Lesson Plan: A Journey to the Magical Mountains Class 4 English Santoor NCERT: Unit 4 Up High

Lesson Overview

Aspect	Details
Lesson	A Journey to the Magical Mountains (Chapter 11)
Class	4
Subject	English (L2 – Second Language)
Unit	4: Up High
Type	Story (Narrative – Adventure)
Duration	5 Days (30–35 minutes per day)
Page Reference	Pages 111-142
Curricular Goals (NCF-SE 2023)	CG 1 (Sustains effective communication skills), CG 2 (Develops fluency in reading and comprehension), CG 3 (Expresses understanding in writing), CG 4 (Develops wide range of vocabulary)

Introduction

“A Journey to the Magical Mountains” is the eleventh chapter of Unit 4: Up High in the Santoor Class 4 English textbook. This enchanting story follows a young girl named Minam and her grandfather, who was once a Sherpa, on a magical journey to the Himalayas.

The story follows:

Minam – a young girl who loves listening to stories about the mountains
Her grandfather – a former Sherpa who takes her on a special journey
The journey – through forests, by a river, to snowy peaks
The sights – beautiful flowers, birds, fish, snow, yaks, mountain goats
The destination – a view of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world
The lesson – respecting and protecting nature

The chapter teaches children about:

The Himalayas – the tallest mountain range in the world
Sherpas – guides and helpers in mountain climbing
Mount Everest – the tallest mountain in the world
Animals of the mountains – yaks, mountain goats, snow leopards
Respect for nature – protecting the mountains
Conjunctions – and, or, but, because
Words with body parts – foot of the mountain, neck of the bottle, etc.

The chapter also includes activities related to:

Comprehension questions about the story
Vocabulary matching – journey, Sherpa, Himalayas, snowman, memories, loads
Crossword puzzle – mountain-related vocabulary
Using conjunctions – and, or, but, because
Words with body parts – foot, neck, eye, mouth, arm, heart
Dictionary work – plain, river, valley, summit, foot, slope, plateau, hill, mountain range
Research activity – mountain animals (Snow Leopard, Himalayan Tahir, Red Panda, etc.)
Project work – creating a chart about mountain animals

Learning Objectives (सीखने के उद्देश्य)

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Read and understand the story “A Journey to the Magical Mountains.” (कहानी “ए जर्नी टू द मैजिकल माउंटेंस” को पढ़ और समझ सकेंगे।)
Identify the characters – Minam and her grandfather. (पात्रों की पहचान कर सकेंगे – मीनम और उसके दादा।)
Describe the journey to the mountains and what Minam saw. (पहाड़ों की यात्रा और मीनम ने क्या देखा, इसका वर्णन कर सकेंगे।)
Understand the importance of respecting and protecting nature. (प्रकृति का सम्मान और संरक्षण करने के महत्व को समझ सकेंगे।)
Use conjunctions (and, or, but, because) correctly. (Conjunctions का सही उपयोग कर सकेंगे।)
Identify words related to mountains and geography. (पहाड़ों और भूगोल से संबंधित शब्दों की पहचान कर सकेंगे।)
Research about mountain animals and present findings. (पहाड़ी जानवरों के बारे में शोध कर सकेंगे और प्रस्तुत कर सकेंगे।)
Appreciate the beauty of the Himalayas and nature. (हिमालय और प्रकृति की सुंदरता की सराहना कर सकेंगे।)

Key Vocabulary (मुख्य शब्दावली)

Story-Specific Words (कहानी से संबंधित शब्द)

English	Hindi
Himalayas	हिमालय (Himalaya)
Sherpa	शेरपा (Sherpa)
Journey	यात्रा (Yatra)
Magical	जादुई (Jadui)
Peaks	चोटियाँ (Chotiyaan)
River	नदी (Nadi)
Snow	बर्फ (Barf)
Snowman	बर्फ का आदमी (Barf ka aadmi)
Memories	यादें (Yaadein)
Respect	सम्मान (Samman)
Protect	सुरक्षित करना (Surakshit karna)
Yaks	याक (Yak)
Mountain goats	पहाड़ी बकरियाँ (Pahadi bakriyaan)
Summit	शिखर (Shikhar)

Words Used with Body Parts (शरीर के अंगों से जुड़े शब्द)

Phrase	Meaning	Hindi
Foot of the mountain	Base of the mountain	पहाड़ का पैर
Neck of the bottle	Top part of the bottle	बोतल की गर्दन
Eye of the needle	Hole in the needle	सुई की आँख
Mouth of the river	Where the river meets the sea	नदी का मुँह
Arm of the chair	Side support of a chair	कुर्सी की बाजू
Heart of the city	Centre of the city	शहर का केंद्र

Conjunctions (Conjunctions)

Conjunction	Usage	Hindi
And	Adds information	और
Or	Gives a choice	या
But	Shows contrast (difference)	लेकिन
Because	Gives a reason	क्योंकि

New Words (नए शब्द)

English	Hindi
Journey	यात्रा
Sherpa	शेरपा
Himalayas	हिमालय
Snowman	बर्फ का आदमी
Memories	यादें

Mountain Vocabulary (पहाड़ी शब्दावली)

English	Hindi
Plain	मैदान
River	नदी
Valley	घाटी
Summit	शिखर
Foot	पैर (पहाड़ का)
Slope	ढलान
Plateau	पठार
Hill	पहाड़ी
Mountain range	पर्वत श्रृंखला

Sight Words (दृश्य शब्द)

the, and, to, of, for, with, on, at, by, from, in, it, they, their, them, he, she, his, her, was, were, had, her, him, his, my, your

Day-Wise Lesson Plan

Day 1: Introduction to the Story (कहानी का परिचय)

Duration: 30 minutes

Time	Activity	Hindi Term / Instruction	Teacher’s Role
5 min	Warm-up	शुभ प्रभात! (Shubh Prabhat!)	Greet students. Ask: “Have you ever seen mountains?” (क्या तुमने कभी पहाड़ देखे हैं?) “What do you know about the Himalayas?” (तुम हिमालय के बारे में क्या जानते हो?)
5 min	Pre-listening	आज क्या सीखेंगे? (Aaj kya seekhenge?)	Show the title “A Journey to the Magical Mountains”. Ask: “What do you think this story is about?” “Today we will read a story about a girl named Minam and her journey to the Himalayas!”
10 min	Story Narration (Part 1)	कहानी सुनो (Kahani suno)	Narrate the first part of the story (Pages 111-114): Minam’s grandfather takes her on a journey to the mountains, they walk through forests and reach a river.
5 min	Vocabulary Introduction	नए शब्द सीखो (Naye shabd seekho)	Introduce key words: Himalayas, Sherpa, journey, magical, peaks, river, yaks, mountain goats.
5 min	Wrap-up	आज क्या सीखा? (Aaj kya seekha?)	Ask: “Who is the main character in the story?” (Minam) “Who takes her on the journey?” (Her grandfather) “What is the name of the mountain range?” (Himalayas)

Story Summary (Part 1 – Pages 111-114):

Once upon a time, in a small village at the foot of the mighty Himalayas, lived a young girl named Minam. She loved to listen to stories about the mountains from her grandfather, who was once a Sherpa.
One sunny morning, Minam’s grandfather said, “Today, I will take you on a special journey to the mountains. We’ll see the beauty of the Himalayas up close!”
They started their journey early in the morning. As they walked, Minam saw beautiful flowers, tall trees, and heard the sounds of birds she had never heard before.
After a while, they reached a small river with clear water. They sat by the river, enjoying their rotis and watching the fish swim. Minam dipped her feet in the cool water and laughed with joy.

Key Characters – Part 1:

Character	Hindi	Role
Minam	मीनम	A young girl who loves mountains
Grandfather	दादा	Former Sherpa, guide

Key Vocabulary – Part 1:

Word	Hindi
Himalayas	हिमालय
Sherpa	शेरपा
Journey	यात्रा
Magical	जादुई
River	नदी

Hindi Instructions to Use:

“Kahaani suno” (कहानी सुनो) – Listen to the story
“Minam kaun hai?” (मीनम कौन है?) – Who is Minam?
“Uske daada kaun the?” (उसके दादा कौन थे?) – Who was her grandfather?
“Ve kahan gaye?” (वे कहाँ गए?) – Where did they go?

Day 2: Story Narration (Part 2) and Comprehension (कहानी का दूसरा भाग और समझ)

Duration: 30 minutes

Time	Activity	Hindi Term / Instruction	Teacher’s Role
5 min	Revision	कल क्या सीखा? (Kal kya seekha?)	Quick recall: “Who is Minam?” “Where did she go with her grandfather?”
10 min	Story Narration (Part 2)	कहानी पूरी सुनो (Kahani puri suno)	Narrate the rest of the story (Pages 114-116): Minam and her grandfather reach the snow, make a snowman, see Mount Everest, hear a santoor, see mountain goats, and return home.
5 min	Comprehension Questions	प्रश्न-उत्तर (Prashn-uttar)	Ask from Page 116: “Who was Minam, and what did she enjoy doing with her grandfather?” “What items did Minam pack?” “Where did they stop for lunch?” “What was Minam’s reaction when she saw snow?” “What did Minam promise at the end?”
5 min	Discussion Activity	चर्चा (Charcha)	Use Pages 116-117 (B): “Is there someone in your family who teaches you special things?” “What animals or things in your surroundings are important?” “What would you do to protect nature?”
5 min	Wrap-up	आज क्या सीखा?	Ask: “What did Minam see at the top of the hill?” (Mount Everest) “What promise did she make?” (To protect the mountains)

Story Summary (Part 2 – Pages 114-116):

As they walked further, they reached a place where the ground was covered with snow. Minam had never seen so much snow before! She and her grandfather made a small snowman.
Finally, they reached the top of a hill. From there, Minam could see the huge peaks of the Himalayas shining in the sun. Her grandfather pointed to the highest mountain and said, “That is Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.”
On their way down, they heard the beautiful musical notes of a Santoor. They also saw a family of mountain goats jumping from rock to rock.
By the time they reached their village, it was getting dark. Minam said, “Thank you for taking me to the magical mountains.”
Her grandfather replied, “The mountains are truly magical, Minam. They teach us about strength, beauty, and the wonders of nature. Always remember to respect and protect them.”
Minam promised to take care of the mountains and share their magic with everyone she met.

Key Events – Part 2:

Order	Event
1	Minam sees snow for the first time
2	She makes a snowman with her grandfather
3	She reaches the top and sees Mount Everest
4	She hears a Santoor being played
5	She sees mountain goats jumping on rocks
6	She returns home and promises to protect nature

Comprehension Questions (Page 116):

Question	Expected Answer
Who was Minam, and what did she enjoy doing with her grandfather?	Minam was a young girl who loved listening to her grandfather’s stories about the mountains.
What items did Minam pack?	Rotis with achaar, two water bottles, and apples.
Where did they stop for lunch?	They stopped by a small river with clear water.
What was Minam’s reaction when she saw snow?	She was very excited and had never seen so much snow before. She made a snowman with her grandfather.
What did Minam promise at the end?	She promised to take care of the mountains and share their magic.

Think and Discuss (Pages 116-117 B):

Question	Possible Answer
Is there someone in your family who teaches you special things?	Yes, my grandmother tells me stories.
What animals help people in your area?	Yaks help carry loads in the mountains.
What would you do to protect nature?	I would not litter and would plant trees.

Hindi Instructions to Use:

“Minam ne snow pehli baar kab dekhi?” (मीनम ने बर्फ पहली बार कब देखी?) – When did Minam see snow for the first time?
“Mount Everest kya hai?” (माउंट एवरेस्ट क्या है?) – What is Mount Everest?
“Minam ne kya vaada kiya?” (मीनम ने क्या वादा किया?) – What promise did Minam make?

Day 3: Vocabulary and Matching Activities (शब्दावली और मिलान गतिविधियाँ)

Duration: 30 minutes

Time	Activity	Hindi Term / Instruction	Teacher’s Role
5 min	Revision	पुनरावृत्ति (Punaravritti)	Quick story recall. Comprehension recap.
10 min	Vocabulary Matching Activity	शब्द मिलान	Use Pages 117-118: Match the following from the story: Minam’s favourite fruit – Apples, Place where they had lunch – River, Animals that live in snowy mountains – Yaks, The tallest mountain – Mount Everest, Animals good at climbing rocks – Mountain goats.
10 min	Fill in the Blanks Activity	रिक्त स्थान भरो	Use Page 117 (A): Complete the sentences using words from the box: journey, memories, Sherpa, Himalayas, snowman, loads.
5 min	Wrap-up	आज क्या सीखा?	Ask: “What are yaks used for?” “What is Mount Everest?”

Vocabulary Matching (Pages 117-118 C):

Column A	Column B
Minam’s favourite fruit	Apples
Place where they had lunch	River
Animals that live in snowy mountains	Yaks
The tallest mountain in the world	Mount Everest
Animals good at climbing rocks	Mountain goats

Fill in the Blanks (Page 117 A):

Sentence	Answer
Minam saw the tall peaks of the ______.	Himalayas
Her grandfather was once a ______.	Sherpa
They went on a long ______ to the mountains.	journey
Yaks are used by mountain people to carry heavy ______.	loads
She and her grandfather made a small ______.	snowman
The day created beautiful ______ for Minam.	memories

Hindi Instructions to Use:

“Milan karo” (मिलान करो) – Match
“Khaali jagah bharo” (खाली जगह भरो) – Fill in the blanks
“Sahi shabd chuno” (सही शब्द चुनो) – Choose the correct word

Day 4: Conjunctions and Body Parts Words (Conjunctions और शरीर के अंगों से जुड़े शब्द)

Duration: 30 minutes

Time	Activity	Hindi Term / Instruction	Teacher’s Role
5 min	Revision	दोहराव (Dohrav)	Quick vocabulary recall.
15 min	Conjunctions Activity	Conjunctions	Use Pages 121-122: “The words that join two or more words, phrases, or sentences together are known as Conjunctions.” Practice: and, or, but, because.
5 min	Body Parts Words Activity	शरीर के अंगों से जुड़े शब्द	Use Page 119: “Did you know that we use names of body parts to describe other objects?” Practice: foot of the mountain, neck of the bottle, eye of the needle, mouth of the river, arm of the chair, heart of the city.
5 min	Wrap-up	आज क्या सीखा?	Ask: “What is a conjunction?” “Give an example of a conjunction.” “What does ‘foot of the mountain’ mean?”

Conjunctions Explanation (Page 121):

Conjunction	Usage	Example
And	Adds information	I have a dog and a cat.
Or	Gives a choice	Do you want an apple or a banana?
But	Shows contrast/difference	I was tired, but I finished my homework.
Because	Gives a reason	I stayed inside because it was raining.

Practice Exercise (Pages 121-122):

Sentence	Answer
She was hungry. She ate a sandwich.	because
I wanted to go out. It was too late.	but
He was happy. He got a new toy.	because
We can go to the zoo. We can go to the aquarium.	or
Aman has a pen. Aman has a pencil. Aman has an eraser.	and
Simran loves mangoes. She loves bananas.	and
He ran fast. He missed the bus.	but
She stayed home. She was not feeling well.	because
I love chocolate. I love vanilla.	and
The baby is crying. He is hungry.	because

Body Parts Words Activity (Page 119):

Phrase	Meaning	Hindi
Foot of the mountain	Base of the mountain	पहाड़ का पैर
Neck of the bottle	Top part of the bottle	बोतल की गर्दन
Eye of the needle	Hole in the needle	सुई की आँख
Mouth of the river	Where the river meets the sea	नदी का मुँह
Arm of the chair	Side support of a chair	कुर्सी की बाजू
Heart of the city	Centre of the city	शहर का केंद्र

Practice (Page 119):

Phrase	Body Part
______ of the river	Mouth
______ of the chair	Arm
______ of the city	Heart
______ of corn	Ear
______ of a needle	Eye

Hindi Instructions to Use:

“Conjunction kya hai?” (Conjunction क्या है?) – What is a conjunction?
“And, or, but, because ka upyog” (And, or, but, because का उपयोग) – Use of and, or, but, because
“Sharir ke angon se shabd” (शरीर के अंगों से शब्द) – Words with body parts

Day 5: Dictionary Work, Assessment, and Celebration (शब्दकोश कार्य, मूल्यांकन और उत्सव)

Duration: 30 minutes

Time	Activity	Hindi Term / Instruction	Teacher’s Role
5 min	Revision	पुनरावृत्ति (Punaravritti)	Full story recall. Quick conjunctions and body parts words recall.
10 min	Dictionary Work	शब्दकोश कार्य	Use Page 120: “Look up a dictionary and find the meaning of the words in the box. Later label the picture.” Words: Plain, River, Valley, Summit, Foot, Slope, Plateau, Hill, Mountain range.
5 min	Speaking Assessment	बातचीत परीक्षण (Baatcheet parikshan)	Call students one by one. Ask: “What did Minam pack for the journey?” “What promise did Minam make?” “What is Mount Everest?”
5 min	Writing Assessment	लेखन परीक्षण (Lekhan parikshan)	Dictate 5 words: journey, Sherpa, Himalayas, snowman, magical. Students write.
5 min	Wrap-up & Celebration	समापन और शाबाशी (Samaapan aur Shabashi)	Celebrate learning about the Himalayas. Clap for all students.

Dictionary Work (Page 120):

Word	Meaning	Hindi
Plain	Flat land	मैदान
River	A large stream of water	नदी
Valley	Low land between mountains	घाटी
Summit	The highest point	शिखर
Foot	The bottom of a mountain	पैर (पहाड़ का)
Slope	A slanted surface	ढलान
Plateau	Flat land on top of a mountain	पठार
Hill	A raised area of land	पहाड़ी
Mountain range	A group of mountains	पर्वत श्रृंखला

Research Activity – Mountain Animals (Page 124):

Animal	Hindi
Snow Leopard	हिम तेंदुआ
Himalayan Tahir	हिमालयी ताहिर
Red Panda	लाल पांडा
Himalayan Brown Bear	हिमालयी भूरा भालू
Blood Pheasant	रक्त तीतर
Yak	याक

Speaking Assessment Questions:

Question	Expected Answer
What did Minam pack for the journey?	Rotis with achaar, two water bottles, and apples.
What promise did Minam make?	She promised to protect the mountains.
What is Mount Everest?	It is the tallest mountain in the world.
What did Minam see at the top of the hill?	The huge peaks of the Himalayas.
What are Sherpas?	They are guides and helpers in mountain climbing.

Writing Assessment:

Dictation Word	Expected Spelling
Journey	J-O-U-R-N-E-Y
Sherpa	S-H-E-R-P-A
Himalayas	H-I-M-A-L-A-Y-A-S
Snowman	S-N-O-W-M-A-N
Magical	M-A-G-I-C-A-L

Assessment Checklist (मूल्यांकन सूची):

Skill	Criteria	Yes/No
Reading	Reads the story with comprehension	☐
Comprehension	Answers 4+ questions correctly	☐
Vocabulary	Names 5+ new words	☐
Conjunctions	Uses and, or, but, because correctly	☐
Body Parts Words	Identifies body parts in descriptions	☐
Dictionary Work	Uses dictionary to find meanings	☐
Speaking	Answers questions in sentences	☐
Writing	Writes dictation words correctly	☐

Additional Activities (अतिरिक्त गतिविधियाँ)

Activity	Description	Hindi Instruction
Mountain Animal Research	Research one mountain animal and create a chart.	“Pahadi janwar par research karo.” (पहाड़ी जानवर पर रिसर्च करो।)
Mount Everest Facts	Find out facts about Mount Everest and share with the class.	“Mount Everest ke baare mein jankari dhundo.” (माउंट एवरेस्ट के बारे में जानकारी ढूंढो।)
Himalaya Drawing	Draw the Himalayas with snow-capped peaks.	“Himalaya ka chitra banao.” (हिमालय का चित्र बनाओ।)
Santoor Instrument	Learn about the Santoor instrument.	“Santoor ke baare mein jaano.” (सन्तूर के बारे में जानो।)
Sentence Chain Game	Students create sentences using conjunctions.	“Conjunction game khelo.” (Conjunction गेम खेलो।)
Nature Pledge	Take a pledge to protect nature.	“Prakriti suraksha shapath lo.” (प्रकृति सुरक्षा शपथ लो।)

Resources Needed (आवश्यक सामग्री)

Textbook: Santoor Class 4 English (Pages 111-124)
Pictures of: Himalayas, Mount Everest, Sherpa, yaks, mountain goats, snow leopards
Map of India showing the Himalayas
Flashcards: vocabulary words
Flashcards: conjunctions (and, or, but, because)
Drawing sheets and crayons
Dictionary (for dictionary work)
Notebooks and pencils
Chart paper for mountain animal research

Integration with Indian Knowledge System (भारतीय ज्ञान परंपरा से जुड़ाव)

The Himalayas: The Himalayas are one of India’s greatest natural treasures. They are considered sacred in Indian culture and are home to many pilgrimage sites (Kedarnath, Badrinath, etc.).
Sherpas: The Sherpa people are an ethnic group from Nepal and Tibet known for their mountaineering skills. They are essential guides for climbing Mount Everest.
Mount Everest: The tallest mountain in the world is named after Sir George Everest, but its local name in Nepal is Sagarmatha and in Tibet is Chomolungma.
Indian Mountaineers: India has produced many great mountaineers like Tenzing Norgay (first to climb Everest), Bachendri Pal (first Indian woman to climb Everest), etc.
Santoor: The Santoor is a traditional Indian musical instrument. It is commonly played in Kashmir and is associated with Sufi music.
Indian Wildlife: The Himalayas are home to many unique animals like the snow leopard, red panda, Himalayan tahir, etc., which are part of India’s rich biodiversity.

Note to the Teacher (शिक्षक के लिए नोट)

The words that join two or more words, phrases, or sentences together are known as Conjunctions. They help make sentences flow better and add meaning. (As mentioned on Page 121)
Encourage children to speak about their experiences with family members and nature.
Use the story to teach values – respect for nature, protection of the environment, and family bonds.
The research activity on mountain animals (Page 124) is a great way to develop research skills.
The dictionary work (Page 120) helps students develop independent learning skills.

Links to Other Curricular Areas (पाठ्यक्रम के अन्य क्षेत्रों से जुड़ाव)

Area	Connection
Geography	Himalayas, Mount Everest, mountain ranges, valleys, plains
Environmental Studies (EVS)	Mountains, animals, nature, conservation
Music	Santoor instrument
Social Studies	Sherpa culture, mountaineering
Values Education	Respect for nature, family bonds, gratitude
Language Development	Vocabulary, conjunctions, dictionary skills
Art & Craft	Drawing mountains, research charts

Quick Reference Card

Key Characters:
Minam (young girl), Grandfather (former Sherpa)

Key Places:
Himalayas, Mount Everest, River, Snowy mountain top

Key Items:
Rotis with achaar, water bottles, apples

Key Animals:
Yaks, Mountain goats, Snow leopards, Red pandas

Key Vocabulary:
journey, Sherpa, Himalayas, snowman, memories, magical, peaks, yaks, summit

Conjunctions:
and, or, but, because

Key Message:
“The mountains are magical. They teach us about strength, beauty, and the wonders of nature. Always respect and protect them.”