One Thing at a Time: NCERT Class 4 English Poem (Santoor Chapter 4)

etmantra3 Nov 20264 min read

Children often try to do homework, watch TV and chat all at once. This old-style rhyme gives them a clear, easy rule: give your full attention to one thing, then move on.

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From NCERT’s new English book Santoor for Class 4, unit “My Beautiful World”. Chapter 4.

What your child learns

Why focus helps us do things well
Rhyming words: play and way, might and right
Describing actions with is/are + -ing
Writing about a daily routine

What the poem is about

The poem says we should work when it is time to work and play when it is time to play. Whatever we do, we should do it with all our strength. A job done halfway is never done right.

Its message is about focus. Doing one thing at a time, and doing it well, is a good rule, and we should not waste our time. The poem ends by repeating its main advice: work while you work, and play while you play.

New words, with Hindi meanings

useful: helpful (हिंदी: उपयोगी)
might: strength or power (हिंदी: ताक़त)
halves: two equal parts; here, only part of a job (हिंदी: आधा-अधूरा)
rule: something that tells us the right way to do things (हिंदी: नियम)
moments: short periods of time (हिंदी: पल)
trifled: wasted on unimportant things (हिंदी: बर्बाद किया)

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 does the poem say about work and play?
What happens to things done by halves?
Why is it good to do one thing at a time?
What do you like to do in your free time?

Answers for parents

We should work while we work and play while we play.
They are never done right.
When we focus on one thing, we do it better and make fewer mistakes.
For example: In my free time I like to draw and play carrom.

Grammar corner: Rhyming words

Rhyming words end with the same sound, like play and way. Poems use rhyming words to sound musical. Listen to the sound, not the spelling.

After homework, I go out to play; that is the best way.
I hold my bat with all my might and hit the ball just right.
I put my books back on the shelf and tidy up the room myself.

Practice at home

Find a word that rhymes with 'well': tell / wall / will
Fill in the blank: Do it with all your ___. (might / night)
Make a sentence with 'is' + an -ing word about someone at home.

Answers: 1. tell · 2. might · 3. For example: My mother is cooking dinner.

Try this

Play 'One Thing Timer'. Choose one small job, like sorting crayons or folding clothes, and do only that for five minutes while someone keeps time. Then play freely for five minutes. Talk about how it felt to finish the job properly.

Tip for parents

Say the poem's idea in Hindi first: 'Kaam ke samay kaam, khel ke samay khel.' Then say the English line together, 'Work while you work, play while you play.' Let your child mix languages while explaining, and praise them for trying.

Questions parents ask

What is the poem One Thing at a Time about?

It says we should give full attention to one task at a time: work properly when working and play happily when playing.

Which words rhyme in One Thing at a Time?

Some rhyming pairs are play and way, might and right, well and tell, and away and play.

Is One Thing at a Time in the new NCERT book?

Yes. It is Chapter 4 in NCERT's new Santoor book for Class 4, in the unit 'My Beautiful World'.

Learn every Class 4 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 →