Chapter 5: "One Little Kitten"

NCERT Class 1 English Chapter 5: "One Little Kitten"

Introduction

Chapter 5 of NCERT Class 1 English is a delightful poem titled "One Little Kitten." The poem is about counting and introduces various animals and objects in a fun and rhythmic way. It helps children learn numbers and names of different animals and objects.

Poem Text

The poem "One Little Kitten" goes as follows:

One little kitten,
Two big cats,
Three baby butterflies,
Four big rats.

Five fat fish,
Six sad seals,
Seven silly seagulls,
Eight happy eels.

Nine nervous lizards,
Ten brave bees,
Eleven smelly elephants,
Twelve fat fleas.

Thirteen alligators,
Fourteen whales,
Fifteen donkeys,
With fifteen tails.

Detailed Explanation

One Little Kitten

The poem begins with "One little kitten," introducing a small and cute kitten as the first animal.

Example

A kitten is a young cat, and "little" emphasizes its small size.

Two Big Cats

Next, we have "Two big cats," which brings in the image of two large cats.

Example

Cats can be of various sizes, and here we are talking about two large ones.

Three Baby Butterflies

"Three baby butterflies" introduces three small butterflies.

Example

Butterflies are insects with beautiful wings, and "baby" signifies they are young.

Four Big Rats

We then meet "Four big rats," depicting four large rats.

Example

Rats are rodents, and here we are talking about four of them that are big.

Five Fat Fish

"Five fat fish" describes five plump fish.

Example

Fish live in water, and "fat" indicates these five fish are chubby.

Six Sad Seals

Next, we have "Six sad seals," introducing six seals that appear sad.

Example

Seals are marine animals, and "sad" shows their unhappy expression.

Seven Silly Seagulls

"Seven silly seagulls" brings in seven seagulls behaving in a silly manner.

Example

Seagulls are birds often seen near the sea, and "silly" indicates their funny actions.

Eight Happy Eels

We then meet "Eight happy eels," describing eight joyful eels.

Example

Eels are fish with long bodies, and "happy" shows they are content.

Nine Nervous Lizards

"Nine nervous lizards" depicts nine lizards that are feeling nervous.

Example

Lizards are reptiles, and "nervous" indicates they are anxious or scared.

Ten Brave Bees

Next, "Ten brave bees" introduces ten courageous bees.

Example

Bees are insects that make honey, and "brave" shows their fearless nature.

Eleven Smelly Elephants

"Eleven smelly elephants" describes eleven elephants with a strong odor.

Example

Elephants are large animals, and "smelly" indicates they have a bad smell.

Twelve Fat Fleas

We then have "Twelve fat fleas," depicting twelve chubby fleas.

Example

Fleas are tiny insects, and "fat" shows these fleas are well-fed.

Thirteen Alligators

"Thirteen alligators" brings in thirteen alligators.

Example

Alligators are large reptiles found in water.

Fourteen Whales

"Fourteen whales" describes fourteen large whales.

Example

Whales are big marine mammals.

Fifteen Donkeys

Finally, "Fifteen donkeys with fifteen tails" shows fifteen donkeys, each with a tail.

Example

Donkeys are domesticated animals used for carrying loads.

Word Meanings

• Kitten: A young cat.
• Butterfly: An insect with two pairs of large, typically colorful wings.
• Rat: A rodent that resembles a large mouse.
• Fish: A limbless cold-blooded vertebrate animal with gills and fins living wholly in water.
• Seal: A large marine mammal with a streamlined body and flippers.
• Seagull: A seabird with long wings and usually white or grey plumage.
• Eel: A long, snake-like fish.
• Lizard: A small reptile with a long body and tail.
• Bee: An insect known for its role in pollination and, in the case of the best-known bee species, the European honey bee, for producing honey and beeswax.
• Elephant: A large mammal with a trunk, native to Africa and Asia.
• Flea: A small, wingless, jumping insect that feeds on the blood of mammals and birds.
• Alligator: A large reptile similar to a crocodile but with a broader and shorter head.
• Whale: A very large marine mammal with a streamlined hairless body, a horizontal tail fin, and a blowhole on top of the head for breathing.
• Donkey: A domesticated hoofed mammal of the horse family with long ears and a braying call, used as a beast of burden.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• 1. What is the main theme of the poem?
• The main theme of the poem is counting numbers with the help of different animals and objects.
• 2. Which animals are mentioned in the poem?
• Animals mentioned include kittens, cats, butterflies, rats, fish, seals, seagulls, eels, lizards, bees, elephants, fleas, alligators, whales, and donkeys.
• 3. How does the poem help children learn numbers?
• The poem helps children learn numbers by associating each number with a corresponding number of animals or objects.
• 4. What is the significance of using animals in the poem?
• Using animals makes the poem more engaging and helps children associate numbers with fun and familiar creatures.
• 5. Why are adjectives used to describe the animals?
• Adjectives are used to make the poem more descriptive and interesting, helping children expand their vocabulary.
• 6. What does "One little kitten" represent?
• "One little kitten" represents the number one and a small, young cat.
• 7. Why are the seals described as "sad"?
• The adjective "sad" adds an emotional element to the poem, making it more engaging.
• 8. How are the bees described in the poem?
• The bees are described as "brave," highlighting their courage.
• 9. What do the "fifteen donkeys with fifteen tails" signify?
• They signify the number fifteen and each donkey having a tail, emphasizing the count.
• 10. How can teachers use this poem in the classroom?
• Teachers can use this poem to teach counting, animal names, adjectives, and rhyming words in a fun and interactive way.
• 11. What is the learning objective of this poem?
• The learning objective is to help children practice counting and expand their vocabulary through an engaging poem.
• 12. What makes this poem enjoyable for children?
• The use of rhyming words, familiar animals, and vivid descriptions makes the poem enjoyable for children.

What We Learn from This Chapter

• Counting: The poem helps children learn numbers from one to fifteen.
• Vocabulary: It introduces various animals and descriptive adjectives.
• Rhyming: The poem uses rhymes to make learning fun and engaging.
• Observation: Children learn to observe and describe animals and objects.
• Memory: Repetition in the poem aids memory retention of numbers and words.
• Enjoyment: Learning through fun and engaging content increases interest.