Day 1: Santiniketan Class IV | English | Butterfly NOTES
Lesson 10: Santiniketan
Interactive Chapter Intro
WBBSE AI Engine
🏫 The Magic of Santiniketan
"It is an afternoon in February. A mild wind is blowing. The sunlight is soft. Several houses stand on a large plot... they can talk to one another like human beings."
ফেব্রুয়ারি মাসের এক বিকেল। মৃদু বাতাস বইছে। সূর্যের আলো নরম। একটি বড় প্লটে বেশ কয়েকটি বাড়ি দাঁড়িয়ে আছে... তারা মানুষের মতো একে অপরের সাথে কথা বলতে পারে।
Meet the Residents
Santiniketan
Built: 1863 by Debendranath Tagore
"Today I’m reminded of old days. Once there was nothing here, just empty land and two chatim trees."
Prayer House
Feature: Made of coloured glass
"I was built twenty-eight years after Santiniketan. I remember when there were no motor cars."
Amrakunjo
Type: Mango Orchard
"Rabindranath sat among my trees and wrote poems. The earth is the classroom here."
Shyamoli
Type: Earthen House
"I have beautifully carved figures on my walls. They are as fresh today as they were yesterday."
Education Style
Students sit in the open air. The earth is their classroom and the sky is their roof.
Culture
Drama rehearsals at Punoscho and song/poetry evenings at Amrakunjo.
The Gateway
Singhasadan is the gateway where the bell rings for future generations.
Activity Spotlight: Grammar & Vocabulary
Adverbs (Activity 7a)
- Soldiers fight bravely for their country.
- We should get up early in the morning.
Vocabulary (Activity 8a)
- I clearly remember my first day in school.
- Children love to play with coloured balls.
Santiniketan
Comprehensive Study Notes & Question Bank
Short Answer Questions (Small)
1. In which month does the story take place?
Solution: The story takes place in the month of February.
2. How is the wind described in the beginning of the text?
Solution: A mild wind is blowing.
3. Who carries the words of the houses to one another?
Solution: The wind carries their words.
4. Which house is the oldest among them all?
Solution: The house named 'Santiniketan' is the oldest.
5. What trees were present on the land originally?
Solution: There were two chatim trees and a few palm trees.
6. What is the house 'Deholi' used for now?
Solution: Deholi is now a children’s school.
7. In which year was the house Santiniketan built?
Solution: It was built in 1863.
8. Who bought the land and built the first house?
Solution: Debendranath Tagore bought the land and built the house.
9. When was the Prayer House built?
Solution: It was built twenty-eight years after the first house.
10. What is the Prayer House made of?
Solution: The Prayer House is made of coloured glass.
11. What is Amrakunjo?
Solution: Amrakunjo is a mango orchard.
12. Who used to sit among the trees of Amrakunjo to write poems?
Solution: Rabindranath Tagore used to sit there and write poems.
13. What kind of house is Shyamoli?
Solution: Shyamoli is an earthen house.
14. What can be seen on the walls of Shyamoli?
Solution: There are beautifully carved figures on her walls.
15. What serves as the classroom for the students?
Solution: The earth is their classroom.
16. What serves as the roof for the students?
Solution: The sky is their roof.
17. Where does the bell ring?
Solution: The bell rings at Singhasadan, the gateway.
18. What is happening at Punoscho’s courtyard tonight?
Solution: A rehearsal for a drama is taking place there.
19. What event is planned at Amrakunjo for the evening?
Solution: There is a song and poetry-reading evening.
20. What do all the houses say together about Santiniketan?
Solution: They say it is the land of fun and friendship.
Long Answer Questions (Big)
1. Describe the atmosphere of the February afternoon as mentioned in the text.
2. How does the house 'Santiniketan' describe the land before any houses were built?
3. What is the historical significance of the year 1863 in the context of the story?
4. Compare the structures of the Prayer House and Shyamoli.
5. Why does Amrakunjo say, "I would like to join this conversation"?
6. What does Santiniketan mean when it says, "Sometimes changes hurt"?
7. How does Amrakunjo prove that "Nothing has changed" at Santiniketan?
8. Describe the role of Singhasadan in the life of Santiniketan.
9. What cultural activities are mentioned as taking place in the different houses?
10. Why is Santiniketan called a "great center of education"?
11. Explain the relationship between the houses as depicted in the story.
12. What does the phrase "The earth is their classroom. The sky is their roof" signify?
13. How does Shyamoli describe the carvings on her walls?
14. What was the reaction of Santiniketan when Deholi asked if it felt lonely?
15. Summarize the conversation between Punoscho and Santiniketan at the beginning.
16. What does the text tell us about Rabindranath Tagore's connection to the place?
17. How do the houses view the future of Santiniketan?
18. What is the significance of the "bell" in the story?
19. Describe the physical appearance of the Prayer House as per the text.
20. What is the main theme of the lesson "Santiniketan"?
CLASS 5 BUTTERFLY
Lesson 4: Memory in Marble
1. Let’s Read (চলো পড়ি)
Tarun, a class five student, was given a task to write a paragraph on the Taj Mahal. Worried, he asked his grandfather for help. His grandfather told him the story of Prince Khurram, son of Jehangir. One day, Khurram saw an extremely beautiful girl, Arjumand Banu Begum, in the Meena Bazaar and wanted to marry her.
তরুণ, পঞ্চম শ্রেণীর ছাত্র, তাজমহলের উপর একটি অনুচ্ছেদ লেখার কাজ পেয়েছিল। চিন্তিত হয়ে, সে তার দাদুকে সাহায্য করতে বলল। তার দাদু তাকে রাজকুমার খুররমের গল্প বললেন, যিনি ছিলেন জাহাঙ্গীরের পুত্র। একদিন, খুররম মীনা বাজারে এক অত্যন্ত সুন্দরী মেয়ে, আরজুমান্দ বানু বেগমকে দেখতে পান এবং তাকে বিয়ে করতে চান।
Prince Khurram was later known as Shah Jahan and became emperor in 1628. Arjumand Banu Begum was renamed Mumtaz Mahal, meaning “the brightest crown of the world.” When Mumtaz was on her deathbed, Shah Jahan promised her he would not marry again and would build the most beautiful mausoleum over her grave.
রাজকুমার খুররম পরে শাহজাহান নামে পরিচিত হন এবং ১৬২৮ সালে সম্রাট হন। আরজুমান্দ বানু বেগমের নতুন নাম হয় মমতাজ মহল, যার অর্থ “বিশ্বের সবচেয়ে উজ্জ্বল মুকুট।” মমতাজ যখন মৃত্যুশয্যায়, শাহজাহান তাকে প্রতিশ্রুতি দেন যে তিনি আর বিয়ে করবেন না এবং তার কবরের উপর সবচেয়ে সুন্দর সমাধিসৌধ নির্মাণ করবেন।
Shah Jahan was so sad after her death that he ordered the court to mourn for two years. He then started building the monument beside the river Yamuna. It took 22 years and 22,000 workers to build. The Taj Mahal was built entirely out of white marble. When Shah Jahan died in 1666, his body was placed next to the grave of Mumtaz Mahal. It is now considered one of the seven wonders of the World.
তার মৃত্যুর পর শাহজাহান এতই দুঃখিত হয়েছিলেন যে তিনি দরবারকে দুই বছর শোক পালনের আদেশ দেন। এরপর তিনি যমুনা নদীর তীরে স্মৃতিস্তম্ভটি নির্মাণ শুরু করেন। এটি তৈরি করতে ২২ বছর এবং ২২,০০০ কর্মী লেগেছিল। তাজমহল সম্পূর্ণরূপে সাদা মার্বেল দিয়ে তৈরি। ১৬৬৬ সালে শাহজাহান মারা গেলে, তার দেহ মমতাজ মহলের কবরের পাশে রাখা হয়। এটি এখন বিশ্বের সাতটি আশ্চর্যের মধ্যে একটি হিসাবে বিবেচিত হয়।
2. What We Learn (আমরা যা শিখি)
The Power of a Promise
Shah Jahan built the magnificent Taj Mahal to keep a promise he made to his dying wife. This teaches us the importance of keeping our promises and honoring our commitments.
শাহজাহান তার মৃত্যুপথযাত্রী স্ত্রীকে দেওয়া একটি প্রতিশ্রুতি রাখতে magnificently তাজমহল নির্মাণ করেছিলেন। এটি আমাদের প্রতিশ্রুতি রাখা এবং আমাদের অঙ্গীকার সম্মান করার গুরুত্ব শেখায়।
Love and Memory
The Taj Mahal is a symbol of Shah Jahan’s deep love for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. It shows how art and architecture can be used to create a timeless memorial to remember a loved one forever.
তাজমহল শাহজাহানের তার স্ত্রী মমতাজ মহলের প্রতি গভীর ভালোবাসার প্রতীক। এটি দেখায় যে কীভাবে শিল্প এবং স্থাপত্যকে একজন প্রিয়জনকে চিরকাল স্মরণ করার জন্য একটি চিরন্তন স্মৃতিস্তম্ভ তৈরি করতে ব্যবহার করা যেতে পারে।
Hard Work and Dedication
Building the Taj Mahal took 22 years and 22,000 workers. This incredible feat of construction teaches us that great things can be achieved through long-term dedication, patience, and the hard work of many people.
তাজমহল নির্মাণে ২২ বছর এবং ২২,০০০ কর্মী লেগেছিল। এই অবিশ্বাস্য নির্মাণকার্য আমাদের শেখায় যে দীর্ঘমেয়াদী উৎসর্গ, ধৈর্য এবং অনেক মানুষের কঠোর পরিশ্রমের মাধ্যমে মহান জিনিস অর্জন করা যেতে পারে।
3. Vocabulary (শব্দভান্ডার)
| Word (শব্দ) | Meaning (অর্থ) |
|---|---|
| Monument স্মৃতিস্তম্ভ | A building or structure built to remember a person or event. |
| Glimpse এক ঝলক | A brief or partial view. |
| Emperor সম্রাট | A ruler of great power and rank. |
| Mausoleum সমাধিসৌধ | A building built to house the dead. |
| Mourn শোক করা | To feel or show deep sorrow or regret for someone’s death. |
| Magnificent চমৎকার | Impressively beautiful or grand. |
4. Activities 1 & 2
Activity 1: Fill in the blanks
(a) Prince Khurram was later known as ___.
Shah Jahan
(b) Mumtaz Mahal means ___.
the brightest crown of the world
Activity 2: True or False
(a) Shah Jahan was the grandson of Akbar the Great.
True
Supporting Statement: “…grandson of Akbar the Great.”
(b) The Taj Mahal is in Delhi.
False
Supporting Statement: “…beside the river Yamuna…” (The context implies Agra).
5. Activities 3, 4 & 5
Activity 3: Cause and Effect
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| (a) Shah Jahan was sad after the death of his wife. | He ordered the court to mourn for two years. |
| (b) Shah Jahan wanted to build a beautiful monument. | The Taj Mahal was built. |
Activity 4 & 5: Vocabulary
(a) A building built to house the dead: ___
mausoleum
(b) A brief or partial view: ___
glimpse
6. Activities 6 & 7
Activity 6: Complete the sentences
(a) Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal in memory of…
his beloved wife (Mumtaz Mahal).
(b) It took ___ years and ___ workers to build the Taj Mahal.
22, 22,000
Activity 7: Fill in the chart
| Who | What |
|---|---|
| Shah Jahan | built the Taj Mahal |
| Tarun’s Grandfather | told the story of the Taj Mahal |
| Mumtaz Mahal | was the wife of Shah Jahan |
7. Grammar Practice (ব্যাকরণ অনুশীলন)
Activity 12: Modals
(a) I ___ finish my homework before going to school.
must
(b) We ___ save trees for a better future.
must / should
Activity 13: Negative Modals
(a) I ___ help you. I am sorry.
cannot
(b) One ___ go for swimming when the sea is rough.
should not
8. Creative Writing (সৃজনশীল লেখা)
Activity 14: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
Write a story in about 75 words about a cart-man whose cart gets stuck in the mud.
Activity 16: A Tree Plantation Drive
Write a paragraph on a recent Tree Plantation Drive undertaken by your school.
Our school organised a Tree Plantation Drive last week on the school grounds. The program started at 10 a.m. Our Principal began the ceremony by planting a mango sapling. All the students of classes V and VI participated with great enthusiasm. We planted fifty saplings in total, including mango, neem, and jamun trees. Our teachers helped us and told us about the importance of trees. It was a wonderful experience, and I felt proud to help our environment.
Day 2: Santiniketan Class IV | English | Butterfly ACTIVITIES
Mock Test: Lesson 10
Santiniketan (Butterfly IV)
Interactive 60-Question Test Bank
Test Completed!
0/60
WBBSE Online Examination
Subject: Butterfly IV (English)
Lesson 10: Santiniketan | Class: IV
Exam Result
Objective Score: /10
Model Answers for Section B:
- The wind carries their words.
- Two chatim trees and a few palm trees.
- Because Santiniketan was the first house built there.
- Twenty-eight years later.
- He sat among the trees and wrote poems.
- The earth is their classroom and the sky is their roof.
- A rehearsal for a drama.
- A song and poetry-reading evening.
- Fun, friendship, and a great center of education.
- It will continue to ring for them.
Word Meanings
Class: IV | Subject: Butterfly IV | Lesson 10: Santiniketan
Generated by WBBSE AI Engine • Butterfly IV Resource
Day 3: Santiniketan Class IV | English | Butterfly MOCK TEST
Lesson 10: Santiniketan
Complete Side-by-Side English & Bengali Translation
✎ Activities & Exercises
Activity 1: True or False
a. Santiniketan is reminded of old days. (True)
b. The house Punoscho stands by a copse of Banyan trees. (False)
Activity 3: Complete the sentences
a. Deholi is now a children’s school.
b. Amrokunja is a mango orchard.
Activity 4: Who Said What?
| Said by whom? | Statement |
|---|---|
| Santiniketan | I came up in 1863. |
| Prayer House | There were no electricity or motor cars then. |
| Amrakunjo | Rabindranath sat among my trees and wrote poems. |
Activity 6: Answer the Questions
a. Why are the students sitting in the open air?
Ans: Because the earth is their classroom and the sky is their roof, following the tradition of Rabindranath.
b. What will ring for the future generations?
Ans: The bell at Singhasadan, the gateway, will ring for future generations.
c. How is the courtyard of Punascho used?
Ans: The courtyard of Punoscho is used for drama rehearsals.
Activity 7(a) & 8(a): Grammar & Vocabulary
7a. Soldiers fight bravely for their country.
7b. We should get up early in the morning.
8a. I clearly remember my first day in school.
8b. Children love to play with coloured balls.
Online Test (30 Marks)
A. Fill in the blanks (5 Marks):
- The house Punoscho stands by a copse of Sal trees.
- Debendranath Tagore bought the land in 1863.
- Prayer House is made of coloured glass.
- The earth is their classroom and the sky is their roof.
- The bell rings at Singhasadan, the gateway.
B. Write ‘T’ for True and ‘F’ for False (5 Marks):
- 1. Deholi is a mango orchard. (F)
- 2. Santiniketan was the first house built there. (T)
- 3. Rabindranath Tagore wrote poems among the sal trees. (F - Mango orchard/Amrakunjo)
- 4. Prayer house lost five towers in a flood. (F - Storm)
- 5. Santiniketan is a great center of education. (T)
Day 4: Santiniketan Class IV | English | Butterfly ONLINE EXAM
Lesson 10: Santiniketan
Class: IV | Subject: Butterfly IV
📝 Activity 1: True or False
a. Santiniketan is reminded of old days.
Answer: True
b. The house Punoscho stands by a copse of Banyan trees.
Answer: False (Note: According to the text, it was built on empty land with chatim and palm trees; Banyan trees are not mentioned in this context.)
📝 Activity 3: Complete the sentences
a. Deholi is now ___.
Answer: a children’s school.
b. Amrokunja is a ___.
Answer: mango orchard.
📝 Activity 4: Who Said What?
| Statement | Said by whom? |
|---|---|
| "I came up in 1863." | Santiniketan |
| "There were no electricity or motor cars then." | Prayer House |
| "Rabindranath sat among my trees and wrote poems." | Amrakunjo |
📝 Activity 5: Arrange the sentences
Arrange the events in chronological order (What happened first to last):
2. Prayer House was built twenty-eight years later.
3. Rabindranath Tagore wrote poems sitting in the mango orchard (Amrakunjo).
4. Today, students sit in the open air for their classes.
📝 Activity 6: Answer the Questions
a. Why are the students sitting in the open air?
Answer: The students are sitting in the open air because the earth is their classroom and the sky is their roof, just as it was when Rabindranath was there.
b. What will ring for the future generations?
Answer: The bell at Singhasadan, the gateway, will ring for future generations.
c. How is the courtyard of Punascho used?
Answer: The courtyard of Punascho is used for drama rehearsals.
📝 Activity 7(a) & 8(a): Grammar & Vocabulary
Activity 7(a): Adverbs
a. Soldiers fight ___ for their country.
Answer: bravely
b. We should get up ___ in the morning.
Answer: early
Activity 8(a): Fill in blanks
a. I clearly ___ my first day in school.
Answer: remember
b. Children love to play with ___ balls.
Answer: coloured
📝 Activity 9: Writing Practice
9(a) Experience at Santiniketan:
Last weekend, I visited Santiniketan with my parents. For the first time, I saw students having their lessons while sitting under the trees. I felt a wonderful closeness to nature in that open-air classroom.
9(b) Describe your best friend:
My best friend’s name is Ananya. She is my best friend because she is very kind and always supports me. We share our secrets and enjoy playing together.
Online Test (Solved)
Total Marks: 30
A. Fill in the blanks (5 Marks)
- 1. The house Punoscho stands by a copse of Banyan trees.
- 2. Debendranath Tagore bought the land in 1863.
- 3. Prayer House is made of coloured glass.
- 4. The earth is their classroom and the sky is their roof.
- 5. The bell rings at Singhasadan, the gateway.
B. Write ‘T’ for True and ‘F’ for False (5 Marks)
- 1. Deholi is a mango orchard. [F]
- 2. Santiniketan was the first house built there. [T]
- 3. Rabindranath Tagore wrote poems among the sal trees. [F] (It was mango trees)
- 4. Prayer house lost five towers in a flood. [F] (Not mentioned in the text provided)
- 5. Santiniketan is a great center of education. [T]
C. Match the columns (5 Marks)
D. Answer the following questions (15 Marks)
1. Who built the first house in Santiniketan?
Debendranath Tagore built the first house (Santiniketan) in 1863.
2. What did Amrakunjo remember about Rabindranath Tagore?
Amrakunjo remembered that Rabindranath sat among its trees and wrote poems.
3. What did Prayer House lose in a storm?
According to the general text of Butterfly IV (though not in the provided snippet), it lost its towers. Based strictly on the snippet provided, this information is not present.
4. What did Amrakunjo say has not changed?
Amrakunjo said that the way students sit in the open air with the earth as their classroom and the sky as their roof has not changed.
5. What events are happening at Punoscho and Amrakunjo?
A drama rehearsal is taking place at Punoscho’s courtyard, and a song and poetry-reading evening is happening at Amrakunjo.
Day 5: Santiniketan Class IV | English | Butterfly Activities Revision + Mistake Analysis Active Recall / Teaching Leave a Reply
Revision Tab: Lesson 10 - Santiniketan
Class IV Butterfly | Mistake Analysis & Power Revision
⚠️ Common Conceptual Mistakes & Pitfalls
| Common Mistake | Correct Concept / Correction |
|---|---|
| Thinking Rabindranath Tagore built the first house. | The first house (Santiniketan) was built by Debendranath Tagore in 1863. |
| Identifying Amrakunjo as a building or house. | Amrakunjo is not a house; it is a mango orchard (a garden of mango trees). |
| Confusing the materials of the houses. | Prayer House is made of coloured glass, while Shyamoli is an earthen (mud) house. |
| Mixing up the dates of construction. | Santiniketan house was built in 1863. The Prayer House was built 28 years later (1891). |
| Believing the houses literally walk and talk. | This is personification. The story uses imagination to show that the history of Santiniketan is alive in its buildings. |
⚡ Power Revision Summary
History & Founders
- • 1863: Debendranath Tagore bought the land and built the first house, "Santiniketan".
- • Original Landscape: Only empty land with two Chatim trees and a few Palm trees.
- • Rabindranath Tagore: Used to sit in the mango orchard (Amrakunjo) to write poems and read his works.
Key Landmarks
- • Deholi: The house that is now used as a school for children.
- • Prayer House: Built 28 years after the first house; made of beautiful coloured glass.
- • Shyamoli: An earthen house with beautiful carved figures on the walls.
- • Singhasadan: The gateway where the bell rings.
The Spirit of Santiniketan
Classroom
The Open Air / Earth
Roof
The Vast Sky
Values
Education, Fun, & Friendship
"Santiniketan has always been, and will remain, the same."
© WBBSE Butterfly IV Revision Module | Focus on Lesson 10
Active Recall Toolkit
Class IV | Butterfly IV | Lesson 10: Santiniketan
1 Blind Questions (Memory Test)
- In which month does the story take place?
- Who bought the land and built the first house?
- In what year was the house 'Santiniketan' built?
- Which house is now used as a children's school?
- What material is the Prayer House made of?
- How many years after the first house was the Prayer House built?
- Is Amrakunjo a house or something else?
- What did Rabindranath Tagore do while sitting in Amrakunjo?
- What kind of house is Shyamoli?
- What can be seen on the walls of Shyamoli?
- Where do the students sit for their lessons?
- What serves as the "roof" for the students in their classroom?
- What is the name of the gateway where the bell rings?
- What is happening at Punoscho's courtyard tonight?
- What do all the houses say Santiniketan is a land of?
Try to answer these without looking at the text. Cover the source material and speak the answers aloud!
2 The Feynman Method (Explain to a 5-Year-Old)
"The Talking Houses of the Magic Garden"
"Imagine a big, beautiful garden where the houses can actually talk to each other! A long time ago, a kind man named Debendranath built the very first house there. Later, his son Rabindranath made it a special school. But it’s not like your school with walls and desks. Here, children sit on the grass under big mango trees. The ground is their floor and the big blue sky is their roof! The houses are all friends—some are made of glass, some of mud—and they love to remember the songs and poems Rabindranath wrote. It is a happy place of friendship and learning."
3 Spaced Repetition Schedule
The Basics
- Names of all houses
- Year 1863 (First house)
- Who built Santiniketan
- Prayer House materials
The Details
- Open-air classroom concept
- Shyamoli's wall carvings
- The bell at Singhasadan
- Drama at Punoscho
Application
- "Who Said What" activity
- Adverbs (clearly, early)
- Writing about a visit
- True/False practice
WBBSE AI Engine • Butterfly IV • Lesson 10