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Revision Notes

Class 5

Chapter 14 When The Earth Shook

When The Earth Shook Class 5 EVS Chapter 14 CBSE Notes - 2025-26

Q: 2. How do these revision notes summarise the main cause of an earthquake?

These notes explain that an earthquake is the sudden shaking of the ground. The chapter 'When the Earth Shook' describes this as powerful vibrations that travel through the Earth. When these vibrations are very strong, they can cause buildings to crack and collapse.

Q: 4. What are the most important terms to remember from Chapter 14, 'When the Earth Shook'?

For a quick summary, focus on these key terms: earthquake (the shaking of the ground), vibrations (the movements that cause damage), and natural disaster (a sudden event like an earthquake that causes great harm). Understanding these terms is essential for revising the chapter's main points.

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Class 5 EVS Chapter 14 Summary Notes PDF Download

Chapter 14 of the Class 5 EVS syllabus explains the horror of an earthquake etched in a child’s mind. It explains what happens when a devastating earthquake hits an area. Houses and buildings break down and people are injured severely. Many people die as they cannot escape the rumbles of the houses. It also explains how houses in earthquake-prone areas should be built to avoid damage. To understand When the Earth Shook! summary, refer to the notes prepared by the subject experts.

These When the Earth Shook! revision notes are the ideal means to complete preparing this chapter. You will find understanding the context much easier from the simpler explanation given by the experts.

Class 5 EVS Revision Notes - Chapter-wise List

The class 5 EVS notes will help students prepare better for their examinations. They are prepared by experts and are in accordance with the latest CBSE syllabus and guidelines.

CBSE Class 5 EVS - Chapter-wise Solutions
Super Senses	What If It Finishes
A Snake Charmers Story	A Shelter So High
From Tasting To Digesting	When The Earth Shook
Mangoes Round The Year	Blow Hot Blow Cold
Seeds And Seeds	Who Will Do This Work
Every Drop Counts	Across The Wall
Experiments With Water	No Place For Us
A Treat For Mosquitoes	A Seed Tells A Farmers Story
Up You Go	Whose Forests
Walls Tell Stories	Like Father Like Daughter
Sunita In Space	On The Move Again

Access Class 5 Environmental Science Chapter 14: When the Earth Shook

Summary of When the Earth Shook

An earthquake is a natural calamity.
The shaking of the earth causes earthquakes.
On 26 January 2001, an earthquake affected the Kutch area known as Bhuj in Gujarat.
Several buildings got demolished and a lot of lives were affected.
The government, many organizations, and people from other cities donated food, medicines, and clothes.
In the case of a natural calamity, people extend a helping hand. Because of this, humans live together in communities.
The people of the village worked together to rebuild their village. They built huts with a mixture of clay and cow dung cakes which were earthquake resistant.
No rain cause drought and scarcity of food causes famine.

A Bad Dream

Jasma was 11 years old when the earthquake took place on 26 January 2001 in the Kutch area of Gujarat.

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All the people of the village were gathered on the ground of the school to watch the parade on TV
All the people were in panic when the earth was shaking, within a few mins, the village was destroyed.
Everything such as food, clothes, grains, and pots, all were buried under the ruins of the fallen houses.
The hospital was also destroyed.
Jasma’s leg got fractured.
Six people died that day.
The people had only one thing in mind, to treat the people who are injured and save the people who were trapped under the ruins.
Jasma’s grandfather was also trapped under the ruins of their house.
All the people took shelter in the house of the sarpanch(Motabapu), as his house was not much damaged.
The sarpanch provided them with food supplies and a place to stay and cook food for everyone.
The village women cooked food together at Motabapu’s house and fed everyone.

Help Arrives

After some days after the earthquake, people from different cities started coming to the village to lend their helping hand.
They came with food, medicines, and clothes.
People from different groups helped them to put up tents where they could live.
Some scientists also came. They were examining the area to find out which areas are more prone to earthquakes.
The engineers and architects suggested to them how to build their houses so that they don’t get damaged in case of another earthquake.
They told to build their house with clay and cow dung cakes so they don’t get affected by earthquakes.
The groups built the village school and the villages took their help and build their village.
They put those cakes on one another to make the walls then whitewashed the walls and decorated them with beautiful designs and small pieces of mirrors then put a thatched roof.

Drought & Flood

A disaster is a sudden accident or a natural catastrophe that causes great damage or loss of life.
When there is extreme scarcity of food, that situation is known as famine.
The scarcity of water due to a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall, in an area is known as drought.
Drought impacts on sanitation, air quality, and hygiene, and food and nutrition.
More disease, such as West Nile Virus carried by mosquitoes breeding in stagnant water can be caused due to drought.
Flood refers to an overflow of a large amount of water beyond its normal limits, especially over what is normally a dry land.
Flood can have some major impacts on humanity such as loss of human life, destruction of crops, damage to property, loss of livestock, and deterioration of health conditions resulting in waterborne diseases, etc.

Solved Examples

1. A lot of people from other places came to Jasma’s village. Who were these people? In what ways would they have helped the villagers?

Ans: Many people traveled from cities to visit Jasma's village. Some may have come from non-governmental organizations. Some of them were researchers. Some of them could have been doctors or other medical personnel.

They could have aided by bringing much-needed relief. They brought food, clothing, medicines, and other necessities. The scientists wanted to find out which areas were more vulnerable to earthquakes. They also desired to construct houses that would not have been damaged in the event of an earthquake.

2. People in Jasma’s village rebuilt their houses with suggestions from the engineers. Will these houses be safer than before in case there is an earthquake again? Why?

Ans: People in Jasma's village rebuilt their homes based on the engineers' recommendations. Engineers recommended building houses in such a way that there would be minimal damage in the event of an earthquake. As a result, these homes would be safer in the event of another earthquake.

3. Think, if there were an earthquake where you live, would your house be in danger? What kind of damage could take place?

Ans: My house would undoubtedly be in danger in the event of an earthquake in my area. Walls may develop cracks, and in the worst-case scenario, roofs may collapse. Household items such as televisions, refrigerators, and so on would also be harmed. There is also the risk of fire.

4. Have you been told in your school or anywhere else about what to do in case of an earthquake?

Ans: Yes, there was a drill to practise what to do in the event of an earthquake. We were directed to an open area. If a person is unable to go to an open area, he was taught to hide under a table and tightly grip it.

Practise Questions

1. Why do you think one should go under a table during an earthquake?

Ans: The table can save a person's life if a house collapses during an earthquake. As a result, during an earthquake, one should seek shelter beneath a table.

2. Why do people live together in a neighbourhood?
Ans: People in a neighbourhood live together so that they can help each other in times of crisis. They also live together in order to share their joy with one another.

Important Points to Remember

People should be taught what steps to take in case of any natural calamity.
Everyone should help the ones in need.
At schools, children should be taught what to do during an earthquake.
During any natural disaster, people should stick together.

Importance of CBSE Class 5 EVS Chapter 14 When the Earth Shook!

Chapter 14 is an important part of the Class 5 EVS syllabus where students learn what happens when an earthquake hits an area. The child in this story explains how the child is terrified and still has bad dreams of the horrifying situations of an earthquake.

He explained how his village was ransacked by an earthquake. Every person in that village was terrified and did not know what to do. An entire village was ruined. Even the animals were injured severely. Six people died that day. This chapter also explains why people live together in a neighbourhood.

When the Earth Shook! explains how help arrived from different parts of the country. Engineers and architects explained why all the houses were damaged and how they should have been built.

Everyone in the village lent their hands to rebuild the village. It shows how it is important to help each other in a disastrous time. The chapter explains what precautions we should maintain when an earthquake hits.

Benefits of Vedantu’s When the Earth Shook! Revision Notes and Worksheets

The entire chapter has been explained in a simpler version for your better understanding. Get the context of this chapter and resolve doubts on your own. Find out what happened during an earthquake in that village and prepare every Class 5 EVS Chapter 14 question answer.
Complete preparing this chapter and test your skills with the worksheets. Solve them and compare your answers with the solutions. When the Earth Shook! Class 5 EVS worksheets with answers will help you get the best idea to formulate accurate answers for better scores.
Take a quick look at revision notes before an exam to cover everything in a lesser span of time. These will ensure you haven’t missed any important topic of Chapter 14.

Download When the Earth Shook Revision Notes PDF

CBSE Class 5 EVS Chapter 14, "When the Earth Shook," is like the summary or ending of a story. It wraps up what you learned about earthquakes. The important part could be understanding how earthquakes happen and what to do to stay safe. These notes, provided by Vedantu, probably help you study and remember key points. So, if you've read about why the Earth shakes and how to be safe during earthquakes in Class 5, this conclusion likely brings those ideas together and reminds you of what's important about the topic.

FAQs on When The Earth Shook Class 5 EVS Chapter 14 CBSE Notes - 2025-26

1. What are the key safety steps to remember for a quick revision on earthquake safety from this chapter?

For a quick revision, remember these two main safety steps from the chapter. If you are outdoors, immediately find an open space away from buildings, trees, and power lines. If you are indoors, take shelter under a strong piece of furniture like a table and hold on firmly until the shaking stops.

2. How do these revision notes summarise the main cause of an earthquake?

These notes explain that an earthquake is the sudden shaking of the ground. The chapter 'When the Earth Shook' describes this as powerful vibrations that travel through the Earth. When these vibrations are very strong, they can cause buildings to crack and collapse.

3. What is the main story in this chapter that helps us quickly revise the topic?

The core of the chapter is the story of a girl named Jasma, who lived through a severe earthquake. Revising her experience helps to quickly understand the real-life impact of such a disaster, including the destruction and the emotional shock people face.

4. What are the most important terms to remember from Chapter 14, 'When the Earth Shook'?

For a quick summary, focus on these key terms: earthquake (the shaking of the ground), vibrations (the movements that cause damage), and natural disaster (a sudden event like an earthquake that causes great harm). Understanding these terms is essential for revising the chapter's main points.

5. How were the new houses built after the disaster different, and why is this a key point to revise?

This is a crucial concept to revise because it teaches about safety and improvement. The new houses were built based on designs from engineers and scientists to be earthquake-resistant. Unlike the old houses made of mud and wood, these new structures were designed to withstand shaking, showing how proper construction can save lives.

6. Besides damaged houses, what other challenges should be revised from the chapter's summary of post-earthquake life?

When revising, it's important to remember the other problems people faced. The chapter summary shows that after the earthquake, villagers struggled with:

A lack of food and clean water.
Having no shelter and sleeping in the cold.
People being scared and worried for a long time.
The need for medical help for the injured.

7. Why was the help from people from other cities so important to remember when summarising this chapter?

The help from outsiders is a key theme about community and support. They brought essential supplies like food, water, and medicines, and helped set up tents. This shows that during a natural disaster, help often comes from many different groups, including scientists, architects, and non-government organisations, who work together to help people recover.