Nina and the Baby Sparrows: CBSE Class 3 English Unit 2

Summary of 'Nina and the Baby Sparrows'

In this story, a young girl named Nina is about to go to her aunt's wedding in Delhi. Everyone in her family is very happy and excited, but Nina is not. She is sad and quiet. Her mother notices this and asks her what is wrong. At first, Nina doesn't say anything, but then she tells her mother her secret worry. There is a sparrow’s nest on the bookshelf in her room with two baby sparrows in it. Nina is worried because if they all go to the wedding and lock the house, the mother and father sparrows won't be able to come in and feed their babies. The baby sparrows would be hungry! Nina's mother understands her daughter's kindness. She comes up with a wonderful idea. They will not close the window, so the parent sparrows can fly in and out freely. They will also move everything away from the bookshelf so the room is safe. Hearing this solution makes Nina very happy again. She enjoys the wedding, and when she comes back, she sees two plump little sparrows flying all over her room!

Understanding Nina's Feelings

1. Step 1: Nina is Upset — Everyone is excited about the wedding, but Nina is sad. She doesn't want to go shopping for a new dress and keeps saying 'no' to everything. Her mother sees that something is bothering her.
2. Step 2: Nina Shares Her Worry — Her mother lovingly asks her why she is upset. Nina finally explains her concern for the two baby sparrows in the nest on her bookshelf. She is worried they will starve if the house is locked.
3. Step 3: Mother Finds a Solution — Nina's mother doesn't dismiss her worry. Instead, she thinks of a brilliant plan. She suggests they will leave the window of Nina's room open so the parent sparrows can easily feed their babies.
4. Step 4: Nina Becomes Happy — After hearing the solution, Nina is relieved and happy. She is no longer worried. She can now enjoy the wedding knowing the baby sparrows will be safe and well-fed.

New Words and Meanings

Market

A place where people buy and sell things.

Bother

To worry or trouble someone.

Problem

Something that is difficult or that worries you.

Dress

A piece of clothing for a girl or woman.

Upset

To be unhappy, sad, or worried.

Plump

Having a full, rounded shape; nicely fat.

Important Lessons from the Story

• Be Kind to Animals: The story teaches us to be compassionate and caring towards all living creatures, no matter how small.
• Talk About Your Worries: Nina felt better after she shared her problem with her mother. It's always good to talk to an adult you trust when you are worried.
• Every Problem Has a Solution: Nina's mother helped find a simple solution to a big worry. It shows that with a little thought, we can solve many problems.
• Think of Others: Nina thought about the baby sparrows' hunger instead of just her own excitement for the wedding. This shows the importance of empathy.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Why was Nina's mother upset with her in the beginning? A: Step 1: Remember how Nina was behaving. She was saying 'no' to everything her mother suggested, like going to the market. Step 2: Think about how a parent feels when their child is sad for no clear reason. Nina's mother was not angry, but she was upset because Nina was unhappy and wouldn't tell her why. Final Answer: Nina's mother was upset because Nina was looking sad and refused to go shopping for a new dress, but she wouldn't explain what the problem was.
• Q: What was the big problem that made Nina cry? A: Step 1: Recall the special thing in Nina's room. There was a sparrow's nest on her bookshelf. Step 2: Remember what was in the nest. There were two new baby sparrows. Step 3: Connect this to the family's plan. The family was going to a wedding and would lock the house. Nina was worried that the papa and mama sparrows would not be able to feed their babies. Final Answer: The big problem was that Nina was worried the baby sparrows in her room would go hungry because the house would be locked for the wedding, and their parents wouldn't be able to feed them.
• Q: What was the mother's solution to Nina's problem? A: Step 1: Think about what the main issue was. The issue was how the parent sparrows would get into the locked house. Step 2: Recall what the mother suggested. She said they would not close the window. Step 3: Consider the benefit of this idea. If the window was open, the papa and mama sparrows could fly in and out of the room freely to feed their babies. Final Answer: The mother's solution was to leave the window of Nina's room open so that the parent sparrows could fly in and out to feed their babies.
• Q: How do you know the baby sparrows were well-fed when Nina came back from the wedding? A: Step 1: Remember the description of the sparrows at the end of the story. Step 2: The story says Nina found 'two plump little sparrows flying all over the room'. Step 3: Understand the meaning of the word 'plump'. Plump means chubby or nicely fat. This shows they had eaten well. Final Answer: We know the baby sparrows were well-fed because the story describes them as 'plump' when Nina returned, which means they were fat and healthy from all the food their parents brought them.

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