Unit 3- Poem - I Dream of Spices
LESSON PLAN for this poem is given at the end of the answers.
My mother would say:
“Little boy Raj…
Go to Muthu’s
and get some
cinnamon, betel leaves
and ginger and garlic.”
And so I go to the shops
singing all the way
and when Muthu asks me
what I’d want
I rattle off a list:
“Sesame seeds, onions
tomatoes and pickles”
And back home,
Mother twists my ears
Ouch!
Raj Arumugam
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A.
Answer the following questions.
1.
Who is Raj?- Raj is
a little boy.
2.
Where did Raj’s mother send him? - Raj’s mother sent him to
Muthu’s shop.
3.
Who is Muthu? - Muthu
is the shopkeeper.
4.
What did mother ask Raj to buy? - Mother asked Raj to buy
cinnamon, betel leaves, ginger, and garlic.
5.
What did Raj buy? - Raj
bought sesame seeds, onions, tomatoes, and pickles.
B.
Choose the correct answers.
1.
Mother called ___________________.
a. Muthu b. Raj c. Ram
2.
Mother did not ask for ___________________.
a. cinnamon b. cardamom c.
betel leaves
3. Raj
did not buy ___________________.
a. onions and sesame b. ginger and garlic c.
tomato and pickles
E. Tell
the story of the poem in three or four sentences with the help of the pictures
given below.
The first picture shows Raj's mother asking him to go to
Muthu's shop. In the second picture, Raj is at the shop, telling Muthu what he
wants to buy. The third picture shows Raj returning home with the things he
bought. The last picture shows his mother twisting his ears because he bought
the wrong items.
F.
Read the jumbled lines from the poem and rearrange them in correct order.
|
1.
cinnamon, betel leaves |
9.
tomatoes and pickles” |
|
2.
and ginger and garlic” |
10.
“Sesame seeds, onions |
|
3.
Go to Muthu’s |
11.
I rattle off a list: |
|
4.
My mother would say: |
12.
what I’d want |
|
5.
and get some |
13.
and when Muthu asks me |
|
6.
“Little boy Raj… |
14.
Mother twists my ears |
|
7.
And so I go to the shops |
15.
and back home |
|
8.
singing all the way |
16.
ouch! |
My mother would say:
“Little boy Raj…
Go to Muthu’s
and get some
cinnamon, betel leaves
and ginger and garlic.”
And so I go to the shops
singing all the way
and when Muthu asks me
what I’d want
I rattle off a list:
“Sesame seeds, onions
tomatoes and pickles”
And back home,
Mother twists my ears
Ouch!
G.
Fill in the blanks with different words and write your own poem.
Your
title for the poem:________________________
My
________would say:
“Little
boy/girl ______
Go to
________
and
get some
__________,
__________
________
and ________”
And so
I go to the __________
____________
all the way
and
when _______ asks me
what I
want
I
rattle off a list:
“___________,
__________
__________
and _________”
And
back home,
________
twists my ears
Ouch!
Your
title for the poem: My Trip to the Bakery
My father would say: “Little girl Priya
Go to the bakery and get some bread, biscuits butter
and cheese” And so I go to the bakery skipping all the way
and when the baker asks me what I want I rattle off a list: “cake,
pastries cookies and brownies” And back home, Father
twists my ears Ouch!
Lesson Plan: I Dream of Spices
Subject: English Literature
Class: 6th Grade
Duration: 45 minutes
Topic: Poetry - "I Dream of Spices" by Raj Arumugam (Unit 3)
1. Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, the teacher aims to help students:
- Understand the theme of childhood mischief and family relationships in poetry
- Analyze the use of simple narrative structure in poetry
- Develop appreciation for Indian cultural elements (spices and traditional shopping)
- Learn about poetic devices like repetition and contrast
- Build vocabulary related to Indian spices and cooking ingredients
- Recognize the humorous elements in everyday family situations
- Understand the difference between responsibility and playfulness in children
2. Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Listen carefully to instructions and follow them accurately in daily tasks
- Take responsibility for completing errands and helping family members
- Appreciate cultural traditions related to food and cooking in their families
- Find humor in everyday mistakes and learn from them
- Show respect for family members while maintaining their playful nature
- Practice memory skills when given lists or instructions
- Understand consequences of not following instructions properly
- Value traditional ingredients and cooking methods in their culture
3. Introduction (5 minutes)
Engaging Questions:
- "Have you ever been sent to the shop by your mother to buy something? What happened? Did you remember everything correctly?"
- "What are your favorite spices or ingredients that your mother uses in cooking? Can you name a few?"
- "Have you ever gotten in trouble for forgetting something important or mixing things up? How did you feel?"
- "Do you sometimes sing or hum while walking to the shop or doing errands? What do you sing?"
- "What do you think happens when children don't listen carefully to their parents' instructions?"
4. Reading and Understanding (8 minutes)
New Vocabulary with Meanings:
| Word | Meaning | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Cinnamon | The bark of a tree that gives delicious flavor to food | Mother asked for cinnamon to make the curry tasty |
| Betel leaves | Green leaves used in traditional Indian customs | Betel leaves are often used after meals |
| Ginger | A root with strong flavor used in cooking and medicine | Ginger tea helps when you have a cold |
| Garlic | A small bulb with strong taste used in cooking | Garlic makes food more flavorful |
| Rattle off | To recite or say quickly | He rattled off the wrong list to the shopkeeper |
| Sesame seeds | Also known as gingelly seeds, used in cooking | Sesame seeds are sprinkled on bread |
| Pickles | Preserved vegetables or fruits in spices | Indian pickles are spicy and tangy |
| Ouch | A sound that expresses pain | "Ouch!" he cried when mother twisted his ears |
5. Mind Map
I DREAM OF SPICES
|
┌─────────────────┼─────────────────┐
│ │ │
CHARACTERS THE JOURNEY THE CONSEQUENCE
│ │ │
┌────┴────┐ ┌────┴────┐ ┌────┴────┐
│ │ │ │ │ │
Little Mother WHAT WHAT Mother's Raj's
boy Raj │ MOTHER RAJ REACTION REACTION
│ Gives ASKED BOUGHT │ │
Playful instructions │ │ Twists "Ouch!"
Forgetful │ │ │ his ears │
Singing "Go to Cinnamon Sesame │ │
Muthu's" Betel leaves seeds Punishment Learning
│ Ginger Onions for not moment
│ Garlic Tomatoes listening │
│ Pickles Pain but
SETTING: Traditional Indian understanding
family sending child to
local spice shop (Muthu's)
│
THEME: Childhood
mischief, family love,
cultural traditions
6. Consolidation and Presentation (8 minutes)
Summary of the Lesson:
"I Dream of Spices" by Raj Arumugam is a delightful poem that captures a common childhood experience in Indian families. The poem presents a simple but relatable story about a young boy named Raj who is sent by his mother to buy specific spices and ingredients from Muthu's shop.
The poem is structured as a narrative with three clear parts: the mother's instruction, the boy's journey and mistake, and the consequence. The mother asks for "cinnamon, betel leaves, ginger and garlic," but the distracted boy, who is singing happily on his way to the shop, ends up asking for completely different items: "sesame seeds, onions, tomatoes and pickles."
The poem beautifully captures the carefree nature of childhood, where a child's mind can wander and mix things up. The boy's happiness (singing all the way) contrasts with his forgetfulness, creating a humorous situation that many readers can identify with.
The ending, where the mother "twists his ears" and the boy says "Ouch!", shows the immediate consequence of not paying attention, but it's presented in a light-hearted way that reflects normal family dynamics rather than harsh punishment.
The poem celebrates Indian culinary culture through its focus on traditional spices and the neighborhood spice shop, while also highlighting universal themes of childhood, family relationships, and the learning process through mistakes.
7. Reinforcement (5 minutes)
Additional Information:
- Cultural Context: The poem reflects traditional Indian shopping patterns where children are sent to local shops for daily ingredients
- Literary Technique: The contrast between what was asked for and what was requested creates humor and teaches a lesson
- Indian Spices: All the spices mentioned are staples in Indian cooking - cinnamon for sweetness, ginger-garlic for flavor base
- Family Dynamics: The ear-twisting is a common, gentle form of discipline in Indian families, showing care rather than anger
- Memory and Attention: The poem highlights how singing and being happy can sometimes distract us from important tasks
- Community Shopping: "Muthu's shop" represents the traditional neighborhood store where shopkeepers know their customers personally
- Learning Through Mistakes: The poem shows that making mistakes is part of growing up and learning responsibility
- Rhythmic Structure: The simple, conversational tone makes the poem easy to remember and recite
8. Evaluation
a) Lower Order Thinking Question (Knowledge/Comprehension)
Question: "What four items did Raj's mother ask him to buy, and what four items did he actually ask for at Muthu's shop?"
Expected Answer: Mother asked for: cinnamon, betel leaves, ginger, and garlic. Raj asked for: sesame seeds, onions, tomatoes, and pickles. He mixed up the entire shopping list because he wasn't paying attention.
b) Middle Order Thinking Question (Application/Analysis)
Question: "Analyze why Raj made this mistake and what this teaches us about the importance of paying attention when given responsibilities. How could Raj have avoided this mistake?"
Expected Answer: Raj made the mistake because he was distracted by singing and being happy, so he didn't focus on remembering the correct items. This teaches us that when we have responsibilities, we need to concentrate and listen carefully. Raj could have avoided this by: repeating the list while walking, writing it down, asking mother to repeat it, or focusing on the task instead of just singing.
c) Higher Order Thinking Question (Synthesis/Evaluation)
Question: "Evaluate the mother's response to Raj's mistake. Was twisting his ears an appropriate consequence? What does this incident teach us about family relationships and how children learn responsibility? Suggest better ways parents can help children remember important tasks."
Expected Answer: The mother's response shows mild discipline that's meant to teach rather than harm. It reflects caring family dynamics where mistakes have consequences but within a loving relationship. The incident teaches that families help children learn through experience, and small punishments can be learning tools. Better methods could include: helping children write lists, teaching memory techniques, practicing with smaller tasks first, praising successful completion of errands, or using gentle reminders instead of physical correction.
9. Remedial Teaching
Strategy for Slow Learners:
- Acting Out: Have students role-play the scene with one as mother, one as Raj, and one as Muthu
- Picture Cards: Use pictures of all the spices mentioned to help students remember and differentiate them
- List Comparison: Create two columns showing what mother asked for vs. what Raj said
- Memory Games: Practice remembering short lists of items through repetition and games
- Simple Questions: Ask one question about each line of the poem to ensure understanding
- Drawing Activity: Let students draw the scene of Raj going to the shop
- Repetitive Reading: Read the poem multiple times with different voices for different characters
- Personal Connection: Ask students to share their own experiences of running errands
10. Writing Activity (8 minutes)
Writing Task: "Write a short paragraph (100-120 words) about a time when you forgot something important or mixed up instructions. Include:
- What you were asked to do
- What you actually did instead
- How you felt when you realized your mistake
- What you learned from the experience
- How you would handle a similar situation in the future"
Guidelines:
- Write in first person about your own experience
- Use descriptive words to show your emotions
- Include at least 2 vocabulary words from the lesson
- Show what you learned from the mistake
- End with a positive lesson or resolution
11. Follow-up Activities
Homework Assignment:
- Family Recipe Research: Ask your mother or grandmother about 5 important spices used in your family's cooking. Write one sentence about each spice describing how it's used.
Additional Activities:
-
Memory Challenge: Practice memorizing a shopping list of 6 items. Have family members test you and see if you can remember all items correctly.
-
Spice Identification: Visit your kitchen and identify 5 different spices. Draw or write about their colors, smells, and uses.
-
Poem Illustration: Create a comic strip (4-6 panels) showing the story of the poem from beginning to end.
Extended Learning:
-
Alternative Ending: Rewrite the poem with an ending where Raj remembers the correct items and mother is happy with him.
-
Cultural Sharing: Interview an elderly family member about how shopping for spices was different when they were young.
-
Responsibility Chart: Create a weekly chart of small errands or responsibilities you can take on at home and track your success.
-
Poetry Creation: Write your own short poem about a childhood mistake you made and what you learned from it.
Assessment Criteria:
- Understanding of narrative structure in poetry (25%)
- Recognition of cultural elements and family dynamics (20%)
- Vocabulary comprehension and usage (20%)
- Personal reflection and connection to experience (20%)
- Participation and engagement (15%)
Resources Needed:
- Real spices or pictures of spices mentioned in the poem
- Chart paper for list-making activities
- Props for role-playing (pretend money, shopping basket)
- Audio recording of the poem for pronunciation
- Samples of traditional Indian recipes (optional)
Cross-Curricular Connections:
- Social Studies: Indian family traditions, community shopping patterns
- Science: Properties and uses of different spices, their origins
- Mathematics: Making lists, counting items, simple money transactions
- Life Skills: Memory techniques, responsibility, following instructions
- Cultural Studies: Traditional Indian cooking and spice usage
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