Lesson Plan: The Old Stag Class 4 English Santoor NCERT: Unit 2 My Beautiful World
Lesson Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Lesson | The Old Stag (Chapter 5) |
| Class | 4 |
| Subject | English (L2 – Second Language) |
| Unit | 2: My Beautiful World |
| Type | Story (Panchatantra Tale) |
| Duration | 5 Days (30–35 minutes per day) |
| Page Reference | Pages 43-52 |
| 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
“The Old Stag” is the fifth chapter of Unit 2: My Beautiful World in the Santoor Class 4 English textbook. This heartwarming story is adapted from The Panchatantra, one of India’s most famous collections of moral tales.
The story follows:
- An old stag – a kind and gentle deer living in a lush forest
- His animal friends – deer, elephant, giraffe, and others
- A lesson about greed and friendship – the animals eat the stag’s food and learn a valuable lesson
The story teaches children about:
- Kindness and gratitude – the stag is known for his kindness
- Greed and its consequences – the animals eat all the stag’s grass
- Friendship and loyalty – the animals realize their mistake and help the stag recover
- Nature’s resources – “Nature has enough for everybody. But we need to use its resources wisely.”
The chapter also includes activities related to:
- Comprehension questions (Think and Discuss)
- Vocabulary matching – lush forest, tender grass, shaded spot, healthy food, speedy recovery
- Descriptive writing – drawing images from words
- Adverbs – words that describe how something is done
- Story completion – writing dialogues in speech blurbs
- Writing about a best friend – paragraph completion
- Creative activity – making a Thank You card from the old stag
Learning Objectives (सीखने के उद्देश्य)
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Read and understand the Panchatantra story “The Old Stag.” (पंचतंत्र की कहानी “द ओल्ड स्टैग” को पढ़ और समझ सकेंगे।)
- Identify the characters – old stag, deer, elephant, giraffe, and other animals. (पात्रों की पहचान कर सकेंगे – बूढ़ा हिरण, हिरणी, हाथी, जिराफ़ और अन्य जानवर।)
- Understand the moral – nature has enough for everyone if used wisely. (नैतिक संदेश को समझ सकेंगे – प्रकृति में सभी के लिए पर्याप्त है यदि समझदारी से उपयोग किया जाए।)
- Use descriptive vocabulary – lush, tender, shaded, healthy, speedy. (वर्णनात्मक शब्दावली का उपयोग कर सकेंगे – lush, tender, shaded, healthy, speedy।)
- Identify and use adverbs correctly. (क्रियाविशेषणों की पहचान और उपयोग कर सकेंगे।)
- Write dialogues to complete a story. (कहानी को पूरा करने के लिए संवाद लिख सकेंगे।)
- Write a paragraph about their best friend. (अपने सबसे अच्छे दोस्त के बारे में एक अनुच्छेद लिख सकेंगे।)
- Create a Thank You card from the old stag. (बूढ़े हिरण की ओर से थैंक यू कार्ड बना सकेंगे।)
Key Vocabulary (मुख्य शब्दावली)
Story-Specific Words (कहानी से संबंधित शब्द)
| English | Hindi |
|---|---|
| Stag | हिरण (Hiran) |
| Lush forest | घना जंगल (Ghana jungle) |
| Tender grass | कोमल घास (Komal ghaas) |
| Hillock | छोटी पहाड़ी (Chhoti pahadi) |
| Shaded spot | छायादार स्थान (Chhayadar sthan) |
| Speedy recovery | जल्दी ठीक होना (Jaldi theek hona) |
| Feasted | दावत की (Daawat ki) |
| Ashamed | शर्मिंदा (Sharminda) |
| Greed | लालच (Laalach) |
| Recovered | ठीक हो गया (Theek ho gaya) |
Descriptive Words (वर्णनात्मक शब्द)
| English | Hindi |
|---|---|
| Lush | हरा-भरा (Hara-bhara) |
| Tender | कोमल (Komal) |
| Shaded | छायादार (Chhayadar) |
| Healthy | स्वस्थ (Swasth) |
| Speedy | तेज़ (Tez) |
| Fresh | ताज़ा (Taaza) |
| Juicy | रसीला (Raseela) |
Adverbs (क्रियाविशेषण)
| English | Hindi |
|---|---|
| Warmly | गर्मजोशी से (Garmjoshi se) |
| Slowly | धीरे-धीरे (Dheere-dheere) |
| Quickly | जल्दी से (Jaldi se) |
| Badly | बुरी तरह (Buri tarah) |
| Cheerfully | खुशी से (Khushi se) |
| Quietly | चुपचाप (Chupchaap) |
| Carefully | सावधानी से (Savdhani se) |
| Loudly | ज़ोर से (Zor se) |
New Words (नए शब्द)
| English | Hindi |
|---|---|
| Lush | हरा-भरा |
| Tender | कोमल |
| Hillock | छोटी पहाड़ी |
| Feasted | दावत की |
| Ashamed | शर्मिंदा |
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, all, soon
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: “What animals live in the forest?” (जंगल में कौन-कौन से जानवर रहते हैं?) “Have you ever seen a deer?” (क्या तुमने कभी हिरण देखा है?) |
| 5 min | Pre-listening | आज क्या सीखेंगे? (Aaj kya seekhenge?) | Show the title “The Old Stag”. Ask: “What do you think this story is about?” “Today we will read a Panchatantra story about an old stag and his friends!” |
| 10 min | Story Narration (Part 1) | कहानी सुनो (Kahani suno) | Narrate the first part of the story (Pages 43-45): The old stag lives on a hillock with tender grass. He becomes ill and cannot meet his friends. The friends visit and eat the grass. |
| 5 min | Vocabulary Introduction | नए शब्द सीखो (Naye shabd seekho) | Introduce key words: stag, lush forest, tender grass, hillock, shaded spot, feasted, greedy. |
| 5 min | Wrap-up | आज क्या सीखा? (Aaj kya seekha?) | Ask: “Who is the main character in the story?” (The old stag) “What happened to him?” (He became ill) “What did his friends do?” (They visited him and ate his grass) |
Story Summary (Part 1 – Pages 43-45):
In a lush forest lived an old stag who was known for his kindness. Each day, he warmly greeted his fellow animals and birds. Though the forest offered plenty of food, the stag preferred staying on a small hillock with tender grass.
One day, the stag fell ill. He struggled to reach the hillock. He ate the tender grass and decided to rest for a while.
The old stag could not go down the hillock to greet his friends. When they learnt that the stag was unwell, they came to check on him.
The animals wished him a speedy recovery and left. However, before they went back into the forest, the animals ate the fresh green grass growing on the hillock. Word soon spread about the tender green grass. Soon, all the animals who came to visit the stag feasted on the tender grass.
Key Characters – Part 1:
| Character | Hindi | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Old stag | बूढ़ा हिरण | Kind and gentle deer |
| Deer | हिरणी | Friend of the stag |
| Elephant | हाथी | Friend of the stag |
| Giraffe | जिराफ़ | Friend of the stag |
Key Vocabulary – Part 1:
| Word | Hindi |
|---|---|
| Lush forest | घना जंगल |
| Tender grass | कोमल घास |
| Hillock | छोटी पहाड़ी |
| Feasted | दावत की |
Hindi Instructions to Use:
- “Kahaani suno” (कहानी सुनो) – Listen to the story
- “Budha hiran kaun hai?” (बूढ़ा हिरण कौन है?) – Who is the old stag?
- “Uske saath kya hua?” (उसके साथ क्या हुआ?) – What happened to him?
- “Uske dost ne kya kiya?” (उसके दोस्तों ने क्या किया?) – What did his friends do?
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 the old stag?” “What happened to him?” “What did his friends do?” |
| 10 min | Story Narration (Part 2) | कहानी पूरी सुनो (Kahani puri suno) | Narrate the rest of the story (Pages 45-46): The grass disappears, the stag becomes weaker, the animals feel ashamed, they bring food for him, rain comes, grass grows back, and the stag recovers. |
| 5 min | Comprehension Questions | प्रश्न-उत्तर (Prashn-uttar) | Ask from Page 47: “Why was the old stag popular?” “Why did the old stag not go down the hillock?” “Why did the green cover slowly vanish?” “Did the animals realise their mistake?” |
| 5 min | Discussion Activity | चर्चा (Charcha) | Use Page 47 (B): “Did the animals do the right thing in the end? Why?” “What would happen if everyone thought only of their own needs?” |
| 5 min | Wrap-up | आज क्या सीखा? | Ask: “What lesson did the animals learn?” “What is the moral of the story?” |
Story Summary (Part 2 – Pages 45-46):
Soon, there was not much grass left for the old stag to eat. He started becoming weaker as days passed. His friends felt ashamed. They realized how their greed had made them forget about their friend.
They decided to find food elsewhere in the forest and not disturb the hillock. Some of them also brought fresh leaves for their friend.
It rained well that week. The grass soon grew back, and the old stag had enough food once again. Slowly, the old stag recovered from the illness.
The animals learnt the most important lesson:
“Nature has enough for everybody. But we need to use its resources wisely.”
Key Events – Part 2:
| Order | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 | The grass was almost gone |
| 2 | The stag became weaker |
| 3 | The animals felt ashamed |
| 4 | They brought food for the stag |
| 5 | It rained and grass grew back |
| 6 | The stag recovered |
Comprehension Questions (Page 47):
| Question | Expected Answer |
|---|---|
| Why was the old stag popular? | Because he was kind and warmly greeted everyone. |
| Why did the old stag not go down the hillock? | Because he was too weak to come down. |
| Why did the green cover slowly vanish? | Because the animals ate all the grass. |
| Did the animals realise their mistake? | Yes, they felt ashamed and brought food for him. |
Think and Discuss (Page 47 B):
| Question | Possible Answer |
|---|---|
| Did the animals do the right thing in the end? | Yes, they realized their mistake and helped the stag. |
| What would happen if everyone thought only of their own needs? | There wouldn’t be enough for anyone. |
Hindi Instructions to Use:
- “Janwaro ne kya galati ki?” (जानवरों ने क्या गलती की?) – What mistake did the animals make?
- “Unhe kaisa laga?” (उन्हें कैसा लगा?) – How did they feel?
- “Unhone kya kiya?” (उन्होंने क्या किया?) – What did they do?
- “Kya seekha?” (क्या सीखा?) – What did you learn?
Day 3: Descriptive Words and Vocabulary (वर्णनात्मक शब्द और शब्दावली)
Duration: 30 minutes
| Time | Activity | Hindi Term / Instruction | Teacher’s Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Revision | पुनरावृत्ति (Punaravritti) | Quick story recall. Moral of the story. |
| 10 min | Vocabulary Matching Activity | शब्द मिलान | Use Page 47 (A): “Match the words to their meaning.” Lush forest, Tender grass, Shaded spot, Healthy food, Speedy recovery. |
| 10 min | Descriptive Words Activity | वर्णनात्मक शब्द | Use Page 48: “Draw the image that comes to your mind when you read the following.” Words: Lush forest, friendly animals, shaded spot, tender grass, healthy food. |
| 5 min | Wrap-up | आज क्या सीखा? | Ask: “What words describe the forest?” (Lush) “What words describe the grass?” (Tender) |
Vocabulary Matching (Page 47 A):
| Word/Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lush forest | Green and dense woods/forest |
| Tender grass | Delicate young grass |
| Shaded spot | Cool resting place |
| Healthy food | Nourishing wholesome food |
| Speedy recovery | Quick healing |
Descriptive Words Activity (Page 48):
Words to Visualize:
- Lush forest – thick green trees, plants, and greenery
- Friendly animals – animals smiling and greeting each other
- Shaded spot – cool, dark area under a tree
- Tender grass – soft, green, young grass
- Healthy food – fresh fruits, vegetables, green leaves
Student Activity:
Draw what you imagine when you read these words. Share with your friends.
Hindi Instructions to Use:
- “Shabd ka kya matlab hai?” (शब्द का क्या मतलब है?) – What does the word mean?
- “Kya soch aati hai?” (क्या सोच आती है?) – What comes to your mind?
- “Chitra banao” (चित्र बनाओ) – Draw a picture.
Day 4: Adverbs and Story Completion (क्रियाविशेषण और कहानी पूरी करना)
Duration: 30 minutes
| Time | Activity | Hindi Term / Instruction | Teacher’s Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Revision | दोहराव (Dohrav) | Quick descriptive words recall. |
| 10 min | Adverbs Activity | क्रियाविशेषण | Use Page 49: “Read the following sentence. Each day, he warmly greeted his fellow animals. The word ‘warmly’ is an adverb.” Practice: slowly, quickly, badly, cheerfully, quietly, carefully, loudly. |
| 10 min | Story Completion Activity | कहानी पूरी करो | Use Pages 50-51: “Complete the story by writing dialogues in the speech blurbs.” |
| 5 min | Wrap-up | आज क्या सीखा? | Ask: “What is an adverb?” “Give an example of an adverb.” |
Adverbs Explanation (Page 49):
Definition: An adverb tells us how something is done (the manner or way).
Examples from the Story:
- “Each day, he warmly greeted his fellow animals.” (How did he greet? Warmly)
- “The old stag slowly recovered.” (How did he recover? Slowly)
- “The rabbit quickly ate the carrots.” (How did the rabbit eat? Quickly)
Practice – Encircling Adverbs (Page 49):
| Adverb | Type |
|---|---|
| soon | Time |
| badly | Manner |
| lately | Time |
| cheerfully | Manner |
| quietly | Manner |
| early | Time |
| carefully | Manner |
| highly | Degree |
| fast | Manner |
| regularly | Frequency |
| nearby | Place |
| loudly | Manner |
Sentences with Adverbs:
| Adverb | Sentence |
|---|---|
| Warmly | She greeted me warmly. |
| Slowly | The tortoise walked slowly. |
| Quickly | He quickly ran to school. |
| Cheerfully | The children sang cheerfully. |
| Quietly | She quietly entered the room. |
| Carefully | He carefully placed the book. |
Story Completion Activity (Pages 50-51):
Sample Dialogues for Speech Blurbs:
| Character | Dialogue |
|---|---|
| Stag | “Thank you all for coming to see me.” |
| Deer | “We were so worried about you, dear stag!” |
| Stag | “I am feeling a little better now.” |
| Elephant | “We brought some fresh leaves for you.” |
| Stag | “You are all such good friends.” |
Hindi Instructions to Use:
- “Adverb kya hai?” (Adverb क्या है?) – What is an adverb?
- “Kriya visheshan ka udaharan do” (क्रिया विशेषण का उदाहरण दो) – Give an example of an adverb.
- “Speech blurbs mein dialogues likho” (Speech blurbs में dialogues लिखो) – Write dialogues in the speech blurbs.
Day 5: My Best Friend Writing, Thank You Card, Assessment, and Celebration (मेरा सबसे अच्छा दोस्त लेखन, थैंक यू कार्ड, मूल्यांकन और उत्सव)
Duration: 30 minutes
| Time | Activity | Hindi Term / Instruction | Teacher’s Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Revision | पुनरावृत्ति (Punaravritti) | Full story recall. Quick adverbs recall. |
| 10 min | My Best Friend Paragraph | मेरा सबसे अच्छा दोस्त | Use Page 52: “Write about your best friend and complete the paragraph.” |
| 10 min | Thank You Card Activity | थैंक यू कार्ड | Use Page 54: “Create a Thank You Card from the Old Stag.” |
| 5 min | Speaking Assessment | बातचीत परीक्षण (Baatcheet parikshan) | Call students one by one. Ask: “What is the moral of the story?” “What is an adverb?” “Who is your best friend?” |
| 5 min | Wrap-up & Celebration | समापन और शाबाशी (Samaapan aur Shabashi) | Celebrate learning about the Panchatantra story. Clap for all students. |
My Best Friend Paragraph (Page 52):
Format:
My best friend’s name is ______. He/She is a boy/girl. He/She is ______ years old. He/She studies in class ______. There are ______ members in his/her family. His/Her hobbies are ______. He/She wants to be a ______. When we are together, we ______. He/She is my best friend because ______.
Sample Paragraph:
My best friend’s name is Rohan. He is a boy. He is 10 years old. He studies in class 4. There are 4 members in his family. His hobbies are playing cricket and reading books. He wants to be a doctor. When we are together, we play cricket and share our tiffin. He is my best friend because he is kind and always helps me.
Thank You Card from the Old Stag (Page 54):
Sample Card Content:
Dear Friends,
Thank you for visiting me when I was ill. I am so grateful for your kindness and care. You brought me food and helped me recover. I am lucky to have such wonderful friends.
I have learned that nature gives us enough if we use it wisely. Let us always share and care for each other.
With love,
Your friend,
The Old Stag
Speaking Assessment Questions:
| Question | Expected Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the moral of the story? | Nature has enough for everyone if used wisely. |
| Why did the stag become weaker? | Because the animals ate all his grass. |
| What did the animals do to help the stag? | They brought him fresh leaves and food. |
| What is an adverb? | An adverb tells us how something is done. |
| Give an example of an adverb. | Warmly, slowly, quickly. |
Assessment Checklist (मूल्यांकन सूची):
| Skill | Criteria | Yes/No |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | Reads the story with comprehension | ☐ |
| Comprehension | Answers 4+ questions correctly | ☐ |
| Vocabulary | Names 5+ new words | ☐ |
| Descriptive Words | Understands descriptive vocabulary | ☐ |
| Adverbs | Identifies and uses adverbs | ☐ |
| Writing | Writes a paragraph about a friend | ☐ |
| Creativity | Completes Thank You card | ☐ |
| Speaking | Answers questions in sentences | ☐ |
Additional Activities (अतिरिक्त गतिविधियाँ)
| Activity | Description | Hindi Instruction |
|---|---|---|
| Thank You Card | Create a Thank You card from the old stag to his friends. | “Thank You card banao.” (थैंक यू कार्ड बनाओ।) |
| Panchatantra Research | Read other Panchatantra stories and share with the class. | “Panchatantra ki aur kahaniyan pado.” (पंचतंत्र की और कहानियाँ पढ़ो।) |
| Forest Drawing | Draw a lush forest with animals. | “Jungle ka chitra banao.” (जंगल का चित्र बनाओ।) |
| Adverb Game | Teacher says a verb, students add an adverb (e.g., “run” → “run quickly”). | “Adverb game khelo.” (Adverb गेम खेलो।) |
| Greed Discussion | Discuss: “What happens when people are greedy?” | “Laalach ke baare mein baat karo.” (लालच के बारे में बात करो।) |
| Nature Conservation | Discuss: “How can we use nature’s resources wisely?” | “Prakriti ke sansadhanon ka samajhdari se upyog kaise karein?” (प्रकृति के संसाधनों का समझदारी से उपयोग कैसे करें?) |
Resources Needed (आवश्यक सामग्री)
- Textbook: Santoor Class 4 English (Pages 43-54)
- Pictures of: forest, stag, deer, elephant, giraffe
- Flashcards: vocabulary words
- Flashcards: adverbs
- Drawing sheets and crayons
- Card-making materials for Thank You card
- Notebooks and pencils
- Chart paper for Panchatantra stories
Integration with Indian Knowledge System (भारतीय ज्ञान परंपरा से जुड़ाव)
- Panchatantra: The story is adapted from the Panchatantra, one of India’s most famous collections of fables. Written by Vishnu Sharma, these stories teach moral values through animal characters.
- Indian Philosophy of Nature: The story teaches that nature provides enough for everyone – reflecting the Indian concept of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family) and respect for nature.
- Indian Value of Sharing: The story teaches the value of sharing and not being greedy – a core Indian value.
- Indian Forest Culture: India has a rich tradition of forests and wildlife. Many Indian stories are set in forests, reflecting India’s natural heritage.
- Indian Animals: The animals in the story (stag, elephant, giraffe, deer) are all part of India’s rich wildlife.
Note to the Teacher (शिक्षक के लिए नोट)
- Draw the attention of the learners to the fact that all the words given in the table are adverbs. Emphasise the “how” or “description” aspect of the adverbs of manner. Encourage the learners to create as many sentences as they can. (As mentioned on Page 49)
- Encourage the learners to observe the pictures for a while. Ask them to describe the pictures in their own words. Let the learners discuss the placement of the dialogues in pairs. (As mentioned on Page 51)
- Help students revise the concept of personal pronouns. Guide students to use correct pronouns while filling in the blanks. You may provide a help box if the learners require it. (As mentioned on Page 52)
- Encourage children to speak about their experiences with friends and sharing.
- Use the story to teach values – kindness, sharing, gratitude, and respect for nature.
Links to Other Curricular Areas (पाठ्यक्रम के अन्य क्षेत्रों से जुड़ाव)
| Area | Connection |
|---|---|
| Environmental Studies (EVS) | Forests, animals, nature, conservation |
| Values Education | Kindness, sharing, gratitude, not being greedy |
| Art & Craft | Drawing forests, Thank You card making |
| Language Development | Vocabulary, adverbs, descriptive words |
| Social Studies | Indian Panchatantra stories, cultural heritage |
Quick Reference Card
Key Characters:
Old stag (kind), Deer, Elephant, Giraffe, Other forest animals
Key Events:
Stag ill → Friends visit → Friends eat grass → Grass gone → Stag weak → Friends ashamed → Friends help → Rain comes → Stag recovers
Key Vocabulary:
lush, tender, hillock, shaded, feasted, ashamed, greedy, recovered
Key Adverbs:
warmly, slowly, quickly, cheerfully, quietly, carefully
Key Message:
“Nature has enough for everybody. But we need to use its resources wisely.”