NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Social Science Chapter 09 Family and Community

Question 1. Why is the family unit important?
Answer: The family unit holds great importance because it is the basic and most ancient foundation of any society. It gives people love, care, working together, and depending on one another among its members. Every family member has particular roles and duties toward others, which help build an environment where children gain important values like ahimsa (non-violence), dana (giving), seva (service), and tyaga (sacrifice). The family works as a "school" where children pick up traditions, practices, and how to join in household and community life. It also acts as a support network, as shown in the story of Shalini's family, where family members came together to help each other during financial hardship.
In simple words: A family is where people love and help each other. It teaches children good values and comes together when times are hard.

Exam Tip: Always mention the family's role in teaching values and providing emotional support when answering about family importance.

Question 2. What is a community and what is its role?
Answer: A community is a group of connected people - such as families or individuals - who come together for different reasons like marking festivals, organizing events, or helping each other in farm work. Communities often have shared practices and rules to manage natural resources and keep things running smoothly. These rules make sure people have fair access to resources while giving specific jobs to community members. Communities show up in many forms, including rural villages, cities, and groups with shared interests like religious or professional communities. The main purpose of a community is to back up its members, ensure they work as one unit, and remain connected, which shows in how the Bhil community saved rainwater and how Kamal Parmar started an educational program for underprivileged children.
In simple words: A community is a group of people working together to help each other and manage shared things like water and land.

Exam Tip: Include examples of how communities function in rural and urban areas, and always mention mutual cooperation and resource sharing.

Question 3. What types of families do you see in your neighbourhood? List the type with the number of households for each type.
Answer: Types of families in my neighbourhood include:
Joint families - 5 households
Nuclear families - 12 households
Single-parent families - 3 households
Nuclear families are more common. This is likely because of modern living situations where people often move to cities for work, leading to smaller family units. Additionally, city lifestyles and housing limits make it more sensible for smaller families to live independently.
In simple words: Most families around me are nuclear (parents and children only). This is because people move to cities for jobs and live in smaller homes.

Exam Tip: When listing family types, provide actual numbers from your area and give reasons for why certain types are more common based on modern living patterns.

Question 4. Make a list of all the members of your family you can think of, including a few distant relatives. List their terms in your mother tongue or regional language and try to find the equivalent in English. Two examples are below for Hindi.
Answer:

Notice how often a single word in your mother tongue or regional language needs several words in English to give a precise meaning.
In simple words: One word in Hindi or your local language can mean something that takes many words to explain in English. This shows how rich our languages are in describing family.

Exam Tip: Always show the regional language term alongside the English meaning to demonstrate the richness and specificity of family relationships in Indian languages.

Question 5. Answer these questions and compare your answers with a few classmates.
(a) Who in your family decides what is to be bought from the market?
(b) Who cooks food in your home?
(c) Who is the oldest person in your family?
(d) Who cleans the floor in your home?
(e) Who washes utensils in your house?
(f) Who helps you to do your homework?
Answer:
My Answers:
(a) My mother decides what is to be bought from the market.
(b) My mother usually cooks food in our home.
(c) My grandfather is the oldest person in our family.
(d) We have a house helper who cleans the floor in our home.
(e) The house helper also washes the utensils.
(f) My father helps me with my homework.

Ruchika's Answers:
(a) My father decides what is to be bought from the market.
(b) My mother and grandmother cook food together.
(c) My grandmother is the oldest person in our family.
(d) My mother and I take turns cleaning the floor.
(e) My mother washes the utensils.
(f) My elder sister helps me with my homework.

Kartik's Answers:
(a) My parents decide together what is to be bought from the market.
(b) My father usually cooks food in our home.
(c) My great-grandmother is the oldest person in our family.
(d) My mother cleans the floor in our home.
(e) My sister and I wash the utensils.
(f) My tutor helps me with my homework.

Comparison and Discussion:
Decision Making - Family choices about shopping show different patterns. In my family, my mother makes the choice, while in classmates' families, either the father chooses or both parents decide together. This reflects different ways families handle responsibilities.

Cooking - In my home, my mother is the primary cook, whereas in Kartik's home, my father cooks. This shows varied roles in households where cooking is not limited to one gender.
In simple words: Different families have different ways of doing things. Some families split work equally, while in others, one person does most of the work. This depends on each family's choices and way of living.

Exam Tip: When comparing families, focus on showing diversity in roles and responsibilities - highlight that different family structures handle tasks in different ways, which is normal and reflects cultural and personal preferences.

Question 6. Draw a simple tree of this family of seven members. Why do you think Shalini's parents bought clothes for everyone? What would you have done if you were in Shalini's place?
Answer:
A simple tree of family of seven members:


Shalini's parents bought clothes for everyone because her uncle's family was going through money troubles and could not buy new clothes for the coming festival of Onam. Even though buying clothes for the whole family meant Shalini had to get a simpler dress instead of the silk dress she wanted, her parents chose to help their relatives. This shows the values of love, care, and being willing to give up personal wishes for the good of the family.

If I were in Shalini's place, I would have understood and accepted my parents' choice to help my uncle's family. Even though I would have wanted the silk dress, I would have recognized the greater importance of family support. I would understand that sharing and helping each other in times of need is a valuable lesson that bonds the family together. The joy of seeing my relatives happy and able to celebrate the festival would be worth more than a fancy dress.
In simple words: Shalini's parents helped relatives who didn't have enough money. Even though Shalini missed out on a nice dress, she learned that helping family is more important than having nice things.

Exam Tip: When answering questions about family sacrifice, always emphasize the values being taught - compassion, sharing, and putting family needs above personal desires - and explain how these actions strengthen family bonds.

Question 7. Why does Tenzing's father consult his wife for special expenses? How do you feel about his participation in household chores? What roles do the grandparents fulfil?
Answer: Tenzing's father checks with his wife about special spending because the family holds the view that making money choices together is important. This way of doing things makes sure both parents have a say in big choices, which builds a feeling of teamwork and shared duty in managing the family's money. It also shows their mutual respect and how working together on money matters helps the family stay stable when unexpected costs come up.

Tenzing's father taking part in household work is good and shows a modern, fair approach to family life. His doing cleaning, gardening, and cooking shows that both parents divide work equally at home, giving a positive model to their children about gender fairness and how to work together. His involvement in daily tasks like these shows his care for keeping the family running well and supporting his wife.

The grandparents in Tenzing's family play key roles. His grandmother makes the house warm by telling stories full of good advice, which adds to the family's cultural and moral growth. His grandfather helps Tenzing with his lessons and takes him to the school bus. He is also deeply involved in helping others in the community, working on social issues like power shortages and looking after those in need. Through this, the grandparents work as role models who teach life skills and add to the family's overall happiness.
In simple words: Tenzing's father talks with his wife about money choices so both get a say. He also helps at home, showing that men and women should share work fairly. The grandparents help with schoolwork and tell stories that teach good values.

Exam Tip: Highlight the modern family values shown - shared decision-making, gender equality in household work, and the grandparents' crucial role in education and community service - these are key marks of a healthy family structure.

Question 8. Create a story of a family somewhere in India, where we see some family values practised. Share it with your class either through writing or drawing. Stage a small drama with all your classmates around two or three families. The play you write could include some challenging situations that the families faced, and show how they are resolved.
Answer:
The Sharma Family in Rajasthan

The Sharma family lives in a village in Rajasthan, made up of Mr. Sharma, his wife Mrs. Sharma, their children Raj and Priya, and Mr. Sharma's parents, Dadaji and Dadiji. The family follows values like respect, teamwork, and learning. Raj and Priya touch their grandparents' feet every morning. Mrs. Sharma and Dadiji manage household work together, while Raj helps his father in the fields. Dadaji tells moral stories in the evenings, and during festivals, the whole family takes part in preparations. They go to the local temple together, honoring their spiritual beliefs and cultural traditions.

Drama Script: "Strength in Unity"
Characters:
The Sharmas: Mr. Sharma, Mrs. Sharma, Raj, Priya, Dadaji, Dadiji
The Mehtas: Mr. Mehta, Mrs. Mehta, Anjali

Scene 1: Financial Crisis
Setting: The Sharma household
Mr. Sharma walks in looking worried. The family gathers around him.
Mr. Sharma: "Our crops failed this season, and we're short on money."
Dadaji: "Don't worry, we'll get through this together. Let's see how we can cut down on expenses."
Mrs. Sharma: "We can reduce unnecessary spending and rely on our stored grains."
The family supports each other, planning ways to manage the crisis.

Scene 2: The Mehtas' Dilemma
Setting: The Mehta household
Anjali comes home crying.
Anjali: "I failed my exams. I'm so ashamed."
Mr. Mehta: "We'll hire a tutor and help you study better."
Mrs. Mehta: "We'll all pitch in and support you. You can do it!"
The Mehtas rally around Anjali, offering encouragement and resources.

Joint vs. Nuclear Families
In modern living, couples often pick nuclear families because of job moves, privacy needs, and personal choice-making. Nuclear families give freedom and less meddling but may miss the help system of extended family. Joint families give feeling of belonging, shared money help, and a strong culture, but can also bring fights due to opinion changes and less privacy. Balancing what each person needs with family values is key in both setups.
In simple words: Joint families have more people to help, but nuclear families give more freedom. Both types have good and bad sides, and what matters is that family members love and support each other.

Exam Tip: When creating a drama or story about families, make sure to show both positive values (cooperation, sacrifice, respect) and real challenges families face - this demonstrates understanding of how families actually function in India.

Question 9. Discuss this story in your class. What kind of attitude towards the community does it reveal?
Answer: The story shows a caring and active attitude toward the community. Kamal Parmar's work brings out a strong sense of duty and kindness for kids who don't have advantages. His work shows he is devoted to making a good change and lifting up others in his area. His actions make clear his desire to help less fortunate children get a good education and a better life.
In simple words: The story shows that one person can care deeply about helping others in the community, even when those others don't have as much as they do.

Exam Tip: When discussing community attitude in stories, identify specific actions that demonstrate social responsibility, empathy, and commitment to collective welfare.

Question 10. What values get reflected in Kamal Parmar's initiative?
Answer: Kamal Parmar's work shows values of kindness, selflessness, and hard work. His readiness to spend time and money to help kids without advantages shows his care for doing good. Help from nearby teachers and student helpers also shows community spirit and how we can work as one. His focus on learning and how it can change lives shows his belief in the strength of teaching others and in shared duty toward those who are left behind in society.
In simple words: Kamal Parmar shows that helping others, working hard, and sharing knowledge are important values that can make a real difference in people's lives.

Exam Tip: When listing values reflected in a person's actions, provide specific examples from their work and explain how each action demonstrates those values.

Question 11. Think about those underprivileged children. Do you think society has been unfair to them?
Answer: Yes, society has been unfair to kids without advantages by not giving them the same chances to get good schooling and options. These kids face many hard times, like not having enough money, few resources, and people looking down on them, which get in the way of them getting a good education and making their lives better. The lack of fair treatment and support from the system makes it much harder for these kids to escape from being poor and to reach their possible future. Without help from caring people like Kamal Parmar and others, many of these kids would stay stuck in their situation with few ways to get out.
In simple words: Society has not been fair to poor children because they don't get the same chances as richer children to go to good schools and do well in life.

Exam Tip: When discussing social inequality, be specific about the barriers underprivileged children face and emphasize that this is a systemic issue requiring collective action and policy changes.

Question 12. What should society do to make sure that all children get access to education?
Answer: Society needs to put into place plans that make sure all kids get free and compulsory schooling. This includes giving money help, building enough schools, making sure well-trained teachers are there, and offering aid to those who can't afford it. Work like Kamal Parmar's should be backed and grown. Also, awareness programs need to happen to show why schooling matters and to break down walls in society. These steps together can help all kids, no matter their situation, get access to good learning and a better future.
In simple words: The government and people in the community should work together to build more schools, pay teachers well, and give money help to poor families so all children can go to school.

Exam Tip: When proposing solutions for social issues, mention specific policy measures (free education, teacher training, financial assistance) and acknowledge the role of both government and community in addressing the problem.

Question 13. Make a list of all the people outside your family that are supporting you through their work in one way or another.
Answer:
List of Supportive People Outside My Family:

Teachers: They give learning, help, and schooling support, helping me reach my goals.

Friends: They give feelings of warmth, friendship and help with studying, making me feel like I fit in.

School Principal: Keeps a safe, good place to learn and looks after school tasks.

Tutors: Give one-to-one schooling help, making my grasp of hard subjects better.

Bus Driver: Safely takes me to and from school every day.

Neighbours: Give sometimes help, making a warm local place.

Doctors and Nurses: Make sure I stay healthy and well with proper medical work.

Local Shopkeepers: Supply needed things and services for daily life.
In simple words: Many people help me every day - teachers teach me, friends support me, shopkeepers sell me things I need, and doctors keep me healthy.

Exam Tip: When listing community helpers, organize them by their function (education, health, daily needs) and briefly explain how each person's work supports you and your family.

Question 14. What types of communities are you part of?
Answer:
My Communities:

Family Community: My immediate and extended family members who support and care for each other.

School Community: Teachers, classmates, and school staff who give learning and a space to grow.

Neighbourhood Community: Neighbours who give help and friendship, making a warm local place.

Online Communities: Different social media groups and forums where I share hobbies and gain knowledge.

Sports Community: My local sports team and fellow athletes with whom I train and compete.

School Club Participation: The Science Club meets weekly to look into science ideas through tests, tasks, and talks. Members take part in science fairs and contests, set up guest talks from scientists, and work on nature efforts. The club grows interest, teamwork, and a love for science among students.
In simple words: I am part of many communities - my family, school, neighbourhood, sports teams, and online groups - each one helping me in different ways.

Exam Tip: Identify and list diverse types of communities you belong to, showing understanding that humans are members of multiple overlapping communities that serve different needs.

Question 15. What are some of the rules you follow in your family and neighbourhood? Why are they important?
Answer:
Family Rules:
Respecting Elders: Always greet and listen to elders.
Chores Rotation: Share household chores on a rotating basis.
Meal Times: Eat dinner together as a family every night.
Study Time: Set specific hours for studying each day.
Importance: These rules build respect, teamwork, duty, and family bonds, making sure a warm and helpful household.

Neighbourhood Rules:
Quiet Hours: Maintain silence after 10 PM.

Community Cleanliness: Residents take turns cleaning common areas.

Parking Regulations: Follow set parking spots.

Importance: These rules push peace, cleanliness, and order, making a nice and healthy living space.
In simple words: Family and neighbourhood rules help people live together peacefully, with respect and responsibility for shared spaces.

Exam Tip: When discussing rules, explain the underlying purpose each rule serves and how it contributes to harmony and well-being in that specific community setting.

Question 16. Do you think some rules are unfair to a few people in the family or community? Why?
Answer: Some rules may be seen as unfair. For example, chore rotations can be hard for busy or sick family members. Quiet hours might be tough for night-shift workers who sleep during the day. While rules try to help the most people, they can sometimes miss individual needs. Making rules more fair needs open talk and being ready to make changes based on what certain people need. Looking at worries and being thoughtful can help make rules more right for all people involved.
In simple words: Some rules can be hard for certain people, like night-shift workers or sick family members. The best rules allow for changes when someone has a real need.

Exam Tip: When evaluating fairness of rules, provide specific examples of how they might disadvantage certain groups and suggest how flexible approaches and open communication can make rules more equitable.

Question 17. Discuss this story in your class. What kind of attitude towards the community does it reveal? What values get reflected in Kamal Parmar's initiative? Think about those underprivileged children. Do you think society has been unfair to them? What should society do to make sure that all children get access to education?
Answer: The story shows a caring and active attitude toward helping others. Kamal Parmar shows deep feeling and a wish to lift up those without advantages through learning. His work shows values of kindness, selflessness, and a strong belief in the strength of learning to change lives. These efforts highlight how one person can work to break down walls and offer chances to the left-behind kids in society.

Society has treated underprivileged children unfairly by not giving them equal chances for good schooling. These kids face money problems, few tools, and bias, which stop them from getting a good education and building their futures. To fix this, society needs to make free and forced schooling possible for all kids, give money help, build more schools, and train teachers. Work like Kamal Parmar's should get support, and campaigns should show the worth of learning. When government, groups, teachers, and people work as one, all kids can get chances to grow and prosper regardless of where they come from.
In simple words: Kamal Parmar shows that we should all care about helping poor children get to school. Society should work together to make learning free and open to every child, no matter how much money their family has.

Exam Tip: Integrate multiple aspects of the question into a comprehensive answer that addresses attitude, values, social inequality, and practical solutions, showing holistic understanding of community responsibility.