The Lagori Champions: NCERT Class 4 English Lesson (Santoor Chapter 8)

etmantra3 Nov 20264 min read

Many of us played seven stones as children, under one name or another. This lively play brings that traditional game to life and shows how teamwork and fair play make winning fun.

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From NCERT’s new English book Santoor for Class 4, unit “Fun with Games”. Chapter 8.

What your child learns

How the traditional game Lagori (Satoliya) is played
Teamwork and fair play
Telling a sentence from a question
Reading a play aloud in different voices

What the lesson is about

This chapter is a play in two parts. In Part I, Ravi takes his cousin Prakash to the park, where his friends Guneet, Deepa and Nidhi want Prakash in their team because he runs fast. Prakash does not know Lagori, so Imran explains it: seven flat stones are stacked, one team knocks them down with a ball, and they rebuild the stack while the other team tries to hit them. Prakash says that in Rajasthan this game is called Satoliya. Their team, the Sundarpur Tigers, led by captain Deepa, will play the Green Warriors.

In Part II, Deepa takes the first shot and scatters the stones. The Tigers rush to rebuild the stack while dodging the ball, and Prakash sets the seventh stone just before the final whistle. The Tigers win. Both teams shake hands, the villagers cheer everyone, and the children agree to play traditional games more often.

New words, with Hindi meanings

cousin: the child of your aunt or uncle (हिंदी: चचेरा/ममेरा भाई-बहन)
opponent: the person or team you play against (हिंदी: विरोधी)
stacked: put one on top of another (हिंदी: एक के ऊपर एक रखा)
boundary: a line that marks the edge of a field (हिंदी: सीमा)
referee: the person who makes sure a game follows the rules (हिंदी: रेफ़री, निर्णायक)
scattered: went in different directions (हिंदी: बिखर गए)
dodged: moved quickly to get out of the way (हिंदी: बच निकला)
teamwork: working together as a group (हिंदी: मिलकर काम करना)

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 is Lagori, and what is it called in Rajasthan?
Who set the seventh stone and won the game?
Why did both teams shake hands at the end?
Which traditional game do you play with your friends?

Answers for parents

Lagori is a game of seven flat stones. In Rajasthan it is called Satoliya.
Prakash set the seventh stone, and the Sundarpur Tigers won.
They appreciated each other for playing a good game.
For example: I play gilli-danda with my friends in the evening.

Grammar corner: Sentences and questions

A sentence tells us something. It starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop. A question asks something and ends with a question mark.

Deepa is the captain of the team.
Who will throw the ball first?
The stones fell down on the field.

Practice at home

Sentence or question: Where is the ball?
Put in order: stones / seven / there / are
Fill in the blank: The ___ blew the whistle to start the match. (referee / cousin)

Answers: 1. Question · 2. There are seven stones. · 3. referee

Try this

Play a mini Lagori at home with seven small, flat things like bottle caps or slippers and a soft ball. One person knocks the stack down and tries to rebuild it while another gently rolls the ball to touch them. Take turns and cheer for both sides, just like the villagers.

Tip for parents

Ask your child in Hindi, 'Hamare yahan is khel ko kya kehte hain?' Share the name you used as a child. Then help them say in English, 'We stack seven stones.' Let them act out the play in Hindi first if they like, then try the English lines.

Questions parents ask

What is The Lagori Champions about?

It is a play about friends who teach Prakash the seven-stones game Lagori and then win a match against the Green Warriors.

Who are the characters in The Lagori Champions?

Ravi, his cousin Prakash, Guneet, Deepa (the captain), Nidhi, Imran and the referee.

What is Lagori called in Rajasthan?

In the play, Prakash says the game is called Satoliya in Rajasthan.

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 →