Malu Bhalu: NCERT Class 5 English Poem (Marigold Unit 10)

etmantra9 Dec 20217 min read

This rhyming poem tells the story of a little polar bear who is eager to see the world. Children will relate to her impatience and her fear of trying something new, and will feel proud when she bravely learns to swim.

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From the NCERT English book Marigold for Class 5, unit 10. NCERT’s newer Class 5 book is Santoor, but many schools still teach Marigold.

Watch: Malu Bhalu

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

Being brave when trying something new
Describing words for people: clever, brave, fearless
Words about cold places: icy, polar bear, lair
Reading a rhyming story-poem aloud with feeling

What the poem is about

Malu Bhalu is a little polar bear who lives with her family in an icy home. She is clever and soon learns what her parents know, such as how to catch fish. One day she tells her mother that she wants to go far out to play and see what lies beyond the big blue sky. Her mother asks her to be patient and wait till next summer, but Malu cannot rest.

Her mother holds her tight and says firmly that first she must learn to swim. Malu is worried because she has never swum before. Her mother tells her not to worry and simply copy her. Holding her mother's hand tightly, Malu goes splash into the water. She leaves her doubt and fear behind and swims with all her might. Swimming comes naturally to her. The poem ends by saying Malu is fearless, brave and special too.

New words, with Hindi meanings

icy: very cold and covered with ice (हिंदी: बर्फ़ीला)
lair: the home of a wild animal (हिंदी: माँद)
polar bear: a big white bear that lives in very cold, icy places (हिंदी: सफ़ेद भालू)
patience: being able to wait calmly (हिंदी: धीरज)
clasped: held tightly (हिंदी: कसकर पकड़ा)
firm: strong and sure, not changing (हिंदी: दृढ़)
might: strength or power (हिंदी: ताक़त)
fearless: not afraid at all (हिंदी: निडर)

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.

Where does Malu Bhalu live, and what did she learn from her parents?
What did Malu want to see? What did her mother tell her?
Why was Malu worried about swimming, and how did she manage?
Tell about a time you were scared to try something new. What helped you?

Answers for parents

She lives in an icy home high up, and she learned things her parents knew, like how to catch fish.
She wanted to go far out and see what lies beyond the big blue sky. Her mother asked her to be patient, and said she must first learn to swim.
She had never swum before. She held her mother's hand tightly, copied her, left her fear behind and swam with all her might.
For example: I was scared to go on stage at school. My teacher stood near me and smiled, so I felt brave.

Grammar corner: Describing words for people (adjectives)

Describing words tell us what a person or animal is like. The poem calls Malu clever, brave, fearless and special. Adding -less to a word can mean 'without', so fearless means without fear.

My clever sister learned to tie her shoes in one day.
The brave cub jumped into the cold water.
A fearless child is not afraid to ask a question.

Practice at home

Fill in the blank: Malu swam with all her ___.
Choose the opposite of 'fearless': brave, afraid or clever?
Make a sentence with the word 'patience'.

Answers: 1. might · 2. afraid · 3. For example: We need patience while waiting for the seeds to grow.

Try this

Act out Malu's swimming lesson. One person is Mother Bear and shows swimming actions with the arms; the child is Malu, who first looks scared, then holds Mother's hand, 'jumps in' with a splash sound and copies the actions. Afterwards, ask your child to name one new thing they would like to learn, and who could help them.

Tip for parents

Tell Malu's story in Hindi first: 'Malu ko darr lag raha tha, par usne maa ka haath pakda aur tairna seekh liya.' Then read the English lines together. Ask your child how Malu felt, let them answer in any mix of Hindi and English, and praise them for every English word.

Questions parents ask

What is the poem Malu Bhalu about?

It is about a little polar bear who wants to explore the world. Her mother teaches her to swim first, and Malu overcomes her fear and swims bravely.

Who are the characters in Malu Bhalu?

The main characters are Malu Bhalu, a little polar bear, and her mother. Her parents are also mentioned as the ones she learns from.

Which NCERT book is Malu Bhalu from?

Malu Bhalu is Unit 10 of NCERT's older Marigold book for Class 5. The newer NCERT English books are Mridang for Class 1–2 and Santoor for Class 3–5.

Learn every Class 5 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 writing practice. ₹1,299 for the whole year.

See the free lessons and enrol →