The poem describes an elderly woman in a cold winter setting.

Let us do these activities before we read.

I Recall a time you helped someone.

Write two words describing:

II Work in pairs. Read the words given below. Circle the words you would associate with an elderly person and underline the words you would associate with a school student. Share the reasons for your choices with your classmates and teacher.

strong worried trembling hastening firm bent merry grey slow guide helpful

III Read the lines.

The woman was old and ragged and grey
And bent with the chill of the Winter’s day.

Let us read

Let us discuss

I Arrange the events of the poem in the correct order of occurrence. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

1. The boy returned to his friends, feeling proud of what he had done.
2. The old woman stood alone at the crossing, hesitant to move.
3. A group of schoolboys passed by, playing, and laughing.
4. The boy offered to help the old woman cross the street.
5. The woman prayed for the boy who helped her.
6. The children hurried past the old woman without offering help.
7. The woman placed her hand on the boy’s arm, and he guided her safely across the street.
8. The boy thought about his own mother and hoped someone would help her one day.

II Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct answer from the options given in the brackets.

III Pick examples from the poem for the following poetic devices.

IV Complete the following sentences appropriately explaining the imagery.

V Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason.

VI Complete the analogy:

Let us think and reflect

I Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.

II Answer the following questions.

Let us learn

I The grid given below has the antonyms of the words from the text. Locate these words in the grid horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. One example has been done for you. You may refer to a dictionary.

firm meek merry kind anxious bent

II Match the words from the text given in Column 1 with the underlined phrases in Column 2.

III In the poem, the poet uses the idiom ‘lend a hand’ which means ‘help somebody’. Some more idioms using ‘hand’ are given in Column 1. Match these idioms with their meanings in Column 2. You may refer to a dictionary.

IV Complete the following analogy by filling in the blanks with the correct words from the poem.

Let us listen

I You will listen to a woman read the special broadcast of the news. As you listen, arrange the pictures in the correct sequence of the events that took place. (Transcript for teacher on page 99)

II You will once again listen to the special broadcast of the news. As you listen, complete the following sentences with one to three exact words.

Let us speak

I Read aloud the list of words from the poem that end in ‘-ed’. As you read, focus on the final sound of each word and place them in the appropriate columns. One example has been done for you.

ragged aged waited heeded
offered paused guided whispered

II Work in pairs. Narrate an incident where you helped someone in the past. Take turns to speak and use the cue cards given below.

You may use the following prompts.

Let us write

I Write a diary entry of a day you helped someone in need.

Remember to include the following points while writing it.

• Start with a sentence describing the day.
• Mention whom you helped.
• Explain the situation in which the other person needed help.
• Add the place and time of the day when the situation arose.
• Describe how you helped the other person.
• Describe the reaction of the person you helped.
• Mention how you felt during and after helping the person.
• Conclude by mentioning why you would do something like this again.

You may begin like this:

Let us explore

I Did you know that even Earth has been referred to as mother in the ancient scriptures of India?

In section 12.1.12 of Pṛthvi-Sūkta (hymn-to-the-earth) of Atharva Veda, Earth is referred to as mother and us as her children by stating:

Earth is often described as a mother because it supports life.

II Work in groups of four. Find out the names of countries that refer to their country as ‘motherland’ and a few others as ‘fatherland’. Share your findings with your classmates and teacher.

III Read the poem and enjoy.

IV Make a gratitude card for your mother/grandmother to thank her for at least five things that she does for you. Also write two things that you would do regularly to help them. Use recycled material to make and decorate the card.

Important Vocabulary

Values Learnt from the Poem

Quick Revision

One-Line Revision Answers

1. The poem is about kindness and empathy.
2. The old woman is weak, poor and helpless.
3. The schoolboys initially pass her without helping.
4. One kind boy stops to help her.
5. He guides her safely across the street.
6. He feels happy after helping her.
7. He thinks about his own mother.
8. The old woman prays for the boy.
9. The title shows that every mother deserves care and respect.
10. The poem teaches us to help people in need.