Class 08 – Chapter 09 : The Astronomer – Notes

 

 Let’s Rewind and Rejoice – Question Answers

  1. What do you think of the child’s question in the first stanza? Have you ever felt the same way?
     → The child’s question is full of innocence and imagination. She sees the moon among the tree branches and thinks someone can catch it. Yes, sometimes I also feel the moon is close enough to be touched.
  2. What is Dada’s answer to the child’s question?
     → Dada says that the moon is very far from us, and nobody can catch it. He also asks how anyone can find a net big enough for it.
  3. Do you think the child is convinced by Dada’s arguments? Why/Why not?
     → No, the child is not convinced. She gives emotional and imaginative replies to Dada’s logical answers. She says that if her mother seems close when she smiles, the moon must be too.
  4. How does the poem capture the innocence and imagination of childhood? Quote specific lines from the poem.
     → The poem shows a child imagining that the moon can be caught with hands or a net. For example, “Surely you could catch it with your hands” shows the child’s simple and magical thinking.
  5. What does the conversation between the child and Dada reveal about their relationship?
     → The conversation shows a loving relationship. The child trusts Dada and shares her thoughts freely. Dada, though dismissive, listens and replies. Their bond is full of playful affection.

 Let’s Appreciate

A.

(i) Why does the child compare the moon to the mother’s face? Do you think the child’s logic is mistaken, or truly insightful?
 → The child compares the moon to her mother’s face because both seem close when they show affection. Though it may seem mistaken logically, it is insightful emotionally.

(ii) What is the difference in perception between the child and Dada? Which perspective appears more convincing to you? Why?
 → The child sees the moon emotionally, as if it is close and reachable. Dada sees it scientifically and logically. Both views are valuable, but the child’s imagination is more heart-touching and poetic.

B. Dialogue Completion

Transcript Completion:

Child: I always wonder, dad, why do the waves of the sea lash out endlessly? Don’t they get tired?
Dad: No, my dear. The waves are caused by the wind and the pull of the moon.

Child: Can’t we stop the waves?
Dad: We cannot stop nature, but we can learn to understand it.

Child: The power of the waves is of no use, then?
Dad: Baby! Science may help us to use its power for our needs.

 Let’s Recall and Recreate

 Activity 1: AI Image Prompting and Imagination

B. Prompt for Given Image (textbook visual reference)

Suggested Prompt for the Image:

“A curious child sitting in the garden under a tree at night, pointing at the moon stuck between tree branches, with her elder brother standing beside her and laughing gently under the starry sky.”

This describes the illustrated scene in the poem accurately and is suitable for AI image generation.

Let’s Play with Words

 Activity 1 – Puzzle Power: Boost Your Brain!

Across
 3. Astronomer – a scientist who studies stars, planets, and space
5. Aftershock – after-effects of an earthquake
6. Pandemonium – noisy confusion

Down

  1. Pursuit – search
  2. Trumpet – an elephant’s call
  3. Astronomer (same as Across 3)
  4. Debt – money owed

 Activity 2 – Word Understanding Through Dialogue

Sample situations using words from the poem/story:

  1. Wobble
     Scene: The engine was wobbling left and right.
    Dialogue:
     Coolie: “Sir, this thing won’t go straight. It wobbles like a spinning top!”
  2. Desperate
     Scene: The narrator begs for help.
    Dialogue:
     Narrator: “Please, I’m desperate! I need to move this engine today or I’ll be fined!”
  3. Huge
     Scene: Looking at the engine.
    Dialogue:
     Child: “Wow! That machine is huge! Can it flatten a mountain?”

 Let’s Analyse

 Activity 1 – Tenses (Simple Present vs Present Continuous)

A. Difference between the two example sentences:

  • Sentence 1 is a habitual action (happens every day).
  • Sentence 2 is happening right now.

B. Sorting sentences:

Habitual Actions:

  • She gets up early, every morning.
  • We live in a small town.
  • They go to the seaside on weekends.

Present Actions:

  • The water is boiling.
  • They are going to school now.
  • It is raining heavily outside.

C. Complete the sentences:

  1. Reetu helps her classmates with their homework every day.
  2. We usually share our lunch with friends who forget to bring theirs.
  3. Now, they are planting trees in the park to make their neighbourhood greener.
  4. I am preparing a thank-you card for my teacher right now.
  5. They volunteer at an orphanage every summer vacation.
  6. Look! How patiently she is helping her younger brother to solve a problem.
  7. Raju helps his parents with household chores every morning.

D. Correct the sentences:

  1. Look! That man is trying to open the door.
  2. Water boils at 100°C.
  3. Arun is never late. He is getting to work on time. → Correction: Arun is never late. He gets to work on time.
  4. I must go now. It is getting late.

E. Write 5 sentences each:

Daily Habits (Simple Present):

  1. I get up at 6 a.m.
  2. I brush my teeth and take a bath.
  3. I go to school at 8 a.m.
  4. I eat dinner at 8 p.m.
  5. I read a storybook before bed.

Current Actions (Present Continuous):

  1. I am reading this lesson now.
  2. I am listening to my teacher.
  3. I am writing my answers in the notebook.
  4. I am sitting quietly in class.
  5. I am thinking about the poem.

F. Other uses of these tenses:

  • Simple present for universal truths: The sun rises in the east.
  • Present continuous for planned future: We are going to the zoo tomorrow.

 Let’s Practise Grammar – Transitive & Intransitive Verbs

Activity 2 – Transitive vs Intransitive

From the passage:

Transitive Verbs:

  • picked
  • examined
  • soothed
  • calmed

Intransitive Verbs:

  • walked
  • sat
  • watched
  • twinkling (as in “stars twinkling”)

 Let’s Practise Grammar – Voice (Active & Passive)

Activity 3

A. Difference between active and passive:

  • Active: Doer is the subject.
  • Passive: The receiver becomes the subject.

B. Joseph helped the narrator.
 → Active
The narrator was helped by Joseph.
 → Passive

C. Change the voice:

  1. Joseph met the municipal chairman.
     → The municipal chairman was met by Joseph.
  2. The request was not accepted by the chairman.
     → The chairman did not accept the request.
  3. The municipality pressed them to clear out.
     → They were pressed by the municipality to clear out.
  4. Joseph saw the priest of the local temple.
     → The priest of the local temple was seen by Joseph.
  5. He was offered the services of the temple elephant by the priest.
     → The priest offered him the services of the temple elephant.

D. Pick and change sentences from the story:

  1. Active: The crowd let out a joyous yell.
    → Passive: A joyous yell was let out by the crowd.
  2. Active: I paid the rent.
    → Passive: The rent was paid by me.
  3. Passive: The engine was found in a disused well.
    → Active: People found the engine in a disused well.
  4. Passive: He was arrested by the police.
    → Active: The police arrested him.

 Activity 4 – Understanding Punctuation

A. Read the lines below

i also took into service one joseph a dismissed bus driver who said that although he knew nothing of road rollers he could nevertheless steer one if it was somehow kept in motion

Q: Do these words convey meaning? Why not?

→ No, these words do not convey clear meaning because they lack punctuation. Without proper punctuation, the sentence becomes confusing, and the reader cannot easily understand the structure or flow of the ideas.

Q: What difficulties do you notice when sentences are written without appropriate punctuation marks?

  • Lack of clarity and sense
  • No division between ideas or clauses
  • It becomes hard to understand who is speaking or acting
  • Misinterpretation of meaning

B. Examine the punctuation marks listed below and identify their uses

  1. Full stop (.)
    • Use: Ends a sentence.
    • Example: She went to school yesterday.
  2. Comma (,)
    • Use: Separates words or phrases in a list or adds a pause in a sentence.
    • Example: I bought a laptop, a mouse pad, and a mobile phone.
  3. Question Mark (?)
    • Use: Indicates a direct question.
    • Example: Where is my book?
  4. Exclamation Mark (!)
    • Use: Shows strong feelings or surprise.
    • Example: What a wonderful idea!
  5. Colon (:)
    • Use: Introduces a list, explanation, or example.
    • Example: She brought three things: a pen, a notebook, and a calculator.
  6. Quotation Marks (” “)
    • Use: To show direct speech or quotes.
    • Example: She said, “I will be there soon.”
  7. Semicolon (;)
    • Use: Connects two related independent clauses.
    • Example: I was tired; I went to bed early.
  8. Apostrophe (’)
    • Use: Shows possession or contraction.
    • Example: It’s raining. / John’s book is on the table.

C. Rewrite the original lines using correct punctuation

I also took into service one Joseph, a dismissed bus driver, who said that although he knew nothing of road rollers, he could nevertheless steer one, if it was somehow kept in motion.

Scroll to Top