Page 59 - Volt Elevate The World Around Us Book 4

Flower and Feeling Connection

Ask yourself and try to answer the following questions.

y If you were a flower, which one would you want to be?

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y Which qualities of that flower remind you of yourself?

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Skills Covered: Observation • Critical thinking • Brainstorming

Case Study: The Lotus

The lotus is a very special flower in India. It grows in ponds and lakes where its roots stay in the
muddy water but the flower blooms beautifully above the surface. The lotus has large round
leaves that float on water. These leaves have a waxy coating which does not let water stay on
them. That is why droplets of water roll off like pearls. The lotus is also used in food and medicine.
Lotus seeds are eaten as makhana which is a healthy snack. In some places, people cook the
stem as a vegetable. The flower is considered holy and is often used in temples and festivals.
The lotus teaches us an important lesson – even if it grows in muddy water, it remains pure and
beautiful.
Based on your understanding of the text, answer the following questions.

1. Why don’t lotus leaves allow water to stay on them?
2. How do people in India use different parts of the lotus plant?
3. What lesson can we learn from the lotus flower?

Skills Covered: Critical thinking • Observation • Environmental awareness

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