Chapter 7 of 24
Chapter 7: Saying Without Speaking
Non-Verbal Communication: Gestures, Facial Expressions, Sign Language, and Dance Mudras | CBSE Session 2026–27
Core Pedagogical Competencies & Concepts
- Expressing emotions without speech: Happiness, anger, sadness, fear, and surprise through face and eyes.
- Sign Language: How people with hearing or speech impairments communicate gracefully using standardized hand signs.
- Classical dance hand gestures (Mudras) and facial expressions (Bhavas) conveying animals, flowers, and stories.
- Empathy and inclusivity: Treating differently-abled friends with equal respect and equal opportunity.
All Textbook Exercises & In-Text Tasks (17 Questions)
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Q1
Facial Expressions
How can our face and eyes tell if a person is happy, angry, or scared without them saying a single word?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
• Happiness: The mouth curves upward into a broad smile, cheek muscles lift, and eyes sparkle with pleasant creases.
• Anger: Eyebrows furrow together tightly in a scowl, forehead veins tense, lips press thin, and eyes open wide with a hard stare.
• Fear: Eyes widen in shock, pupils dilate, eyebrows raise high, and the mouth drops open slightly.
• Anger: Eyebrows furrow together tightly in a scowl, forehead veins tense, lips press thin, and eyes open wide with a hard stare.
• Fear: Eyes widen in shock, pupils dilate, eyebrows raise high, and the mouth drops open slightly.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Detailed anatomical descriptions for happy, angry, and fearful expressions
3 Marks
Q2
Classical Mudras
What are 'Mudras' and 'Bhavas' in classical Indian dances like Bharatnatyam or Kathak?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
In Indian classical dance:
• Mudras: Specific symbolic hand gestures used to depict natural objects (like a blooming lotus flower, a swimming fish, or a flying bird).
• Bhavas: Facial expressions that convey deep emotional stories (such as courage, devotion, joy, and wonder).
• Mudras: Specific symbolic hand gestures used to depict natural objects (like a blooming lotus flower, a swimming fish, or a flying bird).
• Bhavas: Facial expressions that convey deep emotional stories (such as courage, devotion, joy, and wonder).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Definition and role of hand Mudras
1.5 Marks
Definition and role of facial Bhavas
1.5 Marks
Q3
Inclusivity & Sign Language
How does learning basic Sign Language help school children build stronger friendships?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Learning Sign Language bridges communication barriers, allowing children to converse directly with hearing-impaired classmates, play games together comfortably, and foster an inclusive classroom culture where everyone feels heard and valued.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Overcoming communication barriers and fostering inclusion
2 Marks
Q4
Non-Verbal Communication • Saying Without Speaking
In the game 'Dumb Charades':
(a) How do players explain actions without uttering a single word?
(b) Who in our society communicates primarily through sign language?
[3 Marks]
(a) How do players explain actions without uttering a single word?
(b) Who in our society communicates primarily through sign language?
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Silent Communication:
(a) Dumb Charades:
• Players communicate using facial expressions, bodily gestures, hand movements, and eye signals to mime actions.
(b) Sign Language Users:
• People who have hearing impairments (cannot hear) and speech impairments (cannot speak) communicate beautifully using standardized Sign Language.
(a) Dumb Charades:
• Players communicate using facial expressions, bodily gestures, hand movements, and eye signals to mime actions.
(b) Sign Language Users:
• People who have hearing impairments (cannot hear) and speech impairments (cannot speak) communicate beautifully using standardized Sign Language.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Facial expressions and bodily gestures described
1.5 M
Sign language for hearing/speech impaired explained
1.5 M
Q5
Classical Dance • Mudras and Bhavas
In classical Indian dances (like Bharatanatyam and Kathakali), how do dancers tell entire stories without speaking?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Mudras and Bhavas:
• Dancers use Mudras (symbolic hand gestures) and Bhavas (intense facial expressions) to depict nature, animals, emotions (joy, anger, sorrow, courage), and divine stories to the rhythm of music.
• Dancers use Mudras (symbolic hand gestures) and Bhavas (intense facial expressions) to depict nature, animals, emotions (joy, anger, sorrow, courage), and divine stories to the rhythm of music.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Role of Mudras (hand gestures) explained
1.5 M
Role of Bhavas (facial expressions) explained
1.5 M
Q6
Facial Expressions • Drawing Emotion Emojis
Describe the facial expressions for:
(a) Joy / Happiness
(b) Anger
(c) Fear / Surprise
[3 Marks]
(a) Joy / Happiness
(b) Anger
(c) Fear / Surprise
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Facial Features of Emotion:
• (a) Happiness: Smiling curved lips showing teeth, relaxed forehead, twinkling eyes.
• (b) Anger: Knitted eyebrows drawn tightly together, frowning mouth, staring eyes.
• (c) Surprise / Fear: Wide open eyes, raised high eyebrows, open O-shaped mouth.
• (a) Happiness: Smiling curved lips showing teeth, relaxed forehead, twinkling eyes.
• (b) Anger: Knitted eyebrows drawn tightly together, frowning mouth, staring eyes.
• (c) Surprise / Fear: Wide open eyes, raised high eyebrows, open O-shaped mouth.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Accurate eyebrow, mouth, and eye cues for all three emotions
3.0 M
Q7
Inclusion & Empathy • Special Abilities
How can we make our classroom welcoming for a classmate who cannot speak or hear well?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Inclusive Classrooms:
1. Face the friend directly when speaking so they can read lips, and learn basic sign language gestures to communicate.
2. Always include them warmly in playground games, art, and lunch groups without mocking.
1. Face the friend directly when speaking so they can read lips, and learn basic sign language gestures to communicate.
2. Always include them warmly in playground games, art, and lunch groups without mocking.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Two practical, empathetic, and inclusive classroom practices
2.0 M
Q8
Observation Time • Animals and Habits
In Chapter 7 ('Saying Without Speaking'), what animals did the characters observe, and how do they move from place to place?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Observations:
Animals move in diverse ways adapted to their bodies:
• Birds (Crow, Pigeon): Fly using wings and hop on two feet.
• Mammals (Cow, Dog): Walk and run on four legs.
• Reptiles (Lizard, Snake): Crawl on walls or slither on the ground.
• Insects (Ant, Grasshopper): Walk on six legs and hop/fly.
Animals move in diverse ways adapted to their bodies:
• Birds (Crow, Pigeon): Fly using wings and hop on two feet.
• Mammals (Cow, Dog): Walk and run on four legs.
• Reptiles (Lizard, Snake): Crawl on walls or slither on the ground.
• Insects (Ant, Grasshopper): Walk on six legs and hop/fly.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Birds, mammals, reptiles, insects movement
3 M
Q9
Find Out & Write • Animal Habitats
Name two animals that live:
(a) On trees
(b) In water
(c) On land
(d) Underground in burrows.
[2 Marks]
(a) On trees
(b) In water
(c) On land
(d) Underground in burrows.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Habitats:
• (a) On trees: Monkey, Squirrel, Owl.
• (b) In water: Fish, Frog, Crocodile.
• (c) On land: Horse, Elephant, Goat.
• (d) In burrows: Rabbit, Earthworm, Snake.
• (a) On trees: Monkey, Squirrel, Owl.
• (b) In water: Fish, Frog, Crocodile.
• (c) On land: Horse, Elephant, Goat.
• (d) In burrows: Rabbit, Earthworm, Snake.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Correct examples for all 4 habitats
2 M
Q10
Discuss & Share • Our Senses
How do our five sense organs help us understand and navigate our daily environment?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Five Senses:
1. Eyes: Help us see shapes, colours, and identify hazards.
2. Ears: Help us hear traffic horns, spoken words, and alarm sounds.
3. Nose: Helps us smell food, flowers, and detect smoke or gas leaks.
4. Tongue: Helps us taste sweet, sour, salty, and bitter food.
5. Skin: Helps us feel touch, heat, cold, roughness, and pain.
1. Eyes: Help us see shapes, colours, and identify hazards.
2. Ears: Help us hear traffic horns, spoken words, and alarm sounds.
3. Nose: Helps us smell food, flowers, and detect smoke or gas leaks.
4. Tongue: Helps us taste sweet, sour, salty, and bitter food.
5. Skin: Helps us feel touch, heat, cold, roughness, and pain.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
All 5 sense organs explained with functions
3 M
Q11
Water Cycle & Weather • Rain and Clouds
Where does rainwater come from, and why do plants and trees look fresher and greener after a rain shower?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Rain and Plant Health:
• Rain comes from water evaporating from rivers, ponds, and seas, forming clouds in the sky that cool and condense into rain droplets.
• Rain washes off thick dust accumulated on leaves, unblocks stomata for breathing, and deeply soaks the roots with fresh mineral-rich moisture.
• Rain comes from water evaporating from rivers, ponds, and seas, forming clouds in the sky that cool and condense into rain droplets.
• Rain washes off thick dust accumulated on leaves, unblocks stomata for breathing, and deeply soaks the roots with fresh mineral-rich moisture.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Water cycle / cloud formation
1.5 M
Why plants look greener after rain
1.5 M
Q12
Food Diversity • Regional Diets
Why do people living in Kerala eat more rice, fish, and coconut, while people in Punjab eat more wheat chapatis, mustard greens, and lassi?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Regional Food Factors:
• What people eat depends directly on what grows easily and abundantly in their climate and geography.
• Kerala has coastal climate, abundant rainfall, and coconut groves, making fish and rice staples.
• Punjab has fertile plains ideal for wheat and mustard cultivation, and a strong dairy culture.
• What people eat depends directly on what grows easily and abundantly in their climate and geography.
• Kerala has coastal climate, abundant rainfall, and coconut groves, making fish and rice staples.
• Punjab has fertile plains ideal for wheat and mustard cultivation, and a strong dairy culture.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Climate and agriculture connection
1.5 M
Kerala and Punjab examples explained
1.5 M
Q13
Cooking Methods • Kitchen Science
Match each food item to its primary method of cooking:
(a) Idli — (1) Frying
(b) Puri — (2) Steaming
(c) Roti — (3) Roasting on Tawa.
[3 Marks]
(a) Idli — (1) Frying
(b) Puri — (2) Steaming
(c) Roti — (3) Roasting on Tawa.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Matching:
• (a) Idli — (2) Steaming
• (b) Puri — (1) Frying in oil
• (c) Roti — (3) Roasting on Tawa.
• (a) Idli — (2) Steaming
• (b) Puri — (1) Frying in oil
• (c) Roti — (3) Roasting on Tawa.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Idli-Steaming, Puri-Frying, Roti-Roasting
3 M
Q14
Shelter & Houses • Diversity in Homes
Why are houses in heavy-rainfall regions like Assam built on bamboo stilts with sloping roofs?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Stilt Houses:
• Bamboo Stilts: Keep the house 10 to 12 feet above ground level to prevent floodwaters and wild animals from entering.
• Sloping Roofs: Allow torrential rainwater to slide off quickly without accumulating or causing leaks.
• Bamboo Stilts: Keep the house 10 to 12 feet above ground level to prevent floodwaters and wild animals from entering.
• Sloping Roofs: Allow torrential rainwater to slide off quickly without accumulating or causing leaks.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Reason for bamboo stilts (floods)
1.5 M
Reason for sloping roof (rain runoff)
1.5 M
Q15
Community Helpers • Occupations
Identify the worker who:
(a) Mends our shoes
(b) Delivers letters and parcels
(c) Shapes clay into earthen pots on a wheel
(d) Treats sick people and prescribes medicines.
[2 Marks]
(a) Mends our shoes
(b) Delivers letters and parcels
(c) Shapes clay into earthen pots on a wheel
(d) Treats sick people and prescribes medicines.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Community Helpers:
• (a) Mends shoes: Cobbler
• (b) Delivers letters: Postman / Mail carrier
• (c) Shapes clay pots: Potter
• (d) Treats sick people: Doctor.
• (a) Mends shoes: Cobbler
• (b) Delivers letters: Postman / Mail carrier
• (c) Shapes clay pots: Potter
• (d) Treats sick people: Doctor.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Cobbler, Postman, Potter, Doctor
2 M
Q16
Web of Life • Food Chain
What is the 'Web of Life'? Draw a simple food chain showing how grass, deer, and lion are connected.
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Web of Life & Food Chain:
• The Web of Life shows that every living organism is interconnected and depends on others for survival.
• Food Chain: Sunlight → Grass (Producer) → Deer (Herbivore) → Lion (Carnivore).
If grass disappears, deer starve; if deer disappear, lions cannot survive.
• The Web of Life shows that every living organism is interconnected and depends on others for survival.
• Food Chain: Sunlight → Grass (Producer) → Deer (Herbivore) → Lion (Carnivore).
If grass disappears, deer starve; if deer disappear, lions cannot survive.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Definition of Web of Life
1.5 M
Grass → Deer → Lion chain explained
1.5 M
Q17
Review Questions • True or False
Write True or False:
(a) Blind people can read books written in Braille script using their fingertips.
(b) Rainwater is the main natural source of fresh water on Earth.
(c) Animals do not have feelings and cannot communicate danger to each other.
[3 Marks]
(a) Blind people can read books written in Braille script using their fingertips.
(b) Rainwater is the main natural source of fresh water on Earth.
(c) Animals do not have feelings and cannot communicate danger to each other.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
• (a) True: Braille uses raised dots felt with fingertips.
• (b) True: Rain replenishes rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
• (c) False: Animals communicate through warning calls, scents, and body language to alert their group of predators.
• (a) True: Braille uses raised dots felt with fingertips.
• (b) True: Rain replenishes rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
• (c) False: Animals communicate through warning calls, scents, and body language to alert their group of predators.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
True, True, False with reasoning
3 M
🌟 NEP 2020 Competency-Based Case Study
Creating Accessible and Inclusive School Environments
A national education survey shows that many children with hearing impairments drop out of regular schools because teachers lecture orally without visual aids or sign interpreters.
Analytical Task: Recommend three practical visual teaching methods that classroom teachers can adopt to make lessons accessible to students with hearing impairments.
Evaluation & Model Answer:
Teachers can adopt universal inclusive practices: (1) Rich Visual Demonstrations: Use illustrated charts, infographics, subtitles on video clips, and step-by-step whiteboard diagrams for all core explanations. (2) Face the Class While Speaking: Maintain clear line-of-sight so students can lip-read easily without the teacher turning their back toward the board while talking. (3) Peer Sign Buddies: Teach the entire class basic Indian Sign Language alphabets and greetings so classmates can assist and interact comfortably during group projects.
Rubric: Visual pedagogy, lip-reading accessibility, peer sign language integration (4 Marks).