Three Days to See: NCERT Class 7 English Lesson (Poorvi)

etmantra3 Nov 20266 min read

What would you want to see if you had only three days of sight? In this chapter, Helen Keller answers that question, and her answer makes us notice the people, the sky and the busy streets we take for granted. Children learn words for the five senses and how to use modal verbs like should, might and must.

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From NCERT’s new English book Poorvi for Class 7, unit “Learning Together”. Unit 1.

What your child learns

Words for the five senses: panorama, music, perfume, relish, rough
Modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, should, ought to) and what each one expresses
Reading a thoughtful essay and finding the writer's message
Writing a descriptive paragraph about a place using all five senses

What the lesson is about

Helen Keller could not see, yet she found joy in hundreds of things through touch: the even shape of a leaf, the smooth or rough bark of trees, new buds in spring and the tiny shiver of a singing bird. She often wished she could see, and imagined how she would spend three days of sight. On the first day she would look at the faces of the people whose kindness and friendship made her life worth living. On the second day she would watch night turn into day at dawn, and then visit museums to see the history of the earth and of human progress. On the third day she would go to the city and stand at a busy corner, watching people and trying to understand their daily lives.

At midnight on the third day, the dark would return, and she knows she would not have seen everything. So she gives a hint to all of us: use your eyes, ears, nose, tongue and hands as if you might lose them tomorrow, and enjoy every sense fully. Of all the senses, she feels sight must be the most delightful. The chapter teaches us to be thankful for our senses and to understand people who live without one of them.

New words, with Hindi meanings

delicate: soft and fine, easily hurt or broken (हिंदी: नाज़ुक)
symmetry: evenness; when two halves of something match (हिंदी: समरूपता)
quiver: a small shaking movement; a shiver (हिंदी: कँपकँपी)
companionship: the good feeling of being with friends (हिंदी: साथ, संगति)
behold: to see or look at something special (हिंदी: निहारना)
panorama: a wide view of a whole scene (हिंदी: विशाल दृश्य)
glimpse: a quick, short look (हिंदी: झलक)
compassionate: feeling kindness for someone who is suffering (हिंदी: दयालु, करुणामय)
tactile: to do with the sense of touch (हिंदी: स्पर्श से जुड़ा)
morsel: a small piece of food (हिंदी: कौर, निवाला)

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.

How does Helen Keller enjoy nature even though she cannot see?
What would she want to see on the first of her three days?
Why would she go to the museums on the second day?
What advice does she give to people who can see?
If you had only three days to see, what would you most like to see, and why?

Answers for parents

She uses touch. She feels the even shape of a leaf, the smooth or rough bark of trees, buds in spring, and even the shiver of a bird singing on a small tree.
She would want to see the people whose kindness and friendship have made her life worth living, especially the faces of her friends.
She wants a quick look at the world, past and present. In the museums she could see the history of the earth, old animals like dinosaurs, and how humans have progressed.
She says we should use our eyes as if we might become blind tomorrow, and use all our other senses in the same way, enjoying every sound, smell, taste and touch.
For example: I would see my family's faces on the first day, the mountains and the sea on the second day, and my school and friends on the third day, because these make me happy.

Grammar corner: Modal verbs: can, could, may, might, must, should, ought to

Modal verbs are helping verbs that come before a main verb, like 'should divide' or 'should arise'. They tell us more about the action: can shows ability, may shows permission, might shows possibility, must shows necessity, should gives advice, and ought to shows what is morally right. The main verb after a modal stays in its simple form, with no -s, -ed or 'to'.

You should close your eyes and touch a leaf to feel its shape.
We might visit the museum on Sunday if it does not rain.
Visitors must not touch the dinosaur bones in the museum.

Practice at home

Fill in the blank with a modal verb: It ___ rain this evening, so take an umbrella.
Sort these sensory words by the sense they belong to: perfume, rough, music, relish, panorama.
Make a sentence giving advice to a friend, using 'should'.

Answers: 1. might (or may) · 2. see: panorama; hear: music; smell: perfume; taste: relish; feel: rough · 3. For example: You should drink water after playing in the sun.

Try this

Play a five-senses game at home. Blindfold your child gently with a dupatta and hand them three or four everyday things one by one: a leaf, a spoon, an orange, a cotton cloth. Ask them to guess each thing only by touching and smelling it, and to describe it with one sensory word, like smooth, rough, soft or sweet-smelling. Then swap roles. Afterwards, talk about how it felt to use only touch and smell, just as Helen Keller did.

Tip for parents

Ask your child in Hindi first: 'Agar tum teen din ke liye hi dekh pao, to kya dekhna chahoge?' Let them answer in Hindi or a mix of Hindi and English, then help them say one full sentence in English, such as 'On the first day, I would see my family.' Praise every try, even if the English is not perfect, and add one new sense word each day.

Questions parents ask

What is the message of Three Days to See?

Helen Keller tells people who can see to use their eyes, and all their other senses, as if they might lose them tomorrow. She wants us to value and enjoy every sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.

Who wrote Three Days to See?

The chapter is written by Helen Keller, who could not see. She imagines how she would spend three days if she were given the use of her eyes.

Is Three Days to See in the new NCERT book?

Yes. It is chapter 3 in NCERT's new Poorvi book for Class 7, in Unit 1 (Learning Together).

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Every chapter of Poorvi, NCERT’s new Class 7 book, with notes in English and Hindi, say-it-aloud practice with a score, listening, grammar, speaking and writing with feedback. ₹1,599 for the whole year.

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