NCERT Class 1 Maths (Joyful Mathematics) · Chapter 7
Lina’s Family
Tall and short, near and far, long and short, thick and thin, measuring with handspans and footspans, heavy and light, and how much water a container holds.
📌 What you’ll learn in this chapter
- Tallest and shortest, nearest and farthest
- Longest, shortest, thickest, and thinnest
- Measuring with handspans, fingers, and footspans
- Heavier and lighter
- Which container holds more water
👨👩👧👦 Let’s Begin: Family Photo
For the family photo, the photographer says, “Tallest at the back, shortest in front!” Papa goes to the back, baby Golu sits in front, and Didi stands in the middle.
Comparing who is taller and who is shorter is the first step in measuring! 📸
📏 Part 1: Comparing Sizes
| Compare | Words |
|---|---|
| Height | tall, taller, tallest · short, shorter, shortest |
| Length | long, longer, longest |
| Thickness | thick, thicker, thickest · thin, thinner, thinnest |
| Distance | near, nearer, nearest · far, farther, farthest |
| Weight | heavy, heavier · light, lighter |
✋ Part 2: Measuring with Our Body
- Fingers for small things (a key or an eraser).
- Handspans for medium things (a table or a bag).
- Footspans (steps) for big things (a room or a corridor).
⚠️ Common mistake
Leaving gaps between handspans. ❌ Put your thumb exactly where your little finger ended, with no gaps and no overlaps.
⚖️ Part 3: Heavy, Light, and Holds More
A school bag full of books is heavier than an empty bag. A bucket holds more water than a mug.
💡 Try it
Hold one thing in each hand. The hand that feels pulled down more has the heavier thing.
✏️ Practice Time
Try these on your own first, then check your answer below each question.
Q1. Which is heavier: an elephant or a cat?
✅ AnswerElephant
Q2. Would you measure a key with fingers or footspans?
✅ AnswerFingers (it is small)
Q3. Which holds more water: a glass or a bucket?
✅ AnswerBucket
📘 NCERT Textbook Activity Help
Hints and answers for the activities in the textbook, page by page. Try each one yourself before looking at the answer!
Pages 72–73 · Lina’s familyLet us talk
✅ AnswerA. 6 members: grandmother, grandfather, mother, father, Lina, and her brother Shanbor.
B. The father is the tallest. C. Draw the cap on the shortest member (Lina, when she is not on the stool).
D. Look at the picture: find the person whose head is above the mother’s but below the father’s. E–G have your own answers.
Page 74 · Near and farB. The father is the tallest. C. Draw the cap on the shortest member (Lina, when she is not on the stool).
D. Look at the picture: find the person whose head is above the mother’s but below the father’s. E–G have your own answers.
Lina’s hut
✅ AnswerA. Her house is nearest to the shop and farthest from the school.
B. The school is nearest to the shop and farthest from the red-roof house.
C. The child is nearest to the school bus and farthest from the school. (Check the picture in your book.)
Page 75 · Longest, shortest, thickest, thinnestB. The school is nearest to the shop and farthest from the red-roof house.
C. The child is nearest to the school bus and farthest from the school. (Check the picture in your book.)
Tick the one
✅ AnswerA. Longest: the blue pencil · the girl with the longest plait
B. Shortest: the small green chilli · the small pink shirt
C. Thickest: the tallest pile of books · the thickest box
D. Thinnest: the thinnest tree trunk · the thinnest candle
Pages 76–78 · Handspans and footspansB. Shortest: the small green chilli · the small pink shirt
C. Thickest: the tallest pile of books · the thickest box
D. Thinnest: the thinnest tree trunk · the thinnest candle
Measure
✅ AnswerAnswers depend on your own hand. Guess first, then measure.
Use fingers for the spoon, pencil, friend’s nose, and key. Use handspans for the bottle and leg. Things shorter than a handspan (eraser, key, sharpener) are better measured with fingers. Footspans are used for long distances like the classroom.
Pages 79–80 · Heavier and lighterUse fingers for the spoon, pencil, friend’s nose, and key. Use handspans for the bottle and leg. Things shorter than a handspan (eraser, key, sharpener) are better measured with fingers. Footspans are used for long distances like the classroom.
Tick and colour
✅ AnswerA. Heavier: the bucket · the watermelon
B. Lighter: the salt packet · the water bottle
C. Heavier: the basket with the cat · the full bucket · the bottle · the quilt
D. Lighter: the lemon · the small cup · the small ball · the empty basket
Pages 81–83 · WaterB. Lighter: the salt packet · the water bottle
C. Heavier: the basket with the cat · the full bucket · the bottle · the quilt
D. Lighter: the lemon · the small cup · the small ball · the empty basket
Holds more
✅ AnswerA and B: fill and count yourself. The container that needs more cups holds more water.
C. Circle the bigger one in each pair: the bucket, the glass (more than the small cup), the bigger pot, the bottle (more than the small cup), and the kettle.
D. Brushing → a mug · Bathing → a bucket · 2 glasses of lemon water → a jug · Watering a plant → a mug
C. Circle the bigger one in each pair: the bucket, the glass (more than the small cup), the bigger pot, the bottle (more than the small cup), and the kettle.
D. Brushing → a mug · Bathing → a bucket · 2 glasses of lemon water → a jug · Watering a plant → a mug
👨👩👧 Tips for Parents
- Line up family members by height for fun.
- Measure the bed with your handspan and your child’s. Compare the numbers.
- While bathing, count how many mugs fill a bucket, and talk about saving water.