English: Class 2 — Chapter 13: We are all Indians

• Meenakshi: Comes from Tamil Nadu, speaks Tamil, and her favourite festival is Pongal.
• Ramu: Comes from Gujarat, speaks Gujarati, is seven years old, and likes to dance the Garba.
• Gulabo: Comes from Rajasthan, likes wearing colourful clothes, enjoys puppet shows, and travels by camel.
• Badal: Comes from Bengal, speaks Bengali, likes painting and music, and studies at Santiniketan.
• Surinder: Comes from Punjab, speaks Punjabi, and mentions his neighbour Mallika who likes to do Bhangra.
• Vibha: Comes from Maharashtra, speaks Marathi, and has visited the famous Ellora and Ajanta caves.
• Neerja: Comes from Uttar Pradesh and has seen the Taj Mahal.
• Nonglik: Comes from Manipur and speaks Manipuri.
• Kamala: Comes from Karnataka, speaks Kannada, and plays the Mridang (a musical instrument).
• Bharti: Comes from Andhra Pradesh, speaks Telugu, and travels to Kashmir during summer holidays to stay with friends Salma and Suresh.
• Two Sisters: Belong to Odisha, speak Odia, and love to decorate their walls and floors.
• Unni: Comes from Kerala, speaks Malayalam, and his favourite tree is the coconut tree.

Despite the differences in language, clothing, food, and festivals, the chapter emphasizes: "But we are all Indians. Each of us is unique."

Rearrange the letters to find the names of Indian languages:

• INHDI → HINDI
• GNIELHS → ENGLISH
• RUUD → URDU
• ELUTGU → TELUGU

The conjunction but is used to join two sentences that show contrasting ideas.

• Example:
  • Sentence 1: I like to eat mangoes.
  • Sentence 2: I don't like to eat apples.
  • Joined: I like to eat mangoes but I don't like to eat apples.
• Practice Exercises:
  • Sentence 1: I like milk. / Sentence 2: I don't like tea.
    Answer: I like milk but I don't like tea.
  • Sentence 1: My grandfather is old. / Sentence 2: He is strong.
    Answer: My grandfather is old but he is strong.
  • Sentence 1: I wanted to go out. / Sentence 2: I was too tired.
    Answer: I wanted to go out but I was too tired.

Practice speaking and framing sentences with words starting with consonant blends:

• 'br' blend: bread, bridge, brown
• 'fr' blend: frock, frame, frog
• Example Sentence: "It was a bright sunny day. My brother went to buy bread. He crossed the bridge to reach the shop."

Students notice a wooden object with one wheel, no handle, no pedals, and a thread on it. They learn from their teacher that it is a Charkha (or spinning wheel).

• It was very dear to Mahatma Gandhi (the Father of the Nation).
• Gandhiji used it to spin thread to make cloth (like khadi).
• The Charkha was used as a symbol for self-reliance and independence during the Indian Freedom movement, promoting local handicrafts.

• A festival of flowers that marks the beginning of Spring.
• Children collect different kinds of flowers and offer them to elders or place them on doorsteps.
• Elders give children rice and jaggery in return.

• Celebrated on a full moon night in the month of Ashvin (September-October).
• Marks the ending of the monsoon season.

• A Tamil monsoon festival celebrated in the Aadi month (July-August).
• People worship the river Cauvery, and farmers pray for a good harvest.

• A festival of Sikkim celebrated in August or September.
• Mount Kanchenjunga is worshipped as a protector.

• banana → banana tree
• coconut → coconut tree
• apple → apple tree
• grapes → grapevine
• mango → mango tree

What do you say when:

1. You want to enter the classroom? → "May I come in, please?"
2. You want to visit the washroom? → "May I go to the washroom, please?"
3. You want to borrow a book from your friend? → "Can I please borrow your book?"
4. You hurt someone by mistake? → "I am sorry."
5. You need a pencil and your friend gives you a pencil? → "Thank you."