Left and Right: NCERT Class 1 English Story (Raindrops Chapter 15)

etmantra4 Feb 20206 min read

Left and right are hard for young children. This little story makes them easy to learn, as Beena follows her mother’s directions to find things around the house.

Open now: the CALP Class 1 English course (Mridang)
Every lesson of Mridang, NCERT’s new book, with read-along videos, new words with Hindi meanings, and listen-and-say practice with a score, made for young children with a parent nearby. ₹999 for the whole year, and “Start here” and the first lesson’s notes are free to try.
See the free lessons and enrol →

From the NCERT English book Raindrops for Class 1, chapter 15. NCERT’s newer Class 1 book is Mridang, but many schools still teach Raindrops.

Watch: Left and Right

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

Direction words: left and right
Place words: near and on
Asking “Where is it?”
Following simple directions at home

What the story is about

Beena’s mother asks her to get the mat. Beena asks where it is, and her mother says it is to her right, near the wall. Beena brings the mat to her mother.

Next, her mother asks for the needle and thread. They are on the table, to the left. The story teaches children to use the words left, right and near to say where things are.

New words, with Hindi meanings

mat: a flat piece of cloth or straw that we put on the floor (हिंदी: चटाई)
right: the side opposite to left (हिंदी: दायाँ)
left: the side opposite to right (हिंदी: बायाँ)
near: close to; not far (हिंदी: पास)
wall: the side of a room or building (हिंदी: दीवार)
needle: a thin sharp tool used for sewing (हिंदी: सुई)
thread: a long thin string used for sewing (हिंदी: धागा)

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.

What did Beena’s mother ask for first?
Where was the mat?
Where were the needle and thread?
Which hand do you use to write or eat?

Answers for parents

She asked for the mat.
It was to Beena’s right, near the wall.
They were on the table, to the left.
For example: I write and eat with my right hand.

Grammar corner: Asking with “Where” and answering with place words

We use “Where” to ask about the place of something. We answer with words like near, on, left and right. In the story, Beena asks where things are and her mother tells her.

Where is my bag? It is near the door.
Where is the cup? It is on the table.
Where is the broom? It is to your left.

Practice at home

Fill in the blank: The book is ___ the table.
Say aloud and show: “This is my right hand. This is my left hand.”
Make a question with “Where” about something in your house.

Answers: 1. on · 2. The child raises the correct hand for each word. · 3. Sample: Where is my pencil box?

Try this

Play “find it” like Beena. Hide a small thing in the room and give your child directions, such as “It is to your left, near the door.” When they find it, swap roles and let them give you directions.

Tip for parents

Say “दायाँ” and “बायाँ” first, then “right” and “left”, while touching your child’s hands. Give mixed directions in daily life, like “चप्पल right side में है”, and slowly use more English. Praise your child each time they find the right side.

Questions parents ask

What does the chapter Left and Right teach?

It teaches children to use left, right and near to say where things are, through a short talk between Beena and her mother.

Who are the characters in Left and Right?

Beena and her mother. Her mother asks for a mat and then a needle and thread, and tells Beena where to find them.

Which NCERT book has Left and Right?

It is Chapter 15 of NCERT's older Raindrops book for Class 1. The newer NCERT English books are Mridang for Class 1–2 and Santoor for Class 3–5.

Learn every Class 1 lesson with CALP

Every lesson of Mridang, NCERT’s new book, with read-along videos, new words with Hindi meanings, and listen-and-say practice with a score, made for young children with a parent nearby. ₹999 for the whole year.

See the free lessons and enrol →