NCERT Solutions & Poem Analysis: Merry-Go-Round (Class 1 English)

Poem Summary and Meaning

The poem 'Merry-Go-Round' describes a child's exciting experience on a carnival ride. The child climbs high up onto a big brown wooden horse. As the ride starts, it goes round and round in a circle, and the horse moves up and down. The poem uses repetitive words like 'round', 'around', 'up', and 'down' to mimic the spinning action of the ride. This helps young readers feel the continuous motion and rhythm. Through this beautiful verse, children learn how simple physical actions make our play memories unforgettable.

Key Words and Meanings

Merry-go-round

A large round platform that turns around and around, with wooden animals like horses for children to ride on.

Climbed

Went up or mounted onto something higher using hands and feet.

Around

Moving in a circle or in different directions near a place.

High

Far above the ground; at a great height.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Recite and Act the Poem

1. Step 1: Read with Action — When saying 'I climbed up on the merry-go-round', jump up slightly or reach your hands up. For 'And it went round and round', make circular motions with your hand.
2. Step 2: Change Your Pitch — Speak in a high, exciting voice when saying 'high' and lower your voice when saying 'down' to make the poem sound like a real ride.
3. Step 3: Clap to the Beat — Clap your hands rhythmically on every beat of 'round and round and round' to build a solid sense of poetic timing.

Spelling and Grammar Tips

Many Class 1 students confuse spelling words like 'round' and 'around'. Tip: Remember that 'around' starts with 'a' and means moving along a path, while 'round' is the circular shape itself. When writing answers, always pay attention to action words (verbs) like climbed, went, and rode to describe what happened on the ride.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: How did the merry-go-round go? A: Step 1: Read the poem to see how the ride moved. Step 2: Find the exact words describing the movement. Final answer: The merry-go-round went round and round.
• Q: How did the big brown horse go? A: Step 1: Check what the poem says about the big brown horse. Step 2: Note the direction of its movement. Final answer: The big brown horse went up and down.
• Q: Have you ever been on a merry-go-round? Share where you saw it. A: Step 1: Think of places where giant rides are set up. Step 2: Usually, you see them at a fair, park, or amusement park. Final answer: Yes, I have ridden a merry-go-round! I saw it at a local fair in my town.
• Q: Find and list three pairs of rhyming words from the poem or similar to the words in the poem. A: Step 1: Look at the ending sounds of key words. Step 2: Match 'round' with 'around', and 'down' with 'brown'. Final answer: The rhyming pairs are (1) Round - Around, (2) Down - Brown, and (3) Out - Shout.

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