Spices that Heal Us

Let us do these activities before we read

I

A spice is any seed, fruit, root, bark, leaf or any other part of a plant used to give taste and colour to our food. Try to recall the names of three spices that are used for cooking in your home. Write them below and share your answers with your teacher.

1. ____________________

2. ____________________

3. ____________________

II

Given below are pictures of some spices. Work in pairs and write what you call them in your language. Their names in English are given in the last column. Share your answers with your teacher.

III

Do you know if these spices can be used for something else other than cooking? Let us find out by reading the letter given below.

Let us think and reflect

I Read the given lines and answer the following questions.

‘When I was a child, I learnt them from my grandmother. She used to find cures for most of the weather-related common illnesses in the kitchen.’

1. Where exactly in the kitchen did her grandmother find the cures?

2. Give one example of weather-related common illnesses.

3. What kind of relationship did the speaker have with her grandmother?

II Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.

Daadi soaked methi seeds overnight and drank the water in the morning to manage _____________________ and _____________________.

III Circle the spice that is not useful for body pain according to Daadi’s letter.

1. Turmeric 2. Fennel seeds

3. Ginger 4. Black pepper

IV

Why did Daadi ask Vikram and Vaibhavi to share the natural cures with their friends?

V

What was Daadi’s final advice to Vikram and Vaibhavi?

VI

How do we know that natural cures are passed from one generation to another?

VII

Why do you think we should know about the healing properties of spices?

Let us learn

I You have read the uses of spices in the letter. Complete the following table with the help of your teacher. You may use the words from the box given below.

II Read the sentences given below.

• You may share them with your friends.
• You should try to remember these cures.
• It can help control cough and cold.
• You must consult an elder before you use them.
• I need to soak the methi seeds overnight.
• I used to put heeng water on your tummy.

1. The words given in Column A are helping verbs. Match the helping verbs in Column A with their functions in Column B.

2. Complete the following dialogues with any four modals from the table given above.

(Use a modal only once.)

Ajay : Anand had fever last week. He (i) _____________ take good rest.

Suman : Yes, he (ii) _____________ or he will fall ill again.

Ajay : He (iii) _____________ take grandmother’s natural cures.

Suman : Yes, we (iv) _____________ remember how effective they are.

Let us listen

THE WONDER HERB

1. Name Tulsi Family: _____________

2. First found in _____________

3. Now found everywhere in India

4. Known as The _____________ of herbs

5. Can decrease levels of _____________ and cholesterol

6. Used to treat disorders of breathing and _____________

7. Is used to make mouth wash and _____________

8. We can have Tulsi leaves by eating them _____________ or adding them while making _____________

Let us speak

1. Daadi told Vikram and Vaibhavi about many spices. Choose one spice and introduce yourself as that spice to the class.

2. Before you speak, make a spicy headband for the spice you chose. Follow the steps given below.

1. Cut out strips of a paper 2 inches wide.
2. Join two ends to make a band that can fit your head.
3. Make a small card with a picture of a spice. Colour it.
4. Attach the card on your headband.

Activity: __________________________________________

3. Mention the following while speaking.

• your name
• part of the plant
• colour
• texture
• taste
• benefits

Let us write

I Vikram’s grandmother shared two natural cures to cure his cough in her earlier letter. It was kept outside and a few drops of rain fell on it. Some of the words got washed away by the rain. Help Vikram complete the natural cures. Use the phrases given in the box below. There are two phrases that you do not need.

Natural Cures for Cough

1. To prepare this home remedy, you just need ginger and honey. First, take ____________________, grate it and take the juice from it. Take about two teaspoons of this juice and add about two and half teaspoons of honey to it. Mix it properly. Warm ____________________ slightly on very low heat for a minute. Then ____________________ about three to four times a day to get relief from cough. Have patience to see the effect as natural cures ____________________ with ginger and honey might take some time to show results.

2.

To prepare the second ____________________ for cough, take about 10 grams of each— long pepper, dried ginger and basil leaves. Add four to six small cardamoms and ____________________ a fine powder. If you take this powder with an equal ____________________, it will give you relief from cough.

II Now, write a short paragraph on Tulsi based on the completed fact sheet in ‘Let us listen’.

Let us explore

I Now that you have read about many spices, can you guess the spices based on the riddles given below?

1. When your tummy felt funny
I was used by your granny
I made you fit and fine
And brought back your smile.
Who am I?

2. I come from under the ground
Thousands of years, I’ve been around.
For cooking you use me daily
From cold I can cure you surely.
Who am I?

II Fill in the blanks to complete the riddle below. Write another riddle of your own and ask your family members to guess the spice.

1. Brownish- _________ in colour, and _________ to taste, I help everyone, to _________ their weight. Who am I?

Ans: Fenugreek (methi)

2. ___________________________

My answer: ___________________________

III Close your eyes and learn about spices by smelling and feeling them. The teacher may also provide a few different spices to try.

Quick Revision

Teacher’s / Student’s Notes