Family and Community-Chapter Review and Key Points Social Science Class 6 In English-CBSE Notes

Chapter 9. Family and Community

Family is the fundamental and most ancient unit of human society, while community connects families and individuals through cooperation, shared responsibilities and mutual support.

Chapter Review

Introduction

• Family is the fundamental and most ancient unit of any society.
• Almost all people live in some form of family.
• Families may have different structures and sizes.
• Joint families may include several generations living together.
• Nuclear families generally consist of a couple and their children.
• Some families may consist of one parent and children.
• Family relationships are based on love, care, cooperation and interdependence.
• Every family member has certain roles and responsibilities.
• Parents have the responsibility of raising children and helping them become responsible members of society.
• Children gradually take on responsibilities and help other members of the family.
• Children learn many family traditions and practices through everyday life.
• Indian languages have many specific terms for different family relationships.
• In many Indian languages, cousins are referred to as brothers and sisters, showing close family bonds.
• Following one's duty or dharma has been an important principle of Indian culture.
• The family acts as a school where children learn important values.
• Values such as ahimsa, dāna, sevā and tyāga are learnt within family life.
• Family members often sacrifice their own needs for the needs of the family.
• Family members support one another during financial difficulties and other challenges.
• Sharing resources is an important feature of family life.
• Grandparents can contribute to children's education, care, guidance and cultural learning.
• Family members may share household chores and responsibilities.
• Modern living has led some couples to prefer nuclear families.
• Both joint and nuclear families have their own advantages and disadvantages.
• Families are connected not only within themselves but also with people around them.
• A group of connected people may be called a community.
• Communities bring people together for festivals, feasts, weddings and other events.
• In villages, communities may cooperate in agricultural activities such as sowing and harvesting.
• Communities may develop practices for sharing natural resources such as water, grazing land and forest produce.
• Such community practices help provide secure access to shared resources.
• Community members have specific duties and responsibilities.
• Cooperation is necessary for the smooth functioning of a community.
• The Halma tradition of the Bhil community shows collective action for the benefit of people and the environment.
• Communities can work together to solve problems such as water scarcity.
• Community support is also important during natural disasters and emergencies.
• Community service can be performed without expecting anything in return.
• Communities exist in both rural and urban areas.
• Residents' Welfare Associations are examples of modern urban communities.
• Urban communities may make rules for waste management, cleanliness and common areas.
• People participate in making and following community rules.
• Communities are ultimately interdependent.
• Different communities depend on one another for goods, services and support.
• Community is a flexible concept and can have many different meanings.
• A jāti or a subdivision of it may be considered a community.
• People belonging to a particular religion, region, occupation or interest may form a community.
• Students may belong to several communities in school, such as sports, science, drama or service groups.
• Family is the foundation of human society.
• Community is a larger unit in which people support one another.
• Ultimately, both families and communities depend on cooperation and interdependence.

Important Definitions

Important Terms

• Family
• Joint Family
• Nuclear Family
• Family Relationships
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Cooperation
• Interdependence
• Dharma
• Ahimsa
• Dāna
• Sevā
• Tyāga
• Family Values
• Community
• Shared Resources
• Community Rules
• Community Support
• Halma Tradition
• Water Conservation
• Urban Community
• Residents' Welfare Association
• Social Service
• Community Participation
• Different Types of Communities

Main Concepts

• Family as the Foundation of Society – Family is the basic and oldest unit of human society.
• Types of Families – Families may be joint, nuclear or have other structures.
• Family Relationships – Indian languages often have specific words for different relationships.
• Family Responsibilities – Every member has responsibilities towards other members.
• Sharing and Cooperation – Family members cooperate and share resources during difficult situations.
• Family as a School – Children learn values, traditions and responsibilities within the family.
• Dharma – Doing one's duty is an important principle of Indian culture.
• Community – Families are connected with other families and people to form communities.
• Community Cooperation – People work together during festivals, agriculture, emergencies and other activities.
• Shared Resources – Communities may develop practices for sharing water, grazing land and forest produce.
• Community Duties – Every member has duties necessary for the smooth functioning of the community.
• Halma Tradition – The Bhil community comes together to serve people, protect the environment and conserve water.
• Community Service – People may help others without expecting payment or personal benefit.
• Urban Communities – Residents' Welfare Associations are examples of communities in urban areas.
• Community Rules – Urban communities may make rules concerning cleanliness, waste management and common facilities.
• Interdependence – Modern society depends on many people and communities for goods and services.
• Flexible Meaning of Community – A community may be based on religion, region, occupation, interest, school activities or social groups.

Joint Family and Nuclear Family

Family Values

• Love
• Care
• Cooperation
• Interdependence
• Sharing
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Service
• Sacrifice
• Helping one another
• Learning family traditions
• Supporting family members during difficulties

Community and Shared Resources

• Communities may collectively use and manage natural resources.
• Important shared resources include water, grazing lands and forest produce.
• Community practices may provide secure access to these resources.
• Such practices also create responsibilities for community members.
• Proper cooperation is necessary to prevent misuse of shared resources.

Halma Tradition

• Halma is a tradition of the Bhil community.
• It involves people coming together to support individuals, families and the community during difficult times.
• The Bhils used this tradition to address water scarcity around Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh.
• They planted thousands of trees in hundreds of villages.
• They dug trenches to conserve rainwater.
• They created water-harvesting structures.
• People participated without expecting payment.
• The objective of Halma is connected with serving Mother Earth.
• It demonstrates cooperation, community responsibility and environmental protection.

Community Support in Emergencies

• Communities often come together during natural disasters and emergencies.
• During the Chennai floods of 2015, many groups helped people affected by the disaster.
• Spiritual and religious organisations cooked and distributed food.
• Such actions demonstrate selfless service and community cooperation.
• Community support can reduce the difficulties faced by people during crises.

Urban Communities

• Community life exists in cities as well as villages.
• Urban communities may function differently from rural communities.
• Residents' Welfare Associations are examples of urban communities.
• Residents may make rules and regulations for common needs.
• These rules may concern waste management and cleanliness.
• They may also concern common areas and care of pets.
• Residents participate in making and following community rules.

Different Types of Communities

• A community may consist of people living in the same locality.
• A jāti or a subdivision of it may be called a community.
• People belonging to the same religion may form a community.
• People from the same region may form a community.
• People following the same occupation may form a community.
• People sharing a common interest may form a community.
• A school class can function as a community.
• Sports groups can form a community.
• Science or drama clubs can form communities.
• Service organisations and student groups can also form communities.

Community Interdependence

• No community can function completely independently.
• People depend on other people for different goods and services.
• Residents' Welfare Associations depend on traders for supplies.
• They may depend on municipal workers for waste management.
• Workers, traders, service providers and residents all depend on one another.
• Modern society therefore involves a high degree of interdependence.

Important Examples

• Shalini's Family – Shows family support, sharing and sacrifice.
• Tenzing's Family – Shows cooperation in household work and social responsibility.
• Bhil Community – Shows collective action through the Halma tradition.
• Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh – Example of community action for tree planting and water conservation.
• Chennai Floods, 2015 – Example of community support during a disaster.
• Kamal Parmar – Example of an individual helping underprivileged children through education.
• Residents' Welfare Associations – Example of modern urban communities.

5-Minute Revision

• ✔ Family is the foundation and most ancient unit of human society.
• ✔ Joint families may include several generations living together.
• ✔ Nuclear families generally consist of a couple and their children.
• ✔ Family relationships are based on love, care, cooperation and interdependence.
• ✔ Every family member has roles and responsibilities.
• ✔ Family teaches children values, traditions and responsibilities.
• ✔ Dharma means following one's duty.
• ✔ Ahimsa, dāna, sevā and tyāga are important values.
• ✔ A community is a group of connected people who support one another.
• ✔ Communities cooperate during festivals, agriculture and emergencies.
• ✔ Communities may share natural resources such as water, grazing land and forest produce.
• ✔ Halma is a Bhil tradition of collective service and cooperation.
• ✔ Community action can help conserve water and protect the environment.
• ✔ Residents' Welfare Associations are examples of urban communities.
• ✔ Communities can be based on religion, region, occupation or common interests.
• ✔ Modern communities are ultimately interdependent.

Exam Booster

• Learn the definition and importance of family.
• Understand the difference between joint family and nuclear family.
• Remember the major roles and responsibilities of family members.
• Learn the meaning and importance of dharma, ahimsa, dāna, sevā and tyāga.
• Understand how family acts as a school of values and traditions.
• Learn the definition and different meanings of community.
• Understand the importance of community cooperation and shared resources.
• Remember the Halma tradition of the Bhil community.
• Learn how communities can help in water conservation and environmental protection.
• Remember the example of community support during the Chennai floods of 2015.
• Understand the role of Residents' Welfare Associations in urban areas.
• Learn why communities are described as interdependent.
• Prepare examples of communities based on religion, region, occupation and common interests.
• Remember that family is the foundation of human society and community is a larger unit based on mutual support.

All Topics Chapter Family and Community

• 1. Chapter Review and Key Points
• 2. Family
• 3. Community
• 4. Assignments - What Have You Learned?