NCERT Class 6 English Poorvi Unit 4 Notes & Solutions | Sports and Wellness
Class: 6 | Subject: English | Book: Poorvi | Unit: 4 | Theme: Sports and Wellness
For Students: This complete study guide covers NCERT Class 6 English Poorvi Unit 4, “Sports and Wellness”. It includes chapter summaries, textbook-based answers, word meanings, grammar, MCQs, writing practice and quick revision notes for all three lessons: Change of Heart, The Winner and Yoga–A Way of Life.
| Unit Name | Sports and Wellness |
| Lessons Covered | Change of Heart, The Winner, Yoga–A Way of Life |
| Learning Focus | Sportsmanship, fair play, outdoor play, yoga, wellness, discipline and balanced living |
| Official NCERT PDF | Download NCERT Class 6 English Poorvi Unit 4 PDF |
Contents
Unit 4 Overview — Sports and Wellness
Sports and Wellness is a meaningful unit because it teaches students that health is not limited to the body alone. A healthy life also needs a calm mind, honest behaviour, discipline, confidence and respect for others. Through a story, a poem and an informative lesson, this unit connects games, fair play, outdoor activity and yoga with the idea of complete well-being.
The first lesson, Change of Heart, explains how a student named Prabhat learns the true meaning of sportsmanship. The poem The Winner captures the joy of evening play and shows how night finally ends the game. The lesson Yoga–A Way of Life explains yoga as a holistic practice that helps the body and the mind.
| Lesson | Type | Core Idea |
|---|---|---|
| Change of Heart | Story | A student learns that honest enjoyment is more important than winning by unfair means. |
| The Winner | Poem | Children enjoy outdoor play until night arrives and ends the game. |
| Yoga–A Way of Life | Informative Text | Yoga creates harmony between the body and the mind and promotes overall well-being. |
1. Change of Heart — Summary, Solutions and Grammar
Short Summary
Change of Heart is a story about Prabhat, a student who always wants to win. He cannot accept defeat and avoids any game in which he thinks he may lose. He enjoys only those games in which he is sure of winning. This shows that he is afraid of losing and does not yet understand the real spirit of games.
A new student named Surya joins Prabhat’s school. Surya is an excellent badminton player, but he is different from Prabhat. He plays games with joy and does not take winning or losing too seriously. During a friendly badminton match, Prabhat cheats by changing the score while Surya is not looking. Prabhat wins the match, but he does not feel truly happy.
Later, Prabhat observes Surya playing different games. He notices that Surya enjoys every game, whether he is good at it or not. Surya’s happiness does not depend on the scoreboard. This makes Prabhat realise that games should be played for enjoyment, effort and fair play. Gradually, Prabhat’s attitude changes. He begins to enjoy games for their own sake and develops true sporting spirit.
Central Message: Winning is not wrong, but winning by cheating is not real victory. A true player plays honestly, respects others and enjoys the game.
Main Characters
| Character | Role in the Story |
|---|---|
| Prabhat | A student who wants to win at any cost but later learns the value of honest play. |
| Surya | A cheerful player who enjoys games and teaches Prabhat the real meaning of sportsmanship through his behaviour. |
| Coach | The teacher who organises friendly matches during the games period. |
Word Meanings
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Defeat | Loss in a game or contest | A good player accepts defeat calmly. |
| Opponent | A person one competes against | Surya was Prabhat’s opponent. |
| Tally | A record of points or scores | The scoreboard kept the tally of points. |
| Sporting spirit | Fairness and respect in games | Prabhat developed sporting spirit. |
| Phenomenon | Someone with special qualities | Surya was a phenomenon on the badminton court. |
| Hopeless | Having no skill in something | Surya was hopeless at basketball but enjoyed it. |
| Observed | Watched carefully | Prabhat observed Surya for several days. |
Let us Discuss — Answers
Q1. State whether the statement is True or False: Prabhat would accept losing to anyone easily.
Answer: False. Prabhat could not accept losing easily. He always wanted to win and felt terrible when he lost.
Q2. What was special about the last Friday of each month?
Answer: The last Friday of each month was special because the coach conducted friendly matches during the games period.
Q3. Who was responsible for maintaining the score for the match?
Answer: Prabhat was responsible for maintaining the score for the badminton match.
Q4. Do you think Prabhat wished to play another match with Surya? Why?
Answer: At first, Prabhat probably did not wish to play another match with Surya because Surya was a strong badminton player and Prabhat knew that his own win was not honest. Later, after his change of heart, he could play again with a better spirit.
Q5. How did Surya feel about playing?
Answer: Surya enjoyed playing. He remained cheerful whether he won or lost.
Q6. What did Prabhat observe about Surya?
Answer: Prabhat observed that Surya enjoyed every game equally. He was good at some games and weak at others, but he always played happily.
Let us Think and Reflect — Answers
Q1. Complete the sentence: Prabhat would play a game only if ______.
Answer: Prabhat would play a game only if he was sure of winning.
Q2. Which game was Prabhat good at?
Answer: Prabhat was good at badminton.
Q3. What does Prabhat’s behaviour show?
Answer: Prabhat’s behaviour shows that he was afraid of losing.
Q4. How was Prabhat feeling after the match?
Answer: Prabhat was unhappy and disturbed. He had won the match, but he did not feel joyful because he had cheated.
Q5. Why did Prabhat find Surya’s behaviour surprising?
Answer: Prabhat found Surya’s behaviour surprising because Surya did not feel bad after losing. He simply enjoyed the game and wanted to play again.
Q6. How was Surya’s reaction different from Prabhat’s?
Answer: Surya’s reaction to losing was different from Prabhat’s. Surya accepted loss calmly, while Prabhat could not bear losing.
Q7. How did Prabhat’s attitude affect his enjoyment of games in the beginning?
Answer: In the beginning, Prabhat’s attitude made him tense and unhappy. He played only to win and avoided games where he might lose. Because of this, he could not enjoy games freely.
Q8. Why did Prabhat cheat in the badminton match?
Answer: Prabhat cheated because he was afraid of losing. His desire to win was stronger than his sense of fairness at that moment.
Q9. How did Surya’s attitude differ from Prabhat’s?
Answer: Surya played games for joy, while Prabhat played only to win. Surya accepted both winning and losing, while Prabhat disliked losing.
Q10. Was Prabhat’s approach to games healthy?
Answer: No, Prabhat’s approach was not healthy because he cared only about winning. A healthy approach to games includes honesty, effort, enjoyment and respect for others.
Q11. Why is sporting spirit important?
Answer: Sporting spirit is important because it teaches fairness, discipline, respect, teamwork and the ability to accept both success and failure gracefully.
Q12. Explain how the title “Change of Heart” is suitable.
Answer: The title is suitable because Prabhat’s attitude changes completely. At first, he thinks that winning is everything. Later, he learns that honest play and enjoyment are more important than winning. This inner change is the real change of heart.
Let us Learn — Past Perfect Tense
Rule: Past Perfect Tense is used for an action that was completed before another past action.
Structure: Subject + had + past participle form of the verb
Example: Prabhat had finished his homework before the badminton match.
| Sentence | Answer |
|---|---|
| Prabhat ______ already ______ his homework. (finish) | had already finished |
| Surya ______ basketball for years. (play) | had played |
| Surya ______ already ______ several matches. (win) | had already won |
| Surya ______ Prabhat before coming to the school. (never meet) | had never met |
| Prabhat ______ badminton extensively. (practise) | had practised |
Listening Practice — Answers
| Chess pair | Sarita and Nupur |
| Number of Friday matches | Three |
| Notice board item | Kho-kho teams’ name list |
| Refreshment sponsor | Xydium Sports Club |
| Scorekeeper for chess | Vani |
| Referee for kho-kho | The announcer / coach |
| Kho-kho periods | Second and third period |
Diary Entry — Completed Version
Saturday, 17 August 20XX
8:00 p.m.
Today, I defeated Surya in a badminton match but I do not feel happy about it. He was playing very well and was getting the points easily. I was sure that I would lose the match. So, when everyone was laughing at a joke he cracked, I managed to change the scoreboard. No one noticed the change and I won the match. What surprised me the most was that he said he had fun playing with me and we should play again. How could he be so relaxed after losing a match?
Though everyone congratulated me after my win, I did not enjoy it as I usually do. It really disturbed me that Surya did not feel bad about losing the match. It is still bothering me. Is it because I changed the score? I do not understand myself.
Let me sleep now. I feel that it may make me feel better.
Goodnight!
2. The Winner — Poem Summary and Solutions
About the Poem
The Winner is a short poem by Georgia Heard. It presents a simple but powerful picture of children playing outdoors in the evening. The poem captures movement, breathlessness, excitement, cold grass, fading light and the arrival of night. The title is interesting because the winner is not a child or a team. The winner is Night, as night ends the game.
Summary
In the poem, children are playing ball in the evening near a small water body in a neighbour’s field. They run very fast and become breathless. As evening grows darker, the blue sky turns black. The grass becomes cold and the trees seem closer in the darkness. Finally, the game ends because it is night. The poem shows the joy of play and the natural end of playtime.
Central Idea: The poem celebrates outdoor play and shows that children may want to continue playing, but nature has its own rhythm. When night comes, playtime ends.
Line-by-Line Meaning
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Next to the creek | Near a small stream or water body |
| Can’t catch my breath | The child is breathless because of running fast |
| Blue dark turns to black | Evening slowly changes into night |
| Trees creep close | In the darkness, the trees appear closer and less clear |
| Night wins | Night ends the game, so it is shown as the winner |
Let us Discuss — Complete the Summary
The children play ball in the evening in the neighbour’s field. They run so fast that they run out of breath. They continue to play till the evening when the blue sky turns black, and the trees are not clearly visible. They can feel their feet aching, now that it is cold. Finally, they stop playing and go home as it is night.
Let us Think and Reflect — Answers
Q1. Why does the speaker need to catch her breath?
Answer: The speaker needs to catch her breath because she has been running very fast while playing.
Q2. Is the speaker alone? Why?
Answer: No, the speaker is not alone. The use of words like “we” and “our” shows that the speaker is playing with other children.
Q3. What does the pattern of the short lines tell us?
Answer: The short lines show that the children are breathless because of running fast. The pattern helps readers feel the broken breathing of the speaker.
Q4. Why is the grass cold?
Answer: The grass is cold because evening has turned into night and the air has become cooler.
Q5. Complete the sentence: The children’s feet are aching because ______.
Answer: The children’s feet are aching because they have been running and playing for a long time on the cold grass.
Q6. Why does Night win?
Answer: Night wins because the time for play has ended. The children must stop playing and go home.
Poetic Devices
| Device | Explanation | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Imagery | The poem creates pictures of evening, field, cold grass and darkness. | It makes the scene vivid. |
| Line Breaks | The words are arranged in very short lines at one place. | It shows breathlessness. |
| Personification | Night is shown as if it can win. | It makes the ending memorable. |
Riddle Answers
| Riddle | Sport / Activity |
|---|---|
| Kick a black and white ball into a goal | Football |
| Say Hu-tu-tu and touch players | Kabaddi |
| Arms and legs move in water | Swimming |
| Breathe in, breathe out and stay healthy | Yoga |
Water Bodies Word Web
Some examples of water bodies are: river, lake, pond, stream, canal, sea, ocean, waterfall, creek and reservoir.
Indigenous Games of India
Indigenous games are native to a region. Some Indian indigenous games are kho-kho, kabaddi, gilli-danda, lagori, kancha, stapoo, mallakhamb and silambam. Such games help children remain active and also connect them with local culture.
3. Yoga–A Way of Life — Notes and Solutions
Short Summary
Yoga–A Way of Life is an informative lesson about yoga and its importance. Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India. The word “Yoga” comes from the Sanskrit root “yuj”, which means “to join” or “to unite”. This idea of joining refers to the unity of body and mind, thought and action, and harmony between human beings and nature.
The lesson explains that Sage Patanjali presented the tradition of yoga in a systematic way in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Yoga helps make the mind quiet and free from distractions. It also improves physical fitness, flexibility, endurance, balance and concentration.
Yoga includes asanas, breathing techniques and meditation. It reduces stress and anxiety, improves sleep, supports heart health, boosts immunity and promotes overall well-being. The lesson also refers to the WHO mYoga app, which was launched to support yoga practice across the world.
Central Message: Yoga is not just physical exercise. It is a way of life that brings balance, awareness, health and peace.
Important Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Yoga | A practice that unites the body and the mind |
| Yuj | A Sanskrit root meaning “to join” or “to unite” |
| Harmony | Balance and agreement |
| Asana | A yoga posture |
| Meditation | A practice of calming and focusing the mind |
| Endurance | The ability to continue without giving up |
| Distractions | Things that disturb attention |
Benefits of Yoga
- Yoga improves flexibility, strength, endurance and balance.
- Yoga helps calm the mind and reduce stress.
- Yoga improves concentration and sleep quality.
- Yoga supports heart health and better circulation.
- Yoga promotes a sense of overall well-being.
- Yoga teaches awareness by coordinating body movement with breath.
Let us Discuss — Fill in the Blanks
Yoga is a practice that not only improves physical flexibility but also improves mental health and leads to a healthier lifestyle. It involves a series of asanas, which increase muscular strength. Practising yoga also leads to a better body and mind balance and reduces body pain such as the lower back. Moreover, the focus on breathing techniques and meditation makes the mind calm, lessens stress, and improves the quality of sleep. This helps to adopt a more positive lifestyle.
Let us Think and Reflect — Answers
Q1. What is the aim of yoga?
Answer: The aim of yoga is to bring harmony between the body and the mind. It helps make the mind calm, improves health and promotes overall well-being.
Q2. Explain the idea of unity in yoga.
Answer: The idea of unity in yoga means the joining of body and mind, thought and action, and harmony between human beings and nature. Yoga teaches balance and awareness in life.
Q3. What does the launch of the WHO mYoga app tell us about the importance of yoga?
Answer: The launch of the WHO mYoga app shows that yoga is recognised internationally as an important practice for health and well-being. It also shows that technology can help people learn and practise yoga easily.
Q4. Describe one long-term effect that yoga can have on a person’s qualities.
Answer: Regular yoga practice can make a person calmer, more disciplined and more focused. It can also develop patience, self-control and a positive attitude.
Practice and Practise — Answers
Practice is used as a noun. Practise is used as a verb in British and Indian English usage.
| It is important to have a regular ______ of stretching every morning. | practice |
| I ______ yoga every day. | practise |
| The hockey team requires a lot of ______. | practice |
| Our coach asked us to ______ running on grass. | practise |
| I ______ deep breathing exercises when I feel stressed. | practise |
| Eating fruits and vegetables should be a daily ______. | practice |
Advice and Advise — Sentences
- Advice: My teacher gave me useful advice.
- Advice: Good advice can help us make better decisions.
- Advise: Doctors advise us to exercise regularly.
- Advise: Parents advise children to eat healthy food.
Yoga Listening Practice — True Statements
| Statement | True / False |
|---|---|
| The girl sees people at the park doing breathing exercises. | True |
| Her grandfather began practising yoga sixteen years ago. | False |
| The girl practises easy yoga exercises with her grandfather. | True |
| The girl practises breathing exercises to relax. | True |
| Her grandfather is fit even though he has untimely meals. | False |
| Her grandfather’s regular yoga practice has kept him strong. | True |
| The girl wishes to learn asanas over the weekend. | False |
Important Vocabulary from Unit 4
| Word | Meaning | Lesson |
|---|---|---|
| Defeat | Loss | Change of Heart |
| Opponent | Competitor | Change of Heart |
| Creek | Small stream | The Winner |
| Breathless | Unable to breathe easily after running | The Winner |
| Harmony | Balance | Yoga–A Way of Life |
| Anxiety | Worry | Yoga–A Way of Life |
MCQ Practice Test — Unit 4 Sports and Wellness
- Prabhat always wanted to _______.
A. lose B. win C. sleep D. read - Prabhat was good at _______.
A. badminton B. football C. chess D. swimming - Surya was an excellent _______ player.
A. badminton B. kho-kho C. tennis D. chess - Prabhat changed the _______ during the match.
A. racket B. scoreboard C. net D. ball - Surya played games mainly for _______.
A. money B. fame C. enjoyment D. marks - The title “Change of Heart” refers to a change in _______.
A. school B. Prabhat’s attitude C. playground D. coach - In “The Winner”, the children are playing _______.
A. ball B. cards C. chess D. carrom - In the poem, the final winner is _______.
A. a child B. the field C. night D. the ball - The short line pattern in the poem shows _______.
A. anger B. breathlessness C. silence D. fear - Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root _______.
A. yuj B. gam C. vid D. kri - Yoga means to _______.
A. divide B. unite C. hide D. run - Yoga helps reduce _______.
A. honesty B. stress C. friendship D. discipline - Past perfect tense uses _______.
A. has + verb B. had + past participle C. will + verb D. is + verb - Sporting spirit means _______.
A. cheating to win B. being fair and respectful C. avoiding games D. counting marks - “Practice” is a noun and “practise” is a _______.
A. verb B. adjective C. pronoun D. preposition
Answer Key
1-B, 2-A, 3-A, 4-B, 5-C, 6-B, 7-A, 8-C, 9-B, 10-A, 11-B, 12-B, 13-B, 14-B, 15-A
Writing Practice
Paragraph: My Playtime
I go out to play in the evening after finishing my homework. I play with my friends in a nearby playground. We play games like cricket, football, badminton and hide-and-seek. My favourite game is badminton because it keeps me active and improves my focus. Playing together teaches us teamwork, discipline and friendship. We usually finish playing before it gets dark and return home happily.
Paragraph: The Benefits of Yoga
Yoga is very useful for the body and the mind. It improves flexibility, strength and balance. It also helps us remain calm and focused. Regular practice of yoga reduces stress and improves sleep. Yoga is not only physical exercise; it teaches discipline, awareness and harmony. Therefore, yoga can be a great way to live a healthy and balanced life.
Short Speech: Why Sportsmanship Matters
Good morning everyone. Today I want to speak about sportsmanship. Sportsmanship means playing fairly, respecting opponents and accepting both victory and defeat with grace. A true player does not cheat to win. A true player tries hard, follows rules and enjoys the game. Sports teach us teamwork, discipline and confidence. Therefore, sportsmanship is more important than winning.
Diary Entry: Prabhat’s Realisation
Dear Diary,
Today I realised something important. I won the badminton match against Surya, but I did not feel happy because my win was not honest. Surya enjoyed the game even after losing. His attitude made me think deeply. I now understand that winning is not everything. I should play fairly and enjoy every game. From now on, I will try to become a better player with true sporting spirit.
Good night.
Quick Revision Notes
- Change of Heart: Prabhat changes from a win-at-any-cost player to a fair and joyful player.
- Surya: Surya teaches Prabhat that games should be enjoyed, whether one wins or loses.
- The Winner: The poem shows evening play and the arrival of night.
- Night wins: Night wins because it ends the children’s playtime.
- Yoga: Yoga means to unite the body and the mind.
- Benefits of yoga: Yoga improves strength, flexibility, concentration, calmness and overall health.
- Past Perfect Tense: Subject + had + past participle form of verb.
- Practice / Practise: Practice is a noun; practise is a verb.
- Unit theme: Sports and wellness help students build a healthy body, calm mind and strong character.
Related Class 6 Study Links
FAQ — NCERT Class 6 English Poorvi Unit 4
Q1. What is the name of Class 6 English Poorvi Unit 4?
Answer: The name of Unit 4 is Sports and Wellness.
Q2. Which lessons are included in Unit 4?
Answer: Unit 4 includes three lessons: Change of Heart, The Winner and Yoga–A Way of Life.
Q3. What is the main message of “Change of Heart”?
Answer: The main message is that honest play, enjoyment and sporting spirit are more important than winning by unfair means.
Q4. Who is the winner in the poem “The Winner”?
Answer: Night is the winner because it ends the children’s playtime.
Q5. What does yoga mean?
Answer: Yoga means to join or to unite. It symbolises the unity of body and mind.
Q6. Why is yoga called a way of life?
Answer: Yoga is called a way of life because it improves physical health, mental calmness, discipline, awareness and overall well-being.
Q7. What is the structure of Past Perfect Tense?
Answer: The structure is: Subject + had + past participle form of the verb.
Q8. Is this article useful for exam revision?
Answer: Yes. It includes summaries, textbook-based answers, vocabulary, grammar, MCQs and writing practice for quick and complete revision.
Disclaimer: This educational article is prepared for student support and revision. Students should also read the official NCERT textbook and follow their teacher’s classroom instructions.
Next Unit: Class 6 English Poorvi Unit 5
After completing Unit 4 — Sports and Wellness, students should study Unit 5 — Culture and Tradition. This unit covers Indian culture, folk art, kites, Ila Sachani’s inspiring story and the National War Memorial.


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