bad habits ruin the family and community health.
e. It is impossible to give up bad habits.

3. Answer these questions.
a. Why is it important for everyone to stay away from bad habits?
b. Write three effects of smoking on health and community.
c. How does drinking affect our health?
d. Who are drug addicts?
e. What do addicts do when they do not get drugs to consume?
f. How can we help people give up bad habits?

4. Write about a person you know who has one of the bad habits that
you read about in this lesson. Also write how such a habit affects his
or her family or the neighbourhood.

5. Make a list of bad habits that you find around your community.
Suggest some ways to solve them.

48 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5

Lesson

3.2 Anti-social Activities

Pre-reading Activities

Before you begin the class, visit the school library. Pick a daily newspaper. Scan
it. Then, circle all the news items that report illegal activities taking place in the
country. Discuss what activities they are and how they can be prevented.

Reading

Jewelry Store Looted

KATHMANDU, Feb 24: An unidentified group robbed a jewelry store
at Purano Baneshwor on Wednesday evening. According to police, five
Khukuri-wielding men entered Bhojpur Dingla Jewelry Store at 7:45 p.m.
while proprietor Dwarika Shankar was restacking gold inside the locker
after closing the shop. The robbers made away with around 50 tolas of
gold. The looters were hiding inside the shop before it was closed. They
also took away two million rupees in cash.
Republica 2010-02-24

21-yr-old Killed By Ex-flame

SUNDAR KHANAL

KATHMANDU, Aug 11: In a tragic end of a relationship gone awry,
a youth who had returned home from the UK after his graduation
killed his girlfriend, a BBA third-year student. Roji Maharjan, 21, was
shot dead in the Simpani jungle of Naalu VDC in Lalitpur at around
12 am on Friday. Police recovered her body the following Wednesday
morning.

Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5 49

British Riots Spread on Third Night of Violence

(Reuters) – Rioting and looting spread across London on Monday
as hooded youths set buildings and cars ablaze, smashed shop
windows and hurled bottles and stones at the police in a third night
of violence in Britain's worst unrest in decades.

Attackers also smashed shops and looted
property in the city of Birmingham in central
England, police said, in the first sign of the
riots spreading beyond the capital.

In a street thick with smoke, looters smashed
their way into a local shop, stealing whisky
and beer. One man grabbed a packet of cereal,
another ran off laughing with four bottles of
whisky.

In Peckham, a poor area of south London, flames leapt into the air
from a torched building and rubble was strewn across the street.

Even before Monday night's violence, police had arrested 215 people,
according to Home Secretary Theresa May.

"The violence we've seen, the looting we've seen, the thuggery we've
seen, this is sheer criminality ... these people will be brought to
justice, they will be made to face the consequences of their actions,"
she said.

Aug. 8, 2011

The three events reported in the given news stories are the examples of
anti-social activities. Any activity that causes harm to the people in a society is
an anti-social activity. Anti-social activities include acts such as theft, gambling,
looting, fighting, rape and forceful strikes.

People get into anti-social activities due to various reasons: unemployment,
desire for luxury, and lack of opportunity. But, whatever the reason may be,
any anti-social activity should be stopped. If we come to know of such an
activity taking place, we must inform the police.

50 Oasis Social Studies & Creative Arts-5