Chapter 1.4 - Children are going to school ...
In this happy poem, nature is shown to be pleased that children are going to school.
The poet says that the morning light spreads over the earth. The sky, once again, bows his head in respect because children are going to school.
The sun, after his morning dip in the river, is dressed in his turban of golden muslin. He waits and smiles on one side of the road. For, the children are going to school.
The breeze, moving through the green-topped branches of trees, sings songs of blessings. Flowers with a pleasant smell make the sleepy roads come alive with their songs. At the corner of the lane, the peepal tree, from under his green leafy cover, waves his hands. For, the children are going to school.
The angels of light have made every road shine brightly. At this hour, every particle of the earth beats like a mother’s heart. Time is sitting on an old roof, making the pigeons fly in the air. For, the children are going to school.
muslin : a kind of soft cotton fabric
foliage : greenery; leafy cover
a-gleam : shining bright
POINTERS
1. Read the poem aloud.
Ans: Students should do this on their own.
2. Find at least two things from the poem that show the following :
(a) It is early morning.
Ans:
(i) Morning light spreads over the earth.
(ii) The sun, after his morning dip in the river dressed up in his golden muslin turban waits and smiles on one side of the road.
(b) The atmosphere is pleasant.
Ans:
(i) Breezes sing their songs of blessings.
(ii) Fragrant flowers awaken the sleepy roads with their melodies.
3. Apart from the children, no other human beings are mentioned in the poem. However, many natural elements are shown to act like persons. Name them and also write what they do.
Ans:
(i) The sky: Sky bows his head in respect for children going to school.
(ii) The sun: The sun waits and smiles on one side of the road for the children going to school.
(iii) The breezes: Through the green-topped branches, breezes sing their songs of blessings.
(iv) The fragrant flowers: They awaken the sleepy roads with their melodies.
(v) The peepal tree: It waves his hands for the children going to school.
(vi) Every particle of the earth: Throbs like a mother’s heart for the children going to school.
(vii) Pigeons: Fly in the sky for children going to school.
4. Draw a picture of the scene described in the poem.
Ans: Students should do this on their own.
5. The whole world is happy because children are going to school. Why is it so? Discuss it in the classroom.
Ans: Children going to school is a beautiful sight. The fun they have, the little games they play, the mischievous things they do enroute to the school, all make it a pretty picture. So, the whole world is happy to witness this sight. Apart from this, it is important that children go to school for their development and the development of the world at large. So, the whole world is happy because children are going to school.
6. Write about how your family supports you to go to school.
Ans: My family is my greatest support system. They support me in every way to go to school. Packing my lunch box and bag with books and learning material is done by my mother. My father helps me to keep my books complete. He also helps me to get ready to go to school before dropping me to school.
7. What would happen if children didn’t go to school? Discuss the question in groups of 5-8 and prepare a short composition on it.
Ans: School is a temple of knowledge. If children didn’t go to school, they would not attain knowledge. In school, they learn different subjects, good qualities and various skills. This helps them to become good individuals and great citizens. Children who don’t go to school will be denied all these experiences. They will also miss out on all the fun other children have in schools.
We should ensure that every child is sent to school so that he receives a good education. This will not only help him to realize his dreams but also help him contribute towards national development. Let us educate and empower ourselves and work towards a bright future.
8. Write in short about what your parents/guardians feel when they send you to school.
Ans: Parents/guardians experience mixed feelings when they send us to school. They feel happy that we are going to school to acquire knowledge, skills and values and at the same time they miss our absence from home too.
Sometimes, if the school is far away, parents and guardians are worried till we get back. At the same time they are aware that for our bright future it is essential to go to school. They are proud that we are doing our best in school by making the most of our experiences.
9. List five of your favourite Hindi or Marathi poems or songs.
Try to translate any one of them into English.
Ans: Students must do this on their own.
10. Visit a library. Find a school poem. Recite it to your parents.
Ans: Students must do this on their own.