## Overview

This chapter explores the theme of friendship through three different stories: "The Unlikely Best Friends," "A Friend's Prayer" (a poem), and "The Chair." The narratives encourage reflection on what true friendship means, emphasizing kindness, empathy, understanding, and mutual support.

## Key Topics Covered

### 1. Story: *The Unlikely Best Friends*

* **Main Characters**: Gajaraj the elephant and Buntee the dog.
* **Setting**: Royal elephant stables.
* **Plot Summary**:

* Gajaraj lived in luxury but felt lonely.
* One day, a stray dog wandered into his stable.
* Gajaraj shared his food, and the dog, Buntee, began to live there.
* They formed a deep bond, playing and spending time together.
* A farmer claimed the dog, Buntee, and took him back.
* Both friends were heartbroken and stopped eating.
* Realizing their love for each other, the farmer brought Buntee back.
* The reunion brought joy to both, and even the farmer and mahout became friends.

### 2. Poem: *A Friend's Prayer* by Jill Wolf

* **Theme**: A heartfelt wish for strong, understanding, and accepting friendships.
* **Key Lines**:

* Friends are a blessing.
* One should strive to understand and support friends.
* Acceptance and love are essential for true friendship.
* **Message**: True friendship requires empathy, non-judgement, and genuine care.

### 3. Story: *The Chair*

* **Main Characters**: Mario and his grandfather; Mario's classmates Guneet, Asma, and Deepa.
* **Setting**: School and Mario's home.
* **Plot Summary**:

* Mario believed he had many friends.
* His grandfather challenged him to test who his real friends were using a magical invisible chair.
* At school, Mario fell repeatedly while trying to sit on the invisible chair.
* Only three children helped him while others laughed.
* These three—Guneet, Asma, and Deepa—proved to be true friends.
* Mario learned that true friends support us in difficult times.
* The story ends with joy, a lesson learned, and a lasting bond of friendship.

## Grammar and Vocabulary Activities

### 1. Opposites and Prefixes

* **Prefixes Used**: un-, in-, dis-, mis-
* **Examples**: sad/happy, untouched/touched, relieved/distressed, missing/found

### 2. Verb Forms

* **Tenses Practiced**: Simple Past, Past Progressive, Past Perfect
* **Examples**:

* Simple Past: looked, gave, told
* Past Progressive: was looking, was munching
* Past Perfect: had followed, had remained

### 3. Conjunctions and Connectives

* **Usage of**: neither...nor, either...or
* **Example Sentences**:

* Neither the farmer nor the mahout noticed the tears.
* Either Bhavesh or Abha made this painting.

### 4. Adjectives and Suffixes

* **Suffixes**: -ful, -ly, -ed, -tion, -ous, -ship
* **Activities**:

* Matching adjectives with nouns (e.g., brave soldier, tasty peanuts)
* Completing paragraphs using adjective-noun pairs

## Listening and Speaking Tasks

* **Story Listening**:

* Leopard and cow friendship story
* Outdoor activities by two friends (Ajay and Dhiraj)
* Personal experience of a new girl supported by Monika
* **Speaking Prompts**:

* Sharing likes and dislikes with a friend
* Role play: going to a park, sharing tiffins
* Describing one’s own friend and how friendship began

## Writing Tasks

* Write six sentences comparing yourself and a friend (similarities and differences)
* Create an acrostic poem for the word "FRIENDS"
* Compose a personal note or message to a friend

## Exploration Activities

* Learn more about Jataka Tales (origin of the story of Gajaraj and Buntee)
* Discuss how friendships change across age groups
* Research real-life stories of unusual animal friendships (like Tarra and Bella)
* Write and decorate famous friendship quotations

## New Terms and Simple Definitions

| Term | Meaning |
| ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| Mahout | A person who takes care of and trains elephants |
| Strayed | Came in by mistake or wandered away from home |
| Winced | Shrunk or pulled back in pain |
| Indigestion | Discomfort in the stomach due to eating problems |
| Relieved | Feeling relaxed or thankful after a stressful moment |
| Invisible | Something that cannot be seen |
| Companions | People or animals who spend time with one another |
| Magical | Something full of magic or wonder |
| Suffix | Letters added at the end of a word to change its meaning |
| Adjective | A word that describes a person, place, or thing |

## Practice Questions

### Easy (3)

1. Who was Gajaraj?

* Gajaraj was a royal elephant who lived in the king's stable.

2. What did the dog do when Gajaraj gave him food?

* The dog wagged his tail, ate the food, and slept there.

3. What was the name of Mario’s three true friends?

* Guneet, Asma, and Deepa.

### Medium (2)

4. Why did the farmer return Buntee to the stable?

* Because Buntee missed Gajaraj and refused to eat.

5. What lesson did Mario learn from the invisible chair?

* He learned that real friends support you when others laugh at you.

### Difficult (3)

6. Why is the poem "A Friend’s Prayer" called a prayer?

* Because it expresses wishes and hopes for strong, caring friendships.

7. How does the story of Gajaraj and Buntee show empathy?

* Both friends missed each other and stopped eating, showing emotional care.

8. What is the significance of suffixes in forming new words?

* Suffixes help in creating new words and meanings, such as changing verbs to nouns or adjectives.

### Very Difficult (2)

9. Compare the friendships shown in all three texts. What is common among them?

* All friendships show support, care, emotional bonding, and go beyond appearances or expectations.

10. Suggest one more way to find a true friend like Mario’s grandfather did.

* Observe who helps you during tough times or who listens without judgment.