Science (EVS K-5) · Class 2 · Shelter · Term 3

Special Houses

Discover amazing and special types of houses from around the world, like igloos made of ice, houseboats that float on water, and tents we can carry.

TL;DR:Have you ever thought about living in a house that floats, or one made entirely of snow? Let's go on an exciting journey to discover some of the most special and unusual houses from all over the world!

• CBSE Learning Outcomes
• NCERT EVS Class II: Theme - Shelter

About This Topic

This topic, 'Special Houses', aligns with the National Curriculum Framework's emphasis on understanding the environment and human adaptation. For Class 2 students, it expands their concept of 'home' beyond the familiar pucca (brick and cement) or kutcha (mud and thatch) houses commonly discussed in the Indian context. The lesson introduces the idea that houses are designed based on climate, available materials, and lifestyle. By exploring global examples like igloos and local ones like houseboats in Kashmir or stilt houses in Assam, students develop a broader worldview and an appreciation for diversity.

The core learning objective is to foster curiosity and observational skills. Students will learn that a house is fundamentally a shelter and its form can vary dramatically. This topic provides an excellent opportunity to integrate geography, art, and environmental science. Teachers should focus on the 'why' behind each house type: Why is an igloo made of snow? Why do some people live on water? This encourages critical thinking and helps children connect human ingenuity with environmental challenges and opportunities.

Key Questions

1. Identify what an igloo is made of.
2. Explain why a houseboat is a special kind of house.
3. Compare a tent with a brick house.

Learning Objectives

• Identify at least three types of special houses: igloo, houseboat, and tent.
• Describe the main material used to build each of these special houses.
• Explain a simple reason why each house is suited to its environment or lifestyle.
• Differentiate between a temporary house (tent) and a permanent house (brick house).
• Compare the features of two different types of houses.

Key Vocabulary

Igloo	A dome-shaped house made from blocks of snow, found in very cold, snowy places.
Houseboat	A house that is built to float on water, like a boat that people can live in.
Tent	A shelter made of cloth supported by poles, which can be easily put up and taken down.
Caravan	A house on wheels that can be pulled by a car or vehicle.
Stilt House	A house raised on tall posts or stilts, often built over water or in areas that get flooded.
Permanent House	A strong house that is built to last for a long time in one place, like a brick house.
Temporary House	A house that is built for a short time and can be moved easily, like a tent.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Igloos are very cold inside because they are made of ice and snow.

What to Teach Instead

Actually, the snow used to build igloos traps air, which acts as a good insulator. This, along with body heat and a small lamp, keeps the inside much warmer than the freezing temperatures outside.

Common Misconception

Tents and caravans are not 'proper' houses.

What to Teach Instead

A house is any shelter that protects us. Tents and caravans are perfect homes for people who need to move from place to place, like nomads or people on holiday.

Common Misconception

All strong houses are made of bricks and cement.

What to Teach Instead

While brick houses are strong, houses made of wood, stone, or even snow (like igloos) can also be very strong and are better suited for the places where they are built.

Active Learning Ideas

Stations Rotation

Model House Making

Provide students with materials like clay, ice cream sticks, cloth scraps, and small cardboard boxes. In small groups, they can choose a special house (igloo, tent, stilt house) and try to build a simple model of it.

40 min·Small Groups

Stations Rotation

House and Home Match-Up

Create picture cards of different special houses and separate cards with their names, materials (ice, canvas, wood), or locations (snowy area, water, desert). Students work in pairs to match the correct cards together.

20 min·Pairs

Stations Rotation

Draw Your Dream Special House

Ask students to imagine and draw their own special house. They should be able to name their house and explain one special feature it has, like wings to fly or wheels to move.

25 min·Individual

Real-World Connections

• Discussing the famous houseboats on Dal Lake in Kashmir and the backwaters of Kerala as tourist attractions and homes.
• Relating tents to camping holidays, religious fairs like the Kumbh Mela, or shelters used by nomadic communities in Rajasthan.
• Showing pictures of stilt houses in Assam and other parts of Northeast India to explain how people adapt to heavy rainfall.
• Connecting the idea of caravans to mobile homes or vans used for travel and tourism in India.
• Talking about temporary shelters used during disaster relief efforts after floods or earthquakes in the country.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Picture Quiz: Show images of different houses and ask students to name them or state one fact about them.

Quick Check

Worksheet with activities like 'Match the house to its material', 'Fill in the blanks', and 'Circle the odd one out'.

Quick Check

Ask students to draw a smiley face next to the houses they feel they understand well and a question mark next to the ones they are still curious about.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don't houseboats sink in the water?

Houseboats are built like big boats. They are made of wood or other materials that are hollow or can float easily, which helps them stay on top of the water, just like a ship.

Do people in India live in special houses like these?

Yes! In places like Kashmir and Kerala, many people live in beautiful houseboats on lakes. In states like Assam, where it rains a lot, people build stilt houses made of bamboo to stay above the water.

Can we build an igloo in our city?

We can't build a real igloo here because it is not cold enough and we don't have enough snow. Igloos can only be built in places that are freezing cold all the time.