5th Standard, English, Second Language, Unit 7, Poetry
Paper Boats
Words to Know
stream : flowing water
strange : unknown
shiuli flowers : white and orange parijatha flowers
blooms : bud opening into flower
dawn : time of first sunshine
launch : send
bulging : swollen
playmate : a friend
fairies : beautiful, charming ladies who live in
the other world
lading : load
Comprehension
C1 Answer the following questions in two to three sentences each.
1. How many boats did the child float?
Answer: The child floats many boats day by day, one by one down the running stream.
2. Why did the child write its name on the boat?
Answer: The child write its name on the boat because the child hope that someone in some strange land will find them and know the child.
3. What did the child load the boat with?
Answer: The child load its little boats with shiuli flowers from its garden.
4. What did the child dream at night?
Answer: When night comes the child dream that her paper boats float on and on under the midnight stars. The fairies of sleep are sailing in them, and the lading is their baskets full of dreams.
C2 Pick out words or phrases from the poem that mean the following:
• flowing water stream.
• flowers that blossom in the early morning shiuli.
• set the paper boats afloat launch.
• imaginary friend playmate.
Activity
A1 RIDDLE:
I go up and down a lot,
Whether it is cold or hot
Sometimes I am on the ground
Other times I am in the clouds
My name rhymes with daughter
I am your friend named ______________
Answer: Water
A2 Make a paper boat and decorate it.
