NCERT Class 1 Mathematics • New NEP 2020 / NCF-FS

Chapter 1: Finding the Furry Cat

Q: Look at the picture in the book: The furry cat is sitting in a cardboard basket. Where is the cat — inside the basket or outside?

Step-by-Step Solution:1. The cat's entire body is enclosed within the four walls of the basket.2. Therefore, the cat is inside the basket.3. If the cat hops out onto the carpet, it will be outside the basket.

Q: A little bird sits on the highest branch of a guava tree, while a snail is on the grass at the foot of the tree. Tick the animal at the top.

Step-by-Step Solution:• Top: The bird is at the top of the tree because it is perched on the uppermost branch.• Bottom: The snail is at the bottom of the tree on the ground.

Q: Two mice are running toward a hole in the kitchen wall. Mouse Chintu is 2 steps away from the hole. Mouse Pintu is 8 steps away. Who is nearer to the

Step-by-Step Solution:1. Compare the distances: 2 steps is less than 8 steps.2. Nearer: Mouse Chintu is nearer to the hole.3. Farther: Mouse Pintu is farther from the hole.

Q: Tick (✓) the bigger animal between an elephant and a goat. Cross (✗) the smaller animal.

Step-by-Step Solution:• Elephant: Tick (✓) — the elephant has a huge body, so it is bigger.• Goat: Cross (✗) — compared to the elephant, the goat is smaller.

Q: A water bottle is kept on the study table. A red football is lying on the floor under the table. Describe their positions using 'on' and 'under'.

Step-by-Step Solution:• The water bottle is on the table (resting on the upper flat surface).• The red football is under the table (resting on the floor beneath the table).

Q: A ceiling fan hangs overhead. A soft rug is spread on the floor. Which object is above the bed and which is below?

Step-by-Step Solution:• Above: The ceiling fan is above the bed (higher up in the air).• Below: The rug is on the floor below the bed level.

Q: Look at two footprints left on the wet river sand: one is a tiny sparrow claw mark and the other is a large camel hoof print. Which print is bigger?

Step-by-Step Solution:1. Large animals have broad feet to walk on sand.2. Therefore, the camel's hoof print is bigger.3. The sparrow's claw mark is smaller.

Q: The furry cat jumped: first behind the blue curtain, then into the wooden drawer, and finally under the quilt. Match each place to its position word.

Step-by-Step Solution:• Blue curtain → Behind• Wooden drawer → Inside• Quilt → Under

Q: Riya collected a banana leaf and a neem leaf from the garden. Which leaf is bigger and which is smaller?

Step-by-Step Solution:• The banana leaf is bigger (it is broad and very long).• The neem leaf is smaller (it is tiny and narrow).

Q: In the classroom, Aman sits on Bench 1 right next to the entrance door. Kabir sits on Bench 5 at the back. Who is nearest to the door?

Step-by-Step Solution:• Aman sits on Bench 1 right beside the entrance, so Aman is nearest to the door.• Kabir is farthest from the door.

Pre-Number Concepts, Spatial Vocabulary & Orientation | CBSE Session 2026–27

Core Pedagogical Competencies & Concepts

Inside and Outside: recognizing objects within boundaries vs outside.
Top and Bottom: identifying highest and lowest positions.
Nearer and Farther: comparing relative distances from a reference point.
On and Under, Above and Below: positional relationships.
Bigger and Smaller: comparing physical sizes visually.

All Textbook Exercises & In-Text Tasks (16 Questions)

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Q1 Textbook Exercise • Inside & Outside

Look at the picture in the book: The furry cat is sitting in a cardboard basket. Where is the cat — inside the basket or outside?

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. The cat's entire body is enclosed within the four walls of the basket.
2. Therefore, the cat is inside the basket.
3. If the cat hops out onto the carpet, it will be outside the basket.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Identified 'inside' 1 M

Clear spatial explanation 1 M

Q2 Textbook Exercise • Top & Bottom

A little bird sits on the highest branch of a guava tree, while a snail is on the grass at the foot of the tree. Tick the animal at the top.

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
• Top: The bird is at the top of the tree because it is perched on the uppermost branch.
• Bottom: The snail is at the bottom of the tree on the ground.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Bird is at the top 1 M

Snail is at the bottom 1 M

Q3 Let Us Do • Nearer & Farther

Two mice are running toward a hole in the kitchen wall. Mouse Chintu is 2 steps away from the hole. Mouse Pintu is 8 steps away. Who is nearer to the hole?

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Compare the distances: 2 steps is less than 8 steps.
2. Nearer: Mouse Chintu is nearer to the hole.
3. Farther: Mouse Pintu is farther from the hole.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Chintu is nearer 1 M

Distance comparison stated 1 M

Q4 Let Us Do • Bigger & Smaller

Tick (✓) the bigger animal between an elephant and a goat. Cross (✗) the smaller animal.

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
• Elephant: Tick (✓) — the elephant has a huge body, so it is bigger.
• Goat: Cross (✗) — compared to the elephant, the goat is smaller.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Elephant ticked as bigger 1 M

Goat crossed as smaller 1 M

Q5 In-Text Prompt • On & Under

A water bottle is kept on the study table. A red football is lying on the floor under the table. Describe their positions using 'on' and 'under'.

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
• The water bottle is on the table (resting on the upper flat surface).
• The red football is under the table (resting on the floor beneath the table).

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Bottle is on the table 1 M

Football is under the table 1 M

Q6 Let Us Think • Above & Below

A ceiling fan hangs overhead. A soft rug is spread on the floor. Which object is above the bed and which is below?

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
• Above: The ceiling fan is above the bed (higher up in the air).
• Below: The rug is on the floor below the bed level.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Fan is above 1 M

Rug is below 1 M

Q7 Let Us Do • Footprints in Sand

Look at two footprints left on the wet river sand: one is a tiny sparrow claw mark and the other is a large camel hoof print. Which print is bigger?

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Large animals have broad feet to walk on sand.
2. Therefore, the camel's hoof print is bigger.
3. The sparrow's claw mark is smaller.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Camel print is bigger 1 M

Sparrow print is smaller 1 M

Q8 Picture Story • Where Did the Cat Go?

The furry cat jumped: first behind the blue curtain, then into the wooden drawer, and finally under the quilt. Match each place to its position word.

[3 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
• Blue curtain → Behind
• Wooden drawer → Inside
• Quilt → Under

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Behind the curtain 1 M

Inside the drawer 1 M

Under the quilt 1 M

Q9 Let Us Do • Sorting Big and Small Leaves

Riya collected a banana leaf and a neem leaf from the garden. Which leaf is bigger and which is smaller?

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
• The banana leaf is bigger (it is broad and very long).
• The neem leaf is smaller (it is tiny and narrow).

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Banana leaf is bigger 1 M

Neem leaf is smaller 1 M

Q10 Let Us Think • Nearest to the Door

In the classroom, Aman sits on Bench 1 right next to the entrance door. Kabir sits on Bench 5 at the back. Who is nearest to the door?

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
• Aman sits on Bench 1 right beside the entrance, so Aman is nearest to the door.
• Kabir is farthest from the door.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Aman is nearest 1 M

Reason based on distance 1 M

Q11 In-Text Activity • Front and Back

During the morning school prayer line, Meera stands in front of Rohan. Who is at the front and who is at the back?

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
• Front: Meera is at the front.
• Back: Rohan is at the back, behind Meera.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Meera is at the front 1 M

Rohan is at the back 1 M

Q12 Let Us Do • High and Low Swings

Two swings are moving in the park. Swing A goes high up towards the tree branches. Swing B stays low near the grass. Which swing is higher?

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
• Swing A is higher because it reaches up towards the tree branches.
• Swing B is lower.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Swing A is higher 1 M

Swing B is lower 1 M

Q13 Let Us Think • Before and After

When packing your school bag, do you put books in before zipping the bag or after zipping the bag?

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
• You must put your books inside before zipping the bag.
• Zipping the bag comes after all items are safely packed.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Books before zipping 1 M

Correct temporal sequence 1 M

Q14 Observation Task • Biggest and Smallest

Look at three fruits: a watermelon, an apple, and a grape. Which fruit is the biggest, and which is the smallest?

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
• Biggest fruit: Watermelon.
• Smallest fruit: Grape.
• The apple is medium-sized (between watermelon and grape).

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Watermelon is biggest 1 M

Grape is smallest 1 M

Q15 Drawing & Matching • Cat on the Wall

Describe where the furry cat is sitting if its paws are resting on the brick wall under the open sky.

[2 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
• The cat is sitting on the wall.
• The open blue sky is above the cat.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Cat is on the wall 1 M

Sky is above the cat 1 M

Q16 Competency Summary • Room Orientation

Look around your bedroom. Name one thing that is inside your cupboard, one thing on your bed, and one thing under your bed.

[3 Marks]

✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working

Step-by-Step Solution:
• Inside cupboard: Clothes / school uniform.
• On bed: Pillow / bedsheet.
• Under bed: Slippers / storage box.

CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme

Inside example 1 M

On example 1 M

Under example 1 M

🌟 NEP 2020 Competency-Based Case Study

Hiding in the Playroom Case Study

Aarav is playing hide-and-seek with his furry kitten, Mitu. Aarav looks under the bed, inside the toy trunk, and on top of the study bookshelf.

Analytical Task: If Mitu is found inside the trunk, what spatial position does this represent? Where would Aarav look if Mitu were sleeping on a flat elevated surface?

Evaluation & Model Answer:

1. Finding Mitu inside the trunk represents the 'Inside' position (enclosed by container walls).
2. For a flat elevated surface, Aarav should look 'On' the study bookshelf or on top of the bed.

Rubric: 1.5 M for 'Inside' concept + 1.5 M for 'On' concept