Don't Tell: NCERT Class 3 English Poem (Marigold Unit 9)

etmantra10 Apr 20217 min read

Every child has heard “You’re not big enough yet.” This little poem speaks for them, with a happy secret at the end. It is a lovely way to talk with your child about what they wish they could do.

Open now: the CALP Class 3 English course (Santoor)
Every chapter of Santoor, NCERT’s new book, with notes in English and Hindi, say-it-aloud practice with a score, grammar, speaking and first writing practice. ₹1,299 for the whole year, and “Start here” and the first chapter’s notes are free to try.
See the free lessons and enrol →

From the NCERT English book Marigold for Class 3, unit 9. NCERT’s newer Class 3 book is Santoor, but many schools still teach Marigold.

Watch: Don't Tell

Play the video three or four times. The first time, just listen. Then point at the pictures, and from the third time, say the lines along with the video. Short, repeated listening is how CALP builds a child’s English.

What your child learns

Short forms: don’t, won’t, I’m, I’ll
Words for growing up: grown up, big enough, patiently
Talking about wishes and confidence
Reading a poem with a quiet, secret voice at the end

What the poem is about

In this poem a child says there are many things grown-ups will not let them do, because they are “not big enough yet”. So the child waits patiently to grow up, and plans to show everyone one day what they can do.

But the child also feels they could show them right now, if only they were given a chance and tried. Nobody knows the child’s secret: that they are really a giant inside. The poem is about a child’s big dreams and quiet confidence, even when the world sees them as small.

New words, with Hindi meanings

enough: as much as is needed (हिंदी: काफ़ी)
patiently: waiting calmly without getting upset (हिंदी: धैर्य से)
grown up: become an adult (हिंदी: बड़ा हो जाना)
chance: a time when you are allowed to try something (हिंदी: मौका)
tried: made an effort to do something (हिंदी: कोशिश की)
giant: a very big, strong person, like in fairy tales (हिंदी: दानव)
inside: in your heart or mind, where others cannot see (हिंदी: अंदर)

Talk about it

Ask these aloud after reading or watching. Let your child answer in English if they can, or mix in their home language. Both help.

Why won’t they let the child do lots of things?
What will the child do when they are all grown up?
What is the secret that nobody knows?
What is one thing you would like to do that grown-ups say you are too small for?

Answers for parents

Because they say the child is not big enough yet.
The child will show them all what they can do.
That the child is really a giant inside.
For example: I want to cook rotis on the stove all by myself.

Grammar corner: Short forms (contractions)

Sometimes we join two words and leave out a letter. An apostrophe (’) shows where the letter was. 'Do not' becomes 'don’t', 'will not' becomes 'won’t', and 'I am' becomes 'I’m'.

I’m small now, but I will grow.
Mummy won’t let me climb the tall wall.
Don’t tell anyone about my giant secret.

Practice at home

Write the short form: I am → ___
Match: do not, will not, I will (a. I’ll, b. won’t, c. don’t).
Complete the sentence: If they gave me a chance, I could ___.

Answers: 1. I’m · 2. do not – c, will not – b, I will – a · 3. Sample: If they gave me a chance, I could ride a big bicycle.

Try this

Play “Small and Giant”. Say the poem slowly. On the lines about being too small, everyone crouches down low. On the last line about the giant inside, everyone jumps up and stretches as tall as they can. Then ask your child to tell or draw one thing their “giant inside” could do.

Tip for parents

Ask in Hindi: "कौन सा काम है जो तुम्हें लगता है तुम कर सकते हो, पर हम करने नहीं देते?" Listen fully, then help your child say it in English: "I can ___ if I try." Praise the brave idea first and the English second.

Questions parents ask

What is the poem Don't Tell about?

A child is told they are not big enough to do many things. The child waits to grow up, but has a secret: they feel like a giant inside.

What is the secret in Don't Tell?

Nobody knows that the child is really a giant inside, full of big dreams and confidence.

Which NCERT book has the poem Don't Tell?

It is Unit 9 of NCERT's older Marigold book for Class 3. The newer NCERT English books are Mridang for Class 1–2 and Santoor for Class 3–5.

Learn every Class 3 chapter with CALP

Every chapter of Santoor, NCERT’s new book, with notes in English and Hindi, say-it-aloud practice with a score, grammar, speaking and first writing practice. ₹1,299 for the whole year.

See the free lessons and enrol →