Day 1: Santiniketan Class IV | English | Butterfly NOTES
Santiniketan শান্তিনিকেতন
"Where the world makes its home in a single nest."
The Talking Houses of Santiniketan
Imagine an afternoon in February where houses can talk! In this chapter, the historic buildings of Santiniketan share their memories of the past, Rabindranath Tagore, and the beauty of nature.
"ফেব্রুয়ারি মাসের এক বিকেল। মৃদু বাতাস বইছে। সূর্যের আলো নরম। বাড়িগুলো তাদের জায়গায় স্থির। কিন্তু তারা মানুষের মতো একে অপরের সাথে কথা বলতে পারে।"
Meet the Characters (Houses & Places)
Santiniketan
The Oldest House (1863)
Built by Debendranath Tagore. Remembers when there were only two chatim trees and palm trees.
Prayer House
Coloured Glass
Built 28 years after Santiniketan. It is famous for its beautiful coloured glass structure.
Amrakunjo
The Mango Orchard
Not a house, but a garden where Rabindranath Tagore sat to write his famous poems.
Did You Know?
- Deholi: Now serves as a school for children.
- Shyamoli: An earthen house with beautifully carved figures on its walls.
- Singhasadan: The gateway where the bell rings for future generations.
- Classroom: At Santiniketan, the earth is the classroom and the sky is the roof.
Quick Check
1. Who built the first house in 1863?
2. What is Amrakunjo?
Chapter: Santiniketan
Class IV | Subject: Butterfly IV | Comprehensive Question Bank
Part A: Short Answer Questions (20)
1. When does the story take place?
Ans: The story takes place on an afternoon in February.
2. Who is the oldest house among them?
Ans: Santiniketan is the oldest house among them.
3. When was the house 'Santiniketan' built?
Ans: It was built in the year 1863.
4. Who bought the land and built Santiniketan?
Ans: Debendranath Tagore bought the land and built the house.
5. What is Deholi used for now?
Ans: Deholi is now used as a children’s school.
6. What is the Prayer House made of?
Ans: The Prayer House is made of coloured glass.
7. When was the Prayer House built?
Ans: It was built twenty-eight years after 1863 (in 1891).
8. What is Amrakunjo?
Ans: Amrakunjo is a mango orchard.
9. Who wrote poems sitting in Amrakunjo?
Ans: Rabindranath Tagore wrote poems there.
10. What kind of house is Shyamoli?
Ans: Shyamoli is an earthen house.
11. What are on the walls of Shyamoli?
Ans: There are beautifully carved figures on its walls.
12. Where does the bell ring?
Ans: The bell rings at Singhasadan.
13. What is Singhasadan?
Ans: Singhasadan is the gateway of Santiniketan.
14. Where is the drama rehearsal taking place?
Ans: It is taking place in the courtyard of Punoscho.
15. What is the students' classroom?
Ans: The earth is their classroom.
16. What is the students' roof?
Ans: The sky is their roof.
17. How do the houses talk to each other?
Ans: The wind carries their words to one another.
18. What was the land like originally?
Ans: It was empty land with two chatim trees and a few palm trees.
19. What does Deholi call Santiniketan?
Ans: Deholi calls Santiniketan a great center of education.
20. What do all houses say together at the end?
Ans: They say Santiniketan is the land of fun and friendship.
Part B: Long Answer Questions (20)
1. Describe the atmosphere of the February afternoon mentioned in the text.
Solution: The story begins on a pleasant afternoon in February. A mild wind is blowing across the land, and the sunlight is soft. It is a peaceful setting where several houses stand together on a large plot of land, appearing as if they are ready to share their stories.
2. How does the author personify the houses in Santiniketan?
Solution: The author personifies the houses by giving them the ability to talk to one another like human beings. Although they are fixed to their spots, they share memories, feelings, and news. The wind acts as a messenger, carrying their spoken words from one house to another.
3. What did Santiniketan look like before any houses were built there?
Solution: According to the house Santiniketan, there was nothing on the land originally. It was just a vast stretch of empty land. The only vegetation present were two chatim trees and a few palm trees standing in the open space.
4. Explain the history of the first house built in Santiniketan.
Solution: The first house was built in 1863 and was named 'Santiniketan'. Debendranath Tagore came to this place on a day with soft sunlight, liked the land, bought it, and had the house constructed. It is the oldest structure among all the houses mentioned.
5. What is the significance of the Prayer House?
Solution: The Prayer House was built in 1891, twenty-eight years after the first house. It is unique because it is made of coloured glass. It stands as a symbol of the spiritual and peaceful atmosphere of the area, participating in the collective memories of the place.
6. Describe Amrakunjo and its connection with Rabindranath Tagore.
Solution: Amrakunjo is not a house but a mango orchard. It has been a witness to the old times just like the houses. Rabindranath Tagore used to sit among the mango trees in this orchard to write his famous poems, making it a very special part of Santiniketan.
7. What makes the house 'Shyamoli' special?
Solution: Shyamoli is an earthen house, which gives it a traditional and natural look. Its walls are decorated with beautifully carved figures. Shyamoli proudly mentions that these carvings look as fresh today as they did when they were first made.
8. Why does Santiniketan say that "sometimes changes hurt"?
Solution: Santiniketan feels the pain of change because it misses the past. It vividly remembers the days when Rabindranath Tagore would sit and read out his writings. Since those days are gone and the person is no longer there, the house feels a sense of loss.
9. How does Amrakunjo argue that nothing has actually changed?
Solution: Amrakunjo points out that the tradition of education is still the same. Students still sit in the open air to study, with the earth as their classroom and the sky as their roof. This is exactly how it was when Rabindranath was present, showing that the spirit remains unchanged.
10. Describe the open-air classroom system at Santiniketan.
Solution: At Santiniketan, education is not confined to four walls. Students sit outside in the fresh air. They use the ground (earth) as their floor or classroom and the open sky serves as their roof. This system encourages a close connection between the students and nature.
11. What is the role of Singhasadan in the daily life of Santiniketan?
Solution: Singhasadan is the gateway to Santiniketan. It has a bell that rings to mark time and events. Shyamoli mentions that this bell has been ringing for a long time and will continue to ring for future generations, symbolizing the continuity of life there.
12. What cultural activities are mentioned as happening in the evening?
Solution: Two main activities are mentioned for the evening: a rehearsal for a drama is taking place in the courtyard of Punoscho, and a song and poetry-reading session is scheduled to happen at Amrakunjo. This shows that Santiniketan is a vibrant place for the arts.
13. Why is Santiniketan called a "great center of education"?
Solution: It is called a great center of education because of its unique way of teaching and its history. From the time of Rabindranath Tagore, it has provided a space where students learn in harmony with nature, and houses like Deholi still function as schools today.
14. What does the phrase "land of fun and friendship" mean in this context?
Solution: This phrase suggests that Santiniketan is not just a place for serious study, but also a place where people enjoy themselves and build strong bonds. The houses talking together and the students learning together in the open air reflect a spirit of joy and community.
15. Compare the construction materials of Prayer House and Shyamoli.
Solution: The Prayer House and Shyamoli are built very differently. The Prayer House is made of modern, delicate coloured glass, which likely creates a bright and colourful interior. On the other hand, Shyamoli is an earthen house made of soil, featuring artistic carvings on its walls.
16. How does the wind help the houses in the story?
Solution: Since the houses are fixed to their spots and cannot move, they cannot walk to each other to talk. The wind acts as a medium of communication. It carries the words spoken by one house and delivers them to the others, allowing them to have a conversation.
17. What did Deholi ask Santiniketan, and what was the reply?
Solution: Deholi asked Santiniketan if it felt lonely being the first house built there. Santiniketan replied, "Not really," and went on to explain its history, mentioning how Debendranath Tagore built it in 1863 after buying the land.
18. What is the significance of the "future generations" mentioned by Shyamoli?
Solution: When Shyamoli says the bell will ring for future generations, it means that the values, culture, and educational traditions of Santiniketan are permanent. It suggests that children of the future will continue to come there to learn and grow, just as they do now.
19. Why does Amrakunjo want to join the conversation?
Solution: Amrakunjo wants to join because, even though it is a mango orchard and not a house, it has also seen the "old times." It holds precious memories of Rabindranath Tagore writing poetry under its trees and wants to share its perspective on the history of the place.
20. Summarize the ending of the story.
Solution: At the end of the story, all the houses and the orchard agree that Santiniketan is a place of education, fun, and friendship. They conclude that while some things change, the essence of Santiniketan remains the same. They decide to celebrate this by singing together.
CLASS 5 BUTTERFLY
Lesson 4: Memory in Marble
Day 2: Santiniketan Class IV | English | Butterfly ACTIVITIES
WBBSE Mock Test Bank
Class: IV | Subject: Butterfly | Chapter: Santiniketan
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WBBSE Interactive Assessment
Class: IV | Subject: Butterfly IV | Chapter: Santiniketan
Exam Summary
Objective Score (MCQs)
* Descriptive answers (Questions 11-20) have been recorded and require manual teacher review for the remaining 30 marks.
Word Meanings
Class: IV | Subject: Butterfly | Chapter: Santiniketan
Generated by WBBSE AI Engine - Educational Material
Day 3: Santiniketan Class IV | English | Butterfly MOCK TEST
Santiniketan
Complete Paragraph-by-Paragraph Translation (English | Bengali)
It is an afternoon in February. A mild wind is blowing. The sunlight is soft. Several houses stand on a large plot. The houses are fixed to their spot. But they can talk to one another like human beings. The wind carries their words.
ফেব্রুয়ারি মাসের এক বিকেল। মৃদু বাতাস বইছে। সূর্যের আলো নরম। একটি বড় প্লটে বেশ কয়েকটি বাড়ি দাঁড়িয়ে আছে। বাড়িগুলো তাদের জায়গায় স্থির। কিন্তু তারা মানুষের মতো একে অপরের সাথে কথা বলতে পারে। বাতাস তাদের কথা বহন করে নিয়ে যায়।
Santiniketan says, “Today I’m reminded of old days.” “You are the oldest house among us.” Punoscho says. Santiniketan smiles, “There was nothing here once, just empty land. There were two chatim trees and a few palm trees.”
শান্তিনিকেতন বলে, “আজ আমার পুরনো দিনের কথা মনে পড়ছে।” “আপনি আমাদের মধ্যে সবচেয়ে পুরোনো বাড়ি।” পুনশ্চ বলে। শান্তিনিকেতন হাসে, “একসময় এখানে কিছুই ছিল না, শুধু খালি জমি। দুটি ছাতিম গাছ আর কয়েকটি তাল গাছ ছিল।”
Deholi is a house which is now a children’s school. Deholi says, “You were the first house built here. Did you feel lonely?” “Not really.” , Santiniketan says, “I came up in 1863. On such a day as this, Debendranath Tagore came here. He bought this land and had me built”. “I was built twenty eight years later.” Prayer House says. Prayer House is made of coloured glass.
দেহলী একটি বাড়ি যা এখন শিশুদের স্কুল। দেহলী বলে, “আপনি এখানে নির্মিত প্রথম বাড়ি ছিলেন। আপনি কি একাকী বোধ করতেন?” “ঠিক তা নয়।”, শান্তিনিকেতন বলে, “আমি ১৮৬৩ সালে তৈরি হয়েছিলাম। এমনই এক দিনে দেবেন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর এখানে এসেছিলেন। তিনি এই জমি কিনে আমাকে তৈরি করিয়েছিলেন”। “আমি আঠাশ বছর পরে নির্মিত হয়েছিলাম।” প্রার্থনা গৃহ বলে। প্রার্থনা গৃহটি রঙিন কাঁচ দিয়ে তৈরি।
Amrakunjo says, “I would like to join this conversation. I’m not a house. I’m a mango orchard. But I’ve seen the old times too. Rabindranath sat among my trees and wrote poems.” Shyamoli, an earthen house, says, “Has anything changed since those days? There are beautifully carved figures on my walls. They are as fresh today as they were yesterday.”
আম্রকুঞ্জ বলে, “আমি এই কথোপকথনে যোগ দিতে চাই। আমি কোনো বাড়ি নই। আমি একটি আমের বাগান। কিন্তু আমিও পুরনো সময় দেখেছি। রবীন্দ্রনাথ আমার গাছের মধ্যে বসে কবিতা লিখতেন।” শ্যামলী, একটি মাটির বাড়ি, বলে, “সেই দিনগুলো থেকে কি কিছু বদলেছে? আমার দেওয়ালে সুন্দর খোদাই করা মূর্তি আছে। সেগুলো গতকালের মতোই আজও তাজা।”
“Sometimes changes hurt.” Santiniketan says, “I vividly remember Rabindranath reading out his writings. Those days are no more.” “Nothing has changed,” Amrakunjo says, “there, see the students. They are sitting in open air. The earth is their classroom. The sky is their roof. It was the same when Rabindranath was among us.”
“কখনও কখনও পরিবর্তন কষ্ট দেয়।” শান্তিনিকেতন বলে, “আমার স্পষ্টভাবে মনে আছে রবীন্দ্রনাথ তাঁর লেখা পড়তেন। সেই দিনগুলো আর নেই।” “কিছুই বদলায়নি,” আম্রকুঞ্জ বলে, “ওই দেখো, ছাত্রছাত্রীরা। তারা খোলা হাওয়ায় বসে আছে। পৃথিবী তাদের শ্রেণীকক্ষ। আকাশ তাদের ছাদ। রবীন্দ্রনাথ যখন আমাদের মধ্যে ছিলেন তখনও এমনই ছিল।”
“The bell rings at Singhasadan, the gateway.” says Shyamoli. “It will ring for future generations.” “A rehearsal for a drama takes place tonight,” says Punoscho, “they are using my courtyard.” “There is a song and poetry-reading evening with me.” , says Amrakunjo. “Santiniketan is a great center of education.” says Deholi. “Santiniketan is also the land of fun and friendship, “all the houses say together. “Santiniketan has always been, and will remain, the same. Let’s sing …”
“সিংহসদনে, প্রবেশদ্বারে ঘণ্টা বাজে।” শ্যামলী বলে। “এটি ভবিষ্যৎ প্রজন্মের জন্য বাজবে।” “আজ রাতে একটি নাটকের মহড়া আছে,” পুনশ্চ বলে, “তারা আমার উঠোন ব্যবহার করছে।” “আমার সাথে একটি গান এবং কবিতা পাঠের সন্ধ্যা আছে।” , আম্রকুঞ্জ বলে। “শান্তিনিকেতন শিক্ষার এক মহান কেন্দ্র।” দেহলী বলে। “শান্তিনিকেতন মজা এবং বন্ধুত্বেরও দেশ,” সব বাড়ি একসাথে বলে। “শান্তিনিকেতন সবসময় যেমন ছিল, তেমনই থাকবে। চলো গাই…”
Activities Exercise & Questions
Activity 1: True or False
- Santiniketan is reminded of old days.
- The house Punoscho stands by a copse of Banyan trees.
Activity 3: Complete the sentences
- Deholi is now ___.
- Amrokunja is a ___.
অ্যাক্টিভিটি ১ ও ৩ (অনুবাদ)
১. সত্য না মিথ্যা: শান্তিনিকেতনের পুরনো দিনের কথা মনে পড়ছে। পুনশ্চ বাড়িটি বটগাছের ঝোপের কাছে দাঁড়িয়ে আছে।
৩. বাক্যটি সম্পূর্ণ করো: দেহলী এখন একটি ___। আম্রকুঞ্জ একটি ___।
Activity 6: Answer the Questions
- Why are the students sitting in the open air?
- What will ring for the future generations?
- How is the courtyard of Punascho used?
প্রশ্নোত্তর (অনুবাদ)
- ছাত্রছাত্রীরা কেন খোলা বাতাসে বসে আছে?
- ভবিষ্যৎ প্রজন্মের জন্য কী বাজবে?
- পুনশ্চ-র উঠোন কীভাবে ব্যবহৃত হয়?
Day 4: Santiniketan Class IV | English | Butterfly ONLINE EXAM
Chapter: Santiniketan
Activity Solutions & Exercise Guide
📝 Activity 1: True or False
📝 Activity 3: Complete the sentences
📝 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
2. Santiniketan house was built in 1863.
3. Prayer House was built twenty-eight years later.
4. Rabindranath Tagore wrote poems in Amrakunjo.
5. Students sit in the open air for their lessons today.
📝 Activity 6: Answer the Questions
📚 Grammar & Vocabulary
Activity 7(a): Fill in with Adverbs
Activity 8(a): Fill in the blanks
✍️ Writing Practice
Activity 9(a): Experience at Santiniketan
- 1. Last weekend, I visited Santiniketan with my parents.
- 2. For the first time, I saw students having their lessons while sitting under the trees.
- 3. I felt a wonderful closeness to nature in that open-air classroom.
Activity 9(b): Describe your best friend
- 1. My best friend’s name is Ananya.
- 2. She is my best friend because she is very kind and always supports me.
- 3. We share our secrets and enjoy playing together.
Online Test (30 Marks)
Test your knowledge of the chapter
A. Fill in the blanks (5 Marks)
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
- 4. Prayer house lost five towers in a flood. F
- 5. Santiniketan is a great center of education. T
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 events are happening at Punoscho and Amrakunjo?
A rehearsal for a drama 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: Santiniketan
Class IV | Butterfly IV | Mistake Analysis & Power Summary
Common Conceptual Pitfalls
| Common Mistake | Correct Understanding |
|---|---|
| Thinking Amrakunjo is a house. | Amrakunjo is a mango orchard (a garden), not a building. |
| Believing Rabindranath Tagore built the first house. | The first house (Santiniketan) was built by Debendranath Tagore in 1863. |
| Confusing the materials of Prayer House and Shyamoli. | Prayer House is made of coloured glass; Shyamoli is an earthen (mud) house. |
| Thinking the bell rings at Punoscho. | The bell rings at Singhasadan, which is the gateway. |
| Assuming students sit in rooms. | Students sit in the open air; the earth is their classroom and the sky is their roof. |
Power Revision Summary
History & Origin
- 📅 1863: The year the house 'Santiniketan' was built.
- 👤 Debendranath Tagore: Bought the land and built the first house.
- 🌳 Original Landscape: Only empty land with two chatim trees and a few palm trees.
The "Talking" Houses
- 🏠 Deholi: Now used as a children's school.
- 💎 Prayer House: Built 28 years after Santiniketan; made of coloured glass.
- 🏺 Shyamoli: An earthen house with beautiful carved figures on walls.
- 🎭 Punoscho: Its courtyard is used for drama rehearsals.
Nature & Education
- 🥭 Amrakunjo: Mango orchard where Rabindranath wrote poems.
- ☁️ Classroom: Open air, earth as floor, sky as roof.
- 🔔 Singhasadan: The gateway where the bell rings for generations.
Core Spirit
- 🤝 Santiniketan is the land of fun and friendship.
- 🎓 It remains a great center of education where nature and learning go together.
Active Recall Toolkit
Class IV | Butterfly | Chapter: Santiniketan
Blind Questions
Test your memory! Try to answer these without looking at the text.
1. In which month does the story take place?
2. Who is the oldest house among them all?
3. What two types of trees were there originally on the empty land?
4. In which year was the house 'Santiniketan' built?
5. Who bought the land and built the first house?
6. What is the house 'Deholi' used for now?
7. What material is the 'Prayer House' made of?
8. How many years after Santiniketan was the Prayer House built?
9. What is 'Amrakunjo' if it is not a house?
10. What kind of house is 'Shyamoli'?
11. What can be seen on the walls of Shyamoli?
12. What serves as the "roof" for students in the open-air classroom?
13. Where is the bell that rings for future generations located?
14. Which house's courtyard is being used for a drama rehearsal?
15. What are the two things Santiniketan is a "land of"?
The Feynman Method
Concept: The Magic of Santiniketan
"Imagine a place where houses can talk like you and me! A long time ago, a man named Debendranath built the very first house there called 'Santiniketan'. Later, his son Rabindranath Tagore came and loved the trees so much that he sat under them to write beautiful poems. In this special place, children don't have to stay inside four walls. They sit on the grass, the ground is their floor, and the big blue sky is their roof! It's a place where nature, learning, and friendship all live together happily."
Spaced Repetition Schedule
Day 1: The Basics
- Names of the houses (Punoscho, Deholi, Shyamoli).
- What each house is made of or used for.
- The setting (February afternoon).
Day 3: History & People
- The year 1863 (First house).
- Debendranath vs. Rabindranath Tagore's roles.
- The 28-year gap for the Prayer House.
Day 7: Concepts & Details
- The "Open Air Classroom" philosophy.
- Specific events (Drama at Punoscho, Songs at Amrakunjo).
- Vocabulary: "Orchard", "Courtyard", "Gateway".