The Kites

Before Reading I

1. Have you ever flown a kite or seen someone fly it? Where? When?
2. Describe the kite—colour(s), shape, design of tail, any other detail.
3. What did you think when you saw the kite up in the sky?

Before Reading II

Search internet for Kite Festival videos.

1. Share things seen/what people doing.
2. Would you like to participate? Why?
3. What kind of kite would you like to fly?

Before Reading III

Word Bank: windy, kite, flying, birds, sky, looking, has, ribbons

1. I can see ___________, ___________ and ___________ in the picture.
2. The weather in the picture is ___________.
3. The kite is ___________ high in the sky.
4. The child is ___________ from below.
5. The tail of the kite ___________.

Before Reading IV

1. List two more things that you want to add to the picture.
2. If I were the child, I would ___________.
3. If I were the kite, I would ___________.

Read the Poem — The Kites

Let us Discuss I

Write True or False.

Let us Discuss II

1. The poet says that the kites are like coloured birds – See the kites fly/Like coloured birds in the sky.

   The kites have been compared to b __ __ __ __ because they ________________.
2. The child wishes to be like air – I wish I were small / And as light as air.

   The child wishes to be as l __ __ __ t as __ __ __. The child wishes this to be able to c __ __ m __ on a kite and fly.

Let us Discuss III — Alliteration

Find a set of words from the poem that begin with the same consonant sound.

Stanza 1

Which consonant sound do both words begin with?

Stanza 3

Which consonant sound do both words begin with?

This is called alliteration. For example, big bright blue bag, funny fan, etc.

Create 4 other sets of words using alliteration.

Let us Discuss IV

In the last stanza, the two words that the poet repeats are __________, __________ to tell us that the kite is flying __ __ __ y high.

Let us Discuss V — Rhyming Words

Study each stanza and underline the rhyming words from the end of each line. Also, circle the end words in the stanzas that do not rhyme.

Let us Think and Reflect I

1. Circle the word that does not share the same feeling as ‘fun’: joy, excitement, care, happiness.
2. Which line tells us that the poet was somewhere above?
3. Choose the scene the child saw.

   (i) ______________________________

   (ii) _____________________________

   (iii) ____________________________

   (iv) ____________________________

Let us Think and Reflect II

1. How does the poet describe the kites in the first two lines?
2. Why does the child say that they have to climb a tree first to get onto the kite?
3. What are the songs that the child hears when flying atop the kite?
4. Why did the people look up at the child and stare? If you looked up and saw that, what feelings would you have?
5. If you were the kite carrying the child high up in the air, what would you tell them?

Let us Learn I — Parts of a Kite

Parts of a kite: Nose, Spine, Cover, Kite line, Tail, Reel

Complete the conversation by filling the blanks with some ‘parts of a kite’ from above.

Let us Learn II — Cinquain Poem

Read the example.

This is called a cinquain poem. It is a five line poem that describes a person, a place or a thing.

Now, create a cinquain poem yourself on anything you like.

Let us Learn III — Movement Words

The poet uses the word ‘fly’ and ‘drift’ to tell us about the kite’s movement.

1. Circle words matching ‘drift’: slow, fast, quick, upward, downward, round and round, float
2. Study movement words: glide, dive, soar, swoop, circle.

Let us Learn IV — Expressions

The poet has used expressions like—up in the air; look right down; stay up there; stand and stare

1. Read how these expressions are used in the poem.
2. In pairs, make sentences using these expressions. Discuss with your teacher and then write in your notebooks.

Let us Listen

Listen about the Kite Festival in India. As you listen, circle the words that are not correct. Then, listen again and write the correct words. (refer to page 163 for transcript)

Let us Speak

Share a kite-flying experience with your classmates. If you have not flown a kite yet, share an experience of watching kites fly. Give details—Where? When? Why? How? Speak in complete sentences.

Let us Write

1. Imagine yourself as a kite.

In pairs, first discuss all the following hints.

• What shape of kite are you? What colours do you have? What other parts of yourself are you happy about?
• Where are you? Who do you belong to? What activities do you do? Who are your friends?
• Do you have any message for humans?

2. Now, write a paragraph of about 100 words, with the title—I am a Kite.

Let us Explore

I. Kites in India

Mention of kites in ancient Indian texts; thirteenth-century Marathi saint/poet Namadeva; called kite “gudi”; kites made from kaagad (paper).

II. Types of Kites

• Parafoil
• Diamond-shaped kite
• Delta
• Rokkaku
• Box kites

1. Find out the steps to make a kite.
2. Follow the steps and create your own kite. Bring it to school to show your teacher and classmates.
3. Write a message on the kite. Example: Happy Independence Day!

My Word Bank

Write the meanings of these words in your own simple language.

Creative Activity

Draw and colour your favourite kite in the space below.

Quick Revision