"Monsoon" is a short, happy song about the coming of rain. First the sun is very hot, the land is dry and the fields and rivers are "thirsty". Then dark clouds gather, peacocks dance, thunder roars and lightning flashes. Finally the rain falls, everything becomes wet and green, and the Earth is happy.
Key points
Before the rain: the sun shines hard; the land is parched (very dry); fields are hungry and rivers thirsty. This is summer.
The poet calls the rain to come.
Rain is coming: peacocks spread their feathers and sway (dance); clouds are dark; a lark sings.
Clouds gather, thunder sounds, and bolts of lightning streak and shimmer.
"Pit, pat!" – the first drop falls.
After the rain: fields are drenched, land soaked, trees "bathed", rivers flow strongly.
The Earth becomes happy, green and cheery, and the poet asks the rain to come again.
The poem is by an anonymous (unknown) poet.
Important terms
Monsoon – the rainy season (पावसाळा).
Parched – very dry and hot.
Drenched – completely wet.
Streak – a flash of light.
Shimmer – shine with a soft, moving light.
Pit-pat – the sound of falling raindrops.
Language study
Repetition: a word or line is repeated – "Oh rain, rain…", "Fly, fly little bird."
Rhyming words: dark – lark (bark), thunder – wonder, cheery – merry, hard – yard.
"The Crow and the Snake" is a fable from the Panchatantra. A wicked cobra keeps eating a crow family's babies. The clever crow steals a queen's precious bracelet and drops it into the cobra's hole. The guards come to get the bracelet and chase the cobra away into the forest. The crows then live happily.
Key points
A family of crows lived in a nest on a banyan tree. A wicked cobra lived in the hollow of the same tree.
When the crows flew out for food, the cobra ate their babies.
Next time they watched from a short distance, but the cobra still ate the little ones.
The lady crow said it had become dangerous to stay there. The crow promised to think of a plan.
The queen came every morning to a lake to bathe. The crow picked up her precious bracelet in his beak.
A servant saw it and screamed. The crow flew slowly so the guards could follow, then dropped the bracelet into the cobra's hollow.
The guards carefully took out the bracelet and returned it to the queen. They chased the snake into the deep forest without harming it.
Moral: one can overcome obstacles with presence of mind.
Important terms
Fable – a story in which animals act like humans and which teaches a lesson.
Hollow – an empty space or hole (ढोली).
Precious – of great value.
Plunged down – dived down suddenly with force.
Swiftly – quickly.
Presence of mind – thinking quickly and wisely in difficulty.
Language study
Types of stories: fantasy (fairies, magic), fable (animals act like humans), factual (real life).
Balbir loves chocolates but refuses to eat any vegetables. The angry vegetables make a secret plan: they make his egg curry bitter, his custard salty and his chocolate hot with chillies. Hungry at night, he tastes gajar halwa and finds it delicious. He eats it all and stops hating vegetables.
Key points
Balbir loved chocolates and tasty dishes but always said "NO!" to vegetables – even gajar halwa.
The vegetables felt hurt. Mr Potato, Carrot Tops, Miss Bhindi and Mr Karela planned to teach him a lesson.
At dinner Mr Karela squeezed his bitter juice on the egg curry – Balbir found it bitter.
A cauliflower threw salt into his custard – it was too salty to swallow.
His parents did not believe him and scolded him. He went to bed hungry.
At night he bit a chocolate from the fridge, but the vegetables had rubbed chillies on it – his tongue burnt.
He then tried gajar halwa and found it sweet and tasty. He ate the whole bowl.
Next morning he told his mother he did not hate vegetables anymore. She was happy and hugged him.
Message: vegetables give us vitamins and energy; we should eat healthy food.
Important terms
Growled – made a low, angry sound.
Squeezed – pressed hard.
Greedily – wanting more food than needed.
Stubborn – not ready to change one's mind (हट्टी).
Scolding – speaking angrily to someone who did wrong.
Simple Present Tense for habits and universal truths: "The Sun rises in the east." "She drinks milk daily." With he/she/it, add -s: he plays, she reads.
This lesson tells us about three people who worked selflessly to protect nature: Tulsi Gowda, the "Tree Goddess" of Karnataka; Rahibai Soma Popere, the "Seed Mother" of Maharashtra; and Chaitram Pawar, a tribal leader who saved forests and water in many villages. All three received the Padmashri award.
Key points
Forests give us fresh air, clean water, food and shelter. Some people protect nature with love, not for money or fame.
Tulsi Gowda (Van Devata): from a Halakki tribal family in Karnataka; never went to school.
She had deep knowledge of trees and herbs – called the "Encyclopaedia of the forest".
She planted more than 30,000 saplings, worked with the forest department and could identify the mother tree of each species. Padmashri in 2021.
Rahibai Soma Popere (Seed Mother): a tribal farmer from Maharashtra; could not go to school because her family was poor.
She saved traditional native seeds, encouraged local crops and organic farming, and started seed banks (Kalsubai Parisar Biyanee Sanvardhan Samiti, Akole, Ahilyanagar district).
About 122 landraces and 32 crops are under conservation. Padmashri in 2020; named in the BBC list of 100 women.
Chaitram Deochand Pawar: a tribal leader from Baripada, Dhule district, with over 30 years of work.
He planted 5000 trees with his own money, built check dams and trenches to store rainwater and raised the groundwater level; his work spread to about 100 villages in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Padmashri in 2025.
Important terms
Conservation – protection of nature (संवर्धन).
Sapling – a young tree.
Herbs – plants used in medicine.
Landraces – local crop varieties suited to an area.
Trench – a long narrow ditch for water.
Sustainable – that can continue for a long time.
Language study
Prefixes: non + stop = nonstop; re + present = represent; un + known = unknown; dis + advantage = disadvantage; im + possible = impossible; ir + regular = irregular.
Pronouns by gender: he (boy, king), she (girl, queen), it (book, tree, city).
5 important questions
Q1. Why is Tulsi Gowda called the "Encyclopaedia of the forest"?
Because of her deep knowledge of trees, plants and herbs.
Q2. Why is Rahibai Popere called the "Seed Mother"?
She saved many traditional native seeds and shared them freely with farmers.
Q3. How did Chaitram Pawar help villages get water?
He built check dams and trenches to store rainwater, which raised the groundwater level.
Q4. Complete the table: name – state – year of Padmashri.
In "One Thing that I Wonder" by Charles Ghigna, a curious child asks many questions about the world: why it is round, why the sky is blue, why spiders have eight legs, and more. In the end the child even wonders why we wonder at all. The poem celebrates curiosity.
Key points
The speaker wonders why the world is round and why trees grow up toward the sky, not upside down.
How cats sit quickly in laps while whales sleep in the sea.
Why the sky is blue, and why spiders have eight legs while we have only two.
Why bunnies (rabbits) burrow underground while birds live in trees.
Finally, why we wonder about the wonders of the earth that fill the sea and sky.
Each stanza begins with "One thing that I wonder".
Message: asking questions is the start of learning.
Important terms
Wonder – want to know; also, something amazing (आश्चर्य).
Bunnies – rabbits.
Burrow – dig a hole in the ground for shelter.
Whale – a very large sea animal.
Language study
Alliteration: words beginning with the same sound – "Busy bees buzz"; from the poem: "why we wonder why".
Minimal pairs: words differing in one sound – sleep/slip, sip/ship, bat/cat; eye/I, two/too, see/sea.
Pun: a joke with two meanings – a bicycle cannot stand because it is "two tired" (two tyres / too tired).
Short vowel sounds: cat, bed, sit, hot, cup, book.
5 important questions
Q1. List three things the speaker wonders about.
Why the world is round, why the sky is blue, why spiders have eight legs.
Q2. Where do bunnies and birds live?
Bunnies burrow underground; birds live in trees.
Q3. What is the last thing the speaker wonders about?
Why we wonder about the wonders of the earth.
Q4. Make a sentence like the poem: "One thing that I wonder is…"
One thing that I wonder is why ice is cold.
Q5. What is alliteration? Give an example.
Repetition of the same beginning sound: "Pretty pink flowers bloom in spring."
Exam tip
Learn the definitions of alliteration, minimal pairs and pun with one example each.
"The Brother" is a warm poem by Amanjeet Singh about the strong bond between a child and a brother. The brother is with the speaker in happy and sad times, understands hidden pain, and gives strength and hope. The poet says no force can break their pure love.
Key points
The speaker and the brother share a bond of love in laughter and in "shadows" (sad times).
Through storm and sun (bad and good times) they walk together as one.
The poet calls the brother "my moon and sun".
The brother sees the speaker's hidden pain and stands beside him in loss and gain.
His presence makes every tear and every smile worthwhile.
Like rivers flowing to the sea, they are strong together.
In dark days and long nights, the brother's strength and hope keep the speaker strong.
Through time and space, their pure love cannot be broken.
Qualities of the brother: loving, caring, supportive, understanding, strong, hopeful.
Important terms
Bond – a strong relationship (नाते).
Gain – profit, advantage.
Worthwhile – useful or enjoyable.
Presence – being there.
Language study
Simile: comparing two things using "like" or "as" – "He runs like the wind"; from the poem: "Like rivers flow to the sea".
Metaphor: comparing without "like" or "as" – "He is a lion", "Time is money"; from the poem: "my moon and sun".
Rhyming words: deep – keep, one – sun, pain – gain, smile – worthwhile, long – strong.
5 important questions
Q1. Who is the poet of "The Brother"?
Amanjeet Singh.
Q2. What qualities of the brother are described?
He is loving, understanding, supportive, strong and hopeful.
Q3. Complete: "When days are dark…"
…and nights are long, your strength and hope keep me strong.
Q4. Find a simile and a metaphor from the poem.
Simile: "Like rivers flow to the sea". Metaphor: "my moon and sun".
Q5. What is the message of the poem?
The love between siblings is strong; they support each other in good and bad times.
Exam tip
Be clear on the difference: simile uses like/as; metaphor does not.
"Stories on Strings" is about India's colourful puppet traditions. Each region has its own style – Kathputli in Rajasthan, Bommalattam in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Tholu Bommalata shadow puppets in Andhra Pradesh, and rod puppets in Odisha and Bengal. Puppet shows tell stories, teach values and make everyone laugh.
Key points
India has puppet traditions in every corner – North, South, East and West.
Kathputli (Rajasthan): bright, dancing puppets that tell tales of brave kings and clever queens.
Bommalattam (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu): large, beautifully carved puppets that can move their hands, head and eyes; used at temple festivals to tell stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and local legends.
Tholu Bommalata (Andhra Pradesh): shining leather puppets that make shadow pictures on a white screen; tell sacred stories, especially from the Ramayana.
Rod puppets (Odisha, Bengal): tiny puppets that slide, jump and twist in funny ways.
Puppets teach good behaviour, kindness, bravery and truth.
Funny moments – a king dropping his crown, a talking parrot, a sneezing puppet – make shows exciting.
Famous puppeteers: Ramdas Padhye (puppets "Ardhavatrao" and "Bunny the funny"); Kamini Kaushal made voiced puppets for Doordarshan.
You can make finger puppets or ice-cream-stick puppets at home.
Important terms
Puppet – a doll moved by strings, rods or hands (कठपुतळी).
Puppeteer – a person who moves puppets.
Carved – cut out of wood or stone.
Tradition – a custom passed down from the past.
Deities – gods and goddesses.
Harmony – living peacefully together.
Language study
Plurals: puppet – puppets, story – stories, show – shows, tradition – traditions.
"All About News" teaches the format of a news report through a sample: Kanya Shala, Chalisgaon, celebrates Maharashtra Din on 1st May. Students learn the parts of a news item – headline, dateline, lead, body and conclusion – and the Simple Past Tense, which is used for reporting events.
Key points
News is true information about events; a rumour is unverified talk.
Headline: "Kanya Shala Celebrates Maharashtra Din". Dateline: Chalisgaon, May 1.
The school celebrated Maharashtra Din to mark the formation of the state.
The programme began with the Maharashtra Rajyageet.
Teachers explained the importance of 1st May and Maharashtra's history and culture.
Learners gave speeches and poems; some wore traditional Maharashtrian attire. Mrs Patil, a senior teacher, guided them.
The Principal spoke about unity, love for the motherland and pride in Maharashtra's culture.
The programme ended with a pledge to respect Maharashtra's values and work for its development.
Format of news: headline, dateline, lead paragraph, continuing paragraph, concluding paragraph.
Important terms
Headline – the title of a news item, in bold letters (मथळा).
Dateline – place and date of the report.
Rumour – unconfirmed talk.
Enthusiasm – great excitement.
Attire – clothes.
Pledge – a solemn promise.
Language study
Simple Past Tense – for actions completed in the past: play – played, look – looked, go – went, study – studied.
Past time words: yesterday, last night, last week, ago.
Example: "We watched a movie." "Radha ran very fast."
5 important questions
Q1. Write the headline, date and place of the news.
Healthy Dessert : Millet Kheer of Kalahandi Tribals
Quick summary
This lesson describes "Suan Kheer", a healthy sweet dish made by the tribals of Kalahandi in Odisha. It is made from foxtail millet, jaggery, peanuts, fennel seeds and coconut. It satisfies a sweet tooth and is also nutritious. It shows the value of millets ("mota anaaj").
Key points
Most Indians have a "sweet tooth"; Kalahandi tribals add Suan Kheer to India's many desserts.
It has twin benefits – it is sweet and healthy.
Millets have always been part of tribal food. The world celebrated the International Year of Millets.
Gonds, Kondhs and other tribes learnt the recipe from DAPTA (Development Agency for Poor and Tribal Awakening) at Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi.
Recipe: boil half a kilo of suan chaula (foxtail millet) in 2 litres of water, stirring to avoid lumps.
Mix 100 g powdered peanuts with 50 g fennel (saunf).
Dissolve half a kilo of jaggery (gur) in about a litre of water and filter it.
Add the jaggery water slowly to the boiling millet, then the peanut mixture, then 100 g desiccated coconut. Let it simmer.
Some add ghee and salt for taste. The result is a syrupy, delicious dessert.
Important terms
Dessert – a sweet dish eaten after a meal.
Millets – small grains like jowar, bajra, ragi (भरडधान्य).
Jaggery – gur.
Desiccated – dried.
Simmering – cooking gently, just below boiling.
Sumptuous – rich and delicious.
Language study
Four types of sentences:
Assertive (gives information): "Today is Monday."
Interrogative (asks): "What is your name?"
Imperative (order or request): "Open your book." "Please help me."
Exclamatory (strong feeling): "What a lovely flower!"
This is a funny folk tale. A shy son-in-law refuses a tasty dish at his in-laws' house and later tries to eat it secretly at midnight. The pot breaks, he gets sticky, covers himself with cotton, hides among the sheep – and is carried off by a thief! When he says "Please put me down gently", the frightened thief throws him down and runs away.
Key points
A man went to bring his wife back from her parents' home.
At dinner he was too shy and covered his plate, refusing a dish.
A few drops fell on his hand; he licked them and found the dish very tasty. But he was too shy to ask for it.
At night his wife told him there was a pot of it in the attic.
At midnight the pot slipped, broke, and the sticky liquid fell on his head and clothes.
He tried to wipe it with cotton, but the cotton stuck to him.
He stuck cotton all over himself to look like a woolly creature and hid among his in-laws' sheep, planning to bathe in the river before daybreak.
A thief came to steal the heaviest sheep, lifted each one and carried away the son-in-law.
When the tired thief was about to drop him, the man said, "Please put me down gently." The scared thief threw him down and ran away.
In olden days, men were as shy of their in-laws as women were.
"The World of Geometry" is a playful poem by Ruhee Parlekar. It tells the "story" of a lonely line that finds a partner and forms an angle. As more lines join, they become a triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon and finally a decagon. The poem makes geometry fun.
Key points
A single line felt it needed a partner, so it went out with another line – together they formed an angle.
The angle wanted to grow, so a third line joined – a triangle.
A fourth line joined – a square.
A fifth line – a pentagon; a sixth – a hexagon.
More lines made a heptagon (7), octagon (8), nonagon (9) and a decagon (10).
The poet ends by saying she wrote this poem on geometry with lines, shapes and symmetry.
Indian poets mentioned: Dilip Chitre (1938–2009) translated Saint Tukaram's abhangas into English; also Rabindranath Tagore, Sarojini Naidu and Arun Kolatkar.
Important terms
Geometry – the maths of shapes, lines and angles (भूमिती).
"She Knew No Fear" is a story of courage. Nirmala is jealous of Sayal, who is beautiful and intelligent. One day at the grazing ground, a twelve-foot python coils around Nirmala's knees. Sayal bravely fights the python and saves her. Sayal is honoured by the President on Republic Day, and Nirmala learns to give up jealousy.
Key points
Nirmala disliked Sayal because Sayal was more beautiful and much more intelligent.
At the village grazing ground, Nirmala ignored Sayal's greeting as usual.
A twelve-foot python coiled around Nirmala's knees. She was too frightened to shout.
Sayal rushed in and hit the python with a stick, then grabbed its jaws with her bare hands.
She told Nirmala that pythons are not poisonous and cannot bite, and pushed her hand into the snake's throat.
When the grip loosened, Sayal told Nirmala to kick; Nirmala freed herself and ran.
Sayal threw the snake's head aside and escaped too.
The villagers were proud. On Republic Day the President honoured Sayal for bravery; she rode a decorated elephant in the procession.
Nirmala realised she was happier after overcoming jealousy.
Messages: be brave and quick-thinking; jealousy only makes us unhappy.
Important terms
Jealousy – unhappy feeling when someone has what we want (मत्सर).
Ignored – paid no attention.
Coiled – wound round in circles.
Shrieked – screamed in a high voice.
Squirmed – twisted restlessly.
Mustering – gathering (strength).
Language study
Base verbs: threw – throw, kicked – kick, disliked – dislike, stuck – stick, ran – run.
"In Eskimo Land" describes the life of the Eskimos (Inuit) who live in icy Greenland near the North Pole. It explains their homes (igloos and sealskin tents), food, hunting, clothes and transport (kayaks and dog sledges) in a land that looks like a frozen desert.
Key points
The land of the Eskimos has no brick houses, roads, trees, cars or summer heat – only snow and ice, like a frozen desert.
They live in Greenland, very close to the North Pole; it is extremely cold, and dark for four months of the year.
"Eskimo" is said to mean "eaters of raw meat"; they call themselves "Inuit".
They live a wandering life. Summer homes are tents of sealskin.
In winter they live in igloos – dome-shaped houses of ice blocks, like an upside-down bowl, entered through a narrow tunnel by crawling. It is warm inside; walls are lined with animal skin.
They hunt seals, walrus and fish for flesh and fur; meat is often eaten raw.
Animal fat gives oil for lamps; skins make clothes.
To hunt a seal, an Eskimo makes a hole in the ice, waits, and kills it with a harpoon.
Kayaks are light canoes with a hole for one person; sledges pulled by dogs are used on snow.
In spring, snow melts along the coast and flowers bloom.
Important terms
Igloo – a dome-shaped house made of ice blocks.
Inuit – the name the Eskimos use for themselves.
Harpoon – a spear used for hunting seals and whales.
"The Magic Words Club" teaches good manners through the story of Rohan, a rude boy who finds a golden ticket to the "Land of Happiness". To enter, he must use five magic keys – Please, Thank you, Sorry, Excuse me and May I? The lesson also lists good manners at home, in school and in public places.
Key points
Two islands: on Rough Island people are rude; on Magic Island everyone is polite and happy.
Rohan always forgot his manners – he grabbed things, pushed people and never smiled.
He found a golden ticket: to enter the Land of Happiness, use the 5 Magic Keys.
Please – when asking for something. Thank you – when someone helps or gives. Sorry – when you make a mistake. Excuse me – to interrupt or pass through a crowd. May I? – to take permission.
Golden rules: listen first, smile and greet, don't talk with food in your mouth, help others.
At home: respect elders, keep things tidy, knock before entering, no phones at family meals.
In public: speak softly in a library, wait in a queue, use a dustbin ("manners towards Mother Earth"), greet a friend's parents.
Using magic words makes the world a happier place.
Important terms
Manners – polite ways of behaving (शिष्टाचार).
Grumpy – bad-tempered.
Interrupt – stop someone while they are speaking.
Queue – a line of people waiting.
Privacy – the right to be alone or keep things private.
Language study
Polite requests: "May I borrow your pencil, please?" "Could you help me?"
Responses: borrowing – "Please"; bumping into someone – "Sorry"; receiving a gift – "Thank you"; entering a class – "May I come in?"
5 important questions
Q1. What did Rohan find in his desk?
A golden ticket saying he must use the 5 Magic Keys to enter the Land of Happiness.
Q2. Name the five magic keys.
Please, Thank you, Sorry, Excuse me, May I?
Q3. What will you say if you bump into a teacher?
"Sorry, Ma'am/Sir."
Q4. Why should we knock before entering a room?
It shows respect for the other person's privacy.
Q5. Write two manners for public places.
Wait for your turn in a queue; throw waste only in a dustbin.
Exam tip
Learn when to use each magic word – situation-based questions are common.
"Joy of Letter Writing" is a short conversation between Harshita (Grade 6) and her brother Shantanu (Grade 3). Harshita explains what letter writing is, the two types of letters – informal and formal – and shows an informal letter inviting her friend Pratibha to her birthday party. Students learn the format of an informal letter.
Key points
Letter writing means writing a message to someone far away.
Before mobile phones, people wrote letters to share feelings, news and experiences.
Informal letter: written to friends, parents, cousins or relatives; friendly and simple.
Formal letter: written to a person in authority (Principal, officer).
Harshita's letter invites her friend Pratibha to her birthday party on 13th March.
Format of an informal letter: sender's address → date → salutation (Dear …,) → body → subscription (Yours lovingly/affectionately) → sender's name.
Guided letter: Pratibha replies that she cannot come because she must go out with her parents.
Important terms
Salutation – greeting at the start of a letter ("Dear Pratibha").
This poem is an English translation of Mahadevi Verma's Hindi poem "Ab ye Chidiya kaha rahegi?". A strong storm breaks the branches of a tree and blows away a little bird's nest. Kind people try to give the bird shelter in their house, but it cries and will not stay. They wonder sadly where the homeless bird will live now.
Key points
A storm came with great force; sudden gusts broke the branches.
The poor bird's nest was blown away. It has no one to share its sorrow with.
The people opened their cupboard and called the bird in, but it cried "cheen-cheen" and would not stay indoors.
They cannot bring a tree into the house or build a nest for it.
The bird cannot mend its broken eggs.
The repeated question – "Now where will this bird live?" – shows deep concern.
Message: birds need trees and natural homes; we must protect trees and birds.
Mahadevi Verma was a great Hindi poet, known for her tender poems.
Important terms
Storm – strong winds, a cyclone (वादळ).
Gusts – sudden strong rushes of wind.
Sorrow – great sadness.
Mend – repair.
Shelter – a safe place to stay.
Language study
Alliteration: "Branches are broken" – repeated "b" sound.
Sound words: "cheen-cheen".
Summary: a shortened version that gives the whole idea in a few lines.
Writers: a poet writes poems; a novelist writes novels; a dramatist writes dramas; a journalist writes news.
5 important questions
Q1. Why was the bird sad?
Its nest had been blown away by the storm and its eggs were broken.
Q2. How did the people try to help the bird?
They opened their cupboard and called it inside the house.
Q3. Why could they not help the bird fully?
They could not bring a tree into the house, build a nest or mend its eggs.
Q4. Identify the figure of speech: "Branches are broken by the gusts."
Alliteration.
Q5. How can you help birds?
Plant trees, keep water and grain for them, make bird-feeders and never destroy nests.
Exam tip
Write Do's and Don'ts for saving birds neatly in two columns – a common task.
"Aim High like Sheetal Devi" is a short skit in which a group of friends discuss Sheetal Devi, an Indian archer without arms who won a gold medal in Paralympic Archery. She uses her legs like hands. Her story teaches never to give up, and her words, "Your disability is not your inability", inspire everyone.
Key points
Sakshi brings the news that Sheetal Devi won a gold medal in Paralympic Archery for India.
People told her archery was too difficult because she has no hands, but she proved them wrong.
She made her legs work like hands to shoot arrows.
She practised every single day, "rain or shine" – true dedication.
She started small and kept trying until she became the best.
Lesson: never give up, even after many failures; it applies to studies, sports and everything.
The friends decide to work harder and be brave like her.
Her words: "Your disability is not your inability."
They end by cheering, "Hurray for Sheetal Devi!"
Important terms
Paralympics – sports competitions for athletes with disabilities.
Archery – the sport of shooting arrows with a bow (धनुर्विद्या).
Dedication – hard work and commitment.
Focus – concentrate.
Disability – a physical or mental condition that limits some activities.
Language study
Punctuation: full stop (.), comma (,), question mark (?), exclamation mark (!).
"Which game do you like the most?" "What a wonderful idea!"
Affirmative and negative sentences: "I love animals." (A) / "I don't like tea." (N) – negatives use not, no, never.
"How to Salute the Sun" explains Surya Namaskar, a yoga-based exercise from India's heritage. It keeps the body fit and the mind balanced. One Surya Namaskar has 12 steps; a set of 12 Namaskars takes about 15 minutes. The lesson also gives do's and don'ts for exercising.
Key points
The human body is one of nature's most marvellous creations, like a perfect machine; we must care for it with proper diet, exercise and rest.
Kalidas said the body is the first means to achieve the goals of life ("Shariramadyam khalu dharma sadhanam").
Surya Namaskar is a gift of Indian heritage to the world, for people of every caste, religion, gender and nation.
It gives the benefits of both "sthool" (gross) and "sukshma" (subtle) exercise.
Anyone from 8 to 80 years can do it; it is especially good for growing children.
It tones up the sensory, respiratory, digestive, circulatory, muscular and nervous systems.
Chanting creates vibrations that help the glands work properly.
Ideally, 12 Namaskars at a time (about 15 minutes); each has a cycle of 12 steps and begins with a prayer to the Sun (Beej Mantra).
Do's: begin under guidance, follow the right order, keep the flow natural, stretch gently. Don'ts: don't exercise after eating or when ill, avoid jerky movements, don't drink water during exercise.
Important terms
Marvellous – wonderful.
Heritage – traditions passed down from the past (वारसा).
Respiratory – related to breathing.
Circulatory – related to blood flow.
Chanted – repeated words in a rhythm.
Creed – a set of beliefs.
Language study
Instructions use the imperative: "Stand straight. Join your palms. Breathe in."
Words with "-ory": sensory, respiratory, circulatory.
5 important questions
Q1. How many steps are there in one Surya Namaskar?
12 steps.
Q2. How long does a set of 12 Surya Namaskars take?
About 15 minutes.
Q3. Who can do Surya Namaskar?
Any able-bodied person from 8 to 80 years, of any caste, religion, gender or nationality.
Q4. Write any three benefits of Surya Namaskar.
Balanced physical growth, better concentration and memory, emotional control.
Q5. Write two don'ts while exercising.
Don't exercise after eating; don't make jerky movements.
Exam tip
Learn the numbers 12 steps, 12 Namaskars, 15 minutes, 8 to 80 years.
"The Naughty Keyboard" is a funny story about Bezzil, a wizard who lives in an enchanted house where every object has a mind of its own. His bored computer keyboard plays a prank by changing an email so that it, instead of a table, is shipped to Antarctica. Bezzil sets things right, and the keyboard learns its lesson.
Key points
Bezzil the wizard lived in an enchanted house where things obeyed him.
His kitchen cooked meals; his television switched to his favourite comedy show to cheer him up.
His keyboard was naughty and messed with his emails.
Bezzil emailed packers and movers to send a table to his brother in Antarctica.
The bored keyboard replaced the word "table" with its own name.
The movers came and began packing the keyboard. It yelped and cried that it did not want to go.
The movers paid no heed – the email said so.
Bezzil came in, set things right and had the table shipped.
The keyboard learnt to be less mischievous.
Important terms
Wizard – a man with magic powers.
Enchanted – under a magic spell (जादू केलेले).
Yelped – gave a sudden short cry.
Paid no heed – paid no attention.
Mischievous – naughty, causing trouble.
Packers and movers – a service that moves goods.
Language study
Correct the errors: "Bezzil live…" → "Bezzil lived…"; "The keyboard were…" → "The keyboard was…"; "He sends a tale…" → "He sent a table…"; "picking" → "packing".
In this monologue, a honey bee answers someone who called it "lazy". It explains that it is really a busy bee: it helps build the honeycomb, looks after the larvae, guards the hive, fans it cool, stores food and later collects nectar and pollen from hundreds of flowers to make honey.
Key points
The bee says it is not lazy but busy – even when flitting between flowers, it is working hard.
Its house is a honeycomb with thousands of six-sided cells, built from beeswax that bees produce.
When young, it stayed home and looked after the larvae, feeding and protecting them.
It is also a soldier – ready to sting anyone who disturbs the comb.
It kept the comb cool by fanning it with its wings and stored honey and food.
Hundreds of bees work together without fighting – that is why their homes are so perfect.
When older, it flies out to gather nectar (sweet flower juice) and pollen (yellow powder).
It visits hundreds of flowers and makes several trips a day without wasting a moment.
Bees turn thin nectar into sweet, thick honey.
It stopped only to correct the person; otherwise it has not a moment to lose.
Important terms
Monologue – a long speech by one person or character.
Honeycomb – the wax home of bees with six-sided cells (मधमाशांचे पोळे).
"Homework Machine" is a funny poem by Shel Silverstein. The speaker praises his wonderful homework machine: put in your homework and a dime, switch it on, and in ten seconds the homework comes out. But when it says nine plus four is three, he realises the machine is not as perfect as he thought.
Key points
The speaker calls the Homework Machine the most perfect contraption (device) ever seen.
You put in your homework, drop in a dime (a coin), and switch it on.
In ten seconds the homework comes out, quick and clean.
But the answer to "nine plus four" comes out as "three" – a big mistake!
The speaker sighs, "Oh me…", and admits it is not as perfect as he thought.
Message: machines can make mistakes; we must think and do our own work.
Humans vs machines: humans are living, think, feel and learn from mistakes; machines are non-living, have no emotions, work only as programmed and need power.
Important terms
Contraption – a strange machine or device.
Dime – an American coin worth ten cents.
Snap on – switch on quickly.
Perfect – without any mistake (परिपूर्ण).
Language study
Repetition: "The Homework Machine, Oh, the Homework Machine."
Alliteration: "quick and clean" (k sound).
Personification: "Your homework comes out, quick and clean as can be."
5 important questions
Q1. How much time does the machine take to do homework?
Ten seconds.
Q2. What has to be dropped into the machine?
A dime (a coin).
Q3. What mistake does the machine make?
It says nine plus four is three.
Q4. Why does the poet say it is not as perfect as he thought?
Because it gave a wrong answer.
Q5. Write two differences between humans and machines.
Humans can think and feel; machines cannot. Humans need food and rest; machines need electricity or fuel.
Exam tip
Remember the figure of speech for each line – repetition, alliteration, personification.
This lesson describes the Godavari, the second longest river in India after the Ganga. It is called the lifeline of Maharashtra because it supports drinking water, farming, culture and the economy. It begins at Trimbakeshwar near Nashik and flows about 1,465 km into the Bay of Bengal. Today it faces pollution, and we must protect it.
Key points
The Godavari is India's second longest river after the Ganga.
It is the lifeline of Maharashtra – it gives drinking water and supports agriculture, culture and economic activities.
Origin: Trimbakeshwar, near Nashik, in the Western Ghats.
It is a sacred river; the Kumbh Mela is held at Nashik every twelve years.
It flows across the Deccan Plateau, through Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and empties into the Bay of Bengal.
Length: about 1,465 km; most of it passes through Maharashtra.
It and its tributaries help grow rice, sugarcane, cotton and wheat.
Its water is stored in dams and reservoirs for dry seasons. It is home to many plants, fish, birds and animals.
Challenges: industrial waste, sewage and plastic threaten it.
Citizens, government and organisations must work together to protect it. Schools can teach people the value of rivers.
World River Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of September.
Important terms
Lifeline – something very important for survival (जीवनवाहिनी).
Originates – begins.
Tributary – a smaller river that joins a larger river (उपनदी).
Sacred – holy.
Sewage – dirty waste water.
Reservoir – a lake where water is stored.
Language study
Pronoun "her" is used for the river – a sign of respect, like a mother.
A hungry beggar smells the soup at an inn. The greedy innkeeper demands payment for the smell and drags him to Nasreddin Hodja, the judge. Hodja jingles some coins near the innkeeper's ear and says that since the beggar took only the smell of the soup, the innkeeper is paid with the sound of the money. Wisdom wins over greed.
Key points
A beggar had only a small piece of dry, old bread for the day.
He begged at a restaurant for a little food but was sent out empty-handed.
He leaned over a cauldron (large pot) and took a deep breath to enjoy the smell of the soup.
The innkeeper caught his arm and demanded payment for the smell.
The beggar had no money, so the innkeeper dragged him to Nasreddin Hodja, the judge.
Hodja listened carefully to both sides and said he would pay.
He shook coins near the innkeeper's ear so they rang.
He said: the man took the smell of the soup, and you have been paid with the sound of the money.
In this conversation, Dadaji explains Makar Sankranti and its tradition of kite flying to Riya and Rahul. The festival marks the end of winter and the start of longer days. The lesson also describes the International Kite Festival in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, which brings people from many countries together.
Key points
Makar Sankranti marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring; days start getting longer.
It follows the solar calendar and is celebrated on January 14 or 15.
The sun starts moving from south to north, so it is also called Uttarayan.
Kites are flown to stay in the sun, and tilgul laddoos are eaten – both help immunity when the weather changes.
Other names: Khichdi Parv (Uttar Pradesh), Pongal (Tamil Nadu), Suggi Habba (Karnataka), Makaravilakku (Kerala) – unity in diversity.
International Kite Festival: held in January in Gujarat, mainly at the Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad.
Special kites: giant kites, 3D animal and cartoon kites, ribbon kites, glowing night kites.
Flyers come from Japan, China, USA, France, Brazil, Australia, Indonesia and more.
It begins with the cry "Kai Po Che!" and spreads friendship, peace and unity.
Types of kites: box, Rokkaku, delta, diamond-shaped, parafoil.
Important terms
Tradition – a custom followed for a long time (परंपरा).
Immunity – the body's power to fight disease.
Solar calendar – a calendar based on the sun.
Unity in diversity – oneness among different people.
Exposure – being open to (the sun).
Language study
Festival types: colour (Holi), light (Diwali), harvest (Pongal, Sankranti).
Exclamations: "Wow! So many kites!"
5 important questions
Q1. Why is Makar Sankranti also called Uttarayan?
Because from this day the sun starts moving from south to north.
Q2. Why are kites flown on Makar Sankranti?
To stay in the sun, which helps increase immunity during the change of season.
Q3. Give two other names of the festival and their states.
Princess Mohini of Mohanpur is very ill and has stopped smiling. No medicine works. One day the sweet music of a flute makes her open her eyes, speak and smile. The flute player is Chandu, an orphan boy. The King takes him to the palace, where his music cures the princess. Chandu gets an education and later becomes the King's advisor.
Key points
King Madho Singh of Mohanpur loved his daughter Mohini dearly.
Mohini fell ill; the royal physician's treatment failed. She was too weak to talk or eat and never smiled.
The King announced rewards for anyone who could make her smile – a smile would begin her recovery.
One day soft, mesmerising flute music floated into the palace.
Mohini opened her eyes and spoke after months: "Who's playing that?" She smiled faintly.
She did not want the music interrupted, so everyone walked towards the sound.
They found a boy under a tree, lost in his music; wild creatures sat around him as if in a trance.
The frightened boy dropped his flute. The King thanked him – his music had cured the princess.
The boy, Chandu, was an orphan who wanted a job and to study.
He played every day for Mohini, who recovered quickly. The King arranged his education; he later became the King's advisor.
Important terms
Physician – a doctor.
Mesmerising – very attractive, holding attention completely.
"The World is With You" is a short poem by Shrunkhal Khemraj about discipline. The poet says the world is always with us, ready to help, but often we are "not with ourselves" – we do not control our own behaviour. The poem asks us to realise the value of discipline before it is too late.
Key points
The world is with you, but you are not with yourself – we often lose control of our own habits.
The world is moving ahead to the top; it supports you.
The poet asks "why, why, why" we are not with ourselves.
Discipline keeps our life clean and in order.
"Later, later and later" – the habit of delaying (postponing) wastes our time.
The poet asks whether we have realised how we live.
The world is with you every time, but you will not be with yourself forever unless you act now.
Message: practise self-discipline, do things on time and do not postpone work.
In the related letter, Ram tells his cousin Rahul that at the Scout and Guide Camp he learnt that discipline helps us reach our goals; ignoring it wastes time and opportunities.
Important terms
Discipline – the ability to control one's behaviour (शिस्त).
Realise – understand clearly.
Forever – always.
Top – the highest point.
Language study
Repetition: "Later, later and later"; "why, why, why".
Personification: "The world is with you" – the world acts like a companion.
Order of an informal letter: sender's address and date → salutation (Dear Rahul) → greeting (How are you? I hope you are fine.) → body → closing (Your cousin, Ram).
5 important questions
Q1. Who wrote the poem?
Shrunkhal Khemraj.
Q2. Which words are repeated in the poem?
"Later", "why" and "But you are not with you".
Q3. What lesson does the poet teach about discipline?
We must control our habits, do our work on time and not keep postponing it.
Q4. Suggest a new title for the poem.
"Be With Yourself" or "The Value of Discipline".
Q5. What did Ram learn at the Scout and Guide Camp?
That discipline is very important and helps us achieve our goals.
Exam tip
Name the figure of speech for each line given: repetition for "Later, later, later".
"The Day Dreamer" is a funny folk tale from Bengal. A poor couple daydream about owning a cow. The wife buys five pots for milk products, and the couple fight over giving "extra milk" to her sister – though they have no cow! Their neighbour Chenna teaches them a lesson by beating the husband for a cow eating his imaginary garden. Everyone realises the folly and laughs.
Key points
A very poor couple in a tiny Bengal village always daydreamed of becoming rich.
The husband dreamt of getting a cow; the wife planned to make ghee, buttermilk, butter and cheese, and bought five pots from the potter.
The husband was angry at the extravagance. She explained four pots were for milk, buttermilk, ghee and cheese.
The fifth pot was for sending extra milk to her sister. The furious husband smashed all the pots.
They kept screaming, which disgusted their neighbour Chenna.
Chenna asked about the noise; the husband complained that his wife gave milk to her sister.
Chenna pointed out they had no cow, then started hitting the husband with a stick.
He said the man's "silly cow" ate his cucumber and bean saplings – but Chenna had no garden either; he only planned to grow one.
The husband realised his folly, and both had a hearty laugh.
Moral: do not fight over things that do not exist; work instead of only dreaming.
Important terms
Daydream – pleasant thoughts that take you away from reality (दिवास्वप्न).
Miserable – very unhappy.
Extravagance – spending more money than needed.
Furious – very angry.
Commotion – a great noise.
Folly – a foolish act.
Language study
Reading with stress and intonation: "But that's not fair!" (anger), "Milk? Where did you get milk from?" (surprise).
This lesson, based on a BBC report by Geeta Pandey, tells about women scientists at ISRO who worked on India's Mars Orbiter Mission. A viral photo of women celebrating the mission challenged the stereotype that rocket science is only for men. It introduces Ritu Karidhal, Nandini Harinath and Anuradha T K.
Key points
When India put a satellite into orbit around Mars, a photo of women in saris celebrating at ISRO, Bengaluru, went viral.
ISRO clarified they were administrative staff, but several women scientists did work on the mission.
Ritu Karidhal (Deputy Operations Director, Mars Orbiter Mission): loved physics and maths, collected news on NASA and ISRO, joined ISRO after her postgraduate degree.
The mission began in April 2012; there were only 18 months to reach Mars and no "heritage" of interplanetary missions. Its success was due to teamwork.
Nandini Harinath (Deputy Operations Director): first exposure to science was the TV show Star Trek; ISRO was her first job; over 20 years there.
During the launch, scientists worked day and night; she still woke at 4 a.m. to help her daughter study. She prefers to "remain grounded".
Anuradha T K: senior-most woman officer at ISRO, specialist in sending communication satellites about 36,000 km from Earth; 34 years at ISRO.
She became interested in space at nine after Neil Armstrong's moon landing and wrote a Kannada poem about it.
When she joined in 1982 there were few women; today more than 20–25% of ISRO's over 16,000 employees are women. Gender is not an issue – merit decides.
Important terms
Stereotype – a fixed, often wrong, idea about a type of person (साचेबद्ध कल्पना).
Orbit – the curved path of a planet or satellite.
Ecstatic – extremely happy.
Interplanetary – between planets.
Went viral – spread quickly on the internet.
Language study
Full forms: NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration; ISRO – Indian Space Research Organisation; VSSC – Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre; PSLV – Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle; INSAT – Indian National Satellite.
"A small window" = a short period of time.
5 important questions
Q1. What stereotype did the viral photograph challenge?
That rocket science in India was only for men.
Q2. How long did the scientists have to reach Mars?
Only 18 months.
Q3. How did Nandini Harinath get interested in science?
By watching Star Trek and science-fiction shows with her family.
Q4. Write about Anuradha T K in two sentences.
She is the senior-most woman officer at ISRO and specialises in communication satellites. She was inspired by Neil Armstrong's moon landing at the age of nine.
Q5. What percentage of ISRO's employees are women today?
More than 20–25% of over 16,000 employees.
Exam tip
Learn the full forms of NASA, ISRO, PSLV and INSAT – matching questions are common.
"My Books" is a short poem in which the poet says books are true friends. They give endless joy, teach something new each time, and carry us to faraway places like forests and clear skies. The poet compares books to boats sailing on a sea of knowledge, fun and mystery. The textbook names Harindranath Chattopadhyay as the poet.
Key points
Books are the poet's friends; they give joy that never ends.
Each reading brings something new – a story, a picture or a dream come true.
Books take us to places near and far – deep forests and clear skies.
Books are like boats sailing on a sea of knowledge, fun and mystery.
Message: read books regularly and take good care of them.
Vachan Prerana Diwas (Reading Inspiration Day) is celebrated in schools to encourage reading.
Important terms
Joy – happiness.
Mystery – something not easily understood (रहस्य).
Dream come true – something wished for that really happens.
Knowledge – information and understanding.
Sail – travel on water.
Language study
Metaphor: "Books are my friends", "My books are boats that sail the sea".
Alliteration: "skies so clear" (s sound).
Rhyming words: friends – ends, new – true, near – clear, sea – mystery.
Opposites: start × end, fresh × rotten, far × near, short × tall, small × big, dirty × clean, black × white, soft × hard, dark × light, cold × hot.
5 important questions
Q1. Why does the poet call books friends?
Books give joy, teach new things and take us to new places, just like good friends.
Q2. To what are books compared?
To boats that sail on a sea of knowledge, fun and mystery.
Q3. True or false: "The poet reads the same books every time."
False – each time he reads, he finds something new.
Q4. Write two ways to take care of books.
Cover them neatly; do not fold pages – use a bookmark.
Q5. Identify the figure of speech: "Books are my friends."
Metaphor.
Exam tip
Write rhyming pairs and the main metaphor – they come in nearly every poem question.
Raju, the innkeeper's son, loves playing detective and suspects every quiet guest. He follows a serious-looking tourist to the village square but falls asleep on a bench. The tourist carries him back to the inn. Raju learns the man is an architect and realises that not all quiet people are "fishy".
Key points
Raju loved to play detective and kept tabs on all the guests at the inn.
If anyone seemed even slightly suspicious, he was sure they were criminals.
A quiet, serious-looking tourist came to stay and became Raju's newest target.
Raju shadowed him to the village square, where the man sat on a bench, looked around and took pictures.
Raju sat on another bench to watch him, but his eyelids grew heavy and he fell asleep.
He woke up back at the inn – the man had noticed him and carried him home.
When Raju went to thank him, he learnt the tourist was an architect hired to remodel village buildings.
Moral: do not judge people by their looks or quietness.
Raju's character: curious, imaginative, quick to suspect, but polite and willing to learn.
Important terms
Detective – a person who investigates crimes (गुप्तहेर).
Keep tabs on – watch closely.
Shadowed – followed secretly.
Fishy – suspicious.
Architect – a person who designs buildings.
Vaguely – not clearly; slightly.
Language study
Phrases: keep an eye on (watch), eyelids grew heavy (became sleepy), keep tabs on (watch carefully), serious-looking (looking grave).
Famous detectives: Sherlock Holmes, Byomkesh Bakshi, Feluda, Hercule Poirot.
5 important questions
Q1. What was Raju's favourite pastime?
Playing detective and watching the guests at the inn.
Q2. Why did the tourist become Raju's newest target?
He was quiet, serious-looking and minded his own business.
Q3. What happened at the village square?
Raju watched the man from another bench but fell fast asleep.
Q4. What did Raju learn about the tourist?
He was an architect hired to remodel some village buildings.
Q5. Write the moral of the story.
Not all quiet people are fishy – don't judge others without reason.
Exam tip
For a character sketch of Raju, give 3 qualities with one example each from the story.