Based on NCERT Santoor
CBSE Class 5 English: Syllabus, Units & Sample Practice
Explore all 5 units of the NCERT "Santoor" reader, see the prose and poems inside each, and work through a stepped demonstration question — the last preparatory year before the middle stage.
Syllabus reviewed: November 2026
Key Curriculum Facts
- Santoor
- NCERT Reader
- The current NCERT Class 5 English book
- 5
- Units
- Each with a poem and a story
- School-based
- Assessment
- Preparatory Stage — internal, no board exam
What the Class 5 English Year Really Builds
CBSE Class 5 English follows the NCERT reader "Santoor", written for the Preparatory Stage under NEP 2020 and the new National Curriculum Framework. Its five units each pair a poem with a story, so reading grows alongside writing, grammar and discussion.
Across the year the focus is on reading comprehension, writing, grammar and vocabulary, and speaking and listening — developed through the poems and stories in the reader. There is no board examination at Class 5; progress is tracked through school-based assessment.
This page shows EduMagik's stepped reasoning approach with a worked demonstration question: a clue first, then a full explanation, so the thinking is understood rather than just the answer.
Complete Unit Directory (NCERT Santoor, Class 5)
All 5 units of the Class 5 English reader, with the pieces inside each, plus the language skills the year builds
The Five Units
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Ch 1
Let's Have Fun
Poem "Papa’s Spectacles" and the story "Gone with the Scooter".
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Ch 2
My Colourful World
Poem "The Rainbow" and the story "The Wise Parrot".
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Ch 3
Water
Poem "The Frog" and the prose piece "What a Tank!".
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Ch 4
Ups and Downs
Poem "Gilli Danda" and the story "The Decision of the Panchayat".
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Ch 5
Work is Worship
Poem "Vocation" and the prose piece "Glass Bangles".
Language Skills This Year Builds
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Ch 1
Reading & Comprehension
Reading poems and stories with understanding and answering questions about them.
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Ch 2
Writing
Sentences and paragraphs, short descriptions and simple creative writing.
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Ch 3
Grammar & Vocabulary
Nouns, verbs and tenses, adjectives, articles and new words.
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Ch 4
Speaking & Listening
Recitation, conversation and listening tasks drawn from the reader.
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: "There is one child here, but in the park there are many ___."
Reasoning Clue & Solution
Most nouns add -s to become plural, but a few have special plural forms you have to remember.
The EduMagik 3-Step Hint Ladder
Point to the Method
Names the idea to use (e.g. "Some nouns have special plural forms") without giving the answer.
Guided Reasoning Prompt
Prompts the key step (e.g. "What is the plural of ‘child’?").
Complete Worked Solution
Explains the rule and the finished sentence so the reasoning is clear.
How to Build Strong Class 5 English Habits
Simple, high-impact ways to grow reading and writing together
Read Aloud Together
Reading the Santoor poems and stories aloud builds fluency, expression and confidence.
Practise a Little, Often
Short, regular grammar and vocabulary practice keeps the rules fresh and shows what needs work.
Talk and Write About Stories
Discussing a story and then writing a few sentences about it links reading and writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many units are in the CBSE Class 5 English syllabus?
The NCERT Class 5 English reader "Santoor" has 5 units, each pairing a poem with a story. Always confirm the current list with NCERT or your school.
What is the Class 5 English NCERT book called?
It is "Santoor", the Class 5 English reader written for the Preparatory Stage under the new National Curriculum Framework, replacing the older Marigold reader.
Is there a board exam in CBSE Class 5?
No. Class 5 is assessed through school-based internal assessment, not a board examination — board exams begin at Class 10.
What does Class 5 English cover?
Reading comprehension, writing (sentences, paragraphs, short descriptions), grammar and vocabulary, and speaking and listening — all developed through the poems and stories in the Santoor reader.
Related Learning Paths
Build CBSE Class 5 English Confidence, Step by Step
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