Chandrayaan — Class 3 English (CBSE)
From the current Class 3 English Santoor textbook, Unit 4: The Sky, Chapter 12. A real-world story that celebrates India's journey to the Moon and the joy of asking questions. These notes help students read for meaning, learn space words, and write answers in their own words.
1. Chapter at a glance
- Text type: A story based on a real event (India's Moon mission).
- Main characters: Rani (a curious girl), her brother Pratik, and Aunt Nandini (a scientist).
- Main theme: Curiosity leads to learning, and pride in India's success in space.
- What to notice while reading: What the word "Chandrayaan" means, and what India achieved.
2. The Story
Rani was a curious village girl who loved to ask questions. One day, her brother Pratik told her exciting news: India had landed on the Moon! Rani wanted to know everything about it.
She went to Aunt Nandini, who was a scientist, and asked, "What does Chandrayaan mean?" Aunt Nandini smiled and explained: "Chandra means the Moon, and Yaan means a vehicle. So Chandrayaan means a 'Moon vehicle' — a special spacecraft that travels to the Moon."
Aunt Nandini told Rani that India's space agency, ISRO, sent Chandrayaan-3 to the Moon. Its lander, Vikram, gently touched down near the Moon's south pole on 23 August 2023. With this, India became the first country in the world to land near the Moon's south pole, and the fourth country to land softly on the Moon.
Rani's eyes shone with pride and wonder. She decided that she, too, would study hard, ask many questions, and maybe one day become a scientist who reaches for the stars.
3. Summary
Rani, a curious girl, hears from her brother Pratik that India has landed on the Moon. Eager to learn more, she asks Aunt Nandini, a scientist, what "Chandrayaan" means. Aunt Nandini explains that Chandra means Moon and Yaan means vehicle, so Chandrayaan is a "Moon vehicle." She tells Rani how India's Chandrayaan-3, with its lander Vikram, landed near the Moon's south pole on 23 August 2023 — making India the first country to do so. The story fills Rani with pride and a wish to learn and explore.
4. Theme and values
- Curiosity — Rani learns by asking questions.
- Pride in our country — India's success in space is a proud moment.
- Dreaming big — children can aim to become scientists and explorers.
5. Real-world facts (true)
- Chandrayaan = Chandra (Moon) + Yaan (vehicle) → "Moon vehicle".
- ISRO is India's space agency (Indian Space Research Organisation).
- Chandrayaan-3's lander, Vikram, landed near the Moon's south pole on 23 August 2023.
- India was the first country to land near the Moon's south pole and the fourth to soft-land on the Moon.
- India now celebrates 23 August as National Space Day.
6. New words and meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Chandra | the Moon (a Hindi/Sanskrit word) |
| yaan | a vehicle |
| Chandrayaan | a spacecraft sent to the Moon ("Moon vehicle") |
| scientist | a person who studies science and does experiments |
| spacecraft | a vehicle that travels in space |
| lander | the part of a spacecraft that lands on the Moon |
| curious | wanting to know or learn about things |
7. Let Us Think (comprehension)
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Who told Rani that India had landed on the Moon? Her brother, Pratik, told her the news.
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What does the word "Chandrayaan" mean? It means "Moon vehicle" — Chandra means Moon and Yaan means vehicle.
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Who explained the meaning to Rani? Aunt Nandini, who was a scientist.
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What did India's Chandrayaan-3 do? Its lander, Vikram, landed near the Moon's south pole on 23 August 2023.
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Why was this a proud moment for India? Because India became the first country to land near the Moon's south pole.
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What did Rani decide to do? She decided to study hard, ask questions, and dream of becoming a scientist.
8. Language and grammar practice
Word building
Chandra (Moon) + yaan (vehicle) = Chandrayaan. Try: Moon + light = moonlight; sun + rise = sunrise.
Naming words about space
From the story: Moon, scientist, spacecraft, lander, ISRO — these are naming words.
Question words
Rani asked many questions. Practise question words: what, who, why, when, where, how.
9. Writing and speaking practice
- Writing: Write 4-5 lines on "If I could travel to the Moon, I would…".
- Speaking: Tell a friend two things you learned about Chandrayaan.
10. Common mistakes
- Mistake: Saying Chandrayaan is a person. Fix: Chandrayaan is a spacecraft — a "Moon vehicle", not a person.
- Mistake: Writing that India landed on the Sun or on Mars. Fix: India's Chandrayaan-3 landed on the Moon, near its south pole.
- Mistake: One-word answers for why questions. Fix: Use a full sentence with because.
11. Practice set
- Who told Rani about India's Moon landing?
- What does "Chandrayaan" mean?
- Who explained it to Rani?
- When did Chandrayaan-3's lander touch down on the Moon?
- Why was it a proud moment for India?
- Write 4-5 lines on "If I could travel to the Moon…".
12. Answer key
- Her brother Pratik.
- "Moon vehicle" — Chandra (Moon) + Yaan (vehicle).
- Aunt Nandini, a scientist.
- On 23 August 2023, near the Moon's south pole.
- Because India was the first country to land near the Moon's south pole.
- Answers will vary — check for imagination and complete sentences.
13. Fun activity
My Moon Mission
Draw your own rocket or Moon vehicle. Give it a name and label its parts.
Word Search
Make a small word list about space — Moon, star, rocket, scientist, ISRO, Chandrayaan — and hide them in a grid for a friend to find.
14. Quick revision
- Unit 4: The Sky · Chapter 12 · a real-world story.
- Chandrayaan = Chandra (Moon) + Yaan (vehicle) = "Moon vehicle".
- India's Chandrayaan-3 lander Vikram landed near the Moon's south pole on 23 August 2023.
- India was the first country to land near the Moon's south pole.
- Theme: curiosity, pride, and dreaming big.
Unit 4: The Sky
This chapter is part of Unit 4: The Sky. The three chapters in this unit are:
- Chapter 10: Night — a poem about the day-and-night cycle
- Chapter 11: Chanda Mama Counts the Stars — a story about the Moon and the stars
- Chapter 12: Chandrayaan — a story about India's journey to the Moon
