NCERT Textbook: Methods of Separation in Everyday Life | Science Class 6 PDF Download

 Page 1


Malli and his sister Valli are excited for their summer 
vacations. Their parents have planned a trip to visit their 
relatives and friends living across India. They always stay 
in touch with their relatives and friends. Do you also keep 
in touch with your loved ones?
Their first halt is at their Nani’s (maternal grandmother’s) 
house in Haryana. It is surrounded by large fields. Malli 
and Valli are fascinated by the variety of grains piled up 
in the courtyard. Their Mami (maternal aunt) and Mama 
(maternal uncle), along with other community members, 
are busy separating small stones and husk from the grains 
with their hands. 
Methods of Separation  
in Everyday Life
9
Chapter
???
? ??? ????? ???? ?
?? ?
???? ? 
 
??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??
 —????
 Just like winnowing makes the husk blow away 
while retaining the grains, similarly, sages let 
the virtues stay while discarding the vices.
—Kabir
Malli and Valli are curious to know why this is being 
done. Their Nani notices their curiosity and explains, “We are 
removing these stones so that the grains are fit for cooking.”
Chapter 9.indd   163 09-07-2024   12:11:51
Page 2


Malli and his sister Valli are excited for their summer 
vacations. Their parents have planned a trip to visit their 
relatives and friends living across India. They always stay 
in touch with their relatives and friends. Do you also keep 
in touch with your loved ones?
Their first halt is at their Nani’s (maternal grandmother’s) 
house in Haryana. It is surrounded by large fields. Malli 
and Valli are fascinated by the variety of grains piled up 
in the courtyard. Their Mami (maternal aunt) and Mama 
(maternal uncle), along with other community members, 
are busy separating small stones and husk from the grains 
with their hands. 
Methods of Separation  
in Everyday Life
9
Chapter
???
? ??? ????? ???? ?
?? ?
???? ? 
 
??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??
 —????
 Just like winnowing makes the husk blow away 
while retaining the grains, similarly, sages let 
the virtues stay while discarding the vices.
—Kabir
Malli and Valli are curious to know why this is being 
done. Their Nani notices their curiosity and explains, “We are 
removing these stones so that the grains are fit for cooking.”
Chapter 9.indd   163 09-07-2024   12:11:51
Fig. 9.1: Handpicking   
Fig. 9.2: Threshing   
Curiosity | Textbook of Science | Grade 6
164
They go around the house to see the fields and the 
cattle. To keep them busy, Nani gives them a challenge of 
handpicking small stones from grains while keeping their 
eyes closed.
The method of picking by hand from a mixture (when 
two or more substances are mixed) such as small stones and 
husk from wheat and rice is called handpicking. It is done 
on the basis of differences in size, colour and 
shape of the particles. If the particles to be 
removed are present in small quantities and 
can easily be picked by hand, handpicking 
proves to be a convenient method.   
At lunch, Malli and Valli are served 
steaming hot vegetable pulao. While 
eating the pulao, Nani observes that 
Malli is separating whole black peppers 
from the pulao and is placing them  
aside on his plate (Fig. 9.1). Valli playfully teases, 
“Wow! This is a handpicking method, nice one!” 
Nani tells them about the benefits of black pepper and 
encourages Malli to eat it. 
Later in the day, their Mama takes them to the fields 
where they observe bundles of harvested wheat 
stalks lying in the fields. Some stalks are 
spread in the sun for drying. Both of them 
pick up a stalk each and notice numerous 
grains attached to it. A group of farmers are 
beating the stalks on a large wooden log. 
Curiously, Valli asks Mama, “Why are they 
doing this?” 
Mama explains, “They are beating the 
stalks to separate the grains” (Fig. 9.2). This 
process of separating grains from the stalks 
is known as threshing. Farmers 
work hard, yet they enjoy their 
work. From time to time, they sing folk songs 
while working. 
Explore folk songs of your region and try to 
sing along with your friends.
Have fun 
while 
you learn
Chapter 9.indd   164 08-07-2024   17:46:55
Page 3


Malli and his sister Valli are excited for their summer 
vacations. Their parents have planned a trip to visit their 
relatives and friends living across India. They always stay 
in touch with their relatives and friends. Do you also keep 
in touch with your loved ones?
Their first halt is at their Nani’s (maternal grandmother’s) 
house in Haryana. It is surrounded by large fields. Malli 
and Valli are fascinated by the variety of grains piled up 
in the courtyard. Their Mami (maternal aunt) and Mama 
(maternal uncle), along with other community members, 
are busy separating small stones and husk from the grains 
with their hands. 
Methods of Separation  
in Everyday Life
9
Chapter
???
? ??? ????? ???? ?
?? ?
???? ? 
 
??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??
 —????
 Just like winnowing makes the husk blow away 
while retaining the grains, similarly, sages let 
the virtues stay while discarding the vices.
—Kabir
Malli and Valli are curious to know why this is being 
done. Their Nani notices their curiosity and explains, “We are 
removing these stones so that the grains are fit for cooking.”
Chapter 9.indd   163 09-07-2024   12:11:51
Fig. 9.1: Handpicking   
Fig. 9.2: Threshing   
Curiosity | Textbook of Science | Grade 6
164
They go around the house to see the fields and the 
cattle. To keep them busy, Nani gives them a challenge of 
handpicking small stones from grains while keeping their 
eyes closed.
The method of picking by hand from a mixture (when 
two or more substances are mixed) such as small stones and 
husk from wheat and rice is called handpicking. It is done 
on the basis of differences in size, colour and 
shape of the particles. If the particles to be 
removed are present in small quantities and 
can easily be picked by hand, handpicking 
proves to be a convenient method.   
At lunch, Malli and Valli are served 
steaming hot vegetable pulao. While 
eating the pulao, Nani observes that 
Malli is separating whole black peppers 
from the pulao and is placing them  
aside on his plate (Fig. 9.1). Valli playfully teases, 
“Wow! This is a handpicking method, nice one!” 
Nani tells them about the benefits of black pepper and 
encourages Malli to eat it. 
Later in the day, their Mama takes them to the fields 
where they observe bundles of harvested wheat 
stalks lying in the fields. Some stalks are 
spread in the sun for drying. Both of them 
pick up a stalk each and notice numerous 
grains attached to it. A group of farmers are 
beating the stalks on a large wooden log. 
Curiously, Valli asks Mama, “Why are they 
doing this?” 
Mama explains, “They are beating the 
stalks to separate the grains” (Fig. 9.2). This 
process of separating grains from the stalks 
is known as threshing. Farmers 
work hard, yet they enjoy their 
work. From time to time, they sing folk songs 
while working. 
Explore folk songs of your region and try to 
sing along with your friends.
Have fun 
while 
you learn
Chapter 9.indd   164 08-07-2024   17:46:55
Fig. 9.3: Bamboo tray
Methods of Separation  
in Everyday Life
165
The separated grains get mixed with 
piles of husk.
Valli whispers to Malli, “Will the farmers 
handpick the grains to remove them from 
so much husk?” She wonders, “How much 
time will the farmers take to separate 
these?”
Let us perform an activity to find out 
the answer to the questions raised by Valli.
Activity 9.1: Let us explore 
 ? Take a handful of roasted peanuts and rub them 
between your palms. What happens? 
 ? Is it possible to separate the removed skin and the 
peanuts?
 ? Now, try blowing it. What do you observe?
Which of these components—removed peanut skins or 
peanuts are blown away?
You observe that blowing air separates the heavier and 
the lighter components.
How do you think farmers separate so many grains 
from husk? 
Traditionally, a soop (bamboo tray) is used for separating 
heavier and lighter components of a mixture (Fig. 9.3). 
Next day, their Nana takes 
them to the fields to show 
this process at work.
Malli and Valli observe a 
farmer standing on a raised 
platform. The farmer is 
moving the bamboo tray 
which contains threshed 
wheat grains in the direction 
of air or wind (Fig. 9.4).
What do you infer from Fig. 9.4? Do both the components, 
wheat grains and husk, fall at the same place? Which of the 
two components get blown away? Can the wind separate 
the two components? 
A small amount of 
puffed rice is mixed 
with chana dal. 
?
Can you think of 
separating the mixture 
by any method other 
than handpicking?
Chapter 9.indd   165 08-07-2024   17:46:55
Page 4


Malli and his sister Valli are excited for their summer 
vacations. Their parents have planned a trip to visit their 
relatives and friends living across India. They always stay 
in touch with their relatives and friends. Do you also keep 
in touch with your loved ones?
Their first halt is at their Nani’s (maternal grandmother’s) 
house in Haryana. It is surrounded by large fields. Malli 
and Valli are fascinated by the variety of grains piled up 
in the courtyard. Their Mami (maternal aunt) and Mama 
(maternal uncle), along with other community members, 
are busy separating small stones and husk from the grains 
with their hands. 
Methods of Separation  
in Everyday Life
9
Chapter
???
? ??? ????? ???? ?
?? ?
???? ? 
 
??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??
 —????
 Just like winnowing makes the husk blow away 
while retaining the grains, similarly, sages let 
the virtues stay while discarding the vices.
—Kabir
Malli and Valli are curious to know why this is being 
done. Their Nani notices their curiosity and explains, “We are 
removing these stones so that the grains are fit for cooking.”
Chapter 9.indd   163 09-07-2024   12:11:51
Fig. 9.1: Handpicking   
Fig. 9.2: Threshing   
Curiosity | Textbook of Science | Grade 6
164
They go around the house to see the fields and the 
cattle. To keep them busy, Nani gives them a challenge of 
handpicking small stones from grains while keeping their 
eyes closed.
The method of picking by hand from a mixture (when 
two or more substances are mixed) such as small stones and 
husk from wheat and rice is called handpicking. It is done 
on the basis of differences in size, colour and 
shape of the particles. If the particles to be 
removed are present in small quantities and 
can easily be picked by hand, handpicking 
proves to be a convenient method.   
At lunch, Malli and Valli are served 
steaming hot vegetable pulao. While 
eating the pulao, Nani observes that 
Malli is separating whole black peppers 
from the pulao and is placing them  
aside on his plate (Fig. 9.1). Valli playfully teases, 
“Wow! This is a handpicking method, nice one!” 
Nani tells them about the benefits of black pepper and 
encourages Malli to eat it. 
Later in the day, their Mama takes them to the fields 
where they observe bundles of harvested wheat 
stalks lying in the fields. Some stalks are 
spread in the sun for drying. Both of them 
pick up a stalk each and notice numerous 
grains attached to it. A group of farmers are 
beating the stalks on a large wooden log. 
Curiously, Valli asks Mama, “Why are they 
doing this?” 
Mama explains, “They are beating the 
stalks to separate the grains” (Fig. 9.2). This 
process of separating grains from the stalks 
is known as threshing. Farmers 
work hard, yet they enjoy their 
work. From time to time, they sing folk songs 
while working. 
Explore folk songs of your region and try to 
sing along with your friends.
Have fun 
while 
you learn
Chapter 9.indd   164 08-07-2024   17:46:55
Fig. 9.3: Bamboo tray
Methods of Separation  
in Everyday Life
165
The separated grains get mixed with 
piles of husk.
Valli whispers to Malli, “Will the farmers 
handpick the grains to remove them from 
so much husk?” She wonders, “How much 
time will the farmers take to separate 
these?”
Let us perform an activity to find out 
the answer to the questions raised by Valli.
Activity 9.1: Let us explore 
 ? Take a handful of roasted peanuts and rub them 
between your palms. What happens? 
 ? Is it possible to separate the removed skin and the 
peanuts?
 ? Now, try blowing it. What do you observe?
Which of these components—removed peanut skins or 
peanuts are blown away?
You observe that blowing air separates the heavier and 
the lighter components.
How do you think farmers separate so many grains 
from husk? 
Traditionally, a soop (bamboo tray) is used for separating 
heavier and lighter components of a mixture (Fig. 9.3). 
Next day, their Nana takes 
them to the fields to show 
this process at work.
Malli and Valli observe a 
farmer standing on a raised 
platform. The farmer is 
moving the bamboo tray 
which contains threshed 
wheat grains in the direction 
of air or wind (Fig. 9.4).
What do you infer from Fig. 9.4? Do both the components, 
wheat grains and husk, fall at the same place? Which of the 
two components get blown away? Can the wind separate 
the two components? 
A small amount of 
puffed rice is mixed 
with chana dal. 
?
Can you think of 
separating the mixture 
by any method other 
than handpicking?
Chapter 9.indd   165 08-07-2024   17:46:55
Curiosity | Textbook of Science | Grade 6
166
Valli is unable to 
separate husk 
from rice in a 
closed room. How 
can you help her?
?
This method of separating heavier and lighter 
components of a mixture by wind or by blowing 
air is called winnowing. Have you seen any 
similar kind of activity being done at your home? 
Soop (bamboo tray)
Husk
Grains
Fig. 9.4: Winnowing
Direction of air or wind
Technological developments have 
resulted in developing of threshing 
machines called threshers. These 
More to 
know!
Next day, Malli and Valli board a train to Ahmedabad to 
visit their father’s friend Ghanshyam bhai. Before leaving, 
Valli requests her Mami to prepare meethi puri (sweet Indian 
bread made from wheat flour) for their journey.
Valli: Shall I help you knead the wheat flour?
Mami: To prepare a dish with flour, first we need to 
remove bran that may be present in the flour.
Valli: How do we do it? 
machines are used for separating 
grains from the stalks and husk. They 
perform both the tasks of threshing and 
winnowing simultaneously. 
Chapter 9.indd   166 10-07-2024   10:49:00
Page 5


Malli and his sister Valli are excited for their summer 
vacations. Their parents have planned a trip to visit their 
relatives and friends living across India. They always stay 
in touch with their relatives and friends. Do you also keep 
in touch with your loved ones?
Their first halt is at their Nani’s (maternal grandmother’s) 
house in Haryana. It is surrounded by large fields. Malli 
and Valli are fascinated by the variety of grains piled up 
in the courtyard. Their Mami (maternal aunt) and Mama 
(maternal uncle), along with other community members, 
are busy separating small stones and husk from the grains 
with their hands. 
Methods of Separation  
in Everyday Life
9
Chapter
???
? ??? ????? ???? ?
?? ?
???? ? 
 
??? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??
 —????
 Just like winnowing makes the husk blow away 
while retaining the grains, similarly, sages let 
the virtues stay while discarding the vices.
—Kabir
Malli and Valli are curious to know why this is being 
done. Their Nani notices their curiosity and explains, “We are 
removing these stones so that the grains are fit for cooking.”
Chapter 9.indd   163 09-07-2024   12:11:51
Fig. 9.1: Handpicking   
Fig. 9.2: Threshing   
Curiosity | Textbook of Science | Grade 6
164
They go around the house to see the fields and the 
cattle. To keep them busy, Nani gives them a challenge of 
handpicking small stones from grains while keeping their 
eyes closed.
The method of picking by hand from a mixture (when 
two or more substances are mixed) such as small stones and 
husk from wheat and rice is called handpicking. It is done 
on the basis of differences in size, colour and 
shape of the particles. If the particles to be 
removed are present in small quantities and 
can easily be picked by hand, handpicking 
proves to be a convenient method.   
At lunch, Malli and Valli are served 
steaming hot vegetable pulao. While 
eating the pulao, Nani observes that 
Malli is separating whole black peppers 
from the pulao and is placing them  
aside on his plate (Fig. 9.1). Valli playfully teases, 
“Wow! This is a handpicking method, nice one!” 
Nani tells them about the benefits of black pepper and 
encourages Malli to eat it. 
Later in the day, their Mama takes them to the fields 
where they observe bundles of harvested wheat 
stalks lying in the fields. Some stalks are 
spread in the sun for drying. Both of them 
pick up a stalk each and notice numerous 
grains attached to it. A group of farmers are 
beating the stalks on a large wooden log. 
Curiously, Valli asks Mama, “Why are they 
doing this?” 
Mama explains, “They are beating the 
stalks to separate the grains” (Fig. 9.2). This 
process of separating grains from the stalks 
is known as threshing. Farmers 
work hard, yet they enjoy their 
work. From time to time, they sing folk songs 
while working. 
Explore folk songs of your region and try to 
sing along with your friends.
Have fun 
while 
you learn
Chapter 9.indd   164 08-07-2024   17:46:55
Fig. 9.3: Bamboo tray
Methods of Separation  
in Everyday Life
165
The separated grains get mixed with 
piles of husk.
Valli whispers to Malli, “Will the farmers 
handpick the grains to remove them from 
so much husk?” She wonders, “How much 
time will the farmers take to separate 
these?”
Let us perform an activity to find out 
the answer to the questions raised by Valli.
Activity 9.1: Let us explore 
 ? Take a handful of roasted peanuts and rub them 
between your palms. What happens? 
 ? Is it possible to separate the removed skin and the 
peanuts?
 ? Now, try blowing it. What do you observe?
Which of these components—removed peanut skins or 
peanuts are blown away?
You observe that blowing air separates the heavier and 
the lighter components.
How do you think farmers separate so many grains 
from husk? 
Traditionally, a soop (bamboo tray) is used for separating 
heavier and lighter components of a mixture (Fig. 9.3). 
Next day, their Nana takes 
them to the fields to show 
this process at work.
Malli and Valli observe a 
farmer standing on a raised 
platform. The farmer is 
moving the bamboo tray 
which contains threshed 
wheat grains in the direction 
of air or wind (Fig. 9.4).
What do you infer from Fig. 9.4? Do both the components, 
wheat grains and husk, fall at the same place? Which of the 
two components get blown away? Can the wind separate 
the two components? 
A small amount of 
puffed rice is mixed 
with chana dal. 
?
Can you think of 
separating the mixture 
by any method other 
than handpicking?
Chapter 9.indd   165 08-07-2024   17:46:55
Curiosity | Textbook of Science | Grade 6
166
Valli is unable to 
separate husk 
from rice in a 
closed room. How 
can you help her?
?
This method of separating heavier and lighter 
components of a mixture by wind or by blowing 
air is called winnowing. Have you seen any 
similar kind of activity being done at your home? 
Soop (bamboo tray)
Husk
Grains
Fig. 9.4: Winnowing
Direction of air or wind
Technological developments have 
resulted in developing of threshing 
machines called threshers. These 
More to 
know!
Next day, Malli and Valli board a train to Ahmedabad to 
visit their father’s friend Ghanshyam bhai. Before leaving, 
Valli requests her Mami to prepare meethi puri (sweet Indian 
bread made from wheat flour) for their journey.
Valli: Shall I help you knead the wheat flour?
Mami: To prepare a dish with flour, first we need to 
remove bran that may be present in the flour.
Valli: How do we do it? 
machines are used for separating 
grains from the stalks and husk. They 
perform both the tasks of threshing and 
winnowing simultaneously. 
Chapter 9.indd   166 10-07-2024   10:49:00
Fig. 9.5: Sieving
Methods of Separation  
in Everyday Life
167
Mami: We use a sieve for this purpose.
Sieving allows the fine flour particles to 
pass through the holes of the sieve as shown 
in Fig. 9.5. The bigger particles such as bran 
and small stones remain on the sieve. 
Carefully observe a sieve. Are all 
the holes of the sieve the same size? 
Will sieving work if the holes of the 
sieve are larger than the substances? 
Is there any difference in the size between 
the particles that pass through the sieve 
and the particles that remain on the sieve?  
Sieving is used when components of a 
solid–solid mixture have different sizes.
Upon reaching Ahmedabad, they visit 
Sabarmati Ashram along with Ghanshyam 
bhai where they learn about the Namak 
Satyagrah (Dandi March).
Malli asks, “Where is namak (common salt) obtained 
from?”
“From seawater”, replies 
Ghanshyam bhai. 
Seawater is a mixture 
of salts and some other 
substances dissolved in 
water. To obtain salt, 
the seawater is kept in 
shallow pits and exposed 
to sunlight and air. In 
a few days, the water 
Fig. 9.6: Obtaining salt from seawater
Have you ever observed 
sieves being used at 
construction sites to 
separate pebbles and 
stones from the sand?
?
What is Sabarmati Ashram famous for?
Draw a poster showing Dandi March and 
discuss why it was organised.
More to 
do!
Chapter 9.indd   167 09-07-2024   14:44:47