This MCQ module is based on: Temperature Variation and Weather
Temperature Variation and Weather
7.6 Temperature Variation in Nature
Step outside at 6 in the morning in Delhi — cool and fresh. Step out again at 2 in the afternoon — hot and sweaty. Evening by 7 — cool again. The same place has different temperatures at different times of the day. This is called temperature variation.
Changes Through a Day
From sunrise the Sun gradually warms up the air. Around 2–3 pm, the temperature is the highest. As the Sun sets and the ground cools, it becomes cooler again. By early morning (before sunrise), the air is coolest.
Changes Across the Year
India sees four main seasons: summer (hot), monsoon (rainy, cooler), winter (cold), and spring/autumn (mild). Delhi may touch 45 °C in June yet drop to 5 °C in January. The same city — two very different temperatures!
Different Places, Same Day
On the same day, Jaisalmer (a desert city) may be 40 °C while Manali (a hill station) is just 15 °C. Why? It depends on the altitude, the latitude (how far from the Equator), the Sun's angle at that place, and nearness to the sea or a lake.
You need: a laboratory thermometer, your notebook, a shady spot outside your home.
- Keep the thermometer in the shade at 7 am, 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm and 7 pm.
- Wait 5 minutes each time, then note the reading.
- Make a table in your notebook.
- Draw a graph with time on the x-axis and temperature on the y-axis. Join the points.
Maximum–Minimum Thermometer
Meteorologists (weather scientists) use a special thermometer called the maximum–minimum thermometer. It remembers the highest and lowest temperatures of the day, even when no one is looking. You see it placed at every weather station.
7.7 Temperature Changes and Our Health
When the weather gets extreme, the body can struggle. A little planning keeps us safe.
Body Temperatures of Different Animals
Not every creature has a body temperature of 37 °C like us. Let's see who runs warmer or cooler!
| Animal | Normal Body Temperature | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Human | ~37 °C | Warm-blooded, regulates itself |
| Birds (pigeon, sparrow) | 40–42 °C | Higher than humans — fast metabolism helps them fly |
| Dog | ~38.5 °C | A little warmer than us |
| Snake, lizard (reptiles) | Varies with surroundings | Cold-blooded — they bask in the sun to warm up |
| Polar bear | ~37 °C (under thick fur!) | Adapted to very cold Arctic climate |
| Camel | 34 °C → 41 °C (varies) | Can tolerate a very wide range in deserts |
Interactive: Plan Your Day L3
Competency-Based Questions
Q1. Why does the afternoon feel hotter than the morning on the same day? L2
Q2. What does a maximum–minimum thermometer record? L1
Q3. Name two things Phiban's family should pack for a hot Jaisalmer afternoon to stay safe. L3
Q4. Why do snakes and lizards look for sunny rocks in the morning? L4
Q5. On the same July afternoon, Shillong is 22 °C and Jaisalmer is 42 °C. Why such a big difference? L4
Assertion – Reason
Assertion (A): Birds usually have higher body temperatures than humans.
Reason (R): Birds are cold-blooded animals.
Assertion (A): Hill stations are cooler than plains in summer.
Reason (R): Temperature falls with increasing altitude.
Assertion (A): We should drink lots of water on hot days.
Reason (R): Water helps our body cool itself through sweating and keeps us from dehydration.
Frequently Asked Questions — Temperature Variation and Weather
What does the topic 'Temperature Variation and Weather' cover in Class 6 Science?
The topic 'Temperature Variation and Weather' is part of NCERT Class 6 Science Chapter 7 — Temperature and its Measurement. It covers the key ideas of temperature variation, maximum, minimum, day and night, seasons, weather, climate, explained through everyday examples, labelled diagrams and hands-on activities from the NCERT Curiosity textbook. Class 6 students learn simple definitions, see why each idea matters in daily life, and try short experiments and observations. The lesson uses easy language, colourful pictures and small questions so that young learners build a strong base for higher classes and for competency-based questions in CBSE school tests.
Why is 'Temperature Variation and Weather' important for Class 6 NCERT Science?
'Temperature Variation and Weather' is important because it builds the first ideas of science that Class 6 students will use again in Class 7, 8 and beyond. NCERT Chapter 7 — Temperature and its Measurement — introduces temperature variation and connects it to things children already see at home, at school and in nature. Learning this topic helps students ask better questions, understand simple news about science, and score well in CBSE tests that use competency-based questions. The chapter also supports NEP 2020 by encouraging curiosity, observation and learning by doing rather than only reading and memorising.
What are the key ideas students should remember from Temperature Variation and Weather?
The key ideas in 'Temperature Variation and Weather' for Class 6 Science are: temperature variation, maximum, minimum, day and night, seasons, weather, climate. Students should be able to say each term in their own words, give one or two easy examples from daily life, and draw a small labelled diagram where needed. A good way to revise is to make flashcards, write a short note in the science notebook, and solve the NCERT in-text and exercise questions of Chapter 7. Linking every idea to something seen at home or school — in the kitchen, garden, playground or sky — makes these ideas easy to remember for unit tests and the annual CBSE examination.
How is Temperature Variation and Weather taught using activities in NCERT Curiosity Class 6?
NCERT Curiosity Class 6 Science teaches 'Temperature Variation and Weather' through an inquiry-based approach using Predict–Observe–Explain activities. Students first make a guess, then try a small experiment with safe, easily available materials, and finally explain what happened and why. This matches the NEP 2020 focus on learning by doing. For Chapter 7 — Temperature and its Measurement — the textbook has hands-on tasks, labelled pictures and thinking questions built for Bloom's Taxonomy Levels 1 to 6. Teachers use these activities, along with competency-based questions (CBQs) and assertion–reason items, to check real understanding instead of only rote learning.
What real-life examples of temperature variation can Class 6 students see at home?
Class 6 students can see temperature variation at home in many simple ways linked to 'Temperature Variation and Weather'. Kitchens, school bags, playgrounds, the garden and the night sky are full of examples that match NCERT Chapter 7 — Temperature and its Measurement. For example, students can look at food labels, watch changes while cooking, try safe activities with water, magnets or shadows, and observe the Sun, Moon and weather each day. Keeping a small science diary — with the date, what was observed and a quick drawing — turns daily life into a mini science lab. These real-life links make concepts easy to remember and help in answering competency-based questions in CBSE Class 6 Science.
How does 'Temperature Variation and Weather' connect to other chapters of Class 6 Science?
'Temperature Variation and Weather' connects to many other chapters in NCERT Class 6 Science Curiosity. The ideas of temperature variation come back when students study related topics like diversity in the living world, food, magnets, measurement, materials, temperature, water, separation, habitats, natural resources and the solar system. For example, what students learn here helps them build mental pictures for later chapters and for Class 7 and Class 8 Science. Teachers often ask cross-chapter questions in CBSE exams to check if students can use what they learned in Chapter 7 — Temperature and its Measurement — in new situations. This linked approach matches the NEP 2020 and NCF 2023 focus on holistic, competency-based learning.