CBSE Class 5 Environmental Studies Chapter 18: No Place For Us NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 5 PDF

CBSE Class 5 Environmental Studies chapter 'No Place For Us?' explores the difficult realities faced by individuals and families displaced from their homes. Through the narrative of Jatrya, the chapter highlights the emotional and practical struggles of migrating to unfamiliar urban settings. It examines the reasons behind migration to big cities, the unfortunate circumstances that lead children into labor, and the adaptability of skills across different environments. The text also emphasizes the significance of family ties, community support, and the stark differences between rural and city life in terms of sounds and experiences. These solutions aim to foster empathy and critical thinking among students regarding displacement and urban migration, offering a deeper understanding of these societal issues.

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Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 5
Subject	Environmental Studies
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	18 No Place For Us

Chapter summary

Chapter 18, 'No Place For Us?', focuses on the experiences of individuals and families displaced from their native villages to big cities. The NCERT Solutions cover the emotional impact of leaving one's home, the reasons for migration to urban areas, and the challenges faced by children who work. It also explores the skills learned in villages, their applicability in cities, and the contrasting sounds and experiences of rural and urban life, promoting an understanding of displacement and adaptation.

Learning outcomes

Understand the emotional impact of displacement and migration.
Identify reasons why families move from villages to big cities.
Recognize the types of work children engage in due to economic necessity.
Compare the skills learned in a village setting with their usefulness in a city.
Differentiate between the sounds and experiences of rural and urban environments.
Appreciate the importance of family and community bonds.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Displacement
Migration to cities
Urban life vs. Rural life
Child labor
Loss of home and community
Traditional skills
Family and community bonds
Sounds of the city
Adaptation to new environments
Emotional impact of change

Important topics

Reasons for migration to cities
Emotional impact of displacement
Child labor and its causes
Comparison of rural and urban life
Value of traditional skills

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Questions and Solutions

Think and Tell - Question 1

Have you ever felt alone, even when you are in a crowd of people? Describe a time when this happened to you.

Solution: Yes, it is possible to feel alone even when surrounded by many people. For instance, if you are in a very large market or at a big event where you don't know anyone, you might feel isolated. This feeling arises because you lack personal connections or shared experiences with the people around you, making you feel like an outsider despite the physical presence of others.

Think and Tell - Question 2

Imagine the experience of leaving your home and moving far away to a completely new place. How do you think that would feel?

Solution: Leaving one's familiar home and moving to a new place far away would likely be a very challenging and emotional experience. Everything would be unfamiliar – the people, the streets, the markets, and the general environment. This sense of unfamiliarity can lead to feelings of sadness, anxiety, and a deep longing for the comfort and security of the place left behind.

Think and Tell - Question 3

Why do you think families like Jatrya's choose to move to big cities?

Solution: Families like Jatrya's often move to big cities because they are seeking better opportunities for livelihood and earning. Big cities typically offer a wider variety of jobs and the potential for higher incomes compared to smaller towns or villages, where economic prospects might be limited. This migration is usually driven by the need to improve their financial situation and provide for their families.

Think and Tell - Question 4

Have you observed any children in your school or neighborhood who are working instead of attending school?

Solution: Yes, it is sometimes possible to see children in our neighborhoods or near traffic signals who are engaged in work. These children might be seen selling small items, helping with chores, or involved in other forms of labor, often because they need to contribute to their family's income.

Think and Tell - Question 5

What kinds of work do these children typically do, and what are the reasons they have to work?

Solution: Children who work often engage in various activities such as rag picking, cleaning cars, assisting in homes as domestic help, or selling small goods in busy areas like footpaths and traffic junctions. The primary reason they have to work is economic necessity; their families may not earn enough to support everyone, so these children contribute to the household income.

Tell - Question 1

What different skills and activities did the children in Khedi village learn?

Solution: The children in Khedi village learned a variety of traditional and cultural skills. These included dancing, playing musical instruments like the flute and dhol, and crafting various items from materials like bamboo and clay. They also learned to identify different birds and imitate their sounds, connecting them closely with their natural environment.

Tell - Question 2

What important things do you learn from your elders?

Solution: From our elders, we learn many valuable life lessons and values. These often include the importance of respecting older people, maintaining a disciplined routine by waking up and sleeping on time, and balancing activities like studying and playing. We also learn to nurture loving relationships with friends and relatives, and the significance of helping out with household chores.

Tell - Question 3

Jatrya acquired many skills in Khedi. How many of these skills do you think would be useful for him in Mumbai?

Solution: Some of the skills Jatrya learned in Khedi could indeed be useful for him in Mumbai. For example, his ability to catch fish might be helpful if he lives near a water body where fishing is possible, or he could potentially sell fish. Skills like selling goods in a market or playing the dhol could also provide opportunities to earn money, perhaps by performing or selling items in the city.

Tell - Question 4

Do you hear the sounds of birds every day? If so, which birds' sounds do you recognize?

Solution: Yes, it is common to hear the sounds of various birds daily, especially if you live in an area with trees or open spaces. Common bird sounds include the 'guttar-guttar' of pigeons, the 'kav-kav' of crows, and the 'chi-chi' of sparrows, among others depending on the local bird population.

Tell - Question 5

Can you imitate the sound of any bird? If yes, demonstrate how you would do it.

Solution: Yes, one can try to imitate the sound of a crow by making a 'kav-kav' sound. This is a common sound that many people can attempt to replicate. (Students can demonstrate this in class).

Tell - Question 6

What are some of the sounds you hear every day that the people of Khedi might not typically hear?

Solution: People living in big cities often hear sounds that are less common in villages like Khedi. These include the loud horns of vehicles, the noise of trains, the distinct sound of police sirens, and the general hustle and bustle of a densely populated urban environment.

Tell - Question 7

Have you ever experienced silence? Can you recall when and where this happened?

Solution: Yes, moments of silence can be experienced, although true silence is rare in busy environments. For many, the closest experience to silence occurs at night, particularly when going to sleep, or perhaps in very quiet natural settings like deep forests or remote areas away from human activity.

Discuss and Tell - Question 1

Many people in Jatrya's village did not want to move away from their land and forest. Why do you think they felt this way? Despite their reluctance, they had to leave. What might have forced them to leave?

Solution: The villagers likely felt a deep emotional and historical connection to their land and forest, as their ancestors had lived there for generations. This land represented their home, their livelihood, and their cultural identity. They were probably forced to leave due to government actions, development projects, or pressure from authorities, possibly coupled with promises of better facilities like electricity and water in a new location, which they felt compelled to accept.

Discuss and Tell - Question 2

In Khedi, how many people were in Jatrya's immediate family? When he thought about his family, who did he imagine being a part of it?

Solution: In Khedi, Jatrya's immediate family consisted of three people: his father, his mother, and himself. However, for Jatrya, the concept of family extended beyond this small unit. When he felt lonely, he would think about his future wife and future children, and he also considered the entire village community as a large, supportive family.

Discuss and Tell - Question 3

Who all come to your mind when you think about your family?

Solution: When I think about my family, several people come to mind. This includes my parents and my grandparents. It also extends to my cousins and their parents, encompassing the broader network of relatives who are important in my life.

Discuss and Tell - Question 4

Have you heard of people who strongly prefer not to move from their old homes or villages? Can you talk about them?

Solution: Yes, it's common to hear about people, like grandparents, who are very attached to their old homes and villages. They might find city life too crowded or uncomfortable and miss the fresh air and open spaces of their rural surroundings. They often feel more at ease and content in the environment they have known for a long time.

Discuss and Tell - Question 5

Do you know any people who have never attended school? Do you also know of any places where there are no schools?

Solution: Yes, it is possible to know people who have never been to school, perhaps due to circumstances in their village or family. For example, a domestic helper might mention that in her village, located in a state like West Bengal, there wasn't a school available for her to attend during her childhood.

Common mistakes

Confusing the reasons for migration with personal choice.
Underestimating the emotional toll of leaving one's home and community.
Not considering the economic pressures that lead to child labor.
Failing to recognize the value of traditional skills in new contexts.

Revision tips

Focus on Jatrya's feelings of loneliness and displacement.
List the reasons why people migrate to cities and the challenges they face.
Think about the different skills learned in Khedi and how they might be used in Mumbai.
Compare the sounds and daily life in Khedi with that of a big city.
Discuss the meaning of 'family' as presented in the chapter, both immediate and extended.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Why did Jatrya feel alone even in a crowd?

Q2. What is a major reason families like Jatrya's move to big cities?

Q3. Which of these is NOT a type of work children might do to support their families?

Q4. What skills did children learn in Khedi village?

Q5. Which sound is more likely to be heard in a big city than in Khedi village?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of CBSE Class 5 EVS Chapter 18, 'No Place For Us?'

The chapter explores the emotional and practical difficulties faced by people who are forced to leave their homes and villages to live in big cities, highlighting issues like displacement and adaptation.

Why do families like Jatrya's move to big cities according to the NCERT Solutions?

Families migrate to big cities primarily in search of better job opportunities and the possibility of earning more money, as options in their villages might be limited.

What kind of work do children sometimes have to do, as discussed in the solutions?

Children sometimes have to work to support their families by doing jobs like rag picking, cleaning cars, working as domestic help, or selling items on the streets.

Are the skills learned in a village useful in a big city?

Yes, some skills like fishing, selling goods, or playing musical instruments can be useful for earning money even in a city, though adapting them might be necessary.

How do the NCERT Solutions for this chapter help students?

These solutions help students understand complex social issues like displacement and child labor, develop empathy, and prepare for exams by clarifying the chapter's concepts and questions.

What is the difference between the sounds mentioned in Khedi and a big city?

Khedi has natural sounds like birds and music, while big cities are characterized by man-made sounds like vehicle horns and train noises.

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