Class 6 English Lesson 1.4 Children are going to School answers

Class 6 English Chapter 1.4 Children are going to School – questions and answers

Std 6 English Balbharathi Lesson 1.4 Children are going to school Solution

Meanings:

muslin : a kind of soft cotton fabric

turban: a covering for the head which is made of cloth

breeze: blowing wind

melodies: tunes

lush: thick, a lot of

foliage : greenery; leafy cover

a-gleam : shining bright

Theme/Central Idea:

All the elements of nature namely the sky, sun, wind, trees, flowers, birds and the smallest of particles show their respect, love and happiness to the children going to school.

This poem is an English translation of the Hindi poem “Bachche school ja rahe hain’ by Nida Fali.

Children are going to school: Summary

Introduction: We all know that there are a lot of children around the world for whom going to school is a privilege. Many of them go through all kinds of hardships to be able to get education. It is a moment of pride and respect to these children.

1st Stanza:

We are aware that almost all schools begin early in the morning and the children have to wake up early to go to school. So when the morning light spreads over the Earth i.e. it is sunrise, once again the sky bows its head in respect because the children are going to school. The sky is showing its love and affection by bowing and welcoming the children who have woken up early and are now on their way to school.

A new day means a new beginning and new opportunities to the children who are going to school.

The poet has personified the sky by giving it human quality of bowing its head in respect.

2nd Stanza:

When the sun sets, it looks as if it has dipped into the river and when it rises it seems as if it is coming out of the river. So here, the poet says that the sun after taking a dip in the river, that is after its morning bath, it is dressed in his golden muslin turban. ‘Golden’ here signifies the orange hue that the sun gives out at dawn, muslin is a type of cotton cloth and turban is a cloth that is tied around the head.

The poet says that the sun is all dressed by wearing its golden muslin turban and is waiting at the side of the road, with a smile, ready to welcome the children going to school.

        In this stanza the poet has personified the sun by giving it human qualities of waking up, taking a dip, dressing up, smiling and waiting at the side of the road.

        We see that even the sun is smiling and is very happy to see the children going to school.

3rd Stanza:

        When the wind blows it makes a whistling sound. The poet now tells us that as the wind passes through trees covered with leaves in the form of a breeze, it feels as if it is singing songs of blessing. In other words the wind is blessing the children going to school.

        The flowers that are blooming in the morning are awakening the sleepy roads. Why has the poet called the roads ‘sleepy’? Perhaps because nobody was walking on the roads at night, the roads were silent as if they had gone off to sleep. And so the flowers are giving out sweet melodies, that is, sweet music as they bloom and give out sweet fragrance in the morning, as if they are waking the sleepy roads and telling them to get ready for the children who will be walking on the path to go to school.

        The peepal tree which is growing at the corner of the lane is waving its branches that are full of green leaves. By waving its hands the peepal tree is greeting the children going to school.

        In this stanza the poet has personified the breeze as singing songs, the flowers as giving out sweet melodies and the peepal tree as waving its hands.

4th Stanza:

The poet has called all the elements and particles of nature as angels of light that is the sky, the sun, the wind, the flowers, the roads and the trees. All these angels of light, who are the messengers of God, have set out and illuminated the roads for the children going to school. It is said that ‘knowledge is light’ so here all the elements and particles of nature, who as angels, are spreading this light and helping the children gain knowledge.

The poet further states that, at this hour, meaning, at the hour when the children are going to school every particle of nature is throbbing like a mother’s heart. What the poet wants to say is, just like a mother is always anxious for her children and her heart always beats with love for her children, so also mother nature’s heart is throbbing with affection to all the children who are going to school.

Time has always been there for us, it never dies, that is, it is immortal, it lives forever. Like a grand old man, time sits on the roof, that is, high up and is ticking happily. We have all heard of the proverb “Time is on our side’, which means the present time is the right time for all of us and we should not let it pass in vain. In this poem, the poet says that time is on the children’s side and it is the right time for them to gain knowledge and not let this opportunity pass by.

Time is sitting on a roof and flies pigeons. Pigeons symbolise peace. We have often seen people releasing pigeons in the air. So here time is releasing pigeons and sending out peace into the world. Time wants the world to have peace and not war. It wants peace and harmony in the world so that the children going to school can learn peacefully without worrying about anything.

In this stanza the poet has personified the particles of the earth of having a mother’s heart. He has personified time as sitting on a roof.

Conclusion:

We can conclude that, the earth and all the elements of nature are encouraging the children to go to school, gain great knowledge and do well in life.

POINTERS

1. Read the poem aloud.

2. Find at least two things from the poem that show the following :

(a) It is early morning.

Ans. (i) The morning light spreads over the earth.

(ii) The sun is on one side of the road.

(b) The atmosphere is pleasant.

Ans. Ans. (i) The breezes are singing songs of blessings.

(ii) The Peepal waves his hands.

(iii) Fragrant flowers make the sleepy roads come awake with their songs.

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. Natural elements that are shown to act like persons are:

(i) The Sky – bows his head in respect.

(ii) The Sun – takes a dip in the river and dresses up; waits and smiles on one side of the road

(iii) The Breeze – sings songs of blessings.

(iv) The Flowers – sing songs; awaken the road.

(v) The Roads – are sleepy.

(vi) The Peepal tee – waves his hands.

(vii) The Roads – are shining bright.

(viii) The particles of Earth – throb.

(ix) Time – is sitting on an old roof.

4. Draw a picture of the scene described in the poem.

(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. When children go to school they are very happy, they can play with their friends, enjoy themselves, gain knowledge and interact with other children. Therefore the whole world is happy.

6. Write about how your family supports you to go to school.

Ans. My family has enrolled me in a very good school. They pay the fees on time. They buy books and stationery that I need for my school work. My mother ensures that I wake up on time and attend school regularly. 

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. If children did not go to school, they would have nothing to do with their time. They would spend school time doing various unproductive tasks such as playing video games or watching TV all day. Parents who work would have to spend extra money in hiring someone to look after their children while they are working. Children would not know basic skills like reading, writing, maths, etc. When they grow up they would not have the qualifications to work which would therefore lead to poverty among them. Businesses would fail as they would not have any employees to work for them. Because of this, the economy of the world would fall drastically. Therefore it is very important for children to go to school and learn.

8. Write in short about what your parents/guardians feel when they send you to school.

Ans. My parents feel very happy to see me go to school and study hard as they have worked a lot for me to be able to go to school. They feel proud when I win various awards and score good marks in school.

9. List five of your favourite Hindi or Marathi poems or songs. Try to translate any one of them into English.

Hindi Poems

कोशिश करने वालों की हार नहीं होती / सोहनलाल द्विवेदी

जैसी माँ / निदा फजली 

बड़ी बात है / राजा  चौरसिया 

बढ़े चलो, बढ़े चलो – सोहनलाल द्विवेदी

उँगलियाँ थाम के  – कुँवर बेचैन

Marathi Poems

माई मराठी – संजीवनी मराठे

गवतफुला रे! गवतफुला! – इंदिरा संत

घर – घुंडिराज जोशी

चंद्रावरची शाळा – चारुता पेंढरकर

जय जय महाराष्ट्र माझा – राजा बढे

सर्वात्मका शिवसुंदरा – कुसुमाग्रज (विष्णु वामन शिरवाडकर)

सर्वात्मका शिवसुंदरा स्वीकार या अभिवादना।

तिमिरातुनी तेजाकडे प्रभु आमुच्या ने जीवना।।

सुमनांत तू गगनात तू

ताऱ्यांमध्ये फुलतोस तू

सद्‍धर्म जे जगतामधे

सर्वांत त्या वसतोस तू

चोहीकडे रूपे तुझी जाणीव ही माझ्या मना।।

श्रमतोस तू शेतामधे

तू राबसी श्रमिकांसवे

जे रंजले वा गांजले

पुसतोस त्यांची आसवे

स्वार्थाविना सेवा जिथे तिथे तुझे पद पावना।।

न्‍यायार्थ जे लढती रणी

तलवार तू त्यांच्या करी

ध्येयार्थ जे तमि चालती

तू दीप त्यांच्या अंतरी

ज्ञानार्थ जे तपती मुनी होतोस त्यांची साधना।।

करुणाकरा करुणा तुझी

असता मला भय कोठले

मार्गावरी पुढती सदा

पाहीन मी तव पाउले

सृजनत्व या हृदयामध्येनित जागवी भीतीविना।

English Translation

O universal and beautiful God Shiva

You are present in the flowers and in the sky. You are blooming in the stars. And in this world, you dwell in everything that is a pious and holy religion. My mind can feel your presence in all the different forms and objects present all around.

You not only toil in the fields but you dwell among hard working labourers. You wipe off the tears of all those you are sad and suffering. Where ever there are people serving others selflessly, you footprints are present there.

You are sword in the hands of all those soldiers who fought for justice. You are the lamp to those people who are walking in darkness with a very strong goal. You also present in the spiritual penance of all those holy sages who are in pursuit of knowledge.

I do not fear anything, whenever you show mercy and compassion, O Compassionate one! And whenever I see your footsteps I fearless move onwards. So let me confidently have creativity and newness in my heart, this I pray.

10. Visit a library. Find a school poem. Recite it to your parents

Round and Round

John Kitching ​

Round and round the playground,

Marching in a line,

I’ll hold your hand.

You hold mine.

Round and round the playground

Skipping in a ring

Everybody loves it

When we all sing.

Round and round the playground 

That’s what we like:

Climbing on the climbing frame,

Riding on the bike.

Round and round the playground,

All together friends.

We’re sad, sad, sad

When the school day ends.

A Project :

‘Sources of Light’

(a) List all possible sources of light which enable you to see. Try to list at least 10 to 15. You may add the following to your list : Different kinds of lamps in your house, different sources you see in nature, different sources used by man in the past, etc.

Ans. Sun, Moon, Stars, Tube light, LED light, CFL light, bulb, oil lamps, candles, table lamp, gas stove, etc.

(b) Collect as many pictures as you can, or draw diagrams of all the sources you have listed above. Make a scrapbook using them.

(c) Think of different ways of classifying them, for example, electric and non-electric, day-time sources and night-time sources.

(d) What is your favourite source of light ? Write its autobiography. (10 – 15 lines)

Ans. My favourite source of light is my grandfather’s oil lamp.

Autobiography of an oil lamp

Hello there! I am an oil lamp and am here to tell my story.

I was created in a factory in Maharashtra in 1920 by various humans. I was made from metal and glass and had gold paint. My friends and I were then shipped to a store in Mumbai. We were all excited to go to new places. A few days later, a man approached me and picked me up. I was going to my new home! 

He kept me in his house and put me on his table. At night, I was lit and my master used me to read and write his work. For many years I served him by providing light all around his home. However, one day when my master picked me, his hold slipped and I went crashing down. My glass shattered and I was cracked. He tried to fix me, but alas, I was broken beyond repair. I was given away. Days later I found myself in a scrapyard with different types of articles such as a table, a few chairs, and even a couple of lamps. We were all old and broken. I was sad when I realised where I was, but my friends immediately cheered me up. Today, I am still here and even though nobody uses me, I still am happy to spend the rest of my years with my dear friends.