The Old Stag 4 English Chapter 5 CBSE Notes 2025-26

In a lush green forest, there lived a gentle and wise old stag who was loved by all the animals and birds. Every day, he would greet everyone warmly as he wandered on a hillock covered in soft, tender grass. Despite the abundance of food in the forest, the stag always preferred the sweet, fresh grass of the hillock, finding comfort and joy in his calm spot. This daily routine of kindness and his preference for the hillock made him a popular and respected member of the forest community.

One day, the old stag fell sick and became too weak to meet his friends as usual. He stayed on the hillock, hoping that rest and the nutritious, tender grass would help him regain his strength. His friends noticed his absence and soon came to visit, expressing their care and wishing him a speedy recovery. However, before returning to their homes, some of the animals also ate the tender grass growing on the stag’s hillock, praising its taste and freshness.

Word spread across the forest about the delicious grass, and many more animals and birds came to see the stag. Each visitor ate some of the grass. Gradually, the green cover started disappearing, leaving little for the old stag himself. With less food, the stag's health declined further, and the friends soon realised the mistake they had made.

Key Lesson from the Story The animals felt guilty for their behaviour. They learned that their excitement and greed resulted in the stag losing his only source of food when he needed it most. Understanding their mistake, they decided not to eat the grass on the hillock anymore. Instead, they brought fresh leaves for the stag and searched for their own food somewhere else in the forest. With their help and soon after good rains, the grass grew back, and the old stag gradually regained his strength. Through this incident, all the inhabitants of the forest learned an important lesson:

• Nature provides enough for everyone’s needs.
• We must use natural resources wisely and not let our greed harm others.

New Words from the Chapter The story introduces several important words and their meanings to build vocabulary:

• Lush: green, thick, and healthy vegetation
• Stag: an adult male deer
• Hillock: a small hill
• Tender: soft and delicate (used for young grass/leaves)
• Sheltering: giving protection or covering
• Recovery: becoming healthy again after illness

Comprehension Checkpoints The chapter tests understanding through these questions:

1. The old stag was popular because of his kindness and friendly nature toward all animals and birds.
2. He couldn’t go down the hillock because he was very weak and unwell.
3. The grass on the hillock slowly vanished as visiting animals kept eating it every day.
4. Yes, the animals did realise their mistake. They stopped eating the grass, found food elsewhere, and brought fresh leaves for the stag to help him recover.

Critical Thinking and Value Education Students are encouraged to reflect on these points:

• Did the animals make up for their earlier mistake? Why is it important to correct our actions?
• If everyone used up resources thinking only of their own needs, nothing would be left for others in the future. This teaches the importance of sharing and caring for nature together.

Vocabulary and Language Skills Students practice matching words to their meanings, such as “lush forest” (green and dense woods), “tender grass” (soft young grass), “shaded spot” (cool resting place), “healthy food” (wholesome and nourishing food), and “speedy recovery” (becoming well quickly). Recognising these word pairs helps students make their writing more descriptive and lively.

Descriptive words like “lush forest,” “tender grass,” and “healthy food” are discussed, encouraging children to visualise or even draw what these words mean to them. This helps improve both vocabulary and imagination.

Grammar Focus: Adverbs The chapter illustrates the use of adverbs with examples:

• “Warmly” describes how the stag greeted his friends.
• Other examples: “The old stag slowly recovered,” and “The rabbit quickly ate the carrots”.
• The adverbs here explain the manner in which the action happens.

Children are encouraged to identify and use adverbs like soon, quietly, cheerfully, carefully, fast, loudly, etc., and make sentences using them.

Writing Practice Activities The exercises include:

• Completing a story called “The Monkeys’ Fast” by writing creative dialogues in speech blurbs, helping to practice conversation skills.
• Filling in a paragraph about your best friend, which helps students practise sentence formation, pronouns, and personal description in English.

Teachers are also encouraged to help students observe pictures, discuss dialogue placements, and use proper pronouns while filling in the blanks.

Speaking and Sharing Activities One discussion activity asks students to imagine sharing a bowl of jalebis in their classroom. Students discuss how they would feel if the sweets were finished before everyone got enough, why sharing is important, and how to ensure there is enough for all. This activity builds awareness about fairness and sharing in real-life situations.

Art and Expression Students are asked to create a thank you card from the old stag to the forest friends who helped him during his illness. On the card’s front, they can draw the stag with his friends, and inside write a thank you message. This activity encourages creativity, empathy, and expression of gratitude.

What Students Should Remember

• The importance of thinking about others’ needs and not just our own.
• Making amends when a mistake is made shows real friendship and wisdom.
• Using nature’s gifts wisely helps everyone live well.
• Building vocabulary and using descriptive language makes stories interesting.
• Practising grammar, writing, and speaking activities helps in overall language development.

Class 4 English Chapter 5 Notes – The Old Stag: Complete Summary and Key Points

These Class 4 English Chapter 5 notes provide a simple summary, new word meanings, and main lessons from “The Old Stag.” Using these revision notes, students can understand the story, key values about nature and sharing, and improve vocabulary for their NCERT exam preparation.

By focusing on key questions and grammar points, the CBSE Class 4 English Chapter 5 revision notes support better comprehension and writing skills. These notes include important concepts and activities to help students build confidence for their school assessments.