Chapter 7 of Class 5 English Santoor (Unit 4: Ups and Downs), Gilli Danda, is an energetic poem celebrating one of India’s oldest and most loved traditional outdoor games. With just a long wooden stick (danda) and a tapered wooden peg (gilli), friends gather in the open ground to flick, strike, and send the gilli soaring high into the golden afternoon sky.
What Class 5 English Chapter 7 Covers
How Gilli Danda Is Played — Players use a longer wooden stick called the danda to strike the bevelled tip of a small wooden peg called the gilli. When the gilli flips up into the air, the player swings the danda to hit it as far across the field as possible.
Joy of Outdoor Play & Camaraderie — The poem captures the excitement of friends gathering after school beneath open skies — cheering, measuring distances with lengths of the danda, taking turns, and laughing together without needing expensive equipment.
Indigenous Games Across India — Connects Gilli Danda with regional names across Indian states (such as Chinni Dandu in Karnataka, Kuttiyum Kolum in Kerala, Tipcat in English, and Viti Dandu in Maharashtra) and other traditional games like Kho-Kho, Kabaddi, Pitthu (Seven Stones), and Poshampa.
Language — Rhyming Words, Prefixes/Suffixes & Sports Vocabulary — Highlights movement and sound words (swing, flick, soar, spin, cheer), prefixes like un- and re-, and comparative adjectives (high, higher, highest).
Exercises in Chapter 7
- Let us Think & Speak: Describe the two pieces of equipment needed for Gilli Danda, explain how a player scores or strikes the gilli, and talk about your favourite outdoor game played with friends.
- Let us Learn & Write: Complete exercises on degrees of comparison (fast/faster/fastest), prefixes, and write step-by-step instructions on how to play a traditional local game.
Read Class 5 English Chapter 7 Online
More Chapters
- Previous: Chapter 6: What a Tank!
- Next: Chapter 8: The Decision of the Panchayat
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FAQ
What are the ‘gilli’ and the ‘danda’ in the game Gilli Danda?
The ‘gilli’ is a small, peg-shaped piece of wood tapered at both ends, and the ‘danda’ is a longer wooden stick used to flip the gilli into the air and strike it across the ground.
What are some regional names for Gilli Danda in India?
Gilli Danda is known as Viti Dandu in Maharashtra, Chinni Dandu in Karnataka, Kuttiyum Kolum in Kerala, Kittu Pullu in Tamil Nadu, and Danguli in West Bengal.