Chapter 1 of 20
Chapter 1: First Day at School
Poem Recitation, New School Doubts, Feelings & Classroom Pets | CBSE Session 2026–27
Core Pedagogical Competencies & Concepts
- Poem comprehension: A child's innocent thoughts on entering school for the first time.
- Doubts about drawing abilities, peer acceptance, and teacher's warmth (Mom or Gran).
- Fondness for pets: wondering if the pet puppy will wonder where the child has gone.
- Expressing childhood feelings: nervousness, excitement, curiosity, and pride.
All Textbook Exercises & In-Text Tasks (15 Questions)
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Q1
Reading is Fun • Poem Doubts
What does the child in the poem wonder about his drawing?
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• The child wonders if his drawing will be as good as that of the other children in the class.
• The child wonders if his drawing will be as good as that of the other children in the class.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Drawing as good as other children stated
1 M
Q2
Reading is Fun • Classmates
What does the child wonder about his classmates?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• The child wonders whether his classmates will like him and be friendly, or just stare at him like a stranger.
• The child wonders whether his classmates will like him and be friendly, or just stare at him like a stranger.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Whether they will like him
1 M
Or just stare at him
1 M
Q3
Reading is Fun • Teacher's Look
Who does the child wonder his teacher will look like?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• The child wonders if his teacher will look like his Mother ('Mom') or his Grandmother ('Gran').
• The child wonders if his teacher will look like his Mother ('Mom') or his Grandmother ('Gran').
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Mom identified
1 M
Gran (Grandmother) identified
1 M
Q4
Reading is Fun • Pet Puppy
What does the child wonder about his puppy at home?
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• The child wonders if his little pet puppy will wonder where he is gone during school hours.
• The child wonders if his little pet puppy will wonder where he is gone during school hours.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Puppy wondering where he is gone
1 M
Q5
Talk Time • First Day Feelings
Do you remember your first day at school? How did you feel: (A) Angry (B) Shy (C) Happy (D) Sad? Describe in one sentence.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• On my first day at school, I felt a little shy and excited, but seeing my smiling teacher made me feel very happy.
• On my first day at school, I felt a little shy and excited, but seeing my smiling teacher made me feel very happy.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Clear feeling stated
1 M
Personal reflection sentence
1 M
Q6
Word Building • School Bag Items
Name five things that you carry inside your school bag.
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
1. English textbook
2. Maths notebook
3. Pencil box with pencils and eraser
4. Ruler (scale)
5. Water bottle and tiffin box.
1. English textbook
2. Maths notebook
3. Pencil box with pencils and eraser
4. Ruler (scale)
5. Water bottle and tiffin box.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
At least 5 valid school bag items named
3 M
Q7
Vocabulary • Word Search
Find the short form for 'Grandmother' used in the poem.
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• The short form used in the poem is 'Gran'.
• The short form used in the poem is 'Gran'.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
'Gran' correct
1 M
Q8
Rhyming Words in Poem
Find the word in the poem that rhymes with:
(a) Stare — _______
(b) Look — _______
[2 Marks]
(a) Stare — _______
(b) Look — _______
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) Stare rhymes with There.
(b) Look rhymes with Book.
(a) Stare rhymes with There.
(b) Look rhymes with Book.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) There
1 M
(b) Book
1 M
Q9
Action Verbs • Classroom Words
Fill in with [read, write, draw, share]:
(a) I like to _______ stories with colourful pictures.
(b) I _______ my crayons with my bench partner.
[2 Marks]
(a) I like to _______ stories with colourful pictures.
(b) I _______ my crayons with my bench partner.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) I like to draw / read stories.
(b) I share my crayons with my bench partner.
(a) I like to draw / read stories.
(b) I share my crayons with my bench partner.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) read/draw
1 M
(b) share
1 M
Q10
Sentence Construction
Make a sentence using the word 'wonder'.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Sample Sentence:
• I often wonder how little birds build such intricate nests high up in trees.
• I often wonder how little birds build such intricate nests high up in trees.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Meaningful sentence using 'wonder' correctly
2 M
Q11
Opposites • Feelings
Write the opposite of:
(a) Good × _______
(b) Friend × _______
(c) Like × _______
[3 Marks]
(a) Good × _______
(b) Friend × _______
(c) Like × _______
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) Good × Bad
(b) Friend × Enemy / Stranger
(c) Like × Dislike / Hate
(a) Good × Bad
(b) Friend × Enemy / Stranger
(c) Like × Dislike / Hate
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) Bad
1 M
(b) Enemy/Stranger
1 M
(c) Dislike
1 M
Q12
Classroom Etiquette • Sharing and Care
If a new student joins your class and looks nervous, what should you do?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Step-by-Step Answer:
1. Smile warmly and say: 'Hello! Welcome to our class!'
2. Introduce yourself, offer to share your desk or pencils, and show them around the classroom.
1. Smile warmly and say: 'Hello! Welcome to our class!'
2. Introduce yourself, offer to share your desk or pencils, and show them around the classroom.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Warm greeting / welcoming gesture
1 M
Friendly introduction and sharing
1 M
Q13
Grammar • Naming Words (Nouns)
Circle the nouns (naming words) in the line: 'My puppy waits near the wooden gate.'
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answer:
• The nouns are: puppy (animal) and gate (thing).
• The nouns are: puppy (animal) and gate (thing).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
puppy identified
1 M
gate identified
1 M
Q14
True or False
State True or False:
(a) The child in the poem is going to school for the first time.
(b) The child hates dogs and pets.
[2 Marks]
(a) The child in the poem is going to school for the first time.
(b) The child hates dogs and pets.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
(a) True. It is his first day at school.
(b) False. The child loves his puppy and wonders if the puppy will miss him.
(a) True. It is his first day at school.
(b) False. The child loves his puppy and wonders if the puppy will miss him.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
(a) True
1 M
(b) False with reason
1 M
Q15
Poem Reflection
Why do many young children feel nervous on their first day of school?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Summary:
• It is their first time stepping away from the safety of home and parents into a new environment with unfamiliar teachers and peers.
• However, as soon as they make friends and participate in games, the classroom becomes a joyful second home.
• It is their first time stepping away from the safety of home and parents into a new environment with unfamiliar teachers and peers.
• However, as soon as they make friends and participate in games, the classroom becomes a joyful second home.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Separation from familiar home explained
1 M
Comfort through friends and teachers described
1 M
🌟 NEP 2020 Competency-Based Case Study
Rohan's First Day Classroom Reflections
On his very first day in Class 2, Rohan stood at the school gate holding his father's hand tightly. He thought: 'Will other boys and girls like me? Will my teacher smile like my grandmother? Will my pet dog Bruno search for me under the cot?'
Analytical Task: What were Rohan's three main wonders? How did these match the poem 'First Day at School'?
Evaluation & Model Answer:
1. Rohan wondered: (a) If other children would like him or just stare, (b) If his teacher would look kind like his mother or grandmother, and (c) If his pet dog would miss him at home.
2. These match the exact four stanzas of the poem: wondering about drawing, peer friendship, teacher's loving face, and the pet puppy wondering where the child is.
2. These match the exact four stanzas of the poem: wondering about drawing, peer friendship, teacher's loving face, and the pet puppy wondering where the child is.
Rubric: 1.5 M for identifying all three worries + 1.5 M for matching them to poem stanzas