Class 6 Social Science Chapter 13 – The Value of Work | Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Notes, Solutions & Worksheet

Class 6 Social Science Chapter 13 The Value of Work from Exploring Society: India and Beyond – easy notes, concepts, NCERT book solutions, important questions and worksheet. Learn about different types of work, the importance of work, dignity of labour and the contribution of people to society in simple language.

Class 6 Social Science Chapter 13 – The Value of Work | Study CBSE

Class 6 Social Science

Chapter 13 – The Value of Work

Easy Complete Notes • NCERT Questions & Answers • Quick Revision

1. Introduction – The Value of Work

Work is an important part of our lives. People do many different kinds of work. Some work gives us money, while some work is done because of love, care, respect, duty or the desire to help others.

The chapter helps us understand that different kinds of work have value. We should respect people who perform different jobs and services.

Indian farmers working
Real photograph of Indian farmers – Wikimedia Commons, CC0/public domain.
Remember: Every honest work deserves respect.

2. The Big Questions

1. What are the different types of activities that people engage in?
Answer: People engage in agriculture, manufacturing, trade, services, education, healthcare, transport and many other activities.
2. What is their contribution to our everyday lives?
Answer: These activities provide us with goods and services that we need. They help families, communities and the economy.

3. Anu and Kabir’s Story

Anu and Kabir notice that people around them perform many different activities.

Geeta Aunty

She is an Indian Air Force pilot. She receives a salary for her work and serves the country.

Kabir’s Grandfather

He retired from the Border Security Force. He now teaches Geography to neighbourhood children for free.

Anu’s Parents

They run a shop selling uniforms and ready-made garments.

Anu’s Mother

She works at the shop and also voluntarily teaches knitting to women in the community.

Rohan

He is a software engineer. He receives a salary and also volunteers to teach computer skills on weekends.

Teacher teaching students
Real classroom photograph – Pexels, free to use.
Important idea: The same person can perform both economic and non-economic activities.

4. LET’S EXPLORE

What activities did the people in Anu’s and Kabir’s story engage in? Mention them in the table given below:
CharacterActivitiesEconomic / Non-economic
Geeta AuntyWorks as an Indian Air Force pilot.Economic
Kabir’s GrandfatherTeaches Geography to neighbourhood children for free.Non-economic
Anu’s ParentsRun a shop selling uniforms and ready-made garments.Economic
Anu’s MotherWorks in the shop and voluntarily teaches knitting.Economic + Non-economic
RohanWorks as a software engineer and volunteers to teach computer skills.Economic + Non-economic

5. Economic Activities

Meaning: Economic activities are activities that involve money or are performed in exchange for money or money’s worth.

Examples

Farmer

Sells crops in the market.

Businessperson

Sells goods to customers.

Lawyer

Provides legal services and earns a fee.

Truck Driver

Transports goods and receives payment.

Factory Worker

Works in a factory and receives payment.

Farmers working in India
Agricultural work – Wikimedia Commons, CC0/public domain.

6. Non-economic Activities

Meaning: Non-economic activities do not generate income or wealth. They are often done because of love, care, gratitude, respect or duty.

Examples

  • Parents cooking food for the family.
  • Helping children with schoolwork.
  • Taking care of grandparents.
  • Helping family members in house renovation.
  • Volunteering for community service.
  • Helping a neighbour without expecting payment.
Important: Non-economic does not mean “useless”. Such activities can have great social and personal value.

7. THINK ABOUT IT

1. When Kabir’s grandfather voluntarily teaches the neighbourhood kids for free, is that an economic activity or a non-economic activity? How is it different from your teachers teaching you at school? Discuss with your classmates.
Answer: It is a non-economic activity because he teaches for free. School teachers teach as part of their paid profession and receive a salary.
2. What are some non-economic activities that are important to you and your family? Why are they valuable?
Answer: Helping family members, caring for grandparents, cooking and helping others are valuable because they create love, care and stronger family bonds.

8. Important Money Terms

Money’s Worth

The monetary value a person places on an object according to the benefit received from it.

Market

A place where people exchange goods and services, usually for money.

Fee

Payment made for professional advice or services.

Salary

A fixed and regular payment, generally made monthly by an employer.

Wage

Payment received for work, often according to the time worked or task done.

Payment in Kind

Payment for work made partly or fully in goods instead of money.

9. LET’S EXPLORE

Put a ✓ against those activities/professions that you think create monetary value. Can you add two activities and examples of money-related value creation to the empty rows at the end?
Activity / ProfessionCreates Monetary Value?
Farmer selling crops✓ Yes
Shopkeeper selling goods✓ Yes
Doctor providing paid treatment✓ Yes
Lawyer providing legal service for a fee✓ Yes
Factory worker✓ Yes
Truck driver transporting goods✓ Yes
Family member cooking for the familyNo direct monetary value
Volunteering without paymentNo direct monetary value
Software developer✓ Yes
Carpenter making furniture for sale✓ Yes

10. Ways People Are Compensated

TypeSimple MeaningExample
SalaryRegular fixed payment, usually monthly.A teacher receives a monthly salary.
WagePayment for work, often daily or based on work done.A farm labourer receives a daily wage.
FeePayment for a professional service.A lawyer receives a fee.
Payment in KindPayment made in goods instead of money.A worker receives part of the payment in mangoes.

11. Value Addition

Value addition means increasing the value of something by using skill, time, effort and other resources to change it into a more useful product.
Carpenter working with wood
Carpenter working with wood – Pexels, free to use.

Rajesh the Carpenter – Easy Example

Rajesh buys wood for ₹600. He uses his skill, time and effort to make a chair. He sells the chair for ₹1,000.

Value added = ₹1,000 − ₹600 = ₹400

The ₹400 represents the monetary value added through Rajesh’s skill, time and effort.

12. Kavya’s Story – Different Ways of Payment

Kavya visits her aunt’s village and observes different kinds of work and payment.

PersonWorkPayment
Kavya’s UncleTechnician in a construction companyMonthly salary
Kavya’s AuntWorks at the village post officeMonthly salary
Kavya’s AuntConducts online classesWeekly fee
SahilFarm labourerDaily wage, partly cash and partly mangoes
Remember: When Sahil receives mangoes as part of his payment, the mangoes are called payment in kind.

13. THINK ABOUT IT – Community Participation

1. Many communities in India have similar practices that involve community participation. Can you identify a few from your area?
Answer: Examples include community cleanliness drives, local festivals, tree plantation drives, shared farming work and neighbourhood programmes.
2. We celebrate many festivals in India. During these festivals, people gather to organise all the various activities. They decorate the place together and share the food that they cook. Are these non-economic activities? Why do you think they still hold value?
Answer: Yes. They are generally non-economic activities because they are not done for earning money. They are valuable because they build unity, friendship and respect for traditions.
3. Can you identify community programmes that have been undertaken by your school or in your locality? What did you observe during these programmes?
Answer: Examples include tree plantation, cleanliness drives, health camps and charity programmes. I observed teamwork, cooperation and active participation by people.

14. Seva – Selfless Service

Seva means selfless service done to help others without expecting a reward in return.

Seva can be seen in many communities and religious places. People may volunteer their time, skills or effort to serve others.

Examples

  • Serving food to people.
  • Helping people in need.
  • Volunteering at community programmes.
  • Helping during emergencies.
  • Teaching or guiding others without payment.

15. Community Participation

Community participation means people working together for a common purpose and the welfare of the community.

Examples

  • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
  • Van Mahotsav
  • Tree plantation drives
  • Community cleanliness programmes
  • Local welfare programmes
Van Mahotsav: It promotes awareness about trees and forests and encourages community participation in tree plantation.

16. Questions, Activities, and Projects

1. How are economic activities different from non-economic activities?
Answer:
Economic activities are done to earn money or money’s worth. For example, farming for sale and working for a salary.

Non-economic activities are done without direct payment, often because of love, care, duty or service. For example, helping family members.
2. What kind of economic activities do people engage in? Illustrate with examples.
Answer:
People engage in farming, manufacturing, trade and services. For example, a farmer sells crops, a shopkeeper sells goods, a factory worker makes products and a doctor provides paid services.
3. There is great value attached to people who are engaged in community service activities. Comment on this statement.
Answer: Community service helps people and improves society. It develops cooperation, responsibility and care for others. Therefore, community service has great value even when it does not provide money.
4. What are the various ways in which people are compensated for various economic activities? Give some examples.
Answer: People may receive a salary, wage, fee or payment in kind. For example, a teacher may receive a salary, a labourer a wage, a lawyer a fee and a farm worker may receive part of the payment in goods such as mangoes.

17. Economic vs Non-economic Activities

Economic ActivityNon-economic Activity
Usually involves money or money’s worth.Usually does not involve direct payment.
Done to earn income or create monetary value.Done for love, care, respect, duty or service.
Example: Farmer selling crops.Example: Parent cooking for the family.
Example: Doctor providing paid treatment.Example: Helping a neighbour for free.

18. Important Terms to Remember

Economic Activity
Activity involving money or money’s worth.
Non-economic Activity
Activity done without direct monetary gain.
Market
Place for exchange of goods and services.
Fee
Payment for professional service.
Salary
Fixed regular payment, usually monthly.
Wage
Payment for work, often daily or task-based.
Payment in Kind
Non-cash payment for work.
Value Addition
Increase in value through skill, time and effort.
Seva
Selfless service.
Community Participation
People working together for a common purpose.

19. Quick Revision

Economic activities → Money or money’s worth
Non-economic activities → Love, care, duty, respect and service
Salary → Fixed regular payment, generally monthly
Wage → Payment for work, often daily or task-based
Fee → Payment for professional service
Payment in kind → Payment in goods instead of money
Value addition → Increase in value through work, skill, time and effort
Seva → Selfless service

20. Exam Tips

  • Learn the difference between economic and non-economic activities.
  • Remember the meanings of salary, wage, fee and payment in kind.
  • Remember the Rajesh carpenter example of value addition.
  • Learn why community service is valuable.
  • Remember that unpaid work can still have great value.
  • Always respect every honest occupation.
One-line lesson:
Work is valuable not only because it earns money, but also because it supports families, communities and society.

Image Credits

The photographs used in this page are from openly reusable sources. The farmer photograph is from Wikimedia Commons and is marked CC0/public domain. The classroom and carpenter photographs are from Pexels and are listed as free to use on their respective pages.

Image sources: Wikimedia Commons and Pexels.

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This worksheet for Chapter 13 is designed for easy practice and revision. It includes important questions and activities based on the textbook. Students can use it to check their understanding, strengthen their concepts and prepare for exams.

CLASS 6 • SOCIAL SCIENCE

Chapter 13 Notes & Book Solutions

Class 6 Social Science Chapter 13 Notes and Book Solutions

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