Paper Boats: NCERT Class 3 English Story (Santoor Chapter 6)

etmantra3 Nov 20264 min read

Almost every child has floated a paper boat. In this story, Meena's boats are spoiled by a naughty boy, but she finds a kind way to solve the problem. It is a good story for talking about anger, sharing and teaching others.

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From NCERT’s new English book Santoor for Class 3, unit “Toys and Games”. Chapter 6.

What your child learns

Words like stream, delighted and overturning
Using 'he' and 'she' in place of a name
Place words: in, on, under
Solving a problem kindly instead of fighting

What the story is about

Meena goes to a stream near a bamboo bridge and puts paper boats in the water. They sail away fast, and she is delighted. Then she sees a naughty boy tipping her boats over. She shouts at him to stop, but he says it is fun. Meena tells him that the boats are hers.

The boy thinks for a moment. He promises not to do it again, but he wants to play too, and he does not know how to make boats. Meena has plenty of coloured paper, so she shows him how to fold it. Soon he makes his own boats, and both children happily watch their boats sail down the stream.

New words, with Hindi meanings

stream: a small, narrow river (हिंदी: नाला, छोटी नदी)
swiftly: very fast (हिंदी: तेज़ी से)
delighted: very happy (हिंदी: बहुत खुश)
several: more than two but not many (हिंदी: कई)
naughty: behaving badly, often for fun (हिंदी: शरारती)
stared: looked at someone for a long time (हिंदी: घूरकर देखा)
overturning: turning something upside down (हिंदी: पलटना)
gently: softly and carefully (हिंदी: धीरे से)

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 was Meena playing with?
Why did Meena get angry?
How did Meena help the boy?
What else can you make with paper?

Answers for parents

She was playing with paper boats in the stream.
A naughty boy was overturning her paper boats.
She showed him how to fold coloured paper to make his own boats.
For example: I can make a paper plane, a fan and a cap.

Grammar corner: Using 'he' and 'she'

We use 'he' for a boy or man and 'she' for a girl or woman, so we do not have to repeat the name. 'Meena made a boat. She put it in the water.'

Meena has coloured paper. She folds it into a boat.
The boy was naughty. He pushed the boats.
The boy watched Meena. Then he made a boat too.

Practice at home

Fill in 'he' or 'she': Meena was delighted. ___ clapped her hands.
Choose the right word: The boat is (in / under) the water.
Make a sentence with 'stream'.

Answers: 1. She · 2. in · 3. For example: We saw fish in the stream.

Try this

Make a paper boat together from an old notebook page or newspaper. Float it in a bucket or a tub of water and blow on it to make it sail. As you play, talk in English: 'My boat is fast', 'Your boat is in the water'. Then let your child teach someone else in the family how to fold a boat, just as Meena did.

Tip for parents

Tell the story in Hindi first and ask: 'Meena ko gussa kyon aaya?' Let your child answer in Hindi, then help them say one short English sentence, like 'The boy was naughty.' When you fold a boat, name each step in Hindi and English, and praise every English word your child tries.

Questions parents ask

What is the moral of Paper Boats?

Instead of fighting, we can solve problems kindly. Meena taught the boy to make his own boats, and both of them enjoyed playing.

Who are the characters in Paper Boats?

The characters are Meena and a naughty boy whose name is not given.

Is Paper Boats in the new NCERT book?

It is in NCERT's new Santoor book for Class 3. It is Chapter 6, in Unit 2, Toys and Games.

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 →