NCERT Textbook: Neem Baba | English Class 6 (Honeysuckle) PDF Download

 Page 1


Neem Ba Ba 
Let us do these activities before we read.
 1. A tree is useful to us in many ways. Mention some of these uses. Write 
them in the picture given below.
NURTURING NATURE
UNit 3
	 2.	 Neem 	is	a	common 	tree	in	our 	country. 	Discuss	in	groups 	of	four 	and	fill 	
Columns A and B with what you know about the neem tree and what you 
want to know.
Column A 
What do you know?
Column B
 What do you want to know?
•	 •	 
•	 •	 
•	 •	 
•	 •	 
Some parts of 
trees are used 
in preparing 
medicines 
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
Unit 3.indd   75 13-Jun-24   10:57:41 AM
Page 2


Neem Ba Ba 
Let us do these activities before we read.
 1. A tree is useful to us in many ways. Mention some of these uses. Write 
them in the picture given below.
NURTURING NATURE
UNit 3
	 2.	 Neem 	is	a	common 	tree	in	our 	country. 	Discuss	in	groups 	of	four 	and	fill 	
Columns A and B with what you know about the neem tree and what you 
want to know.
Column A 
What do you know?
Column B
 What do you want to know?
•	 •	 
•	 •	 
•	 •	 
•	 •	 
Some parts of 
trees are used 
in preparing 
medicines 
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
Unit 3.indd   75 13-Jun-24   10:57:41 AM
76
Poorvi—Grade 6
 Let us read
Amber returned from 
school and sat down in 
the shade of the neem 
tree in her courtyard. 
She felt that the tree 
was whispering to her. 
She looked at the tree 
and spoke to the tree.
I
Amber : Namaste! I am Amber. I would like to talk to you. 
May I?
Neem Baba : Sure, dear Amber. I know you. You played in my 
shade in your childhood. You may call me ‘Neem 
Baba’.
Amber : I have seen you almost everywhere. Please tell me 
something more about yourself.
Neem Baba : I am very old. I was born millions of years ago 
somewhere in North India or Myanmar. Soon, my 
family spread outside India.
Amber : Outside India? Where else can neem be found? 
Neem Baba : My family can be found in many Asian and African 
countries and even in some parts of America.
Amber : That’s wonderful! Who gave you your name? 
Unit 3.indd   76 13-Jun-24   10:57:42 AM
Page 3


Neem Ba Ba 
Let us do these activities before we read.
 1. A tree is useful to us in many ways. Mention some of these uses. Write 
them in the picture given below.
NURTURING NATURE
UNit 3
	 2.	 Neem 	is	a	common 	tree	in	our 	country. 	Discuss	in	groups 	of	four 	and	fill 	
Columns A and B with what you know about the neem tree and what you 
want to know.
Column A 
What do you know?
Column B
 What do you want to know?
•	 •	 
•	 •	 
•	 •	 
•	 •	 
Some parts of 
trees are used 
in preparing 
medicines 
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
Unit 3.indd   75 13-Jun-24   10:57:41 AM
76
Poorvi—Grade 6
 Let us read
Amber returned from 
school and sat down in 
the shade of the neem 
tree in her courtyard. 
She felt that the tree 
was whispering to her. 
She looked at the tree 
and spoke to the tree.
I
Amber : Namaste! I am Amber. I would like to talk to you. 
May I?
Neem Baba : Sure, dear Amber. I know you. You played in my 
shade in your childhood. You may call me ‘Neem 
Baba’.
Amber : I have seen you almost everywhere. Please tell me 
something more about yourself.
Neem Baba : I am very old. I was born millions of years ago 
somewhere in North India or Myanmar. Soon, my 
family spread outside India.
Amber : Outside India? Where else can neem be found? 
Neem Baba : My family can be found in many Asian and African 
countries and even in some parts of America.
Amber : That’s wonderful! Who gave you your name? 
Unit 3.indd   76 13-Jun-24   10:57:42 AM
Nurturing Nature
Neem Baba : The story of my name is very 
thought-provoking. I was born 
in India and given Sanskrit 
names such as Arishta (the one 
who cures diseases), Nimba and 
Nimbaca. The name ‘Neem’ is 
given by the Iranians.
Amber : Really?
Neem Baba : Yes, in Hindi, my name is Nimb. In 
India, I have other names—Nim, 
Leemba, Nimori, Nimbamond, 
Nimbe and Nimo. 
Amber : You are so well known! That is 
wonderful.
Neem Baba : Dear Amber, we become well 
known for what we do. People 
find 	 us	 useful	 and	 that	 is	 why	
they know us. Scientists call us 
‘bitter grace of God’, ‘nature’s gift 
to man’, and ‘cleanliness-parting 
tree’. Some even call us ‘magic 
tree’ and ‘the tree of the twentieth 
century’.
thought-
provoking: 
interesting
grace: blessing
77
Let us discuss
  Amber found many facts about the neem tree from Neem Baba. Fill up 
the fact sheet based on what Neem Baba told her.
Unit 3.indd   77 13-Jun-24   10:57:42 AM
Page 4


Neem Ba Ba 
Let us do these activities before we read.
 1. A tree is useful to us in many ways. Mention some of these uses. Write 
them in the picture given below.
NURTURING NATURE
UNit 3
	 2.	 Neem 	is	a	common 	tree	in	our 	country. 	Discuss	in	groups 	of	four 	and	fill 	
Columns A and B with what you know about the neem tree and what you 
want to know.
Column A 
What do you know?
Column B
 What do you want to know?
•	 •	 
•	 •	 
•	 •	 
•	 •	 
Some parts of 
trees are used 
in preparing 
medicines 
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
Unit 3.indd   75 13-Jun-24   10:57:41 AM
76
Poorvi—Grade 6
 Let us read
Amber returned from 
school and sat down in 
the shade of the neem 
tree in her courtyard. 
She felt that the tree 
was whispering to her. 
She looked at the tree 
and spoke to the tree.
I
Amber : Namaste! I am Amber. I would like to talk to you. 
May I?
Neem Baba : Sure, dear Amber. I know you. You played in my 
shade in your childhood. You may call me ‘Neem 
Baba’.
Amber : I have seen you almost everywhere. Please tell me 
something more about yourself.
Neem Baba : I am very old. I was born millions of years ago 
somewhere in North India or Myanmar. Soon, my 
family spread outside India.
Amber : Outside India? Where else can neem be found? 
Neem Baba : My family can be found in many Asian and African 
countries and even in some parts of America.
Amber : That’s wonderful! Who gave you your name? 
Unit 3.indd   76 13-Jun-24   10:57:42 AM
Nurturing Nature
Neem Baba : The story of my name is very 
thought-provoking. I was born 
in India and given Sanskrit 
names such as Arishta (the one 
who cures diseases), Nimba and 
Nimbaca. The name ‘Neem’ is 
given by the Iranians.
Amber : Really?
Neem Baba : Yes, in Hindi, my name is Nimb. In 
India, I have other names—Nim, 
Leemba, Nimori, Nimbamond, 
Nimbe and Nimo. 
Amber : You are so well known! That is 
wonderful.
Neem Baba : Dear Amber, we become well 
known for what we do. People 
find 	 us	 useful	 and	 that	 is	 why	
they know us. Scientists call us 
‘bitter grace of God’, ‘nature’s gift 
to man’, and ‘cleanliness-parting 
tree’. Some even call us ‘magic 
tree’ and ‘the tree of the twentieth 
century’.
thought-
provoking: 
interesting
grace: blessing
77
Let us discuss
  Amber found many facts about the neem tree from Neem Baba. Fill up 
the fact sheet based on what Neem Baba told her.
Unit 3.indd   77 13-Jun-24   10:57:42 AM
78
Poorvi—Grade 6
LET US KNOW OUR NEEM 
Common name: Given by:
Period of birth: 
Born at: 
Found in:  
Common names:
Names given by scientists: 1. 2.
Names given by others: 1. 2.
II
Amber : I know that people clean teeth 
with your twigs and protect 
clothes with your leaves. 
Sometime back, when my brother 
had measles, the doctor told us to 
put neem leaves on his bed and 
make him lie down on them. Can 
you explain why?
Neem Baba : The doctors know that neem 
leaves have chemical properties 
that destroy germs. Measles 
cause itching all over the body. 
Neem leaves give comfort and do 
not allow germs to breed. Neem 
leaves,	 bark,	 flowers, 	 fruits	 and	
even roots can be used to make 
medicines to cure many diseases. 
twigs: small thin 
branches
measles: disease 
with fever and 
red spots on skin
itching: feeling 
the need to 
scratch
breed: grow
Unit 3.indd   78 13-Jun-24   10:57:42 AM
Page 5


Neem Ba Ba 
Let us do these activities before we read.
 1. A tree is useful to us in many ways. Mention some of these uses. Write 
them in the picture given below.
NURTURING NATURE
UNit 3
	 2.	 Neem 	is	a	common 	tree	in	our 	country. 	Discuss	in	groups 	of	four 	and	fill 	
Columns A and B with what you know about the neem tree and what you 
want to know.
Column A 
What do you know?
Column B
 What do you want to know?
•	 •	 
•	 •	 
•	 •	 
•	 •	 
Some parts of 
trees are used 
in preparing 
medicines 
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
.........................
Unit 3.indd   75 13-Jun-24   10:57:41 AM
76
Poorvi—Grade 6
 Let us read
Amber returned from 
school and sat down in 
the shade of the neem 
tree in her courtyard. 
She felt that the tree 
was whispering to her. 
She looked at the tree 
and spoke to the tree.
I
Amber : Namaste! I am Amber. I would like to talk to you. 
May I?
Neem Baba : Sure, dear Amber. I know you. You played in my 
shade in your childhood. You may call me ‘Neem 
Baba’.
Amber : I have seen you almost everywhere. Please tell me 
something more about yourself.
Neem Baba : I am very old. I was born millions of years ago 
somewhere in North India or Myanmar. Soon, my 
family spread outside India.
Amber : Outside India? Where else can neem be found? 
Neem Baba : My family can be found in many Asian and African 
countries and even in some parts of America.
Amber : That’s wonderful! Who gave you your name? 
Unit 3.indd   76 13-Jun-24   10:57:42 AM
Nurturing Nature
Neem Baba : The story of my name is very 
thought-provoking. I was born 
in India and given Sanskrit 
names such as Arishta (the one 
who cures diseases), Nimba and 
Nimbaca. The name ‘Neem’ is 
given by the Iranians.
Amber : Really?
Neem Baba : Yes, in Hindi, my name is Nimb. In 
India, I have other names—Nim, 
Leemba, Nimori, Nimbamond, 
Nimbe and Nimo. 
Amber : You are so well known! That is 
wonderful.
Neem Baba : Dear Amber, we become well 
known for what we do. People 
find 	 us	 useful	 and	 that	 is	 why	
they know us. Scientists call us 
‘bitter grace of God’, ‘nature’s gift 
to man’, and ‘cleanliness-parting 
tree’. Some even call us ‘magic 
tree’ and ‘the tree of the twentieth 
century’.
thought-
provoking: 
interesting
grace: blessing
77
Let us discuss
  Amber found many facts about the neem tree from Neem Baba. Fill up 
the fact sheet based on what Neem Baba told her.
Unit 3.indd   77 13-Jun-24   10:57:42 AM
78
Poorvi—Grade 6
LET US KNOW OUR NEEM 
Common name: Given by:
Period of birth: 
Born at: 
Found in:  
Common names:
Names given by scientists: 1. 2.
Names given by others: 1. 2.
II
Amber : I know that people clean teeth 
with your twigs and protect 
clothes with your leaves. 
Sometime back, when my brother 
had measles, the doctor told us to 
put neem leaves on his bed and 
make him lie down on them. Can 
you explain why?
Neem Baba : The doctors know that neem 
leaves have chemical properties 
that destroy germs. Measles 
cause itching all over the body. 
Neem leaves give comfort and do 
not allow germs to breed. Neem 
leaves,	 bark,	 flowers, 	 fruits	 and	
even roots can be used to make 
medicines to cure many diseases. 
twigs: small thin 
branches
measles: disease 
with fever and 
red spots on skin
itching: feeling 
the need to 
scratch
breed: grow
Unit 3.indd   78 13-Jun-24   10:57:42 AM
Nurturing Nature
Amber : Yes, I once had a cough and I 
could not breathe properly. My 
grandmother cured me with a 
medicine made from neem bark. 
And when my father had itching 
in the eyes, she prepared a kajal 
from	neem 	flowers, 	which	cured	
him. 
Neem Baba : Oh, little Amber, you know so 
much. Remember , these remedies 
are to be used only by people who 
are well trained and have a lot of 
experience. 
Amber : Yes, I will. Tell me Neem Baba, 
is there any use of neem for the 
farmers? 
Neem Baba : Yes. If the powder of neem seeds 
is mixed in water and sprayed 
on plants and trees, then locusts 
don’t eat them. If it is used in 
rice	fields, 	where	water	remains	
standing, it stops mosquito 
breeding and helps to increase 
crop yield. It also saves the crop 
from termites, which eat roots 
of the crop, and it also stops 
breeding of other insects that eat 
crops. 
Amber : That means, if we put the powder 
of neem seeds in stagnant water 
around our homes, mosquitoes 
locusts:	flying 	
insects that 
damage crops
79
termites: insects 
that damage 
wood and 
buildings
stagnant: not 
flowing
Unit 3.indd   79 13-Jun-24   10:57:42 AM