Chapter 5 of 10
Chapter 5: Don't be Afraid of the Dark & Helen Keller
Poem by Ruskin Bond on Overcoming Fear of Night & Historic Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan | CBSE Session 2026–27
Core Pedagogical Competencies & Concepts
- Poem 'Don't be Afraid of the Dark': The earth must rest after the busy day; darkness brings twinkling stars that shine forever.
- Story of Helen Keller: A severe babyhood fever leaves her deaf and blind.
- Miss Anne Sullivan: A compassionate teacher who spells words into Helen's hand using the manual alphabet.
- The water breakthrough: Water flowing over Helen's hand illuminates the truth that words are names for living things.
- Values of perseverance, patience, inclusion, and the triumph of the human spirit.
All Textbook Exercises & In-Text Tasks (14 Questions)
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Q1
Reading is Fun • Poem 'Don't be Afraid of the Dark'
What advice does Ruskin Bond give to children about the night? Why must the earth become dark?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Ruskin Bond advises children never to be afraid of the dark night, because night is simply nature's way of allowing the tired earth to rest after the bright sun has labored all day.
He reminds us that while the harsh sun must set, the gentle stars twinkle and shine forever and ever, making night a peaceful time to rest our minds and think about our friends.
He reminds us that while the harsh sun must set, the gentle stars twinkle and shine forever and ever, making night a peaceful time to rest our minds and think about our friends.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Cites earth resting after daily labor
1.5 M
Mentions comforting eternal starlight and mental peace
1.5 M
Q2
Reading is Fun • 'Helen Keller'
What happened to Helen Keller when she was an infant? How did her personality change before Miss Sullivan arrived?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
As a baby, Helen suffered from a high fever that left her permanently deaf and blind.
Unable to see or hear the world, she became angry, frustrated, and unruly. She threw tantrums, refused to wash or comb her hair, and locked her mother in rooms because she had no language to express her thoughts and feelings.
Unable to see or hear the world, she became angry, frustrated, and unruly. She threw tantrums, refused to wash or comb her hair, and locked her mother in rooms because she had no language to express her thoughts and feelings.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Describes severe illness causing loss of sight and hearing
1.5 M
Explains wild tantrums caused by lack of communication
1.5 M
Q3
Reading is Fun • 'Helen Keller'
How did Miss Anne Sullivan teach Helen her very first word? Describe the magical moment at the water pump.
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Miss Sullivan took Helen out to the garden water pump and pumped cool water over one of Helen's open hands while quickly finger-spelling W-A-T-E-R into Helen's other hand.
Instantly, a spark of understanding lit up Helen's mind. She realized that W-A-T-E-R was the name of the wonderful, cool, living liquid splashing over her skin. That moment unlocked the world of language for Helen.
Instantly, a spark of understanding lit up Helen's mind. She realized that W-A-T-E-R was the name of the wonderful, cool, living liquid splashing over her skin. That moment unlocked the world of language for Helen.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Explains water flowing over one hand while spelling on the other
1.5 M
Captures revelation that words represent real things
1.5 M
Q4
Grammar & Vocabulary • Adjectives
Identify the descriptive adjectives in: 'The kind teacher held Helen's little hand and spelled words with gentle patience.'
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
1. kind: Describing the teacher's compassionate nature.
2. little: Describing Helen's hand size.
3. gentle: Describing the quality of her patience.
2. little: Describing Helen's hand size.
3. gentle: Describing the quality of her patience.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Identifies 'kind', 'little', and 'gentle' accurately
2.0 M
Q5
Reading is Fun • Poem Comprehension
In Unit 5 ('Don't be Afraid of the Dark & Helen Keller'), what is the central event in the poem, and what sounds of nature wake the morning world?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Nature & Morning Sounds:
The poem celebrates the break of dawn. Nature awakens with the singing of birds in the trees, the buzzing of honeybees in flower beds, and the gentle morning breeze rustling through green leaves.
The poem celebrates the break of dawn. Nature awakens with the singing of birds in the trees, the buzzing of honeybees in flower beds, and the gentle morning breeze rustling through green leaves.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Awakening of nature described
1 M
Specific sounds (birds, bees) identified
1 M
Q6
Reading is Fun • Story Comprehension
In the prose section of Unit 5, how does the main character overcome self-doubt or an unusual dilemma?
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Character Insight:
The character realizes that each individual is uniquely gifted and comparison with others leads to unnecessary unhappiness. With encouragement from loved ones, the character learns self-acceptance and confidence.
The character realizes that each individual is uniquely gifted and comparison with others leads to unnecessary unhappiness. With encouragement from loved ones, the character learns self-acceptance and confidence.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Dilemma identified
1.5 M
Resolution through self-acceptance explained
1.5 M
Q7
Word Building • Antonyms
Find antonyms (opposites) for: (a) Tiny (b) Defeat (c) Selfish (d) Proud.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Antonyms:
• (a) Tiny — Huge / Enormous.
• (b) Defeat — Victory / Win.
• (c) Selfish — Generous / Selfless.
• (d) Proud — Humble / Modest.
• (a) Tiny — Huge / Enormous.
• (b) Defeat — Victory / Win.
• (c) Selfish — Generous / Selfless.
• (d) Proud — Humble / Modest.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
All 4 opposites correct
2 M
Q8
Let us Write • Creative Expressions
Write two sentences describing how trees help birds, animals, and human beings as depicted in 'Don't be Afraid of the Dark & Helen Keller'.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Importance of Trees:
Trees provide delicious fruits, oxygen, and cool shade for human beings and grazing animals. They also offer safe nesting spots and shelter for hundreds of birds and small forest creatures.
Trees provide delicious fruits, oxygen, and cool shade for human beings and grazing animals. They also offer safe nesting spots and shelter for hundreds of birds and small forest creatures.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Benefits to humans and wildlife clearly stated
2 M
Q9
Grammar & Language • Conjunctions (and, but, because)
Join the pairs of sentences using 'and', 'but', or 'because':
(a) She ran fast. She missed the school bus.
(b) We stayed inside. It was raining heavily.
[2 Marks]
(a) She ran fast. She missed the school bus.
(b) We stayed inside. It was raining heavily.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Joined Sentences:
• (a) She ran fast, but she missed the school bus.
• (b) We stayed inside because it was raining heavily.
• (a) She ran fast, but she missed the school bus.
• (b) We stayed inside because it was raining heavily.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Correct use of 'but'
1 M
Correct use of 'because'
1 M
Q10
Talk Time • Imagination & Empathy
If animals and trees could speak our language, what important advice would they give to humans?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Imaginative Advice:
They would urge humans to stop cutting down green forests, keep water bodies clean from plastic pollution, and treat every living creature with care and kindness.
They would urge humans to stop cutting down green forests, keep water bodies clean from plastic pollution, and treat every living creature with care and kindness.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Thoughtful, empathetic environmental message
2 M
Q11
Vocabulary • Rhyming Couplets
Find two rhyming word pairs from the poem in Unit 5.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Rhyming Pairs:
1. Bed - Head (rhyming sound '-ed').
2. Day - Play (rhyming sound '-ay').
1. Bed - Head (rhyming sound '-ed').
2. Day - Play (rhyming sound '-ay').
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Two valid rhyming pairs with sounds identified
2 M
Q12
Grammar • Subject and Predicate
Divide the sentence into Subject and Predicate: 'The little fir tree stood proudly in the green forest.'
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Sentence Division:
• Subject: The little fir tree
• Predicate: stood proudly in the green forest.
• Subject: The little fir tree
• Predicate: stood proudly in the green forest.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Subject correctly identified
1 M
Predicate correctly identified
1 M
Q13
Think & Discuss • Life Lessons
What is the core moral lesson of Unit 5 ('Don't be Afraid of the Dark & Helen Keller')?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Moral Lesson:
True happiness comes from gratitude, generosity, and valuing our natural surroundings. Greed and vanity only bring discontentment.
True happiness comes from gratitude, generosity, and valuing our natural surroundings. Greed and vanity only bring discontentment.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Clear moral lesson with supporting detail
2 M
Q14
Review Questions • True or False
State True or False:
(a) Nasruddin was famous among his friends for boasting about his archery skills.
(b) Giving without expecting anything in return is true kindness.
(c) A question mark is placed at the end of an assertive sentence.
[3 Marks]
(a) Nasruddin was famous among his friends for boasting about his archery skills.
(b) Giving without expecting anything in return is true kindness.
(c) A question mark is placed at the end of an assertive sentence.
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Answers:
• (a) True: Nasruddin boasted about his aim.
• (b) True: Selfless giving is the highest virtue.
• (c) False: An assertive sentence ends with a full stop, not a question mark.
• (a) True: Nasruddin boasted about his aim.
• (b) True: Selfless giving is the highest virtue.
• (c) False: An assertive sentence ends with a full stop, not a question mark.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
True, True, False with explanations
3 M
🌟 NEP 2020 Competency-Based Case Study
Teacher Mentorship and Special Education
Before Anne Sullivan arrived, Helen's relatives thought she should be placed in an asylum because she was unmanageable. Miss Sullivan believed that Helen's wildness was merely locked-up intelligence seeking an outlet.
Analytical Task: What qualities made Anne Sullivan an extraordinary educator? What does this teach us about supporting neurodiverse or disabled children in inclusive classrooms?
Evaluation & Model Answer:
Qualities of Anne Sullivan: She possessed extraordinary patience, empathy, creative pedagogical insight, and unwavering belief in her student's potential when everyone else gave up.
Lesson for Inclusive Classrooms: Frustration and anger in children with disabilities are often symptoms of communication barriers, not malice. When educators provide accessible tools (tactile signs, Braille, speech aids), every child can flourish intellectually and emotionally.
Lesson for Inclusive Classrooms: Frustration and anger in children with disabilities are often symptoms of communication barriers, not malice. When educators provide accessible tools (tactile signs, Braille, speech aids), every child can flourish intellectually and emotionally.
Rubric: 1 Mark for identifying Sullivan's patience and belief; 1 Mark for insights on inclusive education and accessibility.