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volume III issue 8
NOVEMBER 2015
COVER STORY
Positive Aspects of
INDIAN PRIVATE SCHOOL EDUCATION
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SPORTS
ICE Hockey
CAREER
Fashion Designer
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TRAVEL
Andaman & Nicobar...
HEALTH
Diabetes in Children ...
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Readers’ Column
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Editorial
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This Month at a Glance
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News
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Event Review
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Remembrance
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Festivals
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Bygone Luminaries
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Education Parents as Parents
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History - Constitution Day
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Music
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Kudos - Nobel Prize Winners
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Write Right
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Big Question
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Education - Part V
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Commemoration
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Food
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SPACE
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Technology
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Quiz
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Language study
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British Council
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Children’s Column
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Short Story
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Amazing Facts
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Mind Mine
november 2015
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R EA DER S’ C OL UM N Humour in the Classroom A wonderful article by Mrs. Sonal Chawda, Bringing Humour in the Classroom is worth reading. As a teacher, I learnt few techniques about how to make a boring class into a lively one, by creating humour which in turn will make the children as well as me to be active and energetic. It would be fun to implement these techniques in the classroom. K. Sridevi, Hyderabad
An Effective Remedy We all get confused about what to do when there is a burning sensation if we eat spicy food. A good and easy remedy was found in your article published in the October issue in the big question section. I found it effective as these two products milk and sugar are easily available all the time. Now no need to worry if I consume spicy food, the remedy is fixed up in my mind. T. Srinivasa Rao, Khammam
End Fights, Mend Minds The cover Story –‘Can we stop fights among students in schools’ did make me aware about the issues happening in the schools and how the school management and staff are equally responsible for the cause. It really bothered me thinking about our country’s future. Today’s children are tomorrow’s future. So the responsibility lies on the elders (both at school and home) who have to mould the character of a child in his early stages and develop him to be a responsible citizen of our country. Jayanth Pathak, Mumbai
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NEW CONCEPT
LISTEN
WATCH
Now you can read as well as listen to your favourite article and also watch videos on education, career, sports, skill building, entertainment and a lot more. From last month onwards, Brainfeed magazine started presenting a new concept – that is you can listen to your favourite article being read by experts while you go through the article. And also watch videos of your interest from the list of videos given in the magazine.
This is how it works • A QR code sign will be given along with the article or the video. • All you need is a QR code scanner or QR code reader app on your Smartphone. • Download the app from Google play store or Apple app store. • Open the application, focus and hold the camera on the QR code of the article or the video you want to listen to or watch. • Then the QR code will lead you to the audio file of an educational expert, read the article for you or to the video that you wanted to watch. Don’t you think this is cool – so go on, read like an expert reader by just listening to an expert reader, read an article for you or watch a video to learn about an issue or topic or to learn a new skill.
Acquiring Knowledge The commemoration section in your magazine provides good information about the International days which is really a great knowledge to acquire. We get knowledge about not only important Indian days but also International days. A. Pavani, IX Std., Bangalore
november 2015
volume III
issue 8
Chief Editor Brahmam K V Editor Seshubabu P V Executive Editor G. Bhageeradha +91 91775 13996 Sub Editor Vanalatha Reddy T Art & Design Lakshmi D Rakesh N Director-Sales SreeNivas R B +91 85018 26497 Circulation Hemachandra Rao S +91 91777 74851 +91 85018 26317 Printed, Published and Owned by Kakani Veera Brahmam
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EDITORIAL
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ovember augurs festivities and celebrations! The Festival of Lights, Children’s Day and National Education Day are celebrated. Homes everywhere are bedecked with colourful festoons and brightened with lamps lit ushering in the victory of Rama. Children also burst fire-crackers marking triumph of good over evil. The children are hinted as to how they can celebrate eco-friendly Diwali in a much more meaningful manner benefiting the society. The issue is wholly dedicated to the children – in celebration of their goodness and well-being! The Children’s Day celebrations have added a new dimension as to how it can be observed off the beaten track in a much more meaningful way. There is a tangible feeling that under-privileged and neglected destitute children could be outreached. The ‘Positive Aspects of Indian Private School Education’ provides a glimpse of the rapid growth of private schools and its impact on School education in India. The data clearly underlines the fact that 25% of all schools in India are private schools accounting for 40% share in enrolment. Many private schools have contributed to the quality of education we see today. Various days of commemoration highlighting the significance of these days promise interest among young readers. ‘Career option’ offers interesting world of fashion which young students can explore for their future career. Music is altogether an enchanting world in itself. The young readers would certainly be captivated by the King of the Pop Music – the legendary Michael Jackson! November 26 is celebrated as the Constitution Day by the Government of India in order to draw attention of one and all to the characteristic features of Indian Constitution. Sports column deals extensively about ‘Ice Hockey’ – its origin and rules and regulations of the game. ‘Junk Food’ relates how it is life-threatening and is leading to diabetes. We have ‘Trash Talk’ as how Robots are going to be nextgen garbage dispenser! Altogether the issue has brought out many novel ideas. Happy Reading! CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE & E-MAG
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november 2015
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THIS MONTH AT A GLANCE
sunday
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02 V. V. S. Laxman Indian cricketer Happy Birthday 1974
08 While experimenting with electricity, Wilhelm Röntgen discovered the X-ray. 1895 World Run Day
Jharkhand state came into existence in India with its industrial capital city Ranchi. 2000
Mike Tyson defeated Trevor Berbick to become youngest Heavyweight champion in boxing history. 1986
30 Birthday of Brad May, Canadian ice hockey player and sportscaster. 1971 november 2015
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was founded for the purpose of contribution to peace and security by promoting international collaboration through education, science, and culture. 1945
The first smartphone, the IBM Simon, was introduced at COMDEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. 1992
Michael Jackson’s second solo album, Thriller was released worldwide. It became the best-selling record album in history. 1982
04 Barack Obama became the first person of AfricanAmerican descent to be elected President of the US. 2008
Sri Lankan Tamil Parliamentarian Nadarajah Raviraj was assassinated in Colombo. 2006
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Legal Services Day-India
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17 In Egypt, the Suez Canal, linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, was inaugurated. 1869
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NASA launches Gemini 12,at Cape Canaveral LC-19. 1966 Diwali
World Science Day for Peace and Development
International Day for Tolerance
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Gary Kasparov, 22, of the Soviet Union became the youngest World Chess Champion by beating Anatoly Karpov. 1985
wednesday
Christopher Columbus first sighted the island of Dominica in the Caribbean Sea. 1493
Legal Services Day-India
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All Soul’s Day
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A suicide attack killed 60 at Wagah. 2014
World Vegan Day
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NOVEMBER 2015
Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species which was considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology. 1859
The first pushbutton telephone started into service. 1963
Cyclone Nisha striked Northern Sri Lanka, killing 15 people and displacing 90,000 others. 2008
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International Day of Violence against Women
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, You will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer
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UPCOMING EVENTS November 7-8, 2015 Educationist at Nagpur
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07 The US Atomic Energy Commission tested the largest U.S. underground hydrogen bomb, codenamed Cannikin, on Amchitka Island in the Aleutians. 1971
India launched the Mars Orbiter Mission, Mangalyaan, its first interplanetary probe. 2013
A team of rock climbers completed the first ascent of The Nose on El Capitan in Yosemite Valley, N. California.1958
Walt Disney’s animated musical film Fantasia was first released, on the first night of a roadshow at New York’s Broadway Theatre. 1940
World Quality Day
World Kindness Day
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International Men’s Day
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Thanksgiving Day
November 16-18, 2015 Chemistry Olympiad Exposure Camp
Jawahar Lal Nehru Former PM of India Birth Anniversary 1889 9
V N Purav Marg, Mumbai
November 18-20, 2015 11th International Language & Development Conference 2015 The Lalit, New Delhi www.britishcouncil.in
World Diabetes Day
The first module of the International Space Station, Zarya, was launched. 1998 Universal Children’s Day
World Television Day
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27 Mumbai was attacked by Pakistan-12 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks lasting four days across Mumbai. 2008
Grand Hyatt, Shanghai, China www.ibc-asia.com
Children’s Day-India
Born: October 23, 1940 (age 74)
A retired Brazilian professional Football player Pelé Scored his 1,000th goal. 1969
November 16-17, 2015 International Schools China 2015 Conference
Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected for a record fourth term as President of the USA. 1944
Thomas Edison announced his invention of the phonograph, a machine that can record and play sound. 1877
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Hotel Centre Point, Nagpur www.educationistaindia.com
The first partial human face transplant was completed in Amiens, France, by Bernard Devauchelle, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. 2005
New Zealand became the first country in which women vote in a national election. 1893
November 27-29, 2015 Educarnival 2015 7th International Conference for School Leaders IIT, New Delhi www.eduexcellence.org
Nov 30-Dec 3, 2015 Physics Olympiad Exposure Camp Mankhurd, Mumbai http://olympiads.hbcse.tifr. res.in/
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“A Teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops!” – Henry Adams
“There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.”
“ In order to succeed, we must first believe that we can .”
– William Shakespeare
– Nikos Kazantzakis
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NEWS
Smriti Irani addresses in NIT in Jaipur
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alviya National Institutes of Technology held a three day conference of 31 National Institutes of Technology which commenced from Oct 10. HRD minister Smriti Irani addressed the directors and deans regarding autonomy, accountability, faculty training and research in these institutes. NITs produce nearly 25,000 engineering graduates every year. NITs are paying particular attention on producing entrepreneurs and building strong foundation for innovation and research. The main focus of this conference was to discuss upon how to improve the standards of NITs and lead to development.
Students from Rural Area grab 25% Seats in IIT
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ural area students, who have completed their upper primary schooling in Hindi medium, grabbed 25% per cent of the seats of the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology across the country this year, as compared to only 10% last year. As for the educational background of their parents, most of them are illiterates whereas a few are only matric pass.
It is also reported that Rajasthan topped the list of states in cracking the IIT entrance exam this year, with 19.7% students, who gained admission to the IITs, belonging to the state. This is indeed a great news where we can find the rural students struggling and making their way to the prestigious institutes of higher learning.
A single-day exam for CAT this year
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he format for the Common Admission Test (CAT), which has been conducted on multiple days over two sessions since 2009, will now be conducted in as many sessions in a single day i.e. on 29 November,2015. The test duration would be longer with each section lasting 60 minutes, so the candidates will have to increase their skills for all sections and qualify in each of them. There will be three sections — Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension; Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability.
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Over 15,000 qualify Civil Services prelims in 2015
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he results of Civil Services preliminary examination held in August , was announced in October 2015, by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). A total of 15,008 candidates qualified in the preliminary examination.The results were declared within 50 days of conducting the exam and it is the shortest ever duration in which the results were declared. The qualified candidates will appear for the Main examination, to be held in December 2015. The civil services examination is conducted by the UPSC annually in three stages -- preliminary, main and interview – to select officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS).
MCI Proposes Common Entrance Tests The Medical Council of India(MCI) has recommended for a uniform Common Entrance Test(CET) for admissions to MBBS, PG and Super-Speciality medical courses. The MCI Chairperson Dr Jayshree Mehta informed “ the Common Entrance Test for MBBS, PG and even SuperSpeciality Courses in nearly 400 medical colleges across India to the Union Government. If the Government makes a favourable amendment, a unified test for medical admissions will become a reality in 2016”. This is an amendment of Indian Medical Council Act and as per the Supreme Court ruling in 2013 for holding common entrance tests.
Smart Kid - ‘Google boy’ - Anmol
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ive-year-old Anmol Swami, a genius from Meerut, responds very quickly to the GK questions. Anmol is blessed with a sharp memory and can recognise the name of almost all capitals of all countries in the world, within minutes. He can tell the names of all the Indian prime ministers in a chronological order, at a lightning speed. His extraordinary grasping power and
talent has also caught the attention of state’s politicians. He got the title of ‘Google boy’ when he was 3 years old. Anmol was “officially” given the title of “Meerut’s Google boy” in February 2014 by a city-based school. Great Going Anmol!!!!
IAF flags off bus to attract youth
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he Induction Publicity Exhibition Vehicle (IPEV) is a bus modified to show the various facets and the working of the IAF to aspirants across the country. The IAF flagged off a modified bus with simulator zone, glastron goggles and various aircraft models in a bid to encourage youth all over the country...to get them acquainted to the IAF as a career, as a way
of life. The bus, which costs Rs 2 crore, will visit several educational institutions across the country. The vehicle has an information zone which would give aspirants all career related information. It also has an experience zone where one can discover the thrill of various IAF activities like Sarang aerobatics, flying among others through glastron goggles.
Mumbai To Observe Reading Day with no School Bags on Kalam’s Birthday
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aharashtra government has declared October 15 as ‘No School Bag Day’ to pay a tribute to the former president, Dr.Kalam. Reading day or ‘Vaachan Prerana Diwas’ is to be observed and students from class III to VIII, in Mumbai and adjoining areas, are to be provided with non-academic books to read. The government also instructed the schools to host book exhibitions and implement gift-a-book programmes so as to introduce them to well-known authors from around the world.
Big Shift To English In Delhi Schools
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ccording to a survey conducted, there has been a major shift in the enrollment of students to English medium schools in Delhi. This trend has been catching up with most of the private and government schools. In the five years between 2009 and 2014, the enrollment had gone up by 50%. The shift to English medium classes has been gradual from primary to higher classes keeping with the pattern of curriculum in all the states in India.In fact, the rise in the shift has touched almost 90% !
NEWS
National Education Day
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he Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) is set to celebrate National Education Day on November 11, to mark the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. Students will be exposed to skill awareness and empowerment for a positive impact on the society. The schools organize sustainable long term programmes to promote skill building, community outreach, entrepreneurial projects, vocational skills, life skills and Industry based projects for students. The schools can also organize seminars, symposium, essay writing, elocution competitions, workshops and rallies on the importance of literacy and nation’s commitment to all aspects of education. For registration login to CBSE website www.cbseacademic.in on or before November 6.
2 year Homoeopathy Pharmacy Diploma course to be launched
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he Delhi government is ready to launch a twoyear diploma course in homoeopathy pharmacy which will benefit the budding pharmacists in this field to take up jobs in government hospitals as well as operate state-run dispensaries in Delhi or open their own homoepathic pharmacy or chemists shop. The course is also called as homoeopathy compounder course. The eligibility for the course has been fixed as intermediate pass in science stream. The course will provide theoretical and practical training.
A Tribute to Dr. Kalam - Iris Florets
The students and parents of Iris florets along with the staff members participated in a ‘walk’ at KBR National Parkwalk Way, to pay tribute to Dr Kalam on his 84th birth anniversary. The event was flagged off by the honorouable MP, Dr.Boora Narsaiah Goud. It was heart touching to see the tiny tots and staff wearing T-shirt with a message ‘Dream Big, Do Big’. They lit candles and distributed saplings to the crowd whoever witnessed this event. The CMD of Iris florets, Sirish Turlapati, along with other directors participated in this event.
VIDEOS TO WATCH http://www.brainfeedmagazine.com/ november-2015-video-15 Nehru’s vision of Modern India WATCH
Sayali – An upcoming sports personality
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ighting all odds to earn some extra income to help her parents financially is the struggle of a 14-yearold daughter of a cobbler in Mumbai. Sayali Mhaishune, ran barefoot and won gold medal in Under-17 District Sports Office Inter-School Athletic Championships. She’s a student studying in grade 9 from RM Bhatt High School. She often participates in state-level and district-level race competitions in Maharashtra. She is an upcoming sport’s personality who proves –where there is a will, there is a way.
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http://www.brainfeedmagazine.com/ november-2015-video-16 Personality Development – How to overcome shyness
WATCH
WATCH
http://www.brainfeedmagazine. com/november-2015-video-17 English Grammar (Who / Whom) http://www.brainfeedmagazine.com/ november-2015-video-18 Akbar & Birbal – The culprit Short Story WATCH
EVENT REVIEW
Shaping the Future “Creating Leaders in our Youth” he Ryan International Group of Schools recently hosted the Indian Model United Nations (INMUN) Conference with the theme: Shaping the Future. Ambassadors Alphonsus Stoelinga (Netherlands), Tarek Azouz (Tunisia), Gustavo De Aristegui (Spain), Petko Doykov (Bulgaria), Thorir Ibsen (Iceland) along with politician Sambit Patra and Abdul Basit (High Commissioner, Islamic Republic of Pakistan) were guest speakers at the conference. The entire conference was grace by eminent persons from various fields. Madam Grace Pinto (Managing Director, Ryan International Group of schools) said, “Through conferences like INMUN, our aim
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is to educate students about world politics, build up leadership skills and help educate the next generation in the spirit of equality, liberty, tolerance, empathy and care for others.” Today the question is “How to empower our youth for a bright future of democracy in India?”
This year, more than 800 students from 110 schools in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Germany and Nepal participated in this simulation of the United Nations. The INMUN Conference by the Ryan Group provided an opportunity for students to reflect on the world around them and also gave them a chance to open dialogue and learn directly from the ambassadors of various countries and help them shape the future of our country. november 2015
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REMEMBRANCE LISTEN
Children’s DAY November 14
Brainfeed interacted with a few people seeking their views on the best way Children’s Day can be observed. Every year I eagerly wait for this day. We celebrate Children’s Day in school by singing, dancing and playing. It is a day full of enjoyment. I like to celebrate Children’s Day by helping the poor and needy children.
Children are like buds in a garden and an should be carefully and an lovingly nurtured, as they are the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow.” cit
M. Sahiti, II Std. D.A.V Public School Banjara Hills, Hyderabad
– Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. hildren’s Day is dedicated to children of India and celebrated on 14th November every year to mark the birth anniversary of freedom fighter and the first Prime Minister of Independent India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Jawaharlal Nehru was also lovably called as Chacha Nehru.
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Nehru always He loved children and worked for their well wanted to see being. The deep love and fervor of Chacha the development of Nehru towards the children is the big reason science and technology of celebrating this occasion on his birth and he was indeed the anniversary. He made a five year plan which includes free primary education, free meals architect of modern including milk to the school children in order India. to prevent children from malnutrition in India. Childhood is about innocence, having fun, enjoyment, joy and freedom. Celebrating Children’s Day is about having right to enjoy and to grow into a healthy and educated citizen of the country. Children are the key to success and development of the country as they would lead their country in different and new technological way. If you know the value of sharing with others, you will not only grow into a responsible citizen but also have a feeling of immense pleasure that you have helped someone. While this day is to provide children with basic rights, maybe one can make a difference to a child’s life by doing something different. Children may plan to visit an orphanage and spend some time with those kids by donating clothes, toys, stationeries, books, etc.
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14 th November is the day which every child awaits to celebrate. This day is celebrated with joy and excitement. We children are fortunate enough to have this privilege. I want to share that the needy children can also be given this privilege. We can gather the poor children at one place and enjoy the day with them by making them realize the value of this wonderful day. Hamsini, V Std. Vibgyor High School Bangalore
No doubt, children celebrate Chacha Nehru’s birthday every year. Nevertheless, it would be meaningful if the school children are taken to see the harsh reality of the deprived destitute children sans parental love and family protection. This understanding would help them go a long way in taking initiative to adopt such children through their schools. P. Tejasvi Asst. Manager (Buying) LifeStyle, Landmark Group Bangalore
Media Partner
october 2015
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FESTIVALS
Vanalatha LISTEN
November 6
November 11
Wangala Festival eghalaya, in northeast India, is Known as the Abode of the Clouds. It is famous for being the wettest place on earth. This makes it a popular monsoon travel destination for those who love the rain. The majority of the population is made up of tribal people – Khasis (the largest group), Garos, and Pnars – who predominantly earn their living from cultivation.
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Also known as the 100 Drum Wangala Festival, this is the biggest harvest festival of Meghalaya’s Garo tribe in northeast India. Held in honour of the Sun God of fertility, the festival marks the end of the sowing season and agricultural yearWangala is celebrated for two or three days or up to a week, gathering two or three villages.
Wangala (also known as Hundred Drums, Wanna, Wanna Rongchuwa) is a harvest festival celebrated by the Garo tribe, who live in Meghalaya, Assam in India.
Diwali The Festival of Lights – “An Eco Friendly Diwali” iwali or Deepavali, popularly known as the festival of lights is an ancient Hindu festival, falls in the month of Karthik, which signifies the victory of light over darkness or good over evil.
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The word ‘Diwali’ is the abbreviation of the Sanskrit word ‘Deepavali’, which means ‘rows of lights’. Diwali is the festival in India which is celebrated by all, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Celebrated with vitality and gaiety by people of every religion, the magical effect of Diwali creates an atmosphere of joy and festivity. The festive atmosphere, gives a divine look when the surroundings are decorated with innumerable lamps.
Rugala and Sasat Sowa are celebrated on the first day. These rituals are performed inside the house of the Nokma (chief) of the village. Dama Gogatais is celebrated on the last day. During Wangala, people young and old dress in their colourful garments (Dakmanda, Daksari, or Gando) and feathered headgear (do’me) and dance to music played on long, oval-shaped drums (Dama). The Wangala festival is therefore a grand Carnival to celebrate the harvest season. This is because after years long toil, the inhabitants find relief in seeing the golden harvest. So, they pay homage to the Lord who bless them with such a splendid crops and sing and dance to offer worship to the great deity, source of unveiled power in this world.
On Diwali night, people dress up in new clothes, light up lamps, light fire crackers, and worship Goddess Lakshmi – The Goddess of wealth and prosperity. With the changing of time and lifestyle, celebration has also changed drastically where we are knowingly or unknowingly causing disturbances to the nature as well as ourselves. There has been a growing concern on the environmental and health aspects. We feel that lighting fire crackers is a thrill or highlight in celebrating Diwali. But we don’t realize that this temporary joy is replaced by intense air pollution leading to health hazards, noise pollution,
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wastage of natural resources and money, dirtying the surroundings, excessive power consumption etc.
November 25
So, how to avoid this situation if we want to enjoy this festival of lights?
Guru Nanak Jayanti
Let us all switch over to eco friendly Diwali. Start with charity. Help the poor and needy. This will surely
uru Nanak Jayanti is also known as ‘Guru Nanak’s Prakash Utsav’ and ‘Guru Nanak Gurupurab’. This sacred day marks the significance of the birth of the first Sikh Guru – Guru Nanak. This day, falls in the month of Kartik (November) according to the Hindu calendar. It is one of the most religious days celebrated in Sikh religion and is celebrated mostly in Punjab and Haryana on a massive scale. The holy book of Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib is continuously chanted and processions are carried out,carrying the holy book decorated with flowers.
give you an immense satisfaction. Opt for community celebration instead of individual celebration which will also reduce the cost of celebrations.
This festival is incomplete without lighting crackers so buy eco friendly crackers which are made from recycled papers, and the noise produced from it is within the decibel limits.
Instead of electric illumination, switch over to traditional lighting of earthern lamps or diyas which in turn will save electricity and will also give traditional and alluring look. As a responsible and authoritative citizen of our country, let us all take a pledge to celebrate eco friendly, eco sensitive and safe Diwali this year and the coming years ahead.
Say NO to Pollution, Say YES to Pollution Free LIFE.
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Guru Nanak decided to become an ascetic and was greatly influenced by Hindu and Muslim religions. His main aim was to preach to the innocent people Celebrations of Guru Nanak about pride, Jayanti or Gurupurab honour, respect and humanity. The day starts with Prabhat Guru Nanak was the founder and establisher of Sikhism. He was also the first of the 10 Sikh Gurus and was born in 1469. Guru Nanak since childhood was attracted towards spirituality, religion, purity, humanity, devotion and goodness. He soon realised his calling and deserted his family.
Pheris, which are early morning processions that begin from Gurudwaras. Before the actual Guru Nanak Jayanti, there is a procession known as the ‘Nagarkirtan’ and further led by Panj Pyaras. The ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ is read for 48 hours. People carry Sikh flags and organise a Palki of Guru Granth Sahib, singing devotional songs. An amazing display of swordsmanship and martial arts takes place which is a beautiful and unique sight to watch. Once the procession is over, the ‘Langar’ is served – a special lunch organised by the community at the Gurudwaras. After Langar there is a prayer session around sunset. People believe that Guru Nanak was born at 1:20 am and hence the followers gather and celebrate post midnight. november 2015
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COVER STORY
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november 2015
“A quality education has the power to transform society. . . . protect children from challenges of life – poverty, exploitation and disease, provide knowledge, skills and confidence to reach their full potential.”
– Audrey Hepburn
Positive Aspects of Indian Private School
EDUCATION P. V. Seshubabu
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ver a couple of decades there has been a flourish of private schools everywhere! Parents typically voice several reasons for choosing to enroll their children in private schools. A brainstorming session with the parents seeking reasons for preferring to send their children to private schools has flooded with responses.
The educated parents are conscious of growing significance of global level education. Being aware of the changing educational scenario, the parents want schools of higher academic performance for their children in a competitive world. Parents take active role in providing quality education and are confident about accountability in private schools. Private schools have smaller classes ensuring a greater degree of individual attention. Students understand moral values and are disciplined. Education is a privilege and not a matter of right. Art, music, sports and games and exposure to international competitions are offered. Parents feel that their children are ‘safe’ and have ‘nice’ peer group and the ‘riff-raff’ weeded out in private schools. Read on. . . .
The Positive Aspect The economic progress since the last two decades has led an aspiring middle-income society demanding for quality delivery and facilities at all levels of education. Sarva Siksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan have increased the enrolments but quality parameters were not met. Parents of all income levels chose to send their children to private schools. The parents want schools where teachers turn up and teach lessons and where children learn. Parents value good quality education and are willing to pay for it. Apart from tuition fees, the expenditure is on school uniform and textbooks. Parents november 2015
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COVER STORY
perceive private schools to be more accountable offering quality education. Teachers are accountable to Management and answerable to parents. According DFID survey, the most striking trends in Indian school education today is the increase of private sector participation. The 25% share in the number contributes to nearly 40% enrollment. Out of this primary schools constitute 35% and secondary schools 50% respectively. Cities like Mumbai and Patna show upward of 75% enrollment. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) states the increase in enrollment in private schools up to 29% . FICCI-Ernst & Young report states currently there are close to 1.5 million recognized private schools in the country with a student base of 253 million. The Private School Advantage In the ‘De-facto’ privatization people re-assign education themselves. The findings are positive about the contribution of private schools in terms of quality and it is cost-effective. The majority of private schools deliver quality education gauged
by educational outcomes, such as performance on Board examinations and evidence of standardized assessment system. Private schools are also operationally more efficient and perform better on indicators such as – student attendance and instructional time in the classroom. Private schools are affiliated to different Boards – CBSE, ICSE, State Boards and offer a vast range of Curricula. The preferential indicators are the process of on-going and continuous evaluation, comprehensive curriculum and syllabi based on practical applications, assessments based on inter-active skills and fun-oriented learning. This has yielded better learning levels and quality teaching . The educational climate in the private schools, on the whole, is very positive. A number of programmes are organized in the schools : frequent parent-teacher meetings are conducted and innovative programmes are envisaged. Suggestions are invited from parents and a collaborative approach is adopted. Year Plan is conceived and the
If the private schools could benefit from some of the resource input that the Government schools have enjoyed, then even higher standards, including international standards could be within reach. 18
november 2015
K-12 enrolment and GER across countries 2011-12* (million)
The greatest discrimination against girls is likely to be in the choice of whether to send them to school at all, not the choice between private or government school. academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities are systematically scheduled. The academic performance of each student is monitored continuously and comprehensively assessed throughout the year. Remedial measures are taken to assist the slow-learners to catch up with the mainstream of students. Creative work of students is encouraged; career guidance and programmes counseling students on various career options are organized. Faculty in meetings discuss academic issues arising out of classroom teaching and teachers enhance their professional skills through In-Service Education and Training Programmes.
Number of K-12 Schools 2011-12* (‘000)
253 1,465 99%
69%
100%
55 133 8
India GER
US
UK
33
India
US
UK
The following are some of the positive aspects of private school education:
% of K-12 Schools
Private
• Quality of education in private schools is better than Government schools.
25%
• Private schools provide education to disadvantaged children
75% Government
• Private schools are costeffective and financially sustainable • Private schools are affordable to the low-income and the poor.
Secondary Education
• Demand for private schools is driven by choice and concern for quality
Number of Schools (‘000)
• Private schools are accountable to their clientele
113
93
• State collaboration, funding and regulation will improve quality, sustainability and equity • Private schools have positive effects on the overall education system
Student enrolment (‘000)
Government
Number of Private Schools (‘000)
Private
Pass %
339
89%
28.2 0.5
US
UK
1.2
India
• Inadequate access due to large variations across different states, geographical areas, social categories such as gender, caste and ethnicity • Children drop out due to remoteness of habitation, poverty disparity and malnutrition
• Children who learn less are excluded from school
79%
India
• Poor children, girls SC/ST/OBC are disadvantaged
• Untrained teachers, irrelevant curriculum, lack of childcentred teaching-learning practices
60%
30,634
5.16
Access
• Inadequate infrastructure, facilities and resources viz. nonavailability of clean drinking water, separate toilets for girls
40%
24,082
99.8
The two major challenges of private schools are Access and Quality. Lack of proper infrastructure facilities, high pupilteacher ratio and lack of trained teachers have a major impact on quality of education.
Quality % Share in enrolment
Number of Students enrolled in Private Schools (million)
Challenges Plaguing Private Schools
US
UK
Government
Private
Setting up and operating schools are very challenging. Strict norms for infra-structure and other facilities, application process for affiliation, registration as Society/ Trust to establish a school is very challenging. The complex regulatory norms of the school system pose many financial and operational challenges to the private schools. Nevertheless, ensuring quality education to all children of our country and preparing them to be responsible and productive citizens will be a great challenge. november 2015
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What do the educationists think about the role of Private Schools in Indian education? Here are the views ....
Mr. Damodar Prasad Goyal Founder President of Society for Unaided Private Schools of Rajasthan since 1997 and has 40 years’ experience of managing the private unaided and aided institutions
QA &
Is there any difference in curriculum and pedagogical practices followed by private and government schools? Dhanunjaya: While curriculum of State Boards or Central Boards is same in government and private schools, pedagogical practices followed by private schools are largely different. Private schools constantly work towards outcome based education. Therefore innovative teaching practices are tangibly evident in private schools. Goyal: Legally, there cannot be any difference. But in practice there are differences between private and government schools and, further, amongst private schools too! Every school is required to follow the curriculum prescribed either by the State Board or Central Board and the prescribed books accordingly. While private schools try to prescribe ‘better’ content books to make a difference. Many private schools prescribe books of their own choice which are expensive. Anjali: Tremendous difference as planning of curriculum is left to the centres in both cases. Very few Anganwadis are given a planned curriculum and in most cases it is done by NGO’s who have adopted the Anganwadi. Private schools are dictated by parental demands and the demands of the standard one where the child will transit.
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Mr. Dhanunjaya Vallabhaneni Managing Director Silver Oaks Hyderabad & Bangalore
Jai: There is no difference in curriculum followed by private and government schools. Pedagogical practices may vary. Government schools, unlike in some private schools, employ trained teachers; but why is the outcome of the students relatively poor? Dhanunjaya: Ironically, qualifications and abilities are not synonymous. Moreover, challenges in government schools are very context specific and often times lack supportive environment. Therefore, trained teachers also may not be able to bring the desired results. In private schools, goals and objectives are highly result oriented and all the challenges are dealt before beginning the teaching and learning process. Goyal: The basic reason is teacher absenteeism and unaccountability.
The bigger reason is protection of non-performing teachers by politicians and government officials. There is no supervisory mechanism and no reward/ punishment system. Anjali: Because the training imparted is not as per early childhood education. They have no training on child development, milestones, exposure to global early childhood best practices, assessment and observation etc. and so these teachers fail to design activities based on learning outcomes as the curriculum and activities that they use are not developmentally appropriate. Jai: Reason is very simple. Government school teachers are Government employees. All of us know how Government offices work. They have permanency. No one can remove them from service because of poor performance.
Mr. Jai Karan Director Gitanjali School Begumpet Hyderabad
Smt. Anjali Razdan Principal Andhra Mahila Sabha P Obul Reddy Public School Hyderabad
In private schools they have to perform failing which they will have no place in the school.
realities of government schools. No infrastructure, no facility and no teachers.
There are many schemes aimed to get more admissions into Government schools; but why do even Government employees send their children to private schools?
Anjali: Because of two reasons – (i) English speaking is the new norm and most parents have realized that job opportunities are more for those who learn in English speaking schools.
Dhanunjaya: Perhaps, lack of accountability and tenure of teachers create a sense of uncertainty in the minds of parents to send their children to government schools. Schemes may satisfy some needs but schools have to serve the larger purpose of education.
(ii) The quality, safety and hygiene of government schools are not at par with that of private schools. Government employees or otherwise, every parent today aspire the best for his/her child to give them a head start in life.
Goyal: Every scheme of government to increase enrollment and retention has lead to more corruption. Government employees send their children in private schools because they know
Jai: Again the answer is the same. In many cases private schools are performing schools. Parents want their children to get the best education for their children. Hence they prefer private schools.
Government schools teach the students to gain a degree, whereas private schools focus on making them global citizens; your views? Dhanunjaya: With the access and reach that government schools have, it should be the other way round. Government schools have the entire system to support and enable whereas private schools have limitations and restrictions from the system. In spite of this, private schools aspire to give best advantage to their students as they have to prove their identity through the results of their students. Results of the students are testimonies of private schools. Government schools are not in a competitive arena, they serve the role of providers of education as a part of governmental function in public welfare. Goyal: Honestly speaking, barring a few elite schools (IB schools), every school (government and private) is following ‘structured curriculum’, so there is no scope for preparing children as global citizens. Anjali: I would say marks emphasised in both. Only a handful of private schools are focusing on making kids global citizens whereas many are focused on marks. Jai: Basically both are trying to do the same thing. Under the RTE Act, even private schools have to allot 25% quota for students from weaker sections; but in reality it is not happening, why? Dhanunjaya: The idea of inclusiveness and quality education for all is certainly a noble idea and worth pursuing. november 2015
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However, clear guidelines are not given by the respective state governments. Many states are interpreting and implementing in different ways. Perhaps, a common understanding and process will give clarity on implementing the RTE in its right spirit. Goyal: It is sincerely happening as per attitude of individual state. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Maharashtra and Karnataka government are very much busy in pursuing admissions under RTE. Punjab, Himachal and Haryana are rightly asking the parents to approach first to Government schools and Aided schools then to private schools. RTE is never intended to put children in private schools on the cost of emptying government schools. Anjali: There is too much of a culture change when the ‘poor’ are forced to be with the ‘rich’. If the government wants to make the RTE a success then a social revolution will need to be in place. They also find it difficult to mingle with the other parents and so do not attend open houses or events, they feel inadequate. Grasp on English language is limited and so again a sense of inadequacy. The other parents feel lack of hygiene, health
Quality education happens when teachers are highly trained. Private schools have to spend heavily for professional development of teachers to ensure that students receive high quality education. 22
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etc. in these kids and complain of abusive language among these kids. Jai: In Karnataka all Private schools are admitting the 25 percent quota. No one can escape. Only minority community schools are exempted from this RTE Do you think that Free and Compulsory education has to be implemented solely by the government, rather than forcing the private schools to do part of their job? Dhanunjaya: Education is indeed the sole approach to bring development in our country. It is the responsibility of both government and non- governmental bodies to ensure that everyone has access to quality education. Goyal: RTE is not all about admissions in private schools. It is largely for improving government schools which are providing free education since decades under SSA. RTE is also for providing quality education may it be through government or private school. But that mission is completely missing in government schools. Central and State Governments have centralized their focus on pursuing 25% admissions in private schools. The fact is that there are more applications for admissions under RTE. Only a few private schools give admissions under RTE as they get reimbursement from the government. Anjali: I think both should do this job. And the parent should be given a choice to get that free and compulsory education from a government school or a private school. You cannot just say ‘get it from private schools’. Jai: Government has to improve
the standard of their schools and create such a situation that parents prefer to admit their children in Government school. How do you justify the high fee structure in private schools? Dhanunjaya: Private schools have too many battles to deal with. Real estate and infrastructure claim the major chunk of costs. If value added services like safe transport with GPS facilities, trained and trustworthy drivers, women attendants in the buses etc., come with high costs. Safety and security being high priority, private schools have to invest heavily in this area too. Quality education happens when teachers are highly trained. Private schools have to spend heavily for professional development of teachers to ensure that students receive high quality education. Professional development programs are necessary but involve heavy budget. High standard sports facilities are the demands of parents and private schools have to accommodate modern sports facilities along with well trained coaches. Whether schools or business institutions, when they begin to function as private entities, they have to meet with the competition of their peers. Maintaining high standards in so many areas, particularly when fee is the only source of income, private schools have genuine reasons to justify their fee structure. Goyal: High fee structure is an issue in relation to only a few schools otherwise private schools are charging very less fee. For example Rajasthan has about 35,000 private schools but 23,000
in India. Researchers have similar opinion when it comes to schools in Africa and Asia. Government school teachers have a sense of job security and some of them tend to take their jobs for granted, which negatively affects the teaching quality. How is it in private schools?
schools are charging less than `5,000 per annum and less than 50 schools are charging more than `50,000. Anjali: Higher teacher salaries, better learning and teaching aids, lesser numbers in the class. It is only in this country that private schools are being badgered by NGO’s etc. to reduce their fees, why? In other countries the government subsidizes fees for parents based on their economic status. Same should be done in India. Jai: These unaided schools have to manage all expenses for running the school. Heavy amount is invested in establishing a school. Naturally they have to collect fees from the parents. But the fees should not be for business nature. According to a recent study by an educationist, low-cost private schools are the future of India, your comment on that? Dhanunjaya: Yes, I am aware of this research which was funded by World Bank. Having read the report, I understand that low cost private schools have a critical role in improving the quality of education
Dhanunjaya: While teachers in government schools enjoy job security, it is not the same in private schools. Accountability factor is very high in private schools. Schools are responsible for providing quality and competitive education. Teachers are the people who can ensure that quality. Therefore, knowledge, ability, responsibility and accountability play a major role in assuring the jobs for teachers in private schools. In all these years of running educational institutions, I can say that quality, regularity, consistency and accountability is very high in teachers who work in private schools. While regular mentoring and monitoring contribute to this, I must say that performance appraisals also contribute to this quality. Goyal: I completely disagree. What is low cost/budget school? A school with no infrastructure and no qualified teachers! Now spending on education of a child is not expenditure for parents but it is investment in the future of their child. Every parent wants to put his child in the best school even that means sacrificing personal comforts. The country is on the path of development. I personally feel that this decade is for modest schools and next decade is for better/best schools.
Anjali: It is almost similar. Teachers should be assessed on given parameters every year in both private and government schools and should undergo inservice training. Jai: In Private schools job security is based on the performance. This is not the case with Government schools. One can survive without performing. What are the challenges that the private schools face? Dhanunjaya: More than finding good teachers and a fine education model, I think the challenges are rising costs of real estate, biased propaganda by media, unreasonable controls by governmental bodies, misconceptions amongst parents, complicated procedures in banks, implementation of RTE in right spirit are the major challenges faced by private schools. Goyal: Now-a-days private schools are regulated strictly. Private schools are legally considered as charitable but for all other issues management schools are considered as “industry”. May it be admissions, recruitment, tuition fee, curriculum, evaluation, etc. there is no autonomy. There is no incentive for investing in education sector. Anjali: Let’s not categorize all private schools into the slot of ‘money makers’. NGOs instead of fighting with private schools should be fighting with the government to get better subsidies. Jai: Harassment by Government officials. There is dearth of good teachers. november 2015
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Some private firms have partnered with the government to run anganwadis. Does this show that private institutes can provide better education and facilities for weaker sections? Dhanunjaya: To a large extent I must agree that public private partnership will reap some desirable outcomes. Collaboration between government and private institutes means, collective strengths. Such synergy will surely benefit the weaker sections. Goyal: This has just started. I doubt its success. Anjali: Yes, presently. But the government can also do the same job if it improves its infrastructure and invests on anganwadis.
Private education sector is creating lakhs of jobs and putting millions of rupees investment and paying good amount of tax to government.
Goyal: Now parents have become consumers. They expect too much from the schools. Even enforcement of discipline is not acceptable by them.
Goyal: No response
Anjali: Our numbers would not be growing if they were not supportive! Jai: They are supportive and happy.
Jai: Sure. Do you get any support from the government? If yes, what kind? Dhanunjaya: Other than seeking permissions to start private school, I have not asked for any help from the government. Government is a system which provides governance. Therefore, I feel that all of us should be able to support it in any which way we can. As the Director of a school with successful teaching practices and good results, I would like to help government schools in raising their standards. In a country as big as ours, we cannot progress unless all of us share our best practices and play a role in nation building. What do the parents of your students say about private school education? Are they supportive? Dhanunjaya: I have been very fortunate in getting complete support and trust from the parents of my students. Owing to the fact that I spend extensive time
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in orienting them towards the mission and vision of school and also maintain transparency in all my processes and policies, parents repose high level of trust and faith in our school. Ofcourse, they will have questions on which board is better or how their children can beat competition. As responsible educators, we have to educate parents on the education system in our country and how their children can take the best from it.
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Would you like to add any more points? Please do. Dhanunjaya: With lot of passion & vision the private schools are being started and serving 45% of the student population in our country. Profit making is not the primary objective of many schools. Government is spending 50k per year, per student, where as some low cost private schools are providing quality education at 10k per annum.
I feel that all of us should be able to support it in any which way we can. As the Director of a school with successful teaching practices and good results, I would like to help government schools in raising their standards.
In the past missionary schools have served the nation and now private schools have taken up the role to break the vicious circle of poverty. I think government should change their perspective on private schools and look at them as partners in growth.
Anjali: I feel curriculum that is taught in preprimary, primary and secondary should not be left to the whims and fancies of publishers or educational boards and the government should lay some common guidelines and framework for all levels. Presently irrelevant practices like red and blue line and cursive handwriting, teaching of multiplication and division are being forced on to children at a very young age because of admission tests to standard one. Many schools are still interviewing parents and testing children for admissions, which is against the RTE act. So I feel both the private schools and government should understand their responsibility towards grooming, teaching and bringing up our human resource. Jai: Government should take school education more seriously; improve the performance of its teachers; improve infrastructure. It can involve MNCs and other NGOs. Regularization of teachers’ appointment should depend upon their performance. No teacher should be made permanent. Universities should have an expiry date for all degrees awarded. It may be for 5 years. After five years there should be a test for renewal of the degrees. This will help the teachers to be life-long learners.
Ms. Sunita Gandhi Founder, Council for Global Education, USA Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India; Education Management
improved beyond India’s levels in the same period. “In 2009, when India’s income per head was about $3,200 (holding purchasing power constant across time and between countries), China reached that level of development before nine years. The lag in social progress is much longer. A child’s odds of surviving past fifth birthday are as bad in India today as they were in China in 1970s. China grew faster than India is likely to grow over the next nine years. We stopped the clock at $3200 per head. But China did not stop racing ahead.” (The Economist, October 2011) Education Must Be National Priority
Indian private schools have bailed out India’s education big time! Imagine where India’s education would be if there were no private schools? Private schools are performing better, but not always. There are many examples of government schools doing an excellent job. The problems of government schools are related to governance; they have trained staff. Private schools, on the other hand, produce better value out of less trained staff. They have better governance and more accountability, thanks to the demanding parents. India’s Education Needs a Facelift Our education is not producing thinkers of tomorrow. India needs citizens of courage and conviction to emerge from developing to developed nation. China had similar development indices 40 years ago, but is far ahead of us. Education was given priority and their socio-economic indicators
Education needs to be given top priority in the agenda of our Government for volume change in the outcome. The RTE is neither sufficient to India’s failing school system, nor is it fair to expect private schools to sort out India’s education problem. My family runs schools and they provide various subsidies as social agenda. Many alternative schools are run for the underprivileged and adopt nearby government schools. We cannot directly influence improvements in government schools except practicing our good efforts; we need to introspect before we can play a catalytic role in shaping India’s education. Private schools had better shape up. It is going to be no more the business as usual. Change is going to come faster than we imagine. Renaissance in education will have a sea change in the next ten years. Increased competition among schools is already beginning to drive the change. Parents today have more choices. Parents are aware and are more demanding.
Ed Leadership Roundtables brought top experts... Shaun Hawthorne from New Zealand of John Hattie group with lessons from world’s largest metaanalysis of research in education... Irmeli Halinen, the architect of Finland’s curriculum 2012-2016... came to hear me keynote at a conference in Finland... Is it the humility of Finns? Competition is welcome to create a positive trend in the society and schools become more accountable and more transparent. Schools will need to inform parents about their school’s pedagogical practices, curriculum, testing and evaluation system, performance of students, and various developmental activities. Much is at stake for a parent who entrusts the child to a school’s care. Innovation does not mean the physical facilities like Interactive White Board or marble floors! It is about the heart and soul of education that goes beyond curriculum and examinations. It should provide students real lifeskills. Research data is conclusive: Infrastructure does not really matter nor facilities not even class size. What really matters is the un-spoken ethos of the school, example of the teacher, the verbal and non-verbal messages she breathes daily into every child’s soul, the quality of her teaching which includes how she involves november 2015
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and positively reinforces every child, better teaching processes that accelerate learning, brings out the best in every child; personal attention and personal learning plans that bring out the best in every child, and, nurtures critical thinking and leadership qualities. We are compromising on ‘marks’ driven education that is so plainly pointless. It creates lop- sided individuals. Imagine the parents climbing up the wall in Bihar to help their children in the examination. This happens to be more vivid portrayal of what actually is going on everywhere! Some trends are not so encouraging. Why is it accepted that children will get more in tuition/coaching classes (where charges are more than schools)? Isn’t there something really wrong? Why can’t our schools deliver good education that does not need special coaching? Isn’t the minimum deliverable
RTE is neither sufficient to India’s failing school system nor is it fair to expect private schools to sort out India’s educational problems. Competition is welcome to create a positive trend in the society and schools become more accountable and more transparent. Private schools had better shape up. IT is going to be no more the business as usual. Change is going to come faster than we imagine. 26
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academics that make children come to school?
anything if it is selling? Obviously, they are the best!
Most of the private schools still swear by the past. Teachers teach from the front to the middle of the normal distribution of a class, assuming only some children will excel and others will fail. The teacher is often bored, disengaged and de-motivated. For a teacher it is only a job. Publishers are running India’s education and define what goes into the bag of a child. Teacher depends on the textbooks and guides. Teachers teach to the textbooks. Even though the 200 year old blackboard may have been replaced by the recent ‘smart board’, the teachers do not change! We still sing 200 year old rhyme ‘Twinkle-Twinkle’. There is the same old rhythm from examination to examination through the rhythm examination and results! Everyone is in a tizzy, burdened by the need to complete the dreaded syllabus. Everyone is running after marks. In the bargain children are missing their childhood! We are creating a nation of followers not leaders.
To bring about real change, maybe we need a little more humility and a growth mindset(Carol S Dweck) In addition, we need to move away from our ‘hunches’ to look at what worldwide research and evidence in education show ( John Hattie). Research shows instant feedback followed by immediate corrective measures doubles outcome. Homework correction may be a sheer waste of time as it provides delayed feedback. We need to work more with evidence and also create our own evidence. When teachers become observers and scientists, there will be a real renaissance in education.
A lot of the innovation in education is based on ‘hunches’. A dash of multiple intelligences, a bit more of constructivism or inquiry. We get so easily satisfied. Many schools do not innovate simply because they think like shopkeepers! Why change
No time to innovate! Principals are so deep in the administrative black hole and buried under routine problems that there is no time for innovation. Then there are the governance issues, lack of vision. Innovative ideas often get into difficulties trying to simply get in. It is so often a wild goose chase. “Come back, some other day!” It’s one more year’s wait and so on. . . When does one begin to process the change needed in India’s education? Einstein defined insanity thus: “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
BYGONE LUMINARIES
P. V. Seshubabu
he 157th Birth Anniversary of Rani Lakshmi Bai is celebrated this year. Born to Maratha parents, she was named ‘Manikarnika’ . Brought up in the household of Peshwa Baji Rao II, she was trained in martial arts and became proficient in horse riding and sword fighting.At a very early age, she married the Maharaja of Jhansi, Gangadhar Rai, and was renamed Lakshmi Bai. She was widowed soon and lost her child too. Adopting a child ‘Damodar’ from the royal household, Lakshmi Bai took full control of Jhansi and fought the British till the end and laid down her life for the sake of freedom. A great patriot, Lakshmi Bai was one of the most important freedom fighters during the first battle of Independence called ‘Mutiny’.
T
Lord Dalhousie , the British Governor General of India, would not recognize the adopted heir and annexed Jhansi under the control of East India Company. The twenty-two year Lakshmi Bai refused to cede Jhansi to the British . Shortly after the beginning of the mutiny in 1857, Lakshmi Bai was proclaimed the regent of Jhansi and ruled on behalf of the minor heir. Joining the uprising against the British, she rapidly organised her troops and assumed charge of the rebels in the Bundelkhand region. General Hugh Rose, in the counter offensive, captured Saugor(Sagar) and surrounded the fort of Jhansi. Offering stiff resistance, Lakshmi Bai was finally overwhelmed by the British troops at the battle of Befra. After taking Gwalior, Lakshmi Bai marched to Morar. Disguised as a man she fought fiercely and was finally killed in the combat on 18 June, 1858,at Kotah-ki-Serai, near Gwalior.
Rani Lakshmi Bai Born: 19 November, 1829 Died: 18 June, 1858
bul Kalam Muhiyuddin Ahmed Azad’s ancestors were descendants of eminent Ulama or Scholars of Islam religion. His mother was from Saudi Arabia and his father Maulana Khairuddin was of Afghan origin.
A
Maulana Abul Kalam, a renowned journalist, wrote provocative articles protesting the British rule in India. The British deported him to Kolkata. A prominent political leader of Indian Independence Movement, Azad became a leader of the Khilafat Movement and came in contact with Gandhi. Supporting Gandhi’s non-violent Civil Disobedience , he organized the non-cooperation movement in protest of the Rowlatt Act and promoted Swadeshi products for the cause of Swaraj.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Born: 11 November 1888 Died: 22 Febrauary 1958
In 1923, he became the youngest President of Indian National Congress and promoted the Hindu-Muslim Unity espousing Secularism and Socialism. He launched Quit India Movement and was imprisoned. During the partition of India, he strove for religious harmony and fiercely condemned the communal policy of Muslim leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah and vehemently rejected communal separation advocated by the All-India Muslim League. Azad became the first Minister of Education of Independent India and established National Education System with free Primary Education and Institutes of Higher Learning such as IIT, University Grants Commission, etc. In commemoration of his contribution for the cause of education, Maulana Azad’s birth anniversary is celebrated as National Education Day. november 2015
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EDUCATION
PARENTS AS PARENTS
Ms. Anne Sivanathan Malaysia
The adults in the Early Childhood care and education industry have been given a major responsibility. Every day the most important thing in the lives of PARENTS is brought to us- the child.Sometimes as young at 7 weeks in some childcare setting, preschool setting and after school programme.Parents bring their child or children to us in a great trust beyond everything.They come to us in complete trust that this special being of theirs will be cared for in the best possible environment.
he adults in the Early Childhood care and education industry have been given a major responsibility.
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Every day the most important thing in the lives of PARENTS is brought to us- the child. Sometimes as young at 7 weeks in some childcare setting, preschool setting and after school programme.Parents bring their child or children to us in a great trust beyond everything.They come to us in complete trust that this special being of theirs will be cared for in the best possible environment.
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We are being entrusted by the parents to shape the foundation of a very young human being, which will leave an impact in the young person’s life.This is
a great responsibility, we share with families every day their child is under our care. In the nature of this care the carers are expected to play the role of teacher,doctor,nurse,dietician and to be a critical thinker.It is always about supporting the young child and knowing what their needs are and not what we think their needs should be. Can parents question and demand from us? YES! Of course, as children have rights, parents have their rights too.Because of their trust in us that is the reason why
Some suggested ideas to achieve that professional care attitude 1. Children’s rights must be respected at all times 2. No one must be deprived from attention, friendliness and respect 3. All concerns and complains must be handled in a professional manner best advocate for the child-the PARENTS Being partners with the parents is the best deal ever to be signed, it helps us to bring out the best in the child! In my experience, teaching is more effective when it is worked on a triangle (pyramid) partnership, the teacher, parent and the child, it is no wonder that our profession is unique, on a daily basis we have to reassure our parents that they have made a good decision in investing with us.
they have enrolled their child with us in our organisation.When a parent begins to question us it will be helpful to see this as not a complain but instead they want join us in the development of their child. Who else can be the
This is a great responsibility, because of the trust they have placed in us, they deserve the respect and trust they have displayed in choosing us above the rest, in the decisions and involvement in designing their child’s life. Children are like a white sheet of paper,the designs we the adults put on that paper will leave a lasting impact. We certainly have a great task.
The parents decide for the child,they pay the school fees and so it is our duty to ensure that both the father and the mother are consulted and are encouraged to participate in the care and education of their child.
4. Every event that is happening in the environment in the centre should be communicated in a clear manner 5. Being personal as in addressing every child by his or her name 6. Childs work must be displayed, this promotes a sense of belonging 7. Progress meeting should be held as and when the need arises or requested by the parents despite the regular meetings 8. The opinion of carers and parents must be encouraged for the betterment of the environment 9. The plan of the environment must be placed in a strategic spot in order for all to be in the know. The environment must be able to be accessed by parents at all times which shows greatmaintenance, safe as well as great safe outdoor space. We must always bear in mind and in our training sessions that the PARENT are the reason of our programme. november 2015
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Flowers are one of the most beautiful creation of the nature. They are colourful, fragrant and bring pleasure wherever they are found. These owers have driven their astounding evolutionary explosion of distinct colors and shapes. Here are few of those creations.....
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HISTORY
Constitution Day is celebrated every year on 26th November as the constitution of India was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26th November in the year 1949 and came into force on 26th January in 1950.
Constitution Day
Vanalatha
‘Samvidhan Diwas’ Dr.B.R.Ambedkar is considered as the Father of Constitution of India. After India got her independence, Dr. Ambedkar was invited by the Congress government to serve as the first law minister of India. He was appointed as the Constitution Drafting Committee’s Chairman on 29th August 1947. He was the chief architect of the Indian constitution and is known for the strong and united India. Indian constitution was first described by the Granville Austin (renowned scholar of the Indian constitution) to achieve the social revolution. The constitution of India was adopted to constitute the country as an independent,
communist, secular, autonomous and republic to secure the Indian citizens by the justice, equality, liberty and union. It is the longest written constitution of any sovereign country in the world, containing
448 articles in 25 parts, 12 schedules, 5 appendices
These are the opening words of the preamble to the Indian Constitution “WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;
and 98 amendments. The Constitution of India is the supreme law, which lays down the framework that defines the political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers and duties of Government institution. It also sets the fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens. When the constitution of India was adopted, the citizens of India were entered to a new constitutional, scientific, self-governing and modern India with the peace, poise and progress.
Why Do We Celebrate Constitution Day? Constitution Day in India, is an officially celebrating event, which is celebrated every year on 26th of November to honour and remember the father of Constitution. This year, our honorable Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, has declared that Constitution Day or Samvidhan Diwas will also be celebrated in schools in order to pay homage to the Father of the Indian Constitution - Dr.B.R.Ambedkar.
Some of the following characteristics of the Indian constitution are: • Single Nationality
• It is the democratic government – Elected Members
• Indian constitution is both • Impact of Buddha flexible and non-flexible and Buddhist rituals • Obliteration of caste • Since the Indian system at the National constitution came level into act, the females • Common civil code and in India got right to official languages vote.
• It affirms fundamental rights • Freedom of judiciary, travel, life, speech, religion, education
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• Center is similar to a Buddhist ‘Ganrajya’
• It is comprehensive
november 2015
MUSIC
POP MUSIC usic is composed and performed for many purposes, ranging from aesthetic pleasure, religious or ceremonial purposes, or as an entertainment product for the marketplace. We feel immense pleasure when music is played. It depends upon the taste of a person whether he wants to listen to a soothing or a rocking music.
M
Usually played on electronic instruments, pop music is popular with many people because it consists of short songs with a strong beat and simple tunes that are easy to remember. Pop music is a genre (specific type) of popular music that originated in its modern form in the Western world during the 1950s and 1960s, deriving from rock and roll. Dominated by the American Famous pop singers and (from the mid-1960s) British music industries, Madonna whose influence has made pop music something of an Britney Spears international monoculture, Justin Bieber most regions and countries have their own form of pop Taylor Swift music, sometimes producing Katty Perry local versions of wider trends, and lending them Rihanna local characteristics. It may Bruno Mars and many more include elements of rock, hip hop, reggae, dance, R&B, jazz, electronic, and sometimes folk music and various other styles. A pop song may be written by a professional songwriter or composer whose work is then given to a professional singer who is considered the ‘pop star’ with the writer working behind the scenes. The success of The Beatles (English Rock band) in the 1960s, has changed the trend where the pop music performers write their own songs.
Vanalatha
KING OF THE POP MUSIC
MICHAEL JACKSON Popularly known as ‘the King of the Pop Music’ Michael Joseph Jackson, started performing on the stage, impressing audiences with his ability to convey complex emotions right from the age of 5. He was a singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actor. His contributions to music and dance, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global personality and he became more popular among his fans.
On June 25, 2009, the world lost a famous pop singer – Michael Jackson who was 50, suffered cardiac arrest. Even though Jackson is not present amongst us his albums are still popular, people are still crazy for it. Some of the prominent albums of Michael Jackson
Lyrics …Thriller It’s close to midnight and something evil’s lurking in the dark Under the moonlight you see a sight that almost stops your heart You try to scream but terror takes the sound before you make it You start to freeze as horror looks you right between the eyes, You’re paralyzed [Chorus:] ‘Cause this is thriller, thriller night And no one’s gonna save you from the beast about to strike You know it’s thriller, thriller night You’re fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller tonight………
Dangerous, Bad, History, Off the Wall, Invincible, Thriller and the list goes on…….. Thriller is the sixth studio album by the American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on November 30, 1982, by Epic Records, as the follow-up to Jackson’s critically and commercially successful 1979 album ‘Off the Wall’. Recording sessions took place from April to November 1982 at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California which was a huge success after its release. november 2015
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KUDOS
2015
Takaaki Kajita and Arthur B. McDonald “for the discovery of neutrino oscillations, which shows that neutrinos have mass”
PH
YS
573
900
23 organizations.
PHYSIOLOGY OR MEDICINE
Nobel Prize Winners
Between 1901 and 2015, the Nobel Prizes and the Prize in Economic Sciences were awarded times to people and organizations. With some receiving the Nobel Prize more than once, this makes a total of 870 individuals and
William C. Campbell and Satoshi Omura “for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites” Youyou Tu “for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria”
ICS LIT
E
R TU A R
E
Tomas Lindahl, Paul Modrich Svetlana Alexievich
and
“for mechanistic studies of DNA repair”
E CH
M
Angus Deaton “for his analysis of consumption, poverty, and welfare”
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R IST
“for her polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time”
Y PE
ECONOMIC SCIENCES
Aziz Sancar
AC
E
Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet is a group of four organizations that were central in the attempts to build a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011. The quartet was formed in the summer of 2013 “for its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011”
SPORTS Rules The rules define the size of the hockey rink where a game is played, the playing and safety equipment, the game definition, including time of play and whether tie-breaking methods are used and the actual playing rules themselves. Points
ICE
ce hockey is a contact team sport played on ice, usually in a rink, in which two teams of skaters use their sticks to shoot a vulcanized rubber puck into their opponent’s net to score points. The team usually consist of four lines of three forwards, three pairs of defencemen, and two goaltenders. Normally, each team has five players who skate up and down the ice trying to take the puck (a vulcanized rubber disk 3 inches in diameter that is used instead of a ball in ice hockey)
I
HOCKEY
and score a goal against the opposing team. Teams normally have a goaltender as their sixth on-ice player, whose job is to prevent the puck from entering the goal. Ice hockey evolved from simple stick and ball games played in the 18th and 19th century in United Kingdom. The contemporary sport of ice hockey was developed in Canada, most notably in Montreal, where the first indoor hockey game was played on March 3, 1875. Amateur ice hockey leagues began in the 1880s, and professional ice hockey originated around 1900. The Stanley Cup, emblematic of ice hockey club supremacy, was first awarded in 1893 to recognize the Canadian amateur champion and later became the championship trophy of the NHL(National Hockey League).
• Points are rewarded to players who score and assist (primary and secondary) the goal. • Two points are awarded to the winning team in the standings, while the losing team gets zero points, unless the losing team loses in overtime or a shootout then they are awarded one point in standings.
Time Period A professional game consists of three periods of twenty minutes, the clock running only when the puck is in play. The teams change ends for the second period, again for the third period, and again at the start of each overtime played. Equipment The ice hockey stick consists of a long, relatively wide, and slightly curved flat blade, attached to a shaft Protective equipment is mandatory and is enforced in all competitive situations. This includes a helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, mouth guard, protective gloves, heavily padded shorts (also known as hockey pants) or a girdle, athletic cup (also known as a jock, for males; and jill, for females), shin pads, skates, and (optionally) a neck protector. Goaltenders wear specialty goalie skates, a jock or jill, large leg pads, blocking glove, catching glove, a chest protector, a goalie mask, and a large jersey.
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WRITE RIGHT
HANDWRITING SECRETS - 28
Develop Confidence
Through Handwriting
WATCH
Y. Mallikarjuna Rao Director National Handwriting Academy, Hyderabad Email:handwriting56@gmail.com
ttention dear students! Look at this amazing handwriting sample of Roshan. How beautiful! I expect all of you to have this kind of hand.” A teacher was showing and commenting on a handwriting. Just imagine the inner feelings of happiness of Roshan. Undoubtedly his confidence level would raise to the peak and certainly it helps him in understanding all the other subjects too better and he starts performing brighter in all his scholastic and cocurricular activities.
A
The situation not only helps particular student, it would also assist other students to realize and enhance their skills. For that, the teacher has to observe the following traits and appreciate the pupil.
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Legible Handwriting – “we write to communicate. Writing must be reasonably legible with all the clean and neat letters. Just in the absence of cross bar, letter ‘t’ may look like ‘l’. With a open ‘a’ it may appear like ‘u’. ‘g’ sometimes may look like ‘y’. Hence all the 26 letters are supposed to be in the proper suggested shape. Just because a student is writing in a hurry, they shouldn’t lose their structure. A student with good confidence level always writes ‘t’ cross bars little lenghty. It shows good amount of excitement and enthusiasm. Very short ‘t’ bars indicate self centered nature. ‘t’ bars are to be found on higher side on ‘t’ stem.
spacing among the letters of a same word is to be opposed.
A little tall ‘t’ stems and ‘d’ stems show good amount of self esteem in the writer. Very short stems indicate low self dignity. Hence observe and appreciate long t and d stems. Only thing to be observed is these stems do not disturb the lines written above and they should not possess loops in them.
When the first letter of the signature is little large in size, confidence levels are high about the writer. This writer wants the world to see him/her and appreciate their abilities.
Confidence of the writer is shown in the spacing among the letters of a word. Irregular
A handwriting in which the lines are bit ascending, is an indication of good optimistic tendency and a student feels high about himself/ herself. Though a common student is supposed to write even lines on the plain paper, it is positive if the lines are slightly moving up on right side, according to Graphology.
THE
BIG Question
“The Human Brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.
he brain is a sludgy thing that fills up the inside of our head and looks a little like - George Jessel a very large wrinkled walnut. The function of the brain is enormous: it enables to see, to hear, to feel, to smell and taste. It is also known as the central headquarters of our body giving directions for us to move, respond etc.
T
What happens inside our head?
HOW DOES OUR BRAIN CONTROL US?
When a baby is born, the brain is the same size as of the baby of a chimpanzee. But then something amazing happens. There are about a hundred billion cells that can be seen only under a microscope and it is these cells that make up the brain. After birth, these cells in the human brain start to make stringy connections with each other, and as the connections lengthen and increase, the brain grows accordingly. Why is this important? We humans don’t run particularly fast, we don’t see well, and we are not that strong compared to many other animals. But we can survive across the planet than any other species, we do something far better than any other – the process of LEARNING. Humans are good at learning from experience due to which we can adapt to any environment in which we are born. Our brain cells are active at making connections every time resulting in our good learning. Every experience we have will change our brain connections. Even an identical twin with the same genes will have a unique pattern of brain-cell connections. One cannot control the other. Every individual have their own way of thinking.
he Statue of Liberty which is one of the world’s tallest statue, was built to celebrate the birth of the United States of America. It was a gift from the French people to the Americans on the 100th anniversary of Us independence, symbolizing the spirit of liberty, friendship and fraternity. The statue was sculpted by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. This statue stands on Bedloe’s Island, which is now called as Liberty Island.
T
The statue was made of copper sheets. In 1885, the complete statue,152 feet high weighing 225 tons was shipped to New York City.
The plan for this monument was made by the famous French historian Edouard de Laboulaye after the American civil war. It was dedicated to the nation by President Grover Cleveland on October 28, 1886. The total height of this monument from the pedestal upto the torch is 305 feet. It represents a women wearing a robe and holding a burning torch aloft in her right hand. The left hand holds a tablet bearing the date of American Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776). At night the statue is floodlit and the torch shines with a powerful light. An elevator rises to the balcony level, and a spiral staircase leads to an observation platform in the figure’s crown.
WHY WAS THE STATUE OF LIBERTY BUILT?
In 1924, the statue was declared a national monument. november 2015
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TRAVEL
Vanalatha
LISTEN
ANDAMAN
NICOBAR
ISLANDS A GORGEOUS PLACE Bharatpur Beach Located at the jetty (a structure that projects from the land out into water) near the Neil islands, Bharatpur beach is famous for its coral reefs and white shores. The best time to visit these beaches is during mornings and evenings. The morning time is especially good for the people who would like to go snorkeling and enjoy the view of the coral reefs located here. Because of the beauty of the reefs located here, Neil islands are often termed as the coral capital of Andaman. The chief attraction of the place is the beautiful lush green vegetation and fishes.
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Limestone Caves
Cellular Jail The cellular jail (Kaala Paani ), located at Port Blair is one of the most infamous remnants of India’s struggle for independence . The construction of the prison started in 1896 and was completed in 1906 and the bricks used in the construction were imported from Burma. The building comprised of 7 wings which were designed in a crisscross pattern with its center being a tower used by the guards to keep a close watch on the prisoners. The wings were built in a manner that the face of each cell only saw the back of the cell opposite to it. As of today the cellular jail has been transformed into a hospital with 500 beds and 40 doctors who serve the local population.
The limestone caves are located at the Baratang Island. The speed boat journey is the main attraction here. The boat ride is covered with a canopy of the forest which is also a home to the indigenous ‘Jarwa’ tribe. However one needs to be careful of the sea crocodiles and should not go near the water. Inside the caves, the stalactites and the stalagmites will immediately gather your attention and the erosion have formed some unique shapes inside the caves.
The total land area of the territory is approximately
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a group of islands at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, and are a Union Territory of India.
The territory is 150 km north of Aceh in Indonesia and separated from Thailand and Myanmar (Burma) by the Andaman Sea. It comprises two island groups, the Andaman Islands to the north and the Nicobar Islands to the south. The Andaman Sea lies to the east and the Bay of Bengal to the west. Port Blair is the capital of Andaman and Car Nicobar is the capital of Nicobar. Port Blair is the largest town and a municipal council in Andaman district. It lies on the east coast of South
8,073
km2.
Andaman Island and is the main entry point to the islands. Port Blair is the headquarters for the Indian district of South Andaman, and the local administrative sub-division which is also called Port Blair. The reason to visit the beautiful Andaman and Nicobar Islands are sparsely -populated beaches that give way to an ocean brimming with interesting marine life and coral gardens.
TO EXPERIENCE Radhanagar Beach
Marina Park and Aquarium Managed by the Indian Navy, Marina Park, also known as ‘Samudrika Marine Museum’ is located at Port Blair. Aquatic lovers acquire detailed knowledge about the group of islands and the social and tribal life and the conservation of the aquatic life. The park consists of five sections which covers geographical information, archaeology, people information, history of Andaman Islands and marine life. Miniature models of the islands are displayed here with large tanks which contain natural coral reefs and different kind of aqua flora and fauna.
Termed as the best beach in Asia by TIME magazine in 2004, Radhanagar beach is located on the western coast of the Havelock islands. The waters are sparkling blue and devoid of any wave action. There are a huge number of activities that one can do like scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, fishing, elephant rides etc. Amidst the white sands and the blue waters, the sunset at this beach is a marvel to behold.
Viper Island The Viper Island gets its name from the snakes that inhabit the island and is situated near Port Blair. The islands are famous for the ruins of a jail that precedes the cellular jail. The jail was formerly used to incarcerate (imprison) political prisoners and one can still see the ruins of the gallows at this island. The jail had many notable political prisoners from India’s struggle to independence.
The Great Nicobar Island The Great Nicobar island is the largest of the Nicobar Islands in India, that covers an area of 1,045 sq kilometers. The island is however sparsely populated with a population of around 10,000. This island is known widely for its rainforest that houses a diverse wildlife, and is also a part of the World biosphere reserve.
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EDUCATION
PART V
Study better, stress less and succeed in school Brainfeed brings to you a new series on how to ‘Make the Grade’ where you will learn everything you need to study better, stress less, and succeed in school. Quality education is important for both personal and professional success. So, successful students do well because they map out what matters most to them, and then follow through, putting maximum effort where ever necessary, and not wasting valuable time on things that are less important. The great thing is that these prioritizing techniques are available to everyone, and if you adopt them, you’ll not only do better in school but also learn great skills you can use in applying for jobs, getting into college, and even navigating personal relationships as well. In part V, you’ll be learning about how to impress your teacher by completing your assignments. 40
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Working the Classroom uccessful students do a few things that help them quickly make their mark in the classroom. They make a good impression, stay on top of their work, participate actively in class, and know how to get and stay focused.
S
First Impression It is rightly said that first impression is the best impression, so make sure that you grab it and climb the ladder. At the beginning of every academic year, you have an opportunity to show everyone the best of your personality. In some cases, if you have an older sibling who had the same teacher, you need to make sure the teacher understands whether you are like your sibling or not. So somehow to maintain your impression, show some passion and try to prove yourself better. Show Enthusiasm You can make a good impression on your teacher by being engaged in class showing your interest on the topic. Engross in the topic and exhibit your interest in the class discussion. Nail Your First Assignments Present your work in the right way, your teacher will see you as a good student and hard worker. Later on, your teacher might give you the benefit of the doubt if you don’t come through. Show your teacher what
you can do, so she can understand your strengths and areas for evolvement. You will get the feedback and perform better in the class. It’s a win-win situation. Be very particular in the first assignments, and follow the instructions given by the teacher to format the document to create a positive impression. Don’t start off the year making special requests for not completing the assignments which in turn will give a negative impact on the teacher that you won’t complete your future work on time. Weathering The First Few Weeks Well, you will agree with this. Your grade is based on how many total points you earn out of a maximum number. What’s interesting about grades is that early on in the semester, missing one assignment has a big impact on your overall grade, because there are fewer total points at the beginning of the year. Don’t dishearten- you can catch up later, but you might see an unwanted progress report along the way.
those details too. Then according to the assignment list, plan out when and in what order the work is to be done. Prepare a planner and note down the details so that you will not forget anything as your brain has plenty to remember. TIME-SAVER: Apps and E-Calendars You are living in the world of apps. If you are interested in going paperless, depending on your device, you might choose to use an app or an online calendar. If you want something designed for school, check out apps like iStudiez Pro, iHomework, or myHomework. If you are using an online calendar like iCal or Google Calendar, make sure you record the assignment’s due date so that you can keep a track of what’s coming up rather than when it was assigned. Every technology has pros and cons, so be sure you back up your data just in case it gets lost, stolen or broken.
Participation The more you engage with the topic, the better you learn. In fact, after you discuss something you‘ve heard or read, you’re twice as likely to retain that information. That is the reason why teachers award participation grades. The class becomes more interesting when people interact sharing their thoughts which might help you to grasp something. For some people, participation can be terrifying. No one wants to ask a ‘dumb’ question or say something that makes you feel embarrassed. You can feel butterflies in your stomach, when you are being called on by the teacher, especially if you don’t know the answer. To give yourself more confidence, try these tips that make participation less scary and more fun. Prepare Thoughtfully As you do your assignment for class, write down any questions or comments you have about
SOLUTION: Always turn something in Staying On Top of Your Work Success in school depends to a large extent about your ability and managing out your time. It is not an easy task. In order to stay on top of your work you’ll need to make a plan, get well organized, and start implementing it early. To cut down unnecessary stress later on, you can complete some work while you are in class whenever you are having free time. Write Everything Down After taking notes in class, make sure to keep everything in order in a proper place where it is easy to access. If your teacher gives you some extra details about how she wants the work done, write down november 2015
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EDUCATION
PART V
the topic. If you are taking notes, highlight sections you found interesting or that you had questions about. Before the class starts, take a look at your assignment so that the topic is fresh in your mind. Listen Carefully Listen to what others say so that you can build on the conversation, instead of just repeating what they have already said. Sometimes we are so busy developing our own future comments that we don’t pay attention to what’s actually going
Allow Others to Speak If you’ve just made a comment, hold off-even if you know the answer. If you need help solving yourself down, try counting from 1 to 10 before you raise your hand again, and this way, you can give your less enthusiastic classmates an opportunity to speak. Respect the Idea of Others Respect the idea of your classmates even if you don’t agree with their views or ideas. If you’re opposed to someone else’s argument, take the diplomatic route and say, “I disagree with what you said because…” Let them know it’s what they said and not them that you disagree with. This keeps the conversation focused on the ideas, and doesn’t make a personal grudge. Ask Questions
on in class now. If something pops into your head while someone is presenting, jot it down quickly and then keep listening! If you feel something important in your class mate’s presentation, grasp it and just move on for your chance to present. Classroom Geography Select a place in the classroom where you can hear and see well. It’s easier to tune things out in the back of the class and easier to hide too. Don’t be a backbencher. Be brave! Sit in front where the teacher can see you, and let your awesomeness shine.
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Sometimes we feel embarrassed when we ask questions. But if you don’t understand something, there are chances that you are not the only one but a huge gathering is also confused with the same. So, if you’re not sure about something, clarify it! Your classmates will silently thank you later. Zoning In vs. Zoning Out As a student you have a tough job, you go from class to class with very few breaks in between. There’s one part of the day where you inevitably find yourself zoning out. Just after the lunch, or in the middle of a concept you can’t grasp, staying focused can be hard. So what to do?
There are a couple of things you can do. Force yourself to ask questions, especially if you don’t understand something. Work on developing a trick to keep your mind sharp. It might be taking notes, drinking water, or sitting up straight. Figure out what works for you. When to Zone In You’re being introduced to new topic every day, and you’re learning all the time. If you want to de well, here are some key moments during class when you’ll really want to pay attention. During a lecture or discussion Your teacher will usually make it obvious when she’s about to deliver some vital information. She will also repeat the same if it is very important. When this happens listen up! So write it down in your notes to study later. If you don’t understand feel free to ask questions during class or later to get help from your teacher or a friend. Assignment explanations After going back home, having no idea what you’re supposed to do for your homework is the worst situation. You spend time recollecting things and ringing up your friends to figure out what you’re supposed to do which is a waste of time. Instead when your teacher gives you extra directions, note it down in your planner. Major projects often require several steps and a lot of planning. When introducing a big assignment, your teacher might offer a few hints that are sometimes not included on the assignment sheet. This is your opportunity to take some additional notes, clarifying doubts, and figure out how you’re going to tackle this big project. Set up your plan of action and get your things done within the given period.
COMMEMORATION
P. V. Seshubabu
NOV
11
NOV
01
WORLD VEGAN DAY
WORLD ARMISTICE DAY
W
orld Vegan Day on November 1 is an annual event by Vegans around the world. ‘Veganism’ is the practice of abstaining from using animal products and reject the commodity status of animals. The term ‘Vegan’ coined in 1944 meant “non-dairy vegetation” and that “man should live without exploiting animals”. Vegan diets are fibrous, lower in calories and reduce the risk of chronic diseases including heart.
T
he Armistice Day is celebrated on 11 November every year. It is to commemorate the agreement between the Allies of the World War I and Germany for cessation of hostilities on the West Front at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. Worldwide people observe two minutes of silence at 11 am local time as a sign of respect for 20 million people who died in the war.
NOV
20
UNIVERSAL CHILDREN’S DAY
NOV
21
T
he UN General Assembly recommended that all countries institute Universal Children’s Day to be observed on 20 November, as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children. The day is to be devoted for promoting the ideals and objectives of the charter and the welfare of the children of the world. The 25th Anniversary is devoted to declining infant mortality and increasing school enrolment . Not all children enjoy their full rights on par with their peers.
NOV
25
INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
WORLD TELEVISION DAY
T
he United Nations General Assembly organizes World Television Day every year on 21 November to adopt the television as a symbol of the power in the new media; in recognition of the impact television has in decision-making ,on conflicts and threats to peace and security and its potential role in sharpening the focus on major issues including economic and social issues. Television provides entertainment , a platform for debating, presenting and discussing issues concerning world citizenry as a whole.
E
very year UN observes International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November. The UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to end violence against women campaign invites to “Orange Your Neighbourhood” symbolizes a brighter future for women. Ending violence against women is one of UN Women’s key priorities. It adopted that violence is one of the main mechanisms denying women equal right. november 2015
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CAREER ashion designers work on the design of clothing and fashion ranges. They have a wide range and combinations of materials to work with and a wide range of colours, patterns and styles to choose from.
F
The Fashion Design Program prepares students for careers in Fashion Design for the Apparel Industry. The curriculum stimulates creative expression in all aspects of Fashion Design, including fashion sketching, creative design, computer applications, draping, pattern drafting etc.
Designer
Vanalatha
Today’s world is filled with lots of opportunities knocking your life. People have number of options to lead their career. Now- a -days people are more conscious about their dressing. They want to look unique from others in this global world. So they prefer designer costumes. So fashion designing career is in a great boom now.
How to Enter into It? It is indeed very difficult to get into the reputed colleges as the competition is very high. Most colleges require a basic passing percentage in 10+2 and either a written exam to test your aptitude or submission of your portfolio. The most important quality that any institute looks for in a candidate is the passion for fashion.
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Most fashion designing courses have the duration of three to four years whereas there are diploma courses which has duration of one or two years. During the course, you will learn how to implement your ideas and visions. You will have classes in drawing, studying colors, composition, pattern making, draping, sewing and cutting. One of the most important advantages of studying design in a fashion institute is that these institutes work closely with the industry. Most top institutes also have many prestigious grants and awards that are given to the best students. But the most important event remains the fashion show that takes place at the end of the course where all graduating students get to show their creations. These shows
are attended by big names of the industry to scout new talent. Another very important part of curriculum at fashion institutes is the business and marketing modules. As every industry gets more corporate driven than ever it’s very important for every aspiring designer to be able to manage the business of their brand, negotiate a contract and choose a business partner.
Income For an entry level position, you can expect a normal salary. After you gain sufficient experience, you will be getting a good hike. After a few years, you can open your own boutique or outlet and exploit your network to build a steadfast customer base. Your earnings will also go up considerably. A career in fashion designing can open the doors to a glamorous world where one will be rubbing shoulders with the well known personalities from all walks of life. However, competition is very stiff in the fashion designing industry and you’d need to have both creative and managerial skills to g sector. survive in this sector r.
Fashion Institutes in INDIA
Apeejay Institute Of Design
National Institute Of Design National Institute Of Fashion Technology (Nift) New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Gandhinagar
New Delhi, Ahmadabad, Bangalore
New Delhi
Pearl Academy Of Fashion (PAF) New Delhi
JD Institute of Fashion Technology New Delhi
What Fashion Designers Do? • Think creatively, establish and maintain interpersonal relationships with the team interp members. mem • Examine sample garments on and off Exam models, mode modifying designs to achieve desired desir effects. Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, draw and write specifications such as color w schemes, construction, material types, schem and accessory requirements. a • Provide Provi sample garments to agents and sales representatives, and arrange for showings of sample garments at sales sh how meetings or fashion shows. meet • Visit textile showrooms to keep up-to-date t on the th latest fabrics. • Attend Atten fashion shows and review garment magazines and manuals to collect maga information about fashion trends and inform consumer preferences. consu • Collaborate with other designers to Colla coordinate special products and designs. coord • Decide Decid prices for styles. • Develop Devel a group of products or accessories, and market them through acces venues venue such as boutiques or mail-order catalogs. catalo • If it is related with film industry, read scripts script and consult directors and other production staff to develop design produ concepts and plan productions. conce november 2015
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HEALTH
D I A B E T E S in CHILDREN & TEENS uvenile diabetes is the common type of diabetes in children and teens (type 1 or mellitus). It is an auto immune disease. With Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not make insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose,or sugar, get into the cells in our body to give them energy. Without insulin, too much sugar stays in the blood.
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People who have type 1 diabetes can help prevent or delay the development of complications by keeping their blood sugar in a target range. They also need regular medical
TYPE
checkups to detect early signs of complications. If complications are treated early, the damage may be stopped, slowed, or possibly reversed. But now a days, children and teens are also affected with type 2 diabetes( adult-onset diabetes), due to more obesity. With Type 2 diabetes, the body does not produce or use insulin well. Children have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes if they are obese, have a family history of diabetes, or are not active, and do not eat well.
1 Diabetes
Main Symptoms of TYPE 1 diabetes • Excessive thirst • Frequent urination
• Sudden weight loss
Target Blood Sugar Levels for Diabetes
Treatment for type 1 diabetes: • Taking insulin
Age 13-19
Age 6-12
• Carbohydrate counting • Frequent blood sugar monitoring
• Feeling fatigue
• Eating healthy foods • Exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight The goal is to keep the blood sugar level as close to normal as possible to delay or prevent complications. Anyone who has type 1 diabetes needs lifelong insulin therapy.
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A Major Concern
november 2015
Fasting
80-180
Fasting
70-150
Before Meal
90-180
Before Meal
90-130
Before Exercise
at least 150
Before Exercise
at least 150
Bedtime
100-180
Bedtime
90-150
Amounts shown above mg/dl
Amounts shown above mg/dl
A1c
A1c
less than or around 8.0%
less than or around 7.5%
Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adulthood, but the number of children being diagnosed with the disease is rising. Children with type 2 diabetes are usually diagnosed during the early teens. The hormones released during puberty can make it harder than usual for the body to use insulin correctly (insulin resistance). Also, children with type 2 diabetes are usually overweight, which also contributes to insulin resistance. If the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to overcome the resistance, diabetes can develop.
TYPE
2 Diabetes
Symptoms of TYPE 2 Diabetes
How to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
• Unexplained weight loss
• Avoid eating junk foods like chips, cookies, burgers, soft drinks etc.
• Feeling very thisty or hungry • Consume healthy food like milk, nuts, fresh fruits, green leaves, vegetables, cereals etc.
• Dry mouth • Frequent urination
• Slow healing of sores or cuts
• Consume whole grains (such as oatmeal, barley, whole-wheat bread and pasta, and brown rice) instead of refined grains (such as white bread, white pasta, and white rice).
• Itchy skin
• Eat at regular intervals.
• Numbness in the hands or feet
• Exercise regularly. Go for a walk every day.
• Blurred vision • Heavy breathing
• Extreme fatigueness
• Have time limit for watching TV and computer (30 min-1hr per day).
• Dark patches of skin, often on the back of the neck
• Always be active so that extra calories get burnt.
How to test blood sugar at home To test the blood sugar level, use a blood glucose meter, a test strip and lancing device. • Wash and dry your hands. • Turn on the meter and prepare a test strip. • With the lancing device, get a drop of blood from the side of the fingertip • Check the blood sugar level by touching and holding the test strip opening to the drop of blood until it has absorbed enough blood to begin the test. • Observe the reading and note it down. • Discard the used lancet .
november 2015
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FOOD Vanalatha
JUNK FOOD A THREAT TO ADOLESCENTSLeading to diabetes Food – the basic need for all the living beings. Yes…it’s absolutely true. om, ‘I am hungry’- used to be the words said by the children previously and they use to relish their taste buds with delicious, hygienic nutritious home made food filled with mother’s love. But now as the trend is taking a turn, the home made food is losing its importance in daily life and is replaced by Junk Food.
M
It’s not the mother but the chef who is taking control over the ttaste buds. Hmmm…FAST FOOD, very common and popular among yyouth, whether they are children, teenagers, youngsters or old. Ya, it’s yummy, tasty,but in this fast going life who ccares about the health? If we notice then we can see that tthere are many harmful ill effects of fast food which are dangerous for our body leading to high cholestrol, esttrol, l blood bl d pressure, diabetes, obesity etc. p The insulin levels become elevated when a person T p eats processed sugars, such as those in soft offt drinks, white flour and other foods which d lack fiber and nutrients necessary to properly metabolize carbohydrates. Eating junk foods throughout ou ut the day causes chronically high insulin levels, which eventually prompts the cells to begin to ignore this important hormone, resulting in a condition known as insulin resistance. Ultimately, obesity and Type 2 diabetes may set in. Since the 1980s, Type 2 diabetes, has risen to 15 percent in teen agers.
Consuming Junk food means UNHEALTHY HY PERSON, UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE and an overall ve erall UNHEALTHY BODY. So take care of your health-‘SAY NO TO FAST FOOD’ and nd d prefer home made food and live a long healthy happy life without tension. Health is one of the most important antt aspects of life which needs proper care and proper attention to live a happy life. Eat Healthy, Stay Fit!
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november 2015
LISTEN
SPACE
Gemini-XII PROGRAM:
an accomplishment for NASA Gemini – an early NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) human spaceflight program helped NASA get ready for the Apollo moon landings. The Gemini missions were flown in 1965 and 1966. They flew between the Mercury and Apollo programs.
ASA designed the Gemini capsule which looked much like the capsule used for the Mercury missions, having the capacity to hold two people instead of one. The Mercury spacecraft could change only the way it was facing in its orbit whereas the Gemini could change what orbit it was in. In Latin, the word Gemini means “twins.” NASA used this name because the Gemini capsule could carry two people.
N
Astronauts accomplished many things on the Gemini missions. The first flight to carry astronauts was Gemini 3. Gemini 4 mission included the first U.S. spacewalk. Gemini 5 stayed in orbit for more than a week. The Gemini 6A and 7 missions were in space at the same time and met each other in orbit. Gemini 7 stayed in space for two weeks. Gemini 8 connected with another unmanned spacecraft in orbit. The Gemini 9 mission tested different ways of flying
Gemini 10 connected with another spacecraft and used its engines to move both vehicles. The Gemini 11 Before Gemini, mission flew higher than any NASA had limited NASA mission before. The experience in space. last mission, Gemini 12, The Mercury missions solved problems from had proved astronauts earlier spacewalks. could fly in space. But before people could land on the moon, NASA had to learn many things like what happened when astronauts spent many days in space, how astronauts could go outside a spacecraft in a spacesuit and how to connect two spacecrafts together in space, since going to the moon would require doing all of these things. Gemini proved NASA could do them and it was a splendid victory to the team. near another spacecraft. It also included a spacewalk.
november 2015
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TECHNOLOGY
TRASH TALK: ROBOT NEXT GARBAGEMAN ollecting garbage and dumping it is really a huge responsibility. The work should be done systematically and efficiently. In the foreign countries, already there are many innovative methods followed to roll around a neighbourhood, pick up waste bins for this purpose and chuck the trash into the back of garbage trucks.
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In a new innovation, highly efficient robots on The project is called Robot-based Autonomous wheels could be seen doing this performance. Refuse handling, or ROAR, where it could be a boon for garbage truck drivers, who would simply need Together with to pull up to the curb and let the robots do the rest universities in using an onboard operating system Sweden and the United States, To bring ROAR to life, Volvo recruited students from Swedish auto different universities who will be dealing with this manufacturer Volvo project based on designing and building robots, is developing these virtual system and control panel, overall operating useful robots, system for ROAR and so on. The futuristic project is which will be able expected to be ready for testing by June 2016.
APPS of the Month DUFL No-Suitcase - For the people who take a lot of business trips, DUFL may be the best thing ever. This service takes care of packing clothes for you. After signing up you’ll be sent a suitcase to put all of your travel clothes inside. Use the app to schedule a pickup and have your clothes delivered to your destination. DUFL will wash, pack, and ship your clothes for you. DUFL is very simple to use. Travelers just download the free app to create a user account and request a Welcome Kit, which contains a large DUFL suitcase that the customer can fill with his or her business wardrobe..
Fanly - An app for the sports fan- Fanly is definitely worth checking out which can be downloaded free of cost. The only mobile app that curates all the content about your favorite sports teams from over 2,000 of the top news sources. Fanly, tries to simplify the process of keeping up and staying connected with different teams; ultimately trying to make everyone a better fan. 50
november 2015
NASA - For the space lovers or the future astronauts, The NASA App showcases a huge collection of the latest NASA content, including images, videos on-demand, NASA Television, mission information, news & feature stories, latest tweets, ISS sighting opportunities, satellite tracking, Third Rock Radio and much more which includes good features like sharing everything you discover on social media, saving images to your device and many more. Disney Movie Anywhere - If you are an avid movie watcher, Disney Movies Anywhere is an app and website where you can browse, buy and watch your collection of eligible Disney, Disney Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars titles across your favorite devices. Enjoy exclusive content, special bonus features, and earn points toward great rewards with your digital purchases. Sign in using your existing Disney Account or create a new account.
QUI Z s n o i t s e u Q
9
Ice hockey is a contact team sport played on ice. In which year did amateur ice hockey and the professional ice hockey originate?
i i Ba st m h o m ks i La of the dom n a e R one e t fr ng was portan s duri of im ghter battle e. t c fi firs nden born e h e t e p h r e Ind was s as he ? w n e t e Wh d wha d nam an ldhoo chi
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NA accom SA p many lished on the things Gemin missio i first fl ns. Name t h by NA ight design e SA to ed astron carry the auts.
The capit al is Port B of Andaman lair, consider which is ed largest to as the municipa wn and There is l council. an Andama island in n whic known a s coral is h is Name it. land.
10
Answers
7. 6.
o sh aut Swedi cturer fa manu eveloping s s i d Volvo seful robot u some e purpose for th llecting of co d waste hol house ame the bins. N t, where projec e used for ar robots g up waste n i k pic bins?
Michael Jackson, the famous pop singer, is known as the king of the pop music. Name the sixth studio album by Michael Jackson.
3
8.
8
2
dren ays chil ht d a Now weig ting on are put less active and are ich they are h alth due to w with many he of affected Name the type re issues. tes children a . e y the diab due to obesit d e t c fe af
9.
f ue o Stat one of t e h T rty is alles Libe orld’s t uring the w e, meas and statu eet high tons. f 152 hing 225 rson i we g e the pe it? d Nam sculpte o wh
4
1. The statue was sculpted by Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. 2. The place is Meghalaya which is situated in northeast part of India. 3. Type 2 or adult onset diabetes is affected in children due to obesity. Juvenile diabetes/Mellitus is the common type of diabetes in children which is an auto immune disease. 4. Dr.B.R.Ambedkar is considered as the Father of the Constitution of India. He was the chief architect of the Indian constitution and is known for the strong and united India. 5. Thriller is the sixth studio album released by Michael Jackson.
1
Constitution Day is celebrated every year on 26 November in our country. Who is considered as the Father of Constitution of India?
the is known as Which state is d n a s d u Clo Abode of the g the wettest ein famous for b e earth? place on th
november 2015
51
5
Gemini 3 was the first flight to carry astronauts which was designed by NASA. Amateur ice hockey was originated in 1880’s and professional ice hockey was originated in around 1900. The project is named as Robot -based Autonomous Refuse handling(ROAR) Rani Lakshmi Bai was born on 19 November, 1829. She was born to Maratha parents and was named as Manikarnika. She was renamed as Lakshmi Bai after she got married to the king of Jhansi, Gangadhar Rai. 10.Neil islands is known as the coral capital of Andaman because of the beautiful view of coral reefs located at this place.
LANGUAGE STUDY
F FRENCH
VOCABULARY
WHICH?
WHEN? Quand? Kahng
in
FRENCH for
P PRONUNCIATION
F
F
P
P
WHY?
BEGINNERS
Qui? Kee
F
F
P
P
WHERE IS?
Here are some everyday used simple words in FRENCH language.
Lequel?/Laquelle? Lah-kell WHAT TIME IS IT? Quelle heure est-il ? Kehl-uhr eh-teel?
ENJOY YOUR MEAL!
Où est…? Ooh-eh
F
F
P
P
Voici... Vwah-see
F
F
P
P
F
F
P
P
Bon Appétit! Bohn-nah-pey-tee
HERE IS……………
BLESS YOU!
WHAT IS THAT? Qu’est-ce que c’est? Kessker say
BOOK
Review
A vos souhaits! Ah voh soo-eh CONGRATULATIONS! Félicitations! fay-lee-see-tah-see-ohn
ADVENTURE OF JENNY AND JOHN This book containing short stories is the first in series of their adventures and fight with evil.
By: Sulakhni Kaur Grewal Publisher: Opencrayons .com Published : First edition (September 30, 2015) Edition: Paperback No.of Pages: 78 Price : ` 84 Sulakhni Kaur Grewal is a ten-year old girl who enjoys the dual citizenship of USA and India. She had her first four years of education at Mumbai. Since Sulakhni Kaur Grewal is only ten years old, the level of thinking of the readers and the author perfectly matches.
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november 2015
Jenny and John are twins in early teens. They are keen to serve the humanity. They are blessed with magical and divine powers of being crystal children. The book is designed to bring out good human values while keeping the interest of children alive! In order to keep the logic and flow intact, one has to go out of the bounded rationality which has been done with the help of magical and divine powers. The plot of the stories takes the readers from USA to India and back. Captain Julian and other villains are ever ready to cause destruction and attempt to dominate the world but they fail in their missions due to crystal children helped by a Buddhist Monk.
LearnEnglish
BRITISH COUNCIL Activity 1 Before you read, match the word or phrase to a definition. 1. deadline
2. hill
3. landscape
4. load
5. puncture
6. tyre
a. an extensive, visually distinct area of land b. a hole causing loss of pressure in a tyre c. a ring of rubber filled with air fitted around a wheel d. a time or date by which you must complete a task e. a piece of land higher than its surroundings f. the amount carried Cyclists near Normanton church, Rutland Water, England. © VisitBritain / Tony Pleavin
Years ago I was travelling in Asia. In those days it was very difficult to get from one place to another, as you could only use local transport which stopped at every village and even in between. Then one day, in a place that was not even on the map, I met a German cyclist, and it only took a few minutes to realise that he understood the best way to get around. 2 _______________ ‘Imagine the most beautiful landscape you’ve ever seen’ he said. ‘Now imagine you’re inside a vehicle, detached from your surroundings. You might think that you can appreciate it, but it’s nothing like riding a bicycle, which enables you to appreciate the sights, the sounds, the smells ... you’re part of the landscape.’ 3 _______________ Having now made a number of journeys by bicycle, I understand what he was talking about. But I also know that preparation is essential. Obviously, your bicycle is the first consideration. I prefer touring bikes. These are bikes that are built to carry loads and are comfortable for riding long distances. They also have wider tyres, which are less likely to get punctures. On the back and/ or front of your bike you can fit panniers, specially made bags for carrying the things you need. Take a tent and water and food so that you can camp anywhere if necessary. Then you are ready to go! 4 _______________ The secret is to take things easy. The whole point is to have fun and relax, so don’t set yourself deadlines. If you come to a hill, get off and push your bicycle, and rest as often as you need to. The distance you travel each day depends on different factors, like how fit you are and how hilly it is, but you should soon be able to average 100 kilometres a day. Enjoying the sights, sounds and smells all the way! 5 _______________ I recently saw an article about a German cyclist who left home as a teenager and has never returned. He has ridden over half a million kilometres and visited 192 countries! Believe it or not, the photograph showed the same man I had met in Asia all those years ago!
Activity 2 Now complete the sentences using words from the text. 1. I had to stop and change the (..........) of my bicycle because I got a (..........) when I rode over a piece of glass on the road. 2. The (..........) for this task is next Friday – you must finish it by then. 3. The (..........) around here is very beautiful – you can see the mountains on one side and the sea on the other. 4. The truck was carrying a (..........) of 100 tons of wood when it had an accident. 5. You can walk up to the top of the (..........) above the town where there is a great view over the countryside all around.
Activity 4 Complete the sentences with one of the verbs from the table and by matching the beginning and end of each. Try and complete the activity without looking back at the text. … to appreciate…
… to average …
… to carry …
… to get …
… to have …
… to realise …
Then you are ready …
… to go …
… and have some fun!
1. In those days it was very difficult …
………..
… from one place to another.
2. It only took a few minutes …
………..
… fun and relax.
3. It’s nothing like riding a bicycle, which enables you …
………..
… loads.
4. The whole point is …
………..
… that he understood the best way to get around.
5. These are bikes that are built …
………..
… the sights, the sounds, and the smells.
6. You should soon be able …
………..
…100 kilometres a day.
Activity 5 Have you ever travelled by bicycle? If so, what was it like? If not, would you like to try it? What’s the most unusual way that you’ve travelled?
Answers
1 _______________
Match the paragraphs with these headings. a. Be prepared! b. Bikes are best! c. Don’t go too fast! d. Fancy seeing you here! e. What a coincidence!
Activity 4 1. In those days it was very difficult to get from one place to another. 2. It only took a few minutes to realise that he understood the best way to get around. 3. It’s nothing like riding a bicycle, which enables you to appreciate the sights, the sounds, and the smells. 4. The whole point is to have fun and relax. 5. These are bikes that are built to carry loads. 6. You should soon be able to average 100 kilometres a day.
If you prefer, you can look at Activity 3 before you read the article, to see the headings of the paragraphs.
Activity 3
Activity 1 1. d; 2. e; 3. a; 4. f; 5. b; 6. c Activity 2 1. tyre, puncture; 2. deadline; 3. landscape; 4. load; 5. hill Activity 3 1. d; 2. b; 3. a; 4. c; 5. e
Bicycle touring
To find more English language activities visit: www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish © British Council 2014
november 2015
53
CHILDREN’S COLUMN
Autobiography of a
SEED ffh, how suffocated!! All my friends are pushing me and I cannot stay in this seed bag any more. Ah! I think the shop has arrived and now we would be placed on a shelf. As spring has arrived with showers, people plan to buy seeds of flowering plants. I was disheartened thinking that no one will come to buy me. Suddenly I heard an old man’s voice fo pomegranate seeds. asking for f lt very fe ve happy. He bought the I felt pa p ac packet and took me home and bu buried me deep inside the g ground in his garden. I felt unhappy as I reached another suffocating area. Don’t know how many more days I should wait here.
U
I am watered now. Oh no! Will I dro drown now? Thank God. My thought was wrong. In fact, the water quenched my thirst. I felt happy for that I will soon become a plant. I think my surface cover is now going to tear off, as my shoots and roots are
Lalitha Krovi, IX Std. Pawar Public School, Pune
getting developed. Ya! I am right. Very soon I roseout of the mud and stood above the ground. I saw the old man looking at me with a smile in his face.The old man started taking a good care of me and watered me regularly. One day, when I was enjoying warmness from sunshine, a small creature started crawling on my small tender leaves. I felt very irritating. It was a caterpillar, eating my leaves. I felt, I could not grow further. But after few days I could see new shoots coming. Now my wish is to bear fruits which would take sometime but anyhow I want to reach that stage soon. Another day a goat started eating my leaves and stems. The old man chased the goat away. He was very much concerned for me and built a fence for my protection. Seeing the concerned face of the old man I then decided that I will try my best to grow into a tall tree and thank him with my fruits. I passed all the stages of my growth and grew up into a tall tree bearing flowers which slowly transformed into ripened pomegranate. The happy old man plucked some of them and took them to market. I hope that someone will buy my tasty fruits.
MY
Dog and Me
There is this one subject called ‘math’
Once I went to my cousin’s house. While we were playing with our friends, a man came towards us with his dog. We started playing with the dog. The man left the dog’s collar. The dog started running about. It was meant to play with us. I and my cousin started panicking. We ran into our house. I went and hid in the balcony. My aunt told my cousin not to run but stand in a place. The dog calmed down. The man came and apologized and took his dog away. From that day, I and my cousin were careful about dogs.
I solve math when I take a bath! It is a very funny subject to learn And it also helps my calories burn! I am a top student in my class, My math scores always make me pass. And I cannot afford any distraction When I convert a decimal into a proper fraction I’m not math-addicted; its just fun My dream of becoming a Mathematician has begun!
K. Amulya, IX Std. Brahmam Talent High School, Hyderabad
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november 2015
Sindhuja, VI Std. DAV Public School, Hyderabad
SHORT STORY LISTEN
Health is Wealth ong ago, there lived an indulgent and kind-hearted king. But, his subjects were unhappy with him because, the king was too lazy and would not perform any activity other than eating and sleeping.
L
He became indolent. One day he realized that he had ad become a couch potato and was unable to move his body. He invited specialized doctors from various parts of his country and offered them generous rewards to make him fit and healthy. To his surprise, none could help the king gain his health and fitness. He spent inordinately but everything went in vain. One fine morning, a saint visited thekingdom. He heard about the ill-health of the king and told the minister to meet the king at his place, promising about the king’s speedy recovery. Hearing the promising words of the saint, the minister became very happy. He requested the king to meet the saint to get rid of the ill health. The holy man resided at a distant place. Since the king could not move his body, he asked the minister to bring the saint to the palace, but the saint refused and instead ordered the king to come and meet him. After great efforts, the king met the saint. The saint encouraged the king and said that he would regain his health very soon. He asked the king to come for treatment every day without fail. The saint laid a condition that he would treat the king only if he came on foot to his place. The King was unable to walk even a few steps, but his ministers, helped him to reach the saint’s place. Unfortunately, the saint was not present there and his devotees requested the king to come and meet him the next day for treatment. This ccarried on for two weeks and the king never met the saint,nor had any treatment. All of a sudden, the king realized that he felt lighter, lost tre considerable amount of weight and felt more active than before. He realized the reason why the saint asked him to reach his place by walk. Very soon, the king regained his health, and the subjects were very happy in his kingdom. The king realised that eventhough he had lots of wealth, no amount of wealth could make him healthy. Right from that time he shouldered his responsibilities managing both health and wealth.
november 2015
55
AMAZING
FACTS The SMALLEST BONE found in the human body is located in the middle ear. The staples (or stirrup) bone is only 2.8 millimetres long.
The ATOMIC BOMB that was detonated over Nagasaki, Japan,by the United States on August 9, 1945 was code-named ‘Fat Man’
The Perfect Son Raj: I have the perfect son. Tom: Does he smoke?
A teacher asked a student to write 55.
Raj: No, he doesn’t.
Student asked: How?
Tom: Does he drink whiskey?
Teacher: Write 5 and beside it another 5.
Raj: No, he doesn’t.
The student wrote 5 and stopped.
Tom: Does he ever come home late?
The opposite sides of a DICE CUBE always add up to seven!
Raj: No, he doesn’t.
Teacher: What are you waiting for?
Tom: I guess you really do have the perfect son. How old is he?
Student: I am confused which side to write the other 5
Raj: He will be six months old next Wednesday.
Customer called Tech support: “my ed tto T computer is not connecting to Internet” Tech support: “Ok, which operating system are you using?”
The original name for the BUTTERFLY was flutterby!
Customer: “Internet explorer”! Tech support: “No, you just right click on “my computer” and click on the properties menu”
A CHAMELEON’S TONGUE is twice the length of its body.
Customer: “what are you saying, this is not your computer, it is my computer”!
Teacher asked the students to tell the importance of the year 1809. John said “Abraham Lincoln was born” If you could live on the PLANET MERCURY, a year would only last 88 days.
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november 2015
Then teacher again asked the students to tell the importance of another year 1819 Then Sam suddenly stood up and said “Abraham Lincoln was ten years old”!
ORDER YOUR COPY
CROSSWORD SOLUTION 28
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TODAY D E T E R M I N E R S
P P I N E S S
V E
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SUDOKU SOLUTION 28
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1
1
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1
6
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7
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: ........................................................................
School Name: ....................................................Class: ......... YEARS
ISSUES
ACTUAL AMOUNT
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12
`900
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2
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3
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School Managements can contact for bulk orders for their students at SPECIAL DISCOUNTED price. Kindly draw the DD/Cheque in favour of “Brainfeed Magazine” payable at Hyderabad Cheque/DD No: ..................................................................... Issued Date: ...........................................................................
KEN KEN SOLUTION 23 5–
3
2–
4
8 48X
4 6
8
6
7
3–
2
5
224X
8
2
4
7
6+
1
5
13+
7 5
15+
1 3
3
1 2 4–
3 2 6
2– 2 9X
7
5
2
1
3
7
1
3
10+
4 6
15+
5 8
3
8 4 2
6
19+
4 8
5
3+
1
16+
6 2
2
7 5–
Amount: ................................................................................. 9+
1
Bank & Branch: ......................................................................
3
Date: ......................................................................................
18+
6
Signature: ..............................................................................
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2
7
3
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2
Ph: 040- 65 51 51 51, +91 9494 43 9444
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www.brainfeedmagazine.com november 2015
57
MIND
MINE CROSSWORD 29
Across
1 2
3
4
5
6
7
8 9
4.
------ dressed like lamb.
6.
Not my cup of ---.
7.
As nutty as a ---------.
9.
Like a fish out of -----.
12. A couch ------.
10
14. Like chalk and ------. 15. To have bigger ---- to fry.
11
13
12
Down
14
15
KEN KEN 24 11+
3
23+
48 X
4– 56X
7–
2–
1 5–
210X 3
17+
40 X
4–
15X
7–
24X
12X
2
13+
9+
17+
960X
1–
1–
How to Solve Ken Ken? Fill the grid with digits so as not to repeat a digit in any row or column. Digits within each heavily outlined group of squares, called a cage, must combine to make the arithmetic result indicated.
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november 2015
A 3X3-square puzzle will use the digits from 1 to 3, a 4X4-square puzzle will use the digits from 1 to 4, etc. Solving a Ken Ken puzzle involves pure logic and mathematics. No guesswork is needed. Every puzzle has a unique solution. In a cage marked with a plus sign, the given number will be the sum of the digits you enter in the squares. In a cage marked with a minus sign, the given number will be the difference between the digits you enter in the squares ( the lower digit subtracted from the higher one).
1.
Like ------ wouldn’t melt.
2.
As cool as a -------.
3.
To be as keen as -------.
5.
To give someone a knuckle --------.
8.
To bring home the -----.
10. The ----- of someone’s eye. 11. Another bite of the ------. 13. Don’t cry over spilt ----.
SUDOKU 29 4 8 3
4
2 5
9 1 7 5
5 7 1 6 1
2 6
8 7 6 3 1 2
1 9
7 3
7
2