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Gilli Danda

NCERT Class 5 · English Based on NCERT Class 5 English textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter is a poem about the traditional Indian outdoor game Gilli Danda, describing the joy, freedom, and fun children experience while playing it. It exists in the syllabus to introduce students to the beauty of simple, traditional games and to develop their appreciation for outdoor play. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that Gilli Danda is a game of skill and joy played with a stick (danda) and a small peg (gilli), and that playing outdoors with friends brings happiness and a sense of freedom.
Key Concepts (13)
Gilli Danda
A traditional Indian outdoor game played with two sticks — a short one called the gilli and a long one called the danda.
e.g. In a village playground, children gather with a danda and a gilli, and one player hits the gilli with the danda to make it fly in the air.
Gilli
The small, short stick (peg) used in the game of Gilli Danda, which is hit by the danda.
e.g. The small gilli flies up high into the sky when struck by the danda.
Danda
The long stick used to hit the gilli in the game of Gilli Danda.
e.g. The player swings the danda and hits the gilli with force.
Gather
To come together in a group.
e.g. In the playground, we gather around with our friends to play.
Quit
To stop doing something; to give up.
e.g. With our friends, we never quit — we keep playing with joy.
Underneath
Below or beneath something.
e.g. The children play underneath the bright blue skies.
Prefix
A group of letters added at the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
e.g. Adding 'un-' to 'happy' gives 'unhappy', which means not happy.
Un-
A prefix that means 'not'.
e.g. Un + common = uncommon (not common).
Re-
A prefix that means 'again'.
e.g. Re + draw = redraw (draw again).
Abstract Noun
A noun that refers to something that has no physical shape and cannot be touched, smelt, or seen; it is a feeling, thought, or idea.
e.g. Happiness, sadness, fear, and love are abstract nouns because you cannot touch them.
Concrete Noun
A noun that can be seen, tasted, touched, or smelt; it has a physical form.
e.g. Rose, leaf, sun, shirt, toffee, ice cube, sugar, hat, football, cat, spoon, cup, tiger, river, tree.
Possessive Pronoun
A pronoun that indicates ownership or relationship between people and things.
e.g. Mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs.
Tip-cat
The English name for the game Gilli Danda.
e.g. Did you know? Gilli Danda is known as tip-cat in English.
How It Works
How to play Gilli Danda
  1. Players gather in a playground with a danda (long stick) and a gilli (short stick).
  2. One player places the gilli on the ground and uses the danda to hit it, making the gilli fly into the air.
  3. Other players try to catch the gilli before it falls to the ground.
  4. If a player catches the gilli, the hitter is out and the catcher takes a turn to hit.
💡 Students often forget that the gilli is the small peg that is hit, and the danda is the long stick used to hit it. Also, the game is played outdoors, not indoors.
How to make a Gilli Danda using waste material
  1. Find a thick, firm twig or discarded wooden stick for the danda.
  2. Use a rough stone to smoothen the surface of the danda.
  3. Optionally, decorate the danda by painting it with colours or covering it with coloured paper.
  4. Find a small twig or piece of a discarded stick, about 3-4 inches long, for the gilli.
  5. Sharpen both ends of the gilli using a rough stone to give it a proper shape.
  6. Smoothen the surface of the gilli by rubbing it with a stone.
  7. Optionally, colour or paint the gilli for an attractive look.
  8. Test the gilli and danda to ensure they are easy to handle and sturdy.
💡 Students often forget to mention that both ends of the gilli must be sharpened, and that safety measures should be in place during the making process.
How to form words using prefixes 'un-' and 're-'
  1. Identify the base word (e.g., happy, write, aware, comfortable, arrange, think).
  2. Add the prefix 'un-' to the base word to mean 'not' (e.g., un + happy = unhappy).
  3. Add the prefix 're-' to the base word to mean 'again' (e.g., re + draw = redraw).
  4. Write the new word and understand its changed meaning.
💡 Students often add prefixes incorrectly, e.g., writing 'unwrite' instead of 'rewrite'. Always check the meaning of the prefix before adding it.
How to identify abstract nouns
  1. Read the list of words given.
  2. Ask: Can I see, taste, touch, or smell this word?
  3. If yes, it is a concrete noun (e.g., leaf, sun, shirt, toffee, ice cube, sugar, hat, football, cat, spoon, cup, tiger, river, tree).
  4. If no, it is an abstract noun (e.g., joy, anger, fear, happiness, truth, lie).
  5. Remember: Abstract nouns are feelings, thoughts, or ideas that have no physical shape.
💡 Students often confuse abstract nouns with adjectives. For example, 'happiness' is an abstract noun, but 'happy' is an adjective. Abstract nouns name the feeling, not describe it.
How to use possessive pronouns
  1. Identify the owner and the object owned in the sentence.
  2. Choose the correct possessive pronoun: mine (for I), yours (for you), his (for he), hers (for she), ours (for we), theirs (for they).
  3. Replace the noun phrase with the possessive pronoun.
  4. Example: 'These crayons belong to me' becomes 'These are mine.'
💡 Students often confuse possessive pronouns with possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her, our, their). Possessive pronouns stand alone (e.g., 'This book is mine'), while possessive adjectives come before a noun (e.g., 'This is my book').
How to rearrange words to form a question
  1. Look at the jumbled words.
  2. Identify the question word (e.g., where, which, what, why, how, when, can).
  3. Arrange the words in the correct order: question word + verb + subject + rest of the sentence.
  4. Ensure the sentence ends with a question mark.
  5. Example: 'are cows where the' becomes 'Where are the cows?'
💡 Students often forget to use a capital letter at the beginning of the question and a question mark at the end. Also, they may place the verb incorrectly.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing gilli and danda
✗ The gilli is the long stick and the danda is the small peg.
→ The poem clearly states 'with a stick and a small gilli to throw' and the chapter explains that the gilli is the short stick (peg) and the danda is the long stick used to hit it.
✓ The gilli is the small peg that is hit, and the danda is the long stick used to hit the gilli.
⚠ Misidentifying abstract nouns
✗ Rose is an abstract noun because it is a feeling.
→ A rose can be seen, touched, and smelt, so it is a concrete noun. Abstract nouns like 'happiness' cannot be touched or smelt.
✓ Rose is a concrete noun because it has a physical form and can be seen, touched, and smelt. Happiness is an abstract noun because it is a feeling with no physical shape.
⚠ Confusing possessive pronouns with possessive adjectives
✗ This is mine book.
→ 'Mine' is a possessive pronoun and stands alone. It cannot be used before a noun. The correct possessive adjective is 'my'.
✓ This is my book. OR This book is mine.
⚠ Adding wrong prefix to 'write'
✗ Unwrite (meaning to write again).
→ The prefix 'un-' means 'not', so 'unwrite' would mean 'not write'. To mean 'write again', the correct prefix is 're-', giving 'rewrite'.
✓ Rewrite means to write again.
⚠ Forgetting the question mark in rearranged questions
✗ Where are the cows
→ A question must end with a question mark. Without it, the sentence is incomplete and loses marks.
✓ Where are the cows?
⚠ Thinking 'quit' means 'continue'
✗ The line 'with our friends, we never quit' means we never continue playing.
→ 'Quit' means to stop or give up. 'Never quit' means we never stop playing, i.e., we keep playing.
✓ The line means we never stop playing; we keep playing with joy.
Compare & Contrast
Physical existence
Abstract Noun
Concrete Noun
An abstract noun has no physical shape and cannot be touched, smelt, or seen (e.g., happiness, fear), while a concrete noun has a physical form and can be seen, tasted, touched, or smelt (e.g., rose, leaf, sun).
Usage in a sentence
Possessive Pronoun
Possessive Adjective
A possessive pronoun stands alone and replaces a noun phrase (e.g., 'This book is mine'), while a possessive adjective comes before a noun to modify it (e.g., 'This is my book').
Meaning
Prefix 'un-'
Prefix 're-'
The prefix 'un-' means 'not' (e.g., unhappy = not happy), while the prefix 're-' means 'again' (e.g., redraw = draw again).
Size and function in the game
Gilli
Danda
The gilli is the small, short peg (about 3-4 inches) that is hit, while the danda is the long stick used to hit the gilli.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: 2 MCQs (1 mark each) on comprehension or vocabulary, 1 short answer (2-3 marks) on abstract nouns or prefixes, 1 long answer (5 marks) on possessive pronouns or rearranging questions, and 1 value-based question (3 marks) on outdoor games or teamwork.
Most asked: Meaning and identification of abstract nouns · Use of prefixes 'un-' and 're-' to form new words · Use of possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs) · Comprehension questions based on the poem (e.g., which game, things needed, feelings of players, what happens to the gilli, outdoor setting, meaning of 'sound') · Rearranging words to form questions
Don't skip: Questions on abstract nouns and concrete nouns (often 3-5 marks in grammar section); Questions on possessive pronouns (fill in the blanks or sentence transformation, 3-5 marks); Comprehension questions from the poem (especially Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5 from the textbook)
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. Gilli Danda is a traditional Indian outdoor game played with a long stick called a danda and a small peg called a gilli.
  2. The poem describes the joy, freedom, and fun children feel while playing Gilli Danda outdoors.
  3. The gilli flies up high into the sky when struck by the danda.
  4. The line 'our game is so sound' means the game is good, strong, and enjoyable.
  5. The word 'laughing' in the poem shows happiness.
  6. A prefix is a group of letters added at the beginning of a word to change its meaning.
  7. The prefix 'un-' means 'not', e.g., unhappy means not happy.
  8. The prefix 're-' means 'again', e.g., redraw means draw again.
  9. An abstract noun is a noun that has no physical shape and cannot be touched, smelt, or seen, e.g., happiness, fear, anger.
  10. A concrete noun is a noun that can be seen, tasted, touched, or smelt, e.g., rose, leaf, sun, shirt.
  11. Possessive pronouns show ownership and include mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs.
  12. Gilli Danda is also known as tip-cat in English.
  13. To make a gilli, sharpen both ends of a small twig (3-4 inches) using a rough stone.
  14. To make a danda, smoothen a thick, firm twig using a rough stone.
  15. When rearranging words to form a question, always start with a capital letter and end with a question mark.
  16. The children play 'underneath the bright blue skies', showing they are playing outside.
  17. The players 'never quit', meaning they keep playing with joy and determination.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. What two things are needed to play Gilli Danda?

  • A. A long stick and a short stick ✓
  • B. A ball and a bat
  • C. A rope and a ball
  • D. A racket and a net

Answer: A — The poem mentions that Gilli Danda is played with a long stick (danda) and a short stick (gilli).

Q2. What happens to the gilli when the danda strikes it?

  • A. It rolls on the ground
  • B. It flies up high in the air ✓
  • C. It breaks into pieces
  • D. It stays in one place

Answer: B — The poem clearly states 'The small gilli, up high it flies' when hit by the danda.

Q3. Which word from the poem means 'to stop or not continue'?

  • A. Gather
  • B. Swing
  • C. Quit ✓
  • D. Laugh

Answer: C — 'Quit' means to stop or not continue doing something, as used in the poem line 'we never quit'.

Q4. Which of these is an abstract noun from the poem?

  • A. Stick
  • B. Gilli
  • C. Sun
  • D. Joy ✓

Answer: D — Joy is a feeling you cannot touch or see, making it an abstract noun; stick, gilli, and sun are concrete nouns.

Q5. The toy belongs to Priya. The toy is _______.

  • A. his
  • B. mine
  • C. hers ✓
  • D. yours

Answer: C — The possessive pronoun 'hers' shows that the toy belongs to Priya (a girl).

Q6. What does the prefix 'un-' mean?

  • A. Again
  • B. Not ✓
  • C. Before
  • D. After

Answer: B — The prefix 'un-' means 'not', so 'unhappy' means 'not happy'.

Q7. Which line from the poem tells us the children are playing outside?

  • A. 'With a stick and a small gilli to throw'
  • B. 'Under the golden rays of the sun' ✓
  • C. 'With our friends, we never quit'
  • D. 'One, two, three, swing and hit'

Answer: B — The line 'Under the golden rays of the sun' clearly shows they are playing outdoors in sunlight.

Q8. If you add the prefix 're-' to the word 'draw', what does the new word mean?

  • A. Draw before something
  • B. Draw not at all
  • C. Draw again ✓
  • D. Draw after something

Answer: C — The prefix 're-' means 'again', so 'redraw' means to draw something again.

Q9. Which of these is a concrete noun that you can see and touch?

  • A. Happiness
  • B. Fear
  • C. Football ✓
  • D. Excitement

Answer: C — A football is a concrete noun you can see and touch; happiness, fear, and excitement are abstract nouns (feelings).

Q10. What does 'gather around' mean in the first line of the poem?

  • A. Run away from the playground
  • B. Come together in one place ✓
  • C. Collect things from the ground
  • D. Stand far apart from each other

Answer: B — To 'gather around' means to come together or collect in one place, which is what the children do to play.

Flashcards

What two sticks are needed to play Gilli Danda?

One long stick called danda and one short stick called gilli are needed.

What happens to the gilli when the danda hits it?

The gilli flies up high in the air.

How do the children feel while playing Gilli Danda according to the poem?

They feel free, joyful, and happy.

What is an abstract noun? Give one example from the poem.

An abstract noun is something you cannot touch or see, like joy, happiness, or fun from the poem.

What does the prefix 'un-' mean?

The prefix 'un-' means 'not'.

What does the prefix 're-' mean?

The prefix 're-' means 'again'.

Complete: The toy train belongs to Mudit. The toy train is _______.

The answer is 'his' because the possessive pronoun shows that the toy train belongs to him.

Which word in the poem shows happiness or joy?

Words like 'laughing', 'fun', and 'joy' in the poem show happiness.

What does 'gather' mean in the poem?

Gather means to come together or collect in one place.

What does 'quit' mean?

Quit means to stop doing something.

Important Board Questions

Name the two sticks used in playing Gilli Danda. [1 mark]

One stick is long (called danda), and one stick is short (called gilli). Look at the poem and the 'Let us Speak' section.

Fill in the blanks with possessive pronouns: (a) This book is _______ (mine/yours). (b) The toy belongs to him. It is _______. [2 marks]

Possessive pronouns show who owns something. 'Mine' is used when something belongs to me, and 'his' when something belongs to a boy or man.

Explain the difference between an abstract noun and a concrete noun using two examples from the poem. [3 marks]

Concrete nouns are things you can touch, see, taste, smell (like sun, stick, football). Abstract nouns are feelings and ideas you cannot touch (like joy, happiness, fun). Give two examples from the poem.

Write 4-5 sentences describing how you would feel while playing Gilli Danda. Use at least two adjectives in your answer. [5 marks]

Think about the feelings the poem describes: free, happy, excited, joyful. Describe your experience playing outdoors with friends using descriptive words (adjectives) like 'excited', 'joyful', 'free', 'happy'.

True or False: Unhappy means 'very happy'. Give a reason for your answer. [2 marks]

The prefix 'un-' means 'not', so 'unhappy' means 'not happy', which is the opposite. Look at the prefix meanings in 'Let us Learn' section.

Assertion-Reason Questions for Gilli Danda

Q1. Assertion (A):

Gilli Danda is played with a short stick and a long stick.

Reason (R):

The short stick is called gilli and the long stick is called danda, and players use these two sticks to play the game.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true. The reason correctly explains why Gilli Danda needs these two sticks—they are the essential equipment for the game.

Q2. Assertion (A):

Words like joy, sadness, and love are abstract nouns.

Reason (R):

Abstract nouns are things you can see, touch, or hold in your hand.

Answer: C — A is true but R is false — The assertion is correct—joy, sadness, and love are abstract nouns. However, the reason is false because abstract nouns are things you CANNOT see, touch, or hold. They are feelings and ideas, not physical objects.

Q3. Assertion (A):

The prefix 'un-' changes the meaning of a word to its opposite.

Reason (R):

When we add 'un-' to 'happy', it becomes 'unhappy', which means not happy.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains how the prefix 'un-' works. Adding 'un-' to adjectives creates their opposite meaning.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for Gilli Danda

Case Study:

Priya and her friends decided to play Gilli Danda in the school playground after lunch. They gathered around in a circle with two sticks—one short stick called the gilli and one long stick called the danda. Priya held the danda and hit the gilli with it. The gilli flew high up into the bright blue sky. All the children laughed and cheered as they watched it go. They continued playing until the bell rang and they had to go back to class.

Q1. How many sticks did the children use to play Gilli Danda?

  • A. Two sticks—one short and one long ✓
  • B. One long stick only
  • C. Three sticks
  • D. Four sticks

Answer: A

Q2. What did Priya do with the danda?

  • A. She threw it in the air
  • B. She held it and hit the gilli with it ✓
  • C. She used it to draw on the ground
  • D. She gave it to her friend

Answer: B

Q3. Why did the children feel happy while playing?

  • A. Because the game was fun and they were playing together ✓
  • B. Because they had finished their lunch
  • C. Because it was time to go back to class
  • D. Because the playground was empty

Answer: A

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