Class 8 · English · New NCERT
Chapter 14: Magnifying Glass
"Magnifying Glass" is a poem by Walter de la Mare, at about eleven pages with its activities. The preface says it encourages students to explore perception and mystery. A magnifying glass makes small things large, so the poem invites children to look closely at the ordinary and wonder at what they have missed. Students read and recite, notice imagery and discuss how close observation changes what we see. It links with the Science chapter on the invisible living world and with light and lenses, and a few moments with a real magnifying glass bring it to life.
This is chapter 14 of 15 in Poorvi, the Class 8 English textbook, in Unit 5, Science and Curiosity, and begins on page 222 of the printed 2026-27 book. It follows "Feathered Friend" and is followed by "Bibha Chowdhuri: The Beam of Light that Lit the Path for Women in Indian Science".
Teachers can use "Magnifying Glass" to build confidence as well as vocabulary. Short, repeated tasks, pair talk, role-play and choral reading help children who are shy about speaking English. The book's sections (the Let us discuss, Let us think and reflect, Let us learn, Let us listen, Let us speak, Let us write and Let us explore activities) offer ready-made activities, and the notes to the teacher encourage the use of the home language, local stories and objects to explain new ideas. The aim is progress from guided to independent use of English rather than perfect accuracy at any single step.
At home, listen to your child speak English about "Magnifying Glass" without correcting every mistake. Ask them to sing or say the lines, point to pictures and name things, or tell you in two or three sentences what the lesson was about. Reading a favourite part aloud a few times builds fluency and confidence.
This overview is written from the 2026-27 textbook's Contents page, its preface and the chapter title, to help families and teachers prepare. Please read the chapter itself for exact content, activities and exercises.