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Vol 2 / Is Issue 4 / 64 Pages / April-May 2013 RNI No. AAPENG/2012/44693

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Your Educational Search Begins Here re

A Monthly Educational Magazine for Students, Parents & Teachers

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Holidays Special articles inside

Netiquette for Kids What Parents Think

What We Think of the Net Students Express Their Views

The Art of Sharing A Step to Becoming a Good Person

Chatty Children How to Be a Good Conversationalist

Want to Become Doctor Dolittle?

Careers in Veterinary Medicine

Right Bearing Adopting Proper Posture

www.crystalquestmagazine.com

Archana Sinha

Map not to scale

Illustration by Team Oktopus

Editor’s Note

The Perfect Summer I really enjoy and love putting Crystal Quest together each month, as it refreshes my school-day memories. I simply love my job!

The peak summer months with the scorching heat are beckoning, and you must be ready to embrace your vacations with joy, relief and happiness.

My Dear Readers, Once again, it is one of the most exciting times of the year!

After studies and exams come the holidays — a much awaited break after a whole year of hard work.

These months take me back to my school days, nervously awaiting exams, studying till late at night and then waking up early in the morning, calling friends for help, comparing notes, and remembering God the most.

The last exam used to be the most anticipated, as that would mark the beginning of the holidays.

Holidays were always well planned.

From morning walks to badminton matches, throw-ball to cricket, swimming, reading, and spending time with friends, to at times just doing nothing and then anxiously awaiting the examination results.

April is the month when the academic year reaches its culmination, the syllabus is over, exams are around the corner, and yet, in your heart, there is excitement that the vacation is dawning near.

yourself gainfully. Along with the fun ‘n’ frolic, do not forget your social and ecological responsibilities towards your family and society. Please take a few tips from some of our articles we have put together for you.

So, do read the copy and learn what you can while waiting eagerly for the new term to begin, with new friends, a new teacher, a brand new classroom and the smell of new notebooks, and go back to school with a refreshed mind.

Neelambari Shelar EDITOR

A whole year of hard work, hectic schedules and tedious tasks of homework and assignments jnally comes to an end, and you are ready to jnish it by writing your exams. The examinations are a way to test what you have learned, and they are your way of proving how knowledgeable you are.

You have worked very hard, and the much deserved break is upon you. The summer holidays are a time when you can travel with your family, enjoy the king of fruits — the mango — catch up on reading those wonderful storybooks that you have always wanted to read, learn music if it interests you, attend summer camps, develop a new skill, or just relax.

CQ

, ENJOY R EAD, LEARN, HELP

We have put together a special summer issue to give you lots of ideas on how to spend your vacations and occupy

CQ TEAM EDITOR Neelambari Shelar Editorial Coordinator Nandini Sengupta FEATURE WRITERS Neelambari Shelar Nandini Sengupta Suchandra De Sarkar

Archana Sinha Deepika Iyer CREATIVE DIRECTOR Neelambari Shelar GENERAL MANAGER Jayasudha Gantasala

MARKETING MANAGER HYDERABAD Venkata Ramana Murthy MARKETING MANAGER GOA Sandeep Kamble MARKETING AND PROMOTIONS Deepa Bajamahal, Sarvesh Veluskar

LOGISTICS & DISTRIBUTION Reddy Ramkumar PRINTED BY Spenta Multimedia CONCEPTUALISED AND PUBLISHED BY Neelambari Shelar

Contents

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Feature – The Touring Circus Passion to Profession – Musician Passion to Profession – In Conversation with...

Career – Veterinarian Holidays Special – Gudi Padva Holidays Special – Different Holidays Holidays Special – Clothing Holidays Special – Books to Read Holidays Special – Food Holidays Special – Movies Holidays Special – Games Holidays Special – Social Things to Do Holidays Special – Eco Things to Do Holidays Special – Decluttering Holidays Special – Helping around the House Holidays Special – Strengthening Foundation Do It Yourself – Wireless Toy Car Activity Page – Let’s Go Shopping!

Activity Page – Music Jumble

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Activity Page – The Other Name School Review – Hyderabad Education Abroad – China Expert Talk – The Truth about Heat Ailments Little Globetrotter – Goa Sports – F1 Racing Parent Talk – Netiquette for Kids Student Talk – What We Think of the Net Teacher Talk – Good to Log in?

Soft Skills for Kids – Chatty Children Soft Skills for Parents – The Art of Sharing Soft Skills for Teachers – The Teacher’s Touch!

Confessions of a Prankaholic Lost Games – Seven Tiles Yoga – Boosting Your Focus Grooming – Posture Eco – Bits and Pieces Matter!

On the Shelf – Heidi

Crystal Quest Magazine Editorial Ofğce: Flat No. 402, Trendz Developers, Rushikonda, Opp. Gitam College, North Gate, Visakhapatnam: 530045, Andhra Pradesh Tel.: +91-97011 10566 Hyderabad Ofğce: Srinivas Nagar Colony, Shivam Road, Hyderabad: 500013, Andhra Pradesh Tel.: +91-87909 41414 Goa Ofğce: Edcon Towers, Unit No. 306, 3rd Floor, Near Fidalgo Hotel, Panaji: 403001, Goa Tel.: +91-95525 65923 Mumbai Ofğce: 36 Turner Road, Unit No. 201, Turner Road, Bandra (West), Mumbai: 400050, Maharashtra Tel.: +91-97011 10566 Website: www.crystalquestmagazine.com Helpline No: +91-97011 10566 Email: info@crystalquestmagazine.com Advertising Enquiry: info@crystalquestmagazine.com

Published by Mark International Cover Image Credit: Shutterstock / IndiaPicture

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Credits for images inside: Shutterstock / IndiaPicture, Dreamstime.com, Dinodia photos

DISCLAIMER: Duplicating all or any part of this magazine, including photocopying, recording, facsimile transmission, electronic or physical transmission, or otherwise, is prohibited. This magazine and its articles are for information purposes only and do not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation to buy any products or services.

The content of this magazine does not seek to inŸuence the opinions/behaviours of the readers. The views and opinions expressed in the articles contained in this magazine are those of the authors and do not constitute the views of the publisher, Mark International, or the printer, Spenta Multimedia.

The publisher and the printer are not responsible for any damage or loss resulting from reliance on or use of any information provided in this magazine.

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Feature of entertainment. Watching a live show surely beats staring at the television or going to the cinema.

The Greek and Roman civilisations made the circus popular. The circus is the predecessor of the modern-day theatre and even the opera.

Legend has it that the Greek goddess Circe staged the first circus in honour of her father Helios, the Sun god (who had many Roman theatrical shows dedicated to him).

Do you want to be thoroughly entertained with your family and friends? Throw away your TV remote and tear up those movie tickets! Come to the circus…

Archana Sinha Do you remember the last time when you had a great experience… enjoying yourself with the antics of clowns, and the breathtaking art of jugglers, tightrope walkers, unicyclists and stunt artists? You might have been to the circus, mall or amusement park.

I remember how visiting the Jumbo and Gemini circuses really brightened up my childhood — we did not have TV back then! Seeing a lion jumping effortlessly through a ring of fire or a lady artiste throwing caution to the winds on a tightrope — these are some fond memories I have treasured since being a tiny tot.

Circuses have been around right since the dawn of civilisation.

The word ‘circus’ comes from the Latin word circus, which is the Romanisation of the Greek kirkos, meaning ‘circle’ or ‘ring’, so called, as it is round in shape and surrounded by the audience from all sides in a tiered seating arrangement.

A circus typically is a travelling company of performers that could include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, bungee jumpers, unicyclists, rope dancers and acrobats… and many other stunt artists. The circus remains unparalleled as a source

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Horses and chariots, gladiators in pitched battle, garishly painted clowns and svelte acrobats — the Romans packed all of this into their shows. The emperor, royal family and nobility occupied the front rows (think of your dress circle seats in a movie auditorium) and the people were seated in tiers of seats, in a crescent-shaped structure, not unlike a few modern stadia.

The first ever Roman circus recorded in history was the Circus Maximus, in the valley between the Palatine and Aventine hills. Completely made of wood, the structure was rebuilt many times, and the final version had a seating capacity of 2,50,000!

Other notable Roman circuses were the Circus Flaminius and the Circus Neronis.

A veteran of the Seven Years’ War in the 18th Century, Englishman Philip Astley decided to make use of his war-honed equestrian skills by starting a riding school in London. During the day, Astley taught horsemanship; in the evening, he would exhibit his skills along with other notable equestrians in front of the audience in a ring.

Circus Historian Dominique Jando says in his book, Big Apple Circus: 25 Years, “Astley’s school featured a circular arena that he called the ‘circle’ or a ‘circus’. Besides allowing the audience to keep sight of the horsemen... the ring proved ideal for generating the centrifugal force that helped trick riders balance when they stood on the backs of their galloping horses.”

Astely decided to pack his show with clowns, jugglers and other acrobats and crossed the Channel to set up a show in Paris in 1782. The Amphitheatre Angloi had all that Astley’s London show had to offer — and then some. After that, he opened shows across the Continent, and the popularity soon crossed the Atlantic. It is said that U.S. President George Washington rode into Philadelphia to watch a one-ring show conducted by John Bill Ricketts.

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7 With the United States expanding its own boundaries across the breadth of the continent and taking control of the land from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean from east to west, the circus also travelled the entire breadth of the country, spreading its popularity as it moved, spurred by innovations like the canvas tent and the rapidly expanding rail network.

Rings became too large, and the traditional role of a speaking clown goofing around began to be relegated to the background. Stage properties were minimised and replaced by more ambitious acrobatic performances, exhibitions of skill, strength and daring, requiring the employment of many skilled performers and, many a time, of complicated and expensive equipment.

Towards the end of the 19th century, Phineas Taylor Barnum and William Cameron Coup opened P. T. Barnum’s Museum, Menagerie & Circus. Curator P. T. Barnum promoted the circus as an educational institution, with exotic animals from different countries, and you had to go through the menagerie first before you took your seat in the big top. But this was turning the public away from the show and Barnum and Coup opened two rings to allow people to see the shows. The profits went up, and the show became bigger.

Every act got bigger, more flamboyant and larger than life.

New forms of drama were introduced.

Alongside the American circuses, the circus flourished in Russia, Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Sweden, Italy, Mexico, China and many more countries. Back home, we have had the Jumbo and Gemini circuses, among others.

Soviet Russia elevated circus to a ‘people’s art-form’, with facilities and status at par with theatre, opera and ballet. In 1927, the Moscow Circus School was established and the Moscow State Circus began international tours in the 1950s.

The popularity of circuses continued right into the first half of the 20th century, but popularity started waning due to the twin assaults of TV and cinema after the Second World War.

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Some of the most well-known contemporary circus companies Circus Oz, forged in Australia in 1978 from SoapBox Circus and New Circus Pickle Family Circus, founded in San Francisco in 1975 Ra-Ra Zoo in the U.K. in 1983, Nofit State Circus in 1984 from Wales Cirque du Soleil, founded in Quebec in 1984 Archaos in 1986 Teatro ZinZanni, founded in Seattle in 1998 Quebec’s Cirque Éloize; Les 7 doigts de la main (also known as The 7 Fingers) West African Circus Baobab in the late 1990s

Rising costs and problems with animal-rights laws also did not help the shows. The solution — wild animals became a nono, and domesticated animals made a grand entry.

“There’s something thrilling about seeing things live,” says Deborah Walk, curator of collections for the Ringling Museums.

“There is that immediacy, the electricity in the air, the idea that real people are doing real things in real time.”

Nowadays, circuses recorded as video films have become an integral part of television programming in various countries.

As they say, the show must go on… and it sure does!

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Passion to Profession

Musician “Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” – Plato

R. Krishna

All of us like music of some kind but a few of us are really passionate about it. We have often heard grown-ups say ‘You have got to love your job, or don’t do it’. Well, this is true. Love or passion for what you do is important because only then you give it your total attention and devotion, improvise as you go on, let the job, or the work you do, evolve over time and for this, creativity takes its own shape to make what you do a shining example in your area of work.

understand the words, the notes are enough to connect us to an emotion or a memory. How lucky are we who love music? We find a symphony in the craziest of things: a stone carver hitting his chisel can sort of sound like music to our ears, pigeons cooing overhead can fit into a rhythm, a strain of a fight can also provide vocals to a song. As the adage goes, ‘Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’, I would tweak this to say ‘Music lies in the soul of the listener’.

Well, if you love music then there are no limits. You wake up every day with a song in your heart waiting to sing or strum, whatever be your passion. Imagine what the world has to offer in terms of music: different music is available from all over the world and even if you do not

If you love to sing, then sing. Practise every day; listen to the classics and the contemporary. Riyas, as we refer to it in India is really very important. Because practice does not only make perfect, but allows you to experiment with your own talent and makes you compete with yourself.

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Crystal Quest

9 There are singing academies where you can learn. Some of the noted ones are: The ITA School of Performing arts in Mumbai

The Music Academy of Madras, Madras/Chennai Calcutta School of Music, Kolkata Suresh Wadkar’s Ajivasan Music Academy, Mumbai

P. G. Garodia Conservatiore in Mumbai Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi Anil Srinivasan School of Music in Chennai A. R. Rahman Music Academy in Chennai Should you wish to make others sing to your tune, by this I mean if you like to play an instrument: the drums, the guitar, the sitar or the violin, there are academies for this as well. Some music schools are: The KM musical Conservatory, Chennai Delhi School of Music, New Delhi Learning to play a musical instrument proposes a lot of merits. Here are five reasons why:

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Playing a Musical Instrument Makes You Smarter Various studies have been performed on the consequences of the music-brain connect.

Scientists believe that kids who have an exposure to any sort of music, or those who play an instrument, perform better in school than those who don’t.

Recent research implies that contact with any music may benefit a child’s reading age, IQ and the progress of some parts of the brain.

It Teaches Discipline Learning an instrument is like learning to speak a different language and it can be challenging at times. One of the characteristics musicians possess is discipline. In order to master the instrument you want to play, you have to be disciplined. You have to fix a time each day to practice and stick to it with devotion.

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Playing a Musical Instrument Calms and Relaxes You We all have days when we just want to relax and calm our minds. Notice that when you hear soft, soothing music you feel more relaxed. Playing an instrument can serve that purpose and more, especially if you’re the one playing. Music is one of life’s simple pleasures; it calms the mind.

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Sense of Achievement If you are a beginner, still learning how to play your first notes or piece, it could get frustrating.

But once you are done with that phase and have mastered your art, the satisfaction you will feel is absolutely priceless. Even if it is just a simple piece, you will never forget the first one that you have composed. You will be one step nearer to accomplishing your ambition and that is definitely something to be proud of.

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Playing a Musical Instrument is Fun It can definitely be a lot of hard work, but there’s no doubt that playing an instrument you like to sound of, is in. The better you get at it, more opportunities will arise for you to showcase your talent. Playing an instrument opens up so many great possibilities that will help to enrich your life.

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Passion to Profession

In Conversation with…

Want to know how you can convert your passion for music into a fruitful profession? Let’s hear it from musician and disc jockey Amit Bharadwaj about how he did it, as told to Sana Krishna.

Have you been passionate about music since your childhood? How did it all begin?

From what I can remember, music has always been an important part of my life. It all began at a very young age, and, with music in the family, it ought to have been. I was 16 years old when I was first introduced to disco jockeying (DJing), and, ever since then, there has been no turning back.

Have you been to a music-training school or any such classes?

Back in the day when I started, there weren’t many classes and the training schools that prevailed were quite expensive for a 16-year-old to join. DJing back then was not considered a good or feasible profession. In fact, it was not considered as a profession at all; it was still a hobby. However, with changing times, that’s not the case anymore. There are a lot of professional training schools around now.

Have you participated in any musical events? If yes, have you won any?

I have participated in many musical competitions and also won a few. For instance, I made a remix for Nadia Ali’s track Love Story, which was selected and

released on her album, as well as for the Submerge Sunburn 2010 Compilation. I have also won the VH1 My Fav Awards 2010 under the name of Phi Degrees.

What exactly do you do? The instruments you play, the kind of music you work on, your work role?

I’m mainly an electronic dance music producer, and I compose music under genres such as Techno, Progressive House, and Trance. I’m also a jingle composer, and I compose music and background scores for films as well. I have composed jingles for many ads, including those for Maruti Suzuki Swift, Lakme, Honda, Sony Ericsson and Nokia, and films such as Patiala House.

What was your first big break?

My first big break was when I played alongside Darude, a famous music producer from Finland, in the year 2000.

What is the remuneration for a fresher or beginner in this field?

The music industry is as competitive as any other industry; I’d say even more than some industries.

Amit Bharadwaj

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11 Talent does not come naturally — it has to be acquired.

Hence, with enough conviction, if you set your mind on something, you can achieve anything you want, so, in this case, I’d say that the sky is the limit.

What’s your typical day like — as a composer in the studio?

It generally starts at 10 a.m. at the studio with composing jingles, recording vocals or playing an instrument. On weekends, I’m usually traveling for shows.

an instrument. It could be piano, guitar, flute, or any other instrument. Being updated with technology in music is important because gone are the days when a pianist could fill up a stadium. Computers are an important mode; after all, music is made on software these days.

Tell us a little about the thrill you get.

I can’t find enough words to describe my “thrill”.

It’s something that you have to experience, because music is actually a feeling that has to be felt. Besides, it’s amazing to see thousands of people dancing to your tunes. What more can one ask for!

How important do you think it is for parents/teachers to support kids who want to do this?

With B.E. schools now catering to DJ/Music classes in their yearly syllabus, I think that, at every school in India, such arts should be made compulsory. Kids should be encouraged at a young age because a building is as strong as the foundation it’s been laid on, so it is very important for parents and teachers to support kids who want to pursue fine arts. Kids should be given a chance to explore who they are and what they’d like to be.

What should children who want to pursue music as a profession do for attracting relevant opportunities?

I feel they should learn music by learning to play

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Career – Veterinarian

Want to Become Doctor Dolittle?

If you squirm every time a horse cries from pain or someone hurts a dog, read this article with full focus and keep this in mind while deciding your line of career.

R. Krishna Are you the kind of person who wants to hug every adorable dog they see? Or pet a fluffy cat that looks at you with love and simply tries to say, “Take me home”? Do you love watching movies about animals and fight for the remote to switch on National Geographic or Animal Planet? Well, my dear friends, it is then evident that you love animals, which is the first qualification you will need to possess, if you wish to become a veterinarian, or a doctor for animals, when you grow up.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO STUDY TO BECOME A VETERINARIAN? The academic process to become a veterinarian or vet is completion of class XII in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry and Biology as the main subjects. You should pass your class XII exams with a minimum 50 per cent score. Alternatively, you can complete BSc from any recognised board with not less than two subjects from among Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

After completion of any of the above degrees, you may apply and appear for the All India Pre Veterinary Test (AIPVT). This is a common entrance exam mandatory for becoming a veterinarian, which is conducted by the Veterinary Council of India (VCI), New Delhi, to fill 15 per cent seats in each veterinary college in India.

Apart from this entrance exam, you can appear for any of the following entrance tests: The Combined Biotechnology Entrance Examination by Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Entrance exam by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research The Kerala Engineering Agriculture Medical entrance examination Entrance exam by the College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Bhubaneswar Indian Veterinary Research Institute Entrance Exam Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test — for admission to select engineering and medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh Should you wish to study further, you may pursue a master degree (MVSc) with a specialisation in surgery, medicine, genetics

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and breeding, pharmacology, immunology or biotechnology.

There are many interesting options for employment once you become a vet. You may join a government hospital or even the armed forces as a vet. About 30 officers are recruited every year as vets. And of course, there is the option of starting your own clinic. You could also join an NGO whose cause is animal welfare.

Being a veterinarian is indeed a very satisfying career.

Basically, you need to have a real love for animals and have a sharper sense of perception, as your patients cannot verbalise what they feel. It is your sensitivity that will guide you in making the proper diagnosis and thereafter the treatment. So, in a sense, this is a more challenging diagnosis pattern.

Also, you need to have very good skills in dealing with sometimes difficult pet owners. You also need to keep safe from some diseases that are passed on from animals to humans, but, then, this comes with the territory.

As far as the remuneration goes, you may begin with Rs.20,000–Rs.25,000 per month and if you should have your own practice, then you can perhaps make much more, but then the initial investment in a clinic, instruments and assistants will have to be made. Some privately practising veterinarians have a clinic-cum-grooming centre for pets. This brings in more remuneration. Besides, today, fashion and grooming is not just limited to humans but to pets as well.

TO SUM UP WHAT A VET REALLY DOES… A veterinary doctor is one who treats the illnesses and injuries of animals. They are also known as veterinarians, vets, or veterinary surgeons. Only those with a background in science can make a career in this field. Other than that, only a person who loves caring for pets can understand their pain and treat them effectively. Thus, those who love animals should think of shaping their career in veterinary medicine. And do remember, the scope is large for vets in our country, and, like it is in every other field, one will need to network and spread the good word about the new vet on the block!

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Holidays Special

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Gudi Padva Chaitra Shukla Pratipada is called Gudi Padva in Marathi. It marks the first day of Chaitra, the first month of the Hindu year. This day is the beginning of the Chaitra Navaratri, and Ghatasthapana or Kalash Sthapana is performed on this day.

Gayatri T. Rao Etymology: The term Gudi Padva originates from the Prakrit word paddava or paddavo. It also represents the first day of the lunar month, i.e. the day after a newmoon night (Amavasya), called Pratipada in Sanskrit.

Pratipada in Tamil is Padya. The term Padva or Padvo is also given to the day Balipratipada, celebrated during Diwali and associated with the end of the harvest season.

Significance: Besides being the first day of the New Year, astronomically this new-moon day has a special meaning. On this day, the sun enters the first sign of the zodiac sign Aries and signifies the natural beginning of spring. Civilisations like ancient Egyptians are said to have known this. Nowruz or literally the New Day of Persians is also based on this observation. However, the sun’s positions are not the same every year and thus, every three years, an Adhika (extra) month is added to adjust the Gudi Padva day to fall in the beginning of the spring season. It is one of the most famous harvesting festivals in India. Gudi Padva signifies the end of the Rabi season.

Celebration: People in Maharashtra hoist a Gudhi on this day. The Gudhi is usually found sticking out of a window or prominently displayed somewhere else in front of homes. The Gudhi is significantly placed on the right side of the main entrance of the house. The right side stands for the active state of the soul. A bright green or yellow cloth with brocade or zari is taken. In this cloth, gaathi (sugar crystals), neem leaves, a twig of bamboo, and a garland of red flowers are collected and tied. Then, this knotted cloth is tied to a long bamboo stick. A copper or Crystal Quest

silver pot is inverted over the knot and the stick. This is called the Gudhi.

People do spring cleaning to prepare for this day.

Intricate rangoli designs are made on their doorsteps. The colours on the designs mirror the colours of spring. New clothes are worn, and family get togethers are arranged.

Traditional families eat the bitter-sweet leaves of the neem tree. In Karnataka, a boiled decoction made of tender neem leaves, tamarind water, gur (jaggery), some salt and some peppercorns are had by all in the household first thing in the morning after bath. This decoction varies from region to region. Medicinal properties such as boosting of the immune system are associated with this decoction. In Maharashtra, shrikhand-puri or puran poli, too, is made and consumed. Konkanis associate this festival with Kanangachi Kheer, a variety of pudding made of sweet potato, coconut milk, jaggery, and rice flour, among others.

Names in Different States and Communities Gudi Padva – Maharashtra Samvatsar Padvo – Hindu Konkanis of Goa and the Konkani community in Kerala Yugadi – Konkanis in Karnataka, Kannadigas in Karnataka Ugadi – Andhra Pradesh Navreh – Kashmiri Pandits Cheti Chand – Sindhis

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Holidays Special – Different Holidays

Break Times As you check out the school scenario in different countries, you will find that the kind k of vacations children across the world get varies from one nation to another. Here’s how various countries provide holiday breaks to their students.

Those highlighted days in a calendar, Including summer, winter and Easter, Are meant for us to celebrate, observe and remember And nothing at all to ponder over!

Those days that we count down to Are meant for us to celebrate, solemnise and pay tributes to; No alarms to wake us up, No schedules to follow up.

A break from the routine, When we all go totally offline; Be it Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays They are all holidays!

Divya Ramaswamy

weeks or less. Kids who go to schools in the southern hemisphere get this break for a longer period, which could be 5–14 weeks.

Summer Holidays Schools around the world remain closed during the summer to let children chill out at home. This vacation happens to be the longest break in an academic year, usually lasting between 5 and 14 weeks, with the duration varying from one country to another.

Summer vacation indicates the curtains drawing on the previous academic year and signals the impending next step of the school-life ladder. While some kids prefer to make the most of this break by joining summer camps, many spend the vacation according to their free will. Some may catch up on studies, whereas others may travel or just relax.

INDIA

Let’s take a look at the different holidays that are enjoyed by children in various parts of the world.

Apart from the summer and winter/Christmas vacations, Indian schools grant their students holidays for celebrating various religious festivals, including the following: Hindu festivals such as Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Holi and Dussehra Islamic occasions such as Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Mawlid an-Nabi and Muharram (which is considered the start of the Islamic New Year) Christian occasions such as Christmas and Good Friday/Easter Sikh festivals such as Guru Nanak Gurpurab Jain occasions such as Mahavir Jayanti and Paryushan

GLOBAL Christmas/Winter Holidays

Indian schools also have national holidays on Independence Day (August 15), Republic Day (January 26) and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2).

Across the globe, only around 180–200 days of a year are meant for school life, while the rest of the days are blessed to be very special. Kids everywhere happen to prefer the latter set of days over the 200 days of school.

Throughout the world, children are officially granted a few special days when they get to be away from school and take a break from their books and work, stay at home, and play the sport they are fond of or watch their favourite shows on television. These special days are called Holidays.

To celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and welcome a new forthcoming year, kids in predominantly Christian countries are asked to take a break from school and spread happiness during this winter recess, which usually lasts for 2–3 weeks. The Christmas holidays for European children may be shorter, though — two April-May 2013

DID YOU KNOW? In the past, summer vacations were a customary practice of sending children home so that they could help their parents with farm work.

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THE U.S. Besides the summer and Christmas breaks, American schools generally have the following holidays as well: Thanksgiving Holiday: Occurs at the end of November and usually lasts for a week. Normally inclusive of Thanksgiving Day, the three days preceding this day, and the day after Thanksgiving Day. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Break: Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on the third Monday of January each year. In many cases, the break may also include half of the Friday that comes before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the weekend after this Friday, and the Tuesday that follows the occasion.

Columbus Day Break: The second Monday in October is celebrated as Columbus Day. The break usually lasts for a week, but in certain areas only the Columbus Day is given as holiday.

Other important holiday breaks in the U.S. include: Winter Break (a week in February or March) Spring Break (a week in April, usually around the time of Easter) Snow Days (mostly unscheduled)

IMPORTANT BREAKS IN OTHER COUNTRIES Malaysia: Kids here have an off from late May until mid-early June on the occasion of the Malaysian king’s birthday, which is celebrated on the first Saturday of June. Another break is from early November till the day before the first Monday or Wednesday of the New Year. Recently, students have started getting a week off for the Chinese New Year festivities.

Austria: Apart from the summer, Christmas and Easter breaks, children here have their mid-term Crystal Quest

break in February, which lasts for a week, and the Whitsun break, which goes on for four days, including the weekend (Whitsun is the seventh Sunday after Easter).

Czechoslovakia: Kids in this country have a holiday on October 28, the day of proclamation of Czechoslovakia, among other breaks.

France: French schoolchildren have their holidays scheduled by the country’s Ministry of Education.

To avoid overcrowding in tourist spots, the holiday schedules are staggered by dividing the country into three zones — Zone A, Zone B and Zone C. Germany: Kids here have their summer holidays between July and late August. Regional differences may exist.

The Netherlands: Kids have May holidays, which last 1–2 weeks covering a period of national holidays such as Queen’s Day (April 30), Remembrance of the Dead (May 4) and Liberation Day (May 5) and at times including Ascension Day and Pentecost.

Poland: Kids have a holiday for Corpus Christi, which is for one day in May or June, apart from other breaks and holidays.

Australia: Students have school for four terms separated by breaks — the summer holidays (starting in mid-December and usually going on until the beginning of February), the autumn holiday (in April, may include Easter), a two-week break in late June or early July, and the two-week-long September Holidays.

Vacations could be for inserting breaks in between two terms, commemorating various events, and celebrating various religious festivals and events. It is evident that children throughout the world are given almost a hundred days a year as vacations, whether they are spent at home or in travel.

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Holidays Special – Clothing

Dressing up for the Heat This summer, know what’s good to wear and what you should store away in your cupboard till the weather cools down.

Suchandra De Sarkar Clothes are not only items for the body’s protection and dignity but also indispensable markers for our personality.

It is not different when it comes to children, who are individuals in their own right.

TIPS FOR SUMMER ATTIRE Summer clothing should be in light colours so that the heat is not absorbed. Light shades of yellow, cream, pink and indigo will be perfect choices, while white will always be the winner during summer.

Bermudas, shorts, trousers, skirts, floral tops, and kurtapyjamas made in natural fabrics keep you comfortable during summer. Half-sleeved and open-necked shirts and sleeveless tops and frocks will make you feel cooler.

For infants and toddlers, the key word is ‘breathable’. As they are not able to express or explain their discomfort, it is

important to make them wear soft clothes that are loosefitting and don’t give them allergic rashes during summer.

Adolescents and teens have their own personalities and tastes. It’s important to talk to them before buying their outfits. T-shirts and jeans are indispensable in their wardrobe. Both kids and teenagers can wear them everywhere and play comfortably in them. It’s not difficult to wash and maintain them, and that is important because children’s laundry tends to pile up.

However, during the hottest months of summer, it is advisable to opt for cotton trousers instead of jeans.

Avoid silk, wool and synthetic materials such as nylon, polyester and rayon, as these cause suffocation and rashes due to their inability to absorb perspiration.

Avoid thick jackets, thick tops, and dresses that shine and shimmer. Summer in most parts of India is typically humid, scorching and harsh. In case you reside in a place with such a summer climate, choose cotton, voile and muslin as your summertime fabrics. The pores in these fabrics help the body sweat and cool down naturally.

Even for weddings and formal occasions, wear clothes made of materials that can breathe and that you feel comfortable in. Nobody will mind those wrinkles, as ‘casual’ is the word during summer.

ACCESSORIES Cover your head with a cap. Girls can try out trendy hats and scarves. Umbrellas may not sound fashionable but provide excellent protection from the heat. Nowadays, fashion setters, too, have been considering umbrellas, especially those with trendy designs and patterns.

Use sunglasses and sunscreen lotion.

Keep your hair absolutely clean and cut it short.

Avoid jewellery. Go for colourful purses, handbags, shoes, headbands and belts to complement the lightcoloured clothing.

Finally, it’s not about stashing your closet with clothes that are purchased in a shopping spree and are forgotten fast. Go for clothes that make you comfortable and happy and you want to wear again. Comfort, not fashion, is the ultimate word during your summer holidays.

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Crystal Quest

Holidays Special – Books to Read

Party for One This summer vacation, all you need to do in order to have a great time is curl up with a good book!

Louna Cie Summer vacations are all about having fun. Whether we go out on holiday or stay indoors, we all make elaborate plans for this special break from our daily routine. Many of these plans involve doing a number of things with a number of people, but reading is one of those activities that requires just one thing — a good book! Here are some of our recommendations to make your summer vacation a memorable one.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Written by the great humorist Mark Twain in 1876, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer tells the story of young Tom and the many scrapes he gets into. Most of these are harmless pranks and usually involve shirking homework and trying to get out of doing chores, and they’re loads of fun to read about. Whether it is Tom tricking his friends into painting the fence — a punishment he has been given for bunking school — or running away to an island to become a pirate, the book will have you in splits.

It is said that the hero was modelled on the author and his friends, and, soon after it was published, the book became a major bestseller. If you enjoy this book, be sure to watch the movie and read the adventures of Tom’s friend Huck, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn!

The Harry Potter Series If modern-day fairytales suit you better, why not pick up the Harry Potter stories written by J. K. Rowling? Spread over seven parts — all huge bestsellers and translated into several languages around the world — the story begins with Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Harry, the hero, lives in a closet under the staircase with his relatives, wears his horrible cousin’s hand-me-downs and is bullied by him and his goon friends.

Life changes dramatically when, as the clock strikes 12 on his 11th birthday, he’s greeted by a giant bearing a giant present — freedom from his dreary life and a chance to study at Hogwarts, a school where magic is taught! Harry Crystal Quest

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makes great friends at school and gets to go on scrumptious adventures — but there seems to be a dark shadow over his bright silver cloud, and there are many questions hanging. For instance, why is Harry’s name whispered in the school hallways? What caused the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead? Who is ‘He Who Must Not Be Named’? And what is the secret that the three-headed dog is guarding? The first book reveals these great secrets, and, if you like the sampling, the rest of the series will have you hooked as well. Millions in the world have been mesmerised by Harry’s escapades, making Rowling very, very rich — richer even than the Queen of England.

Inkheart Our third recommendation is a book that was originally written in German by an author known as the German J. K. Rowling.

The bestselling children’s author Cornelia Funke’s works have been translated into a number of languages, and some have even been made into movies. Inkheart, the first book in the Inkheart series, weaves magic into words — literally. For whenever Meggie’s father Mo reads a storybook, the characters come out from the page into the real word — and swallow a real person back into the book’s pages in return. And that’s exactly how Resa, Meggie’s mother, disappears and how the blackhearted Capricorn enters our world. As Meggie discovers she shares her father’s power, they both set out on a journey to rescue Resa and set things right. Will they succeed? Read this story-within-a-story to find out.

Beautiful illustrations and quotes from famous and little known books precede each chapter and, if you’re up for it, take you on a book quest of your own. Anthea Bells’ translation brings out the well-etched characters to life, while a riveting storyline makes Inkheart a page turner that will keep you up all night. If you’re ready for more thrills, read on the other two books in the series, Inkspell and Inkdeath, and we guarantee this summer vacation will leave you spellbound.

Other Summer Recommendations Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie Beastly Tales from Here and There by Vikram Seth The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman The 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

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Holidays Special – Food

Summertime Feast!

While we don’t ask for the heat that is characteristic of this time of the year, we surely love to treat ourselves to all things cold, light and tasty during this time. Here’s exactly what you should eat to stay cool and healthy during these sunny months.

Priyanka Agarwal The sun is blazing wherever we go, the temperature is rising, and we feel hot and sweaty while our throat goes all dry. Also, our appetite isn’t the same as it is during the other seasons.

Warm foods are not on our must-eat list right now; we want more of chilled beverages and ice creams! But ask yourself two questions: Are these the foods I ought to be eating during the summer? And will my body actually benefit from these delights?

That’s why we have created this summer-food guide for you.

Go through it and plan your meals accordingly — your body will thank you for being thoughtful about your food choices.

A HEALTHY DAY

Before Breakfast: You could start your morning with at least one fresh, juicy and sweet fruit, such as peach, plum and pear.

Peaches and plums are rich in vitamin C, beta carotene and other antioxidants, all of which help in cell growth and avoiding cell damage. Pears are a great source of dietary fibre and contain a good amount of essential vitamins and minerals.

Breakfast: Your breakfast, which follows the fruit, should fill you up but without being heavy. For instance, it could be the classic cucumber-tomato-mint chutney sandwiches made from wholewheat or multi-grain bread. Or ask Mommy to prepare some sprouts for you. These sprouts can be boiled, mildly spiced and tossed in a pan with a little oil. They, along with a raw-vegetable

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salad, can then be wrapped in wheat rotis to make a yummy and healthy frankie. You could also help Mommy in making a delicious sprouts curry, which you can eat with rotis or wholewheat bread.

Sprouts are a brilliant source of essential enzymes, which the body requires for energy, as well as of oxygen, which improves blood circulation and immunity.

Lunch/Dinner: You could either relish your favourite sabziroti or dal-chawal combo or eat a bowl of a healthy khichdi. Being a mixture of rice, lentils and, sometimes, vegetables, khichdi is filled with carbohydrates, proteins, fibre and other essential nutrients. If you have it with a katori of dahi, you’re not only adding to the protein count of your meal but also deriving the best way of staying cool and avoiding allergies, ulcers, boils and other heat-related problems.

Do stock up on the following veggies: Gourds: Such as dudhi (bottle gourd), turai (ridge gourd) and tinda (Indian round gourd). Rich in essential vitamins and minerals, these vegetables are said to help bring down fatigue levels.

Pumpkin (yes, the Halloween veggie!): Great for cooling your body and protecting it from indigestion. Also, pumpkin gets its orange colour from its carotenoid content, which is an antioxidant that promotes healthy cell growth.

Potato: As a rich source of complex carbohydrates, it enhances digestion, fulfils your hunger without making you feel too heavy, and provides you with lots of energy.

Tomato: Rich in vitamins A, C and E, folic acid, lycopene and beta carotene. The skin of the tomato has been proven to be effective against inflammation and allergic reactions. More importantly, beta carotene is an antioxidant that can protect your body against damage from sunlight and be utilised by the body for preparing vitamin A, which is an important nutrient for healthy eyesight.

Onion: Helps detoxify your body, acts as an antioxidant, boosts immunity and brings down inflammation.

Cauliflower: Apart from being a good antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory vegetable, cauliflower aids digestion and detoxification and also helps boost the health of the nervous system, bones and muscles with its vitamin B, potassium and phosphorus content, respectively.

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Watermelon: With the goodness of over 90 per cent water, having this fruit replenishes the water that your body loses while sweating. Watermelon is also endowed with vitamins A, B6 and C and essential antioxidants, apart from other nutrients.

Mangoes: They contain essential carbohydrates, vitamin C and minerals, aside from several other nutrients. They aid digestion, improve your skin and boost your immune system to fight diseases. For an even higher dose of vitamin C, try kairi, the raw version of the mango.

Berries: Strawberries, raspberries and gooseberries are the most recommended, owing to their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well as (especially in case of gooseberries) high fibre content.

Amla: Apart from being a powerful source of vitamin C, amla nourishes the skin and hair, boosts digestion and enhances the immune system.

Citrus Fruits: Such as orange, sweet lime (mosambi) and lemon. Vitamin C is the known content in these, but what is also important is that these fruits come with a long list of other important nutrients, which help in overall well-being.

Bananas: If mango is the king of fruits, then banana should be called the president! There are so many good things this long, yellow fruit can help our body with — strengthening of bones, recharge of energy, reduction of stress, boosting of mental alertness and concentration, and a vital supply of iron, amongst many other benefits.

Grapes: Fresh grapes come with a plethora of antioxidant properties.

Litchis: They help in maintaining the fluid balance in our body, building stronger bones (thanks to the phosphorus and magnesium content), and strengthening the immune system.

HYDRATE AT ALL TIMES

SAY ‘NO’ TO T HE SE Fried Snacks: These include vada pav, samosas and burgers. If you have too much of them, they can cause high acid secretion in the stomach, resulting in acidity.

Soft Drinks: Carbonated colas may be tempting, but they can make you run to the loo again and again, draining a lot of water from your body in a less amount of time. They may also impact your body’s cooling mechanism.

Non-vegetarian Foods: Cut down on chicken, eggs and red meat. However, do include oily fish in your diet, as it is rich in essential fatty acids such as Omega-3, which can help improve your overall body health.

Ice Creams: They may be alright once in a while, but rather replace them with homemade fruit yoghurt, kulfi, or shrikhand, which contain less or no preservatives.

Nimboo Paani: There’s no way you can deny its rich vitamin C content. Top it with a good dose of honey for an enriching effect.

Chhaas: With pudina leaves mixed in it, chhaas is an excellent cooler with high amounts of calcium.

Jaljeera: Boosts appetite and helps in conditions such as sunstrokes, indigestion and dehydration.

Mango Drinks: Derive the most of the golden fruit with beverages such as mango lassi, mango milkshake, mango smoothie and aam panna made from kairi.

SOME HANDY TIPS

Include a lot of cereals such as wheat, rice and oats in your meals.

In order to keep your body temperature at an optimum figure during the summer, it is important to have an adequate intake of water and other fluids, considering the heat-induced sweating results in a huge loss of water from our body. In fact, you should not even wait to feel thirsty to drink water.

Try having a bowl of soup (like a tomato and moong dal soup) and a serving of a salad (like green salad, vegetable and paneer salad, and sprouts salad) along with your meals. And, yes, it will help a lot if you could skip the mayo dressing.

Apart from water, try these fluids too: Coconut Water: Rich in carbohydrates, fibre, proteins, vitamins and minerals, coconut water makes up for the essential salts that are lost from our body during dehydration.

Make your own chaat with diced potatoes, chopped tomatoes, chopped onions, boiled kabuli chana or chana dal, tamarind chutney, coriander-mint chutney, dahi, roasted cumin powder and coriander leaves.

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Holidays Special – Movies

Lights, camera, action!

There’s no time like the present to curl up with these golden oldies.

Anaita Vazifdar-Davar

Children’s films are not just animation and cartoons; film-makers have made sensitive movies with child-centric themes and social messages, which appeal across all age groups. Presenting a selection of some classics through the ages, films that were not only hugely commercially successful but were also landmarks in the history of Indian and English cinema.

H O L L Y W O O D The Sound of Music Seven children, a strict father and a new nanny with whimsical ideas up her sleeve give us a combination that is at once amusing and unforgettable. This 1965 American musical that won five Oscars stars the effervescent Julie Andrews as Maria, the aspiring young nun sent as governess to the home of dashing widower Captain Von Trapp. With generous scoops of music and a sprinkle of mischievous antics, the film shows how Maria brings laughter into the home and hearts of the children and rekindles love in their father.

Watch it for breathtaking views of Austria and interest-piquing stirrings of the Nazi movement. It has spawned guided tours in Austria and sing-along shows around the world.

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The Parent Trap Sharon is prim and proper and from Boston. Susan is a tomboy from California.

What could they have in common? Parents!

When the 13-year-olds meet for the first time, at camp, their mutual dislike is apparent.

After waging war on each other, they are put in solitary confinement, together, and it is here that they learn they are twins, separated as babies when their parents divorced. What follows is a comic caper of switching identities and using ingenuity to set a trap to bring their parents together.

The original film was released in 1961 and starred Hayley Mills. The 1998 version starred Lindsay Lohan. In both, the lead actor played a double role.

The Wizard of Oz We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz! When Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are uprooted by a tornado, she has no idea of the adventure upon which she has unwittingly embarked. A good witch battles a bad witch, ruby slippers mysteriously appear on Dorothy’s feet, and an unusual band of travel companions — a scarecrow, tin man and cowardly lion — are what Dorothy has to contend with before she can meet the Wizard of Oz and return home. While it may deal with fantasy and adventure, the film also teaches us the value of loyalty, bravery and gratitude.

The poet Ogden Nash was asked to work on the script. The final draft was the product of many creative minds.

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21 Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

The Kid

For those of us who grew up on a diet of Roald Dahl, watching the film adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory made us feel, quite literally, like the proverbial kid in a candy store. Long before Johnny Depp played the eccentric and mysterious chocolatier, it was the sparkly eyed Gene Wilder who captured our imagination and whisked us into a magical world — a world of sweet treats, freely flowing chocolate rivers, Oompa-Loompas, experimental chewing gum, the Great Glass Elevator and lots more. Put aside the calorie counter for a while, pick up some scrumptious goodies and settle down for a fantastical adventure.

Nowadays, when movies are judged on their special effects and soundtracks, it’s hard to imagine watching a silent film. If you want a real old-fashioned black and white one, The Kid it is! Funny man Charlie Chaplin stars as the lovable tramp who cares for an abandoned child in this feature written, produced and directed by him.

It is said that the relationship between the child and the tramp stems from om the death of Chaplin’s infant son.

Peter Ostrum, who played Charlie in the movie, acted in no other films. Although he was offered more roles, he went on to become a vet.

B O L L Y W O O D Kabuliwala As school children, we studied this poignant story by Rabindranath Tagore. Young Mini is afraid of the Afghani dry-fruit seller who comes to her home every day. The vendor pampers her with his wares for he sees in Mini his beloved daughter, Amina, whom he had to leave behind in his homeland. Although kind and gentle, he, along with his countrymen, is accused of kidnapping children. Their world turns upside down when the kabuliwala is imprisoned. What happens to Mini without her faithful friend? Will she recognise him when he is released? And can their friendship survive the trials of time?

Watch it for brilliant performances by Balraj Sahni, who redefined acting.

Dosti Two differently abled boys thrown together after fate deals them a cruel blow, one heartless city, and admirable loyalty come together to make this 1964 tearjerker a popular choice. Within a short period of time, Ramu finds himself an orphan and victim of an accident that leaves him without the use of his left leg. Roaming the streets of Bombay, he comes across a blind boy, Mohan. Together, they sing and play the harmonica to earn money from passersby, all the while in search of bigger and better things. Does opportunity knock for them or are they destined to a life of penury?

Keep an ear out for hit music by LaxmikantPyarelal that won the Filmfare Award.

Mister India “Mogambo khush hua.” This statement and the laughter of the evil Mogambo (I was always a little wary of Amrish Puri after this role) kept playing in my mind even months after hearing it onscreen.

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The film, too, is one that memory retains for movie-lovers through the ages. Arun Verma (Anil Kapoor) cares for orphans in a house that is required for nefarious purposes by the villainous Mogambo. With the help of a device that renders one invisible, Arun can thwart the wrong-doer’s plans in this action-packed film by Shekhar Kapur.

Catch Sridevi doing an amusing impersonation of the legendary Charlie Chaplin.

Boot Polish Belu and Bhola are sent to live with their cruel aunt who forces them to earn a living by begging. Befriended by the kindly Chacha, they resolve never to seek alms again; instead, they pool their meagre resources and buy boot polish, a commodity as precious to them as gold. But soon the sky clouds over — Chacha is arrested, Bhola is going to be picked up by the police and Belu flees on a train.

A wealthy, childless couple adopts Belu, but her heart longs for her brother. Will they ever be reunited? This film by Raj Kapoor leaves us in turn elated for the children and with our heart in our mouth, wondering what destiny has in store for them.

The movie was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Haathi Mere Saathi If Disney had made a Hindi movie, this would be it. Kids will love the ubiquitous animals in the film, especially the four elephants with whom the orphan Raju has to perform. Through dint of hard work, Raju manages to earn enough to buy his own zoo and treats all the animals as his friends. Raju meets Tanu and, although her father is initially opposed to it, they marry. His wife, though, doesn’t want to compete with animals for Raju’s attention.

And when their child is born, afraid for its safety, she gives Raju a choice — his animals or his family.

Keep an ear out for songs by Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi.

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Holidays Special – Games

The Games We Love to Play What’s school life without vacations? Of what use is a vacation without ih some fun f andd games? Here’s a list of all that you can play during these leisure days!

Suchandra De Sarkar The summer holidays are here! It’s time for some fun and enjoyment, and what can be more rewarding than games? While physical activities will help you develop your muscles, flexibility and general fitness,

mental exercises will work wonders for your patience, concentration, imagination, memory, and strategymaking skills. Needless to say, with these games, you will also learn to socialise and make friends.

INDOOR GAMES Board games such as Chess, Carrom, Ludo, Snakes and ladders, Mahjong, Monopoly, Dominoes, Bagatelle, Backgammon and Carcassonne (in which players gradually build a medieval landscape), among many others Card games Basketball: A net can be fixed in the backyard of your house or in the compound of the local club or your residential apartment complex. If this is not possible, small balls can be thrown into buckets hung high up on a wall.

Puzzles: Crossword, Jigsaw, Matching Shapes, Sudoku, Rubik’s Cube etc.

Building games: Any other object can be used in these games instead of blocks. For example, a tower can be built with writing pads or pillows.

Word-making games such as Scrabble, Hangman and Scrambler Group-activity games such as Simon Says, Treasure Hunt, Hide and Seek, Freeze (children will freeze when the music stops and make shapes of animals, trees or anything else), and Dumb Charades Memory games Shadow play Role-play Dress-up relay race: In this game, the group that dons and takes off costumes first wins.

Art and craft such as drawing, painting, needlework, origami (making shapes out of paper), pottery and knitting Table-top games such as Table Tennis, Billiards, Snooker and Pool

During the holidays, indoor games are normally played by children or young adults along with family members or among friends who have gathered in a friend’s house. Some games for toddlers or young children need active participation or help from parents g or elders,, resultingg in bonding.

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The equipments used for playing indoor games are generally simple and minimal. Sometimes, the games just involve human senses or spontaneous reflexive actions. Indoor games indeed bring an element of familiarity and comfort and cannot be hampered by inclement weather.

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OUTDOOR GAMES These games, as they are played in the open, have various benefits such as exposure to fresh open air and sunshine, a variety of different playing surfaces, more space, concrete exercises, more players and more spectators.

There are numerous types of outdoor games that are played by professionals and trained players, which require specific gears, sporting arena, and extreme skill and supervision, especially in case of combat sports. Amateur young adults and children can play and enjoy the following sports, apart from several others: Cricket Tennis Basketball Football Volleyball Beach ball Badminton

Do keep in mind the following precautions while playing outdoor games: Be cautious of distractions, slippery surfaces and the sun glare.

Avoid playing in areas with traffic or congestion.

Keep a first-aid kit and lots of drinking water at hand.

Even if you are muddy, dusty and dirty after playing, a sense of well-being will prevail.

Athletic sports such as running, jumping, relay-race, throwing and walking Kabbadi Water sports such as swimming (in private or club pools or in the ponds of a locality) Fishing Cycling Kite flying Skateboarding Camping

What can be more refreshing and fun-filled than being with old and new friends participating in sports together? You learn to follow rules, develop team spirit, understand different strategies, accept defeat gracefully, and, above all, respect others. So, move away from that computer, that TV and those video games and go, get sweaty!

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Holidays Special – Social Things to Do

Reciprocation leads to appreciation “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” ~ Muhammad Ali

Suchandra De Sarkar Social Activities How about being a responsible citizen this summer?

Our society, family and surroundings provide us with food and shelter, education, companionship, security, love and friendship — it is never too early to start giving back. You don’t have to be a saint; just be a kind and caring person and the kindness will surely be returned to you. Take some time off from those trips to film shows, shopping arcades, clubs and parties and enjoy the smile and joy that you bring to some unfortunate people around you.

How You Can Help Around:

their studies, play with them, talk to them, and buy small gifts from your pocket-money as tokens of your friendship. Donate your dearest books and not the tattered or dusty ones. Your parents will be happy to replace them.

Ageing is an inevitable process. Today’s grandmother was a young and vibrant schoolgirl once. Ask your school or parents to organise a visit to an old age home. Read out stories to the residents, run small errands for them, make them laugh with your jokes, bring them flowers, take your friends and perform a simple song and dance programme.

The elderly lady next door lives alone with her pet dog. How about walking the dog sometimes and bring her some relief?

The octogenarian gentleman round the corner has heart ailments. What if you visit him sometimes and offer to fetch his routine medicines from the local shop?

Not all children are as privileged as you are. They lack in education, care and family support for no fault of theirs. Ask your school or parents to organise a visit to an orphanage and meet the children. Help with

We know that you take good care of your pet and love it genuinely. What about the abandoned and sick dogs, cats, rabbits and birds that are leading miserable lives at animal shelters? They too deserve affection and companionship. Visit an animal shelter and offer your help. You will not be asked to perform specialised tasks. So don’t worry about getting bitten by a rabid Alsatian! There are many routine chores, including paperwork that everyone can help with.

Micro-volunteering or online volunteering for nonprofit or charitable organisations via the home computer or smartphone. Examples- online research, translating documents, writing articles for websites, advocacy, preparing brochures etc, Be passionate about a cause this summer and spend some productive time in voluntary social service.

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Holidays Special – Eco Things to Do Holid

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Conserve, Preserve and Protect Here are some things you can do to show your love, care and concern for Mother Earth.

Suchandra De Sarkar Ecology and You Grow into environment-friendly adults. Not only will you contribute to our legacy, you will also develop selfrespect and a sense of worth. Students and young adults are the future and can make important contributions to the conservation and restoration of our ecosystem. Keeping this in mind, academic courses have been designed in universities to teach students ecological principles for maintaining our wetlands, grasslands, water-bodies and forests that have been slipping into neglectful oblivion and, at the same time, help them make a career out of the knowledge they gain.

Spend some partying weekends by paying relaxing and refreshing visits to the local marine museums, nature parks, eco-parks, zoos and botanical gardens instead.

They are the best tutors to teach you the survival skills of animals and plants; wildlife and plant identification; and the link among conservation and social issues.

Visit community services. Try simple things such as watering the seeds that the local Municipality

came and planted one day in your locality. Build a fence around the budding trees to make them safe. Help keep your neighbourhood clean by routinely reminding locals that garbage should not be dumped here and there.

Arrange a cleaning drive on a Sunday morning. Organise an awareness-building walk for cancer or autism with handmade posters, placards and flags. Organise a beach-cleaning drive with your friends. Motivate local residents to pool funds and feed, medicate or sterilise the stray cats and dogs.

Charity begins at home. Water your grandmother’s potted plant every day. Start a small kitchen garden in your backyard. If you live in an apartment, place some new potted plants in your balcony and water them yourself. Air the indoor plants to give them some sunshine every morning. Put a small water bowl for birds in your balcony and clean it every morning. Conserve water and spread the word by putting up a poster in the building.

Switch off electrical equipments and water-taps when not in use.

Understand that some materials can be recycled. Help conserve our resources by identifying the recyclable objects and disposing such garbage separately.

Keep your eyes and ears open. Investigate when you see a tree getting chopped or a pond getting filled with soil and stone-chips, ask why and inform your elders. Protest if necessary.

Contact local museums and social service organisations and find out if they have projects on biodiversity monitoring, marine life conservation, wildlife habitat restoration, and environmental sustainability. Ask how you can help. You can help simply by preparing catalogues or marking labels.

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Holidays Special

Let’s Declutter There are possessions that are of use to us and those that we don’t require anymore.

So, what do you do about the latter things?

Most importantly, how do you decide what’s important and what’s not? Here’s an art that can help you take a call.

Suchandra De Sarkar A spic–and–span house not only looks good but is also instrumental in improving the efficiency levels of all the people living in it, as everything can be easily found in such a house and more space exists in it for filing and storing important stuff. Hence, it is important that you keep your home clean by following the mantra of DECLUTTERING. The most important thing that you must do before decluttering is DECIDE — ask yourself whether you should keep something, donate or sell it, or throw it away. Some more questions you will need to ask yourself before starting the decluttering operation: Do I need this object?

When did I last use it?

Do I have another object of this kind?

Why should I keep it?

Will I be able to manage without this object?

To start with, gather all electronic and electrical gadgets that are not functioning anymore. Ask your elders to give them away or even sell them. There are always small-budget buyers for old computers and cellular phones.

The kitchen is the most dreaded part in the house when it comes to cleaning. Help make it shiny and bright, with more space devoted

HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FOR REUSING AND RECYCLING Make papier-mâché craft items such as papiermâché pencil holders, using old newspapers.

Hand-paint empty perfume bottles and use them as flower vases.

Line the shelves of kitchen cupboards with sheets of old calendars or newspapers.

Cut the white pages left in old notebooks and diaries in half and bind these pages in small bundles using clips. You can use these newly made diaries for scribbling daily notes.

Melt old wax crayons to make small candles (under the supervision of an adult).

April-May 2013

for storing your favourite foods such as chocolate cornflakes.

Motivate your elders to adopt a simple but stern policy — sort, identify, clean and put away for donating/selling; clean and store for reusing; and tossing away or forgetting about it. Keep 2–3 dustbins ready to make that tossing-away part an occasion of family fun and laughter, and have no mercy when you toss away that broken napkin holder!

Go green and reduce your carbon footprint. We get lots of unsolicited junk mails in our email inbox. Identify what is not necessary, mark unnecessary emails as spam, and unsubscribe from mailing lists that clog your inbox with unwanted emails.

Often, the garage is our favourite dumping ground. If there is extra space for storage, sort things into piles according to categories such as sporting equipments, bicycles, bricks, cement bags, tools for household maintenance, carpentry tools, empty cartons (stacked as much together as possible), empty cans and buckets, etc.

Use labels on kitchen containers, as well as on cans and boxes containing detergent, cotton, first-aid kits, white cement, plaster of Paris, screws and nails, pencils, and other items.

If you find it comforting and relaxing to throw stuff around, make your own dumping ground by decorating or colouring/painting a carton. Keep it in a corner of your room and place a couple of stuffed toys and potted plants around it. You could also hang a colourful bag on the back of your door for dumping clothes, books and papers.

Clean and sort when you feel less grumpy. The sooner, the better, of course!

Some people tend to preserve things owing to the possibility of the need for these things arising on a future date or as fond memories of people or occasions attached to those things. Take for instance Ritika, who is not yet prepared to let go of the broken and beyondrepair serving spoon made from buffalo horn that her best friend had bought for her at a jungle safari. So, get into collective family action. Be firm and be ready for some fun, some leg pulling and some dirt as well. Overhaul your house this summer and conquer the mess!

Crystal Quest

Holidays Special - Helping around the House

Lending a helping hand If you wait till you can do something for everybody, instead of starting to do something for somebody, you will end up doing nothing for nobody.

27

While toddlers love to feel important by lending a helping hand, school-going children may not feel so enthusiastic, but they enjoy being independent and respected when they are asked to help out. In the process of helping mom, dad, grandparents, siblings and the home they call their own, children learn self-worth, responsibility, self-reliance, dignity and skill. American parent educator Kris Loubert says that simple acts, such as picking up their toys and keeping it in the right place have a positive effect on children’s “success in young adulthood — at the university, in their career, and in their families.”

Suchandra De Sarkar

CHORES FOR TODDLERS Help with feeding the pets Help with moving non-glass or light items Help with piling old newspapers and magazines Help with picking up things and place them in their designated places.

PARENTS HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY AS WELL. THEY SHOULD: Set small goals initially.

Supervise without interference, so that the children can enjoy their independence.

Keep a watch on the children’s safety.

Help without being intrusive.

Establish a system and a schedule if the children are teenagers with their input and suggestions. In this way the children know well in advance what is expected from them, and will not be upset with sudden chores thrust upon them. A weekly chore chart is very effective.

Prompt, remind and encourage the children without being nagging.

Recognise the accomplishment. Praise the young workers and reward them from time to time.

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CHORES FOR PRE-TEENS AND TEENS Cleaning windows, doors, computers, kitchen appliances, car, bookshelves, desks, dining table.

Meals — clean and set the table, help with washing and organising ingredients for cooking.

Dusting furniture.

Filing paid bills according to categories.

Walking and bathing the dog.

Watering the plants.

Answering the phone and doorbell.

Storing the grocery just purchased in relevant boxes and containers.

Bringing grandma or grandpa their routine medicines and remembering the schedules.

Helping the younger sibling with their homework, snacks, school uniform, shoes and other things.

Handing out trash-bags to garbage collecting vans.

Make their own bed.

Help with collecting and carrying the laundry.

Let us admit that there is not much excitement, satisfaction or creativity in day-to-day household work.

If it is tedious for adults, it is so for children too. It’s the sense of responsibility to our family and the house we get our food, shelter and security from; and the element of necessity for daily survival that drive us to work around the house. This comes from value structure which has to be imparted to the children from a tender age to make them responsible and sensible young people who can bond with their surroundings.

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28

Holidays Special – Strengthening Foundation

Work hard, play hard Endless playing, travel, treats and mangoes often define the summer holidays. Bags and pencil boxes are usually tucked away, and books land up on the highest of shelves.

Nandini Sengupta draws attention to the importance of balancing work and play, elaborating on a variety of helpful study tips and techniques for this vacation.

It’s a time to relax, it’s a time to enjoy, it’s a time to develop new skills but also to brush up on old ones. So where do you start?

Learning can take on a new shape during your summer holidays and you can give new meaning to it.

Learning need not be boring. Stop thinking that you have to study! Start thinking that you are learning for life, and learning has no age or time bar.

“The bright and focused students use the holiday to learn ahead of their teacher and revise their class notes.”

“Hurray! It’s summer holidays! I can smell the yummy food that mom is cooking, now I can relax and watch all my television programmes and play whenever I like,” said Sagar.

Suraj replied, “…. but that does not mean that our exams won’t be there as scheduled? There cannot be a better time to learn how to study and study to improve our performance . So let’s not be under any illusion that we can neglect our studies.”

Make study tables and charts to make learning interesting and flash cards for formulas, spellings and dates to make it easy to study. Also Make your own time table to organise your day.

Study at least two subjects per day.

Call friends over sometimes to have group discussions or to troubleshoot your problems.

Minimise distractions of phones, television or a crying child.

Set a target for each day.

Here are a few ideas on how to study the different subjects.

MATHEMATICS: For some of us, Math comes easily, and for others, numbers make the head spin! But whatever it is, we need to learn Math because without Math life cannot go on. Holidays April-May 2013

means relaxation but Math cannot be neglected, so what is the solution?

Mathematics cannot be memorised except tables; one has to understand it.

So choose a concept every day and try to understand it.

If you have difficulties ask your elder sibling or a parent and clarify your doubt before moving on.

Now choose five questions based on the concept and answer them; if correct, move on.

If incorrect, choose some more questions which may look different but are about the same concept.

Practice makes you perfect so practise whatever seems more difficult.

The younger ones can put up multiplication tables that you need to remember above your desk (where you can see it every day). Others can put up their log tables or whatever formulas you find difficult to remember.

Crystal Quest

29 MAKE LEARNING INTERESTING AND PLEASURABLE! SCIENCE: Science has many formulas, diagrams; concepts that you need to understand and remember.

Reading and closing your book, recollecting and writing the same is a good way to learn.

To make your concepts clear, watch related programmes on television or on YouTube and research on the Internet to enhance your knowledge. This will make you see your boring topic in a new light.

If diagrams are difficult for you, trace the same with your finger and get a feel of it. You can also practise by using a tracing paper and, to label the parts, use numbers. Make sure you know which number stands for which part. At the end, label in words.

ENGLISH : The command over English lies in your ability to have a powerful vocabulary. Hence, Read the newspaper every morning and note down the difficult words. Find out the meaning of those words and make sentences out of them.

This improves your understanding. In this way, if you can have a total of 500 words in your word bank by the end of your summer vacation, you are indeed richer in your vocabulary and this will help you in your ability to master the language.

Play alphabet games and read good books.

Learn poems and recite them to yourself aloud; the rhythm helps you to jog your memory.

Answer comprehension passages and brush up on your grammar.

Read, write and recollect, reinforce.

LANGUAGES: Some of you may find the study of Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Bengali or whatever is your second language rather boring and tough. Utilise these holidays to read the regional language newspaper, identify five difficult words and find out their meanings. After that make sentences with the same. It is important to have a dictionary for this purpose.

Reading simple story books aloud in your particular language will also help, especially in improving your pronunciation.

So, use your holidays creatively to benefit you. Manage your time judiciously between play, study and extracurricular activities and organise your day to get maximum benefit.

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30

Do It Yourself

You Will Need:

Gayatri T. Rao A wireless toy car can be powered by a magnet and is easy to make. A wireless car can also be powered by electricity; however, you would need to be an expert in electric circuits for building such a car. All a car powered by magnets needs is some magnets and other items easily available at home.

This can be an entertaining and educational activity in which all family members can participate!

Empty small plastic medicine bottle Two small, elongated pieces of magnet Duct tape Two sticks from wet-washing broom made of palm leaves Scissors Four small plastic bottle lids Four thin metal nails Modelling clay

Method Hold the empty plastic bottle on the table in the lying position. On the lower side that is now formed, glue the two pieces of broomsticks with duct tape so that, on either side, a centimetre of the sticks protrudes. Let one stick be near the mouth of the bottle and the other at the opposite end.

1

Stick one elongated magnet on the lower side.

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2 Crystal Quest

31

3

Pierce holes in the centre of each of the four plastic lids so that the metal nails can be inserted through the lids.

Force the nails into the caps to reach the sticks from the broom, with a little gap on either side so that the wheel can move. If the wheels thus formed are wobbly, apply some modelling clay to the end of the sticks.

6

5 Setting the

4 Decorate the car to give it the desired look.

Your wireless toy car is complete!

Car to Speed

Place the car on a flat glass or like a table or de sk. Hold the seco a plastic surface below the tablet nd piece of mag ne op this magnet oppo in such a position that the pole t s of se the poles of th e magnet glued on the car. If you m ov to the car will mov e the magnet below the tablet op, e automatically.

If the position of two magnets is th su the car will jum ch that their poles are alike, th e p of f the table ra en ndomly.

Why Use Magnets

ds – a north pole and Every magnet has two en pole of one magnet is a south pole. If the north le of another magnet, the introduced to the north po ch other. Same is the case two magnets will repel ea gnets are introduced to if the south poles of two ma north pole of one magnet each other. However, if the le of another magnet, po is introduced to the south other. ch ea the magnets will attract Illustrations by Team Oktopus

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32

Activity Page

Let’s Go Shopping!

Compiled by Priyanka Agarwal

Here’s a chance to play quizmaster with your friends and fa mily. Given below are some sets of clues, with each set having four clue s pertaining to a particular item of sh opping. Your job is to conduct a quiz with your pals and family members an d ask them each clue one by one.

3RLQWV V\VWHP ,I DQ\RQH JLYHV WKH FRUUHFW DQVZHU LQ WKH á‹ž UVW FOXH WKH\ ZLQ 40 SRLQWV ,I RQH DQVZHUV FRUUHFWO\ LQ WKH VHFRQG FOXH WKH\ VFRUH 30 SRLQWV 6LPLODUO\ LW૷V 20 SRLQWV IRU DQVZHULQJ LQ WKH WKLUG FOXH DQG 10 SRLQWV IRU DQVZHULQJ DW WKH IRXUWK DQG á‹ž QDO FOXH

The person with the maximum points at the end of this quiz wins.

And yes, keep the answers to yourself and do not show this page to anyone else! a. b.

1 c. d.

I am white in colour.

I am edible.

I can be used to make a lot of other things.

I am extracted from an animal.

a. b.

6 c. d.

We are small and cylindrical in shape.

We have to be disposed of when we are of no use to you.

We complete your gadgets and appliances.

We have both positive and negative sides.

a. b.

2 c. d.

I am available in a lot of colours.

I usually have a pleasant fragrance.

I am used for cleaning a part of your body.

I am always in liquid state.

a. b.

7 c. d.

I can come in lots of flavours.

You must use me as a daily habit.

You have to squeeze me out of a tube to use me.

I leave your teeth clean and fresh.

a. b.

3 c. d.

You never buy a single piece of me. a. I can be extremely wobbly.

I am derived from a tall plant. b. I go great with bread or paratha.

8 I can be granular or powdery. c. I am closed in a jar.

I am sweet and can make any food taste sweet. d. I am made from fruits.

a. b.

4 c. d.

I am thin and bendable.

I can be easily crumpled.

I am used for keeping your food fresh.

I am silver in colour.

a. b.

5 c. d.

I come in a variety of colours and shapes.

I am used while washing and cleaning.

I can absorb a lot of water.

I come with a lot of holes.

a. b.

10 c. d.

We are frail and thin.

We can be square in shape.

We are made of paper.

You buy us for wiping something clean.

I am mostly yellow in colour.

I can be salty to taste.

I am made from milk.

A slice of bread considers me its best friend.

Answers: 1. Milk 2. Shampoo 3. Sugar 4. Aluminium Foil 5. Sponge 6. Batteries 7. Toothpaste 8. Jam 9. Tissues 10. Butter

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a. b.

9 c. d.

Crystal Quest

Activity Page

Music Jumble

33

Unscramble the following jumbled words to form names of various musical instruments. Compiled by Annabel Dsouza

32;$6+(12 B B B B B B B B B $576, B B B B B 52'$6 B B B B B /(&2/ B B B B B 1($9( B B B B B 1$02+85,0 B B B B B B B B B 1,92/, B B B B B B %/$7$ B B B B B Name of the musical instrument: Tambourine

B B B B B B B B B B Crystal Quest

Answers: 1. Saxophone 2. Sitar 3. Sarod 4. Cello 5. Veena 6. Harmonium 7. Violin 8. Tabla

Now, arrange the letters in the circles given in the blanks above to form the name of another musical instrument.

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34

Activity Page

The Other Name Time to put your vocabulary skills to the test! Given below are three categories. Under each category, you will Ƥnd clues pertaining to the items that belong to that category. All you have to do is to correctly identify the names of all the items from these clues, based on the pictorial options given below the clues.

Compiled by Priyanka Agarwal

FRUITS

1. Name of a boat used for adventurous rides

VEGETABLES

1. One of the letters of the English alphabet Options:

Options:

A

B

C

D

2. A nickname of New York City includes the name of this fruit Options:

A

B

C

D

3. The Àrst four letters of the name of this fruit sound like an item of furniture Options:

A

B

C

1. Sounds like the name of a hot-tasting pepper Options:

D

A

B

C

D

2. This is what you do to eggs while scrambling them Options:

A

B

C

D

3. Sounds like the term used for measuring the proportion of gold in an alloy Options:

A

COUNTRIES

2. This country’s name includes the term used for the shape of a block Options:

B

C

D

3. We eat when we feel ________; this country reminds us of that feeling Options:

A

B

A

B

A

B

C

D

C

D

C

D

Solution: FRUITS: 1-C, 2-D, 3-B • VEGETABLES: 1-B, 2-A, 3-D • COUNTRIES: 1-C, 2-D, 3-B

April-May 2013

Crystal Quest

SREENIDHI

IIT & OLYMPIAD SCHOOLS

Promoted by : Sri Sairam Educational Institutions, Yousufguda, Hyderabad Since 22 years with 6 Branches

Kondapur, Raghavendra Colony, Hyd. Ph : 8501095513 C.B.S.E & State Curriculum

S

chool of Education and

PORTS

ADMISSIONS IN PROGRESS

SAY NO TO OBESITY & BUILD THE CHILD STRONG FROM CHILDHOOD X Students will be prepared for SCIENCE OLYMPIAD foundation

exams like NCO (National Cyber Olympiad), NSO (National Science Olympiad), IMO (International Maths Olympiad), & NSTSE (National Level Science Talent Search Examination) Conducted by Unified Council.

X All classrooms with digital technology.

X Qualified, experienced and dedicated faculty.

X Half Yearly Medical Checkup by Dentists & Ophthalmologists (Eye Specialists) X Spoken English Classes, Stress free education.

X Modern LCD Computer Lab, Library and Laboratory.

X Extracurricular activities like drawing, painting, craft, clay model, quiz, debate & stage shows to develop leadership qualities, Science exhibition & Abacus classes.

X Sports & Cultural Activities X Educational tours & Picnics to Tourist and Heritage places.

X Study hours for High school Students.

Nursery to X Standard A/c Class Rooms for Pre-Primary.

30 Students per Class

Transport Available Chairman

Nallapati Venkateswara Rao

M.Sc.

MADHURA NAGAR YOUSUFGUDA Ph: 9052709313/30 MANIKONDA TANISHA NAGAR Ph: 9700453057/58

CHAITANYAPURI DILSUKHNAGAR Ph: 9700453179 NAGOLE MANSOORABAD Ph: 8106609302

CHINTAL PADMA NAGAR, PHASE - II Ph: 8501095546/48 HAYATH NAGAR RAGHEVENDRANAGAR Ph : 9666147407

CHINTAL NEAR HANUMAN TEMPLE Ph: 9700453172 KARMIKANAGAR YOUSUFGUDA Ph : 65513239/40

36

School Review – Hyderabad FROM THE CHAIRMAN’S DESK

SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THIS SCHOOL Name of the School: HPS KIDS (Hyderabad Public School Pvt. Ltd) Category (Playschool/ Day School/ Residential School): Playschool/ Primary school Website: hpdkids.net and hyderabadpublicschool.com Grades: Play Group, Nursery, L. K. G, U. K. G. and I–VII Syllabus: Playway and Montessori methodology and CBSE Admission Months: February–August School Strength: 1,200

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL HPS Kids launched its first centre in May 2009, reaching its full capacity within four months of its launch. Its success has spurred the launch of multiple franchised centres till date. More centres will be launched locally by the end of this year.

DESCRIPTION HPS Kids intends to make its strong presence felt all over the country and abroad in the next few years. The successful expansion of the school is attributed to the natural ability of its founder, Chairman and Group CEO, Mr. Ahefaz Lakhani, to inspire his audiences through his positive thinking.

HPS Kids offers a wide variety of technologically advanced services. One of them is a biometric finger print scanner, which is automated to send a text to the parent as soon as the child logs in, thus providing absolute security to parents.

Every child is special. We at HPS KIDS not only recognise this fact but also imbibe several teaching techniques, keeping Mr. Ahefaz Lakhani each child’s specific needs in view. We recognise every child’s special gifts and concentrate on sharpening these very skills. We focus primarily on developing our students in a wholesome manner, which results in independent and educated minds that can make decisions at the right time in the right manner!

We go by the philosophy of concentrating on the things the child can do rather than expecting things the child cannot do. This encourages kids to attain true knowledge by recognising what they are actually good at and to achieve their own dreams without faltering on false expectations.

Also, by emphasising on fun as a part of education, we can be sure that every child understands concepts better and retains this knowledge for a long time to come. We at HPS understand this simple concept and give importance to every child’s specific needs, thereby making their education a feel-good experience.

Our methods of teaching are innovative and child-friendly. We advocate the Montessori and Playway methods of teaching and involve parents in educating their children through various creative and fun activities held in our school.

One can see how every activity moulds a child’s mental and emotional quotient. This way, parents can get an idea about their children’s development and can incorporate their own ways of teaching in a better way.

Some of the text has been extracted from hpskids.net.

Text and images courtesy HPS Kids

April-May 2013

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38

Education Abroad

New Avenues of Education Among China’s many wondrous offerings to the world, is the promise of quality education.

Sohini Dey The People’s Republic of China is known for its rich and ancient history, beautiful tourist attractions, delicious cuisine and a long-standing and vibrant tradition of arts and culture. But what many don’t know is that the country also offers a very enriching experience for students who plan on studying abroad.

Schooling in China Like in most other countries, schooling in China begins at the kindergarten level where children from around the age of three and above are enrolled for a term of approximately three years. The period of study in primary and secondary schools, which follows the kindergarten classes, differs by a few years, but most schools in the April-May 2013

country maintain a primary school term of six years in the primary classes and three in the secondary. A few schools terms may be five and four years for primary and secondary classes respectively. The high school term for students in China lasts for about three years. The country also has a number of vocational and technical schools where students can be trained in a variety of specialised skills and professions.

A nine-year term of primary and secondary education is mandatory in China as per government laws. From the age of six or seven, all children residing in the country must be sent to school. The Chinese government places special emphasis on schooling and primary education is free with a number of other benefits including scholarships made available to students. The regulations in private schools may differ from public and government-funded institutions.

Subjects such as mathematics, history and geography, sciences and social studies are part of the school syllabus along with a number of extracurricular activities (music, Crystal Quest

39 painting etc). The study of the Chinese languages is also essential. English education is gradually evolving in China and a number of English-medium schools have been founded in recent years.

Higher Education In recent years, China has extended a warm welcome to international students seeking to complete their higher studies. The Chinese education system has evolved its curriculum over the last few decades to make education for students from other countries much more convenient.

As a result, thousands of students from all over the world and especially from all parts of Asia, now study in the country.

University education in China lasts for around four or five years for full-time students, though training in medicine may take a few extra years. Undergraduate students must study for four years in order to receive the Bachelor’s Degree, known as Xueshi. Undergraduate students can apply for a postgraduate (Master’s) degree in the country, known as Shuoshi, which must be completed in two to three years depending on the programme. A Masters programme in China is a combination of taught courses and research projects (dissertation). To apply for a doctoral degree or the Boshi programme, one must have completed their postgraduate degree. Academic recommendations may be necessary for students to be accepted in a doctoral programme and the degree is granted by individual universities to research scholars on the completion of their thesis, with approval from the Degree Committee of the State Council.

Teaching Methods The Chinese government places great emphasis on education and the course curriculum can be fairly intensive especially for those pursuing higher education in the country. The teaching methodology is modeled on modern Western education systems and besides classroom lectures and discussions and personalised tutorial programmes, importance is also given to field trips, learning by exercises and practice. University students can benefit from well-stocked libraries, state of the art infrastructure and exposure to Chinese as well as international learning systems.

Knowledge of the language is extremely beneficial for students hopeful of a degree from China, though not absolutely mandatory anymore. A number of universities now offer degrees in the English language so students do not need to be proficient in the native language(s).

Aspiring students may need to prove their efficiency in either Chinese or English depending on the course and university of their choice.

Advantage China Chinese universities are well-known for the superior quality of education they provide for students of medicine, engineering and technology and architecture. Considering the growing popularity of Chinese all over the world and the high demand for translators of the language, those interested in learning the language and literature can also opt for Chinese universities.

One of the greatest advantages of studying in China is the possibility of receiving a good international degree without spending too much. Tuition fees and living expenses in the country are much lower than more popular educational destinations such as the UK and USA. The country also offers a number of scholarships to international students.

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40

Expert Talk

With the onset of the stifling summer, you begin to sweat, sizzle and scald and your energy levels start to sap. The hot season brings with it crankiness, irritability, heat boils, sunburns, limp hair, heat exhaustion, and, yes, sunstroke as well.

The Truth about

Heat Ailments

Do you know why you may sometimes experience uneasiness when you are out in the scorching sun for too long?

Dr. Rajni Mukherjee explains the reasons in full detail.

ESSENTIALS TO BEAR IN MIND Children are at increased risk of heat stress.

Heat illness spans a spectrum, ranging from heat-related changes in the body to life-threatening heat strokes.

Prevention is certainly the best cure.

Can heat stroke be prevented? Yes!

POINTS TO REMEMBER Exposure to high summer temperatures for extended periods should be avoided.

Rise and shine early.

Sports activities should be scheduled for the early morning or late evening to avoid playing during the hottest part of the day.

Avoid vigorous exercise.

Adequate water intake and hydration is crucial.

Do not wait until you are thirsty, but drink electrolyte-rich fluids two hours prior to going outdoors.

Wear lightweight, loose, airy cotton clothes.

Do not wear too many layers of clothing.

Wear caps/hats and slide on sunglasses.

Apply sunscreen on your face and other parts of your outer body in order to prevent sunburn.

Avoid being inside a car that is hot.

Visit air-conditioned malls or the library instead of being outdoors between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Seek shaded corners wherever you can in order to escape direct sunlight.

Rest periods for replenishment of energy are important.

WHAT IS HEAT STRESS? Heat stress is a condition in which a person is exposed to extreme heat. There are several levels of heat stress, ranging from heat rash to the most severe, life-threatening condition called Heat Stroke.

Normal human-body temperature is maintained within a narrow range by balancing heat load with heat loss. Heat load results from metabolic processes and absorption of heat from April-May 2013

But don’t worry — the summer also brings with it its own remedy to beat the heat!

From holidays and vacation to rest and rejuvenation, to grandmother’s recipes of salt-laden onions and the energising aam panna that we all relish… each is an integral part of summer. We also have luscious fruits to enjoy, inherently packed with a lot of juice — by consuming varieties such as citrus, melons and mangoes, you can help maintain the water and electrolyte balance in your body.

the environment. Evaporation is the reason why there is heat loss in the body when the environment is hot. However, this is ineffective when there is humidity of 75 per cent and above.

When the environmental temperature exceeds the skin temperature (typically between 35°C or 95°F), there is a danger of heat exhaustion.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF PHYSICAL AILMENTS OR PROBLEMS THAT COULD AFFECT YOU IN THE HEAT?

HEAT CRAMPS CHARACTERISTICS Following exertion in hot weather, the limbs or abdominal muscles undergo brief but severe cramping.

The body temperature may or may not be elevated.

There is a fall in the sodium levels in the body.

TREATMENT Remove the patient from the hot environment.

Stretch their thigh and calf muscles gently.

Hydrate them with salt-enriched solutions.

Let them rest.

HEAT EXHAUSTION CHARACTERISTICS Slightly increased core body temperature Generalised weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps Headache, dizziness Disorientation/confusion of the mind Thirst Nausea/vomiting Paleness Varying proportions of salt and water depletion Heavy sweating Crystal Quest

41 TREATMENT Loosen the patient’s clothing.

Sponge their body with a cool wet cloth.

Move the patient to a cool, air-conditioned room or car.

Place the patient supine with legs raised.

Fan the patient.

Rehydrate the patient with glucose water and an electrolyte-rich solution.

(Remember that offering flavoured water by adding sugar and salt increases fluid intake by as much as 90 per cent in contrast to unflavoured water.)

HEAT RASH Medically known as MILIARIA, it generally affects children and newborns. This benign condition resolves when the affected babies are placed in a cooler environment, given cool baths, made to wear light and airy cotton clothes, and with the application of calamine lotion.

HEAT SYNCOPE OR FAINTING This refers to dizziness and fall in blood pressure with loss of consciousness due to heat-related vasodilatation.

It, however, improves dramatically when the patient is made to lie down flat.

HYPERTHERMIA/HEAT STROKE This is a medical emergency that needs to be treated quickly. It represents the failure of the body’s thermoregulation ability and can be life-threatening.

SYMPTOMS A body temperature of 104°F (40°C) or higher Fever, which may or may not be accompanied by shivering Dry, hot body with no sweating Brain symptoms are more pronounced and include Confusion or trouble in thinking clearly Hallucination (seeing or hearing things that are not real) Trouble in walking Seizures Passing out or fainting A heat stroke can also cause Fast breathing (tachypnea, respiratory distress) Fast heartbeat (tachycardia) Skin redness and warmth Vomiting or diarrhoea Muscle cramps or weakness Headaches Crystal Quest

Cellular disruption may lead to end-organ derangement like muscle degeneration, heart-muscle necrosis, electrolyte imbalance, liver and kidney failure, acute respiratory distress, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), or shock.

TREATMENT 1. Give first-aid.

2.

Move the patient to a cooler environment.

3.Apply cool wet towels to the entire body for surface cooling.

4. Apply ice pack to underarms and the groin and neck areas.

5. Cold-water bath, too, is very effective.

6. Oral rehydration with electrolyte solution also works.

PRECAUTIONS 1. Never give an unconscious person something to drink, as it may obstruct their trachea.

2. Do not give warm liquids.

3. Do not apply ice directly.

4. Hospitalisation may be required, so get the patient admitted as early as possible for prompt evaluation and intravenous (IV) fluid rehydration.

5. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) may be given, and it is important to ensure the supply of oxygen to the patient and see that their airway is not blocked.

WHO ARE MOST PRONE? Children The elderly, above 65 years of age People working or exercising in hot environment Obese people Pregnant and nursing mothers Pets and children left in closed cars outdoors under the hot sun.

Myths I. If you are strong and well built, you will not get a heat stroke.

II. People of some communities just can’t get it.

Did You Know?

Tour de France cyclists place ice cubes in back packs to stay cool during the long rides.

Eating crushed ice before a long workout also helps.

LATEST RESEARCH A drug known as AICAR or the ‘couch potato pill’ could help in preventing heat stroke in athletes and soldiers.

A project nicknamed ‘safe cool’ is designing clothes with in-built cooling systems.

April-May 2013

42

Little Globetrotter

Goa Wind down to the tranquil oasis, swaying palms and Portuguese beats of Goa’s overpowering charms.

Sana Krishna

Here in Goa, you may be welcomed by a herd of water buffalo at breakfast, a lily-sheltered lake may provide the panorama for your morning walk, a sea eagle will be your afternoon comrade along a deserted stretch of immaculate beach, and a beautifully spice-laden vindaloo may make your evening meal.

There is a lot more to see here than the fine bliss of warm sand between your toes. Spice up your stay with a walk around a vanilla-fragranced spread of land and by the bird-dominated banks of the Goa’s placid rivers, look around cathedrals that were built centuries ago, and get the visual appeal of the white-water waterfalls.

Swaying palm trees, white sands and Ready to Go? luminous waters: The three vital elements that When to Go:

attract two million visitors annually to the clement shores The best, and most frequented, time to visit Goa is of Goa are bountiful in this small, splendid sliver of India, during November to March, as these are the cooler embracing the country’s western shoreline and hemmed months. The weather is lovely, rain is a far-off recollection, in by the Arabian Sea. and the sea is clear, calm and gentle.

In this solitary Portuguese frontier in India, for centuries, the affluence of colonial rule can still be seen ubiquitously — in the luxurious architecture, in the East-meets-West cuisine, in the melancholy strains that seldom drift on the bougainvillea-scented breeze, and in the siesta-filled joie de vivre (joy of living) that Goans call one another susegad.

April-May 2013

October being the beginning of the tourist season, beaches at this time will be splendidly scarce, but the beach shacks and beach-hut functions won’t be up and running.

As March extends into April and May, the climate gets hot and quite humid. Swimming becomes risky due to rough seas.

Crystal Quest

43 Quite a lot of Goans feel that the monsoon, which falls between June and September, is the time when their state is at its optimum. People celebrate and party to welcome the rains, and the countryside becomes green and lush. Swimming in the sea is mostly off-limits in the monsoon, as the tides then are strong. Most tourist amenities are not in function.

Top Restaurants of Goa 1) Britto’s – Baga 2) Lila Café – Baga 3) Souza Lobo – Calangute 4) Curly’s – Anjuna 5) Infantaria – Calangute

Where to Stay:

The Leela – Cavelossim

If you’ve got a soft spot for extravagance, the lavish Leela is the place to treat yourself. Placed among 30 hectares of magnificence, this gigantic spread of groomed Goan flawlessness has various rooms of varying levels of decadency.

Go for Indian and Goan cuisine at the eminent Jamavar restaurant, or at Riverside on the bank of the River Sal, which dishes up yummy Italian dishes, along with a superior dollop of la dolce vita.

Nilaya Hermitage – Arpora

A stay here will have you writing in the guestbook with the likes of Giorgio Armani, Sean Connery and Kate Moss. There are 11 stunning red-stone rooms positioned around a swimming pool, bordering four dramatic tents. The food is as tempting as the surroundings, and the spa will have you pampered and wanting more.

Nilaya’s cuisine is a delicate, special blend of Eastern and Western flavours.

We’re surely not formal. You may dine by the pool, draped in a sarong, in the dining room or in private on the personal terrace of your room.

Top Dishes of Goa 1) Ambo Tik 2) Fish/Prawn Curry and Rice 3) Sorpotel 4) Chicken Cafreal 5) Goan Sausage Chilly Fry

Top Things to Do in Goa 1) Indulge in the various water sports Goa has to offer 2) Celebrate Christmas 3) Visit Old Goa 4) Go on a cruise 5) Visit the Saturday-night market in Arpora

Lemon Tree Amarante – Candolim

If you’re looking for a boutique hotel that is subtly beautiful with eye-catching ambience, this is the place for you.

Have a meal at the Citrus Café — it is a multicuisine restaurant that will take your taste buds on a trip all over the world. What’s more is that this café has got a special “ghar ka khaana” menu, for the ones who miss home.

Republic of Nation is a Pan-Asian restaurant that is sure to take you on an amazing culinary experience. Lemon Tree is a relaxing haven in an eventful town!

Crystal Quest

April-May 2013

44

Sports – F1 Racing

Vrooming to the Finishing Line! ty, innately. fe sa r fo y it or ri p e Th bravely.

The need for speed, hers’ lives are Cautiousness as ot ing prize will involved, the winn . be greatly endowed

R. Krishna Formula One or F1 is the incredible class of singleseated auto racing, given its due by the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile (FIA). The word ‘Formula’ gets its bearings from the set of rules that all participating cars in the race must comply with, without any compromise. When we speak of the F1 season, we are actually referring to a series of races collectively known as the Grand Prix (meaning the ‘Great Prize’ in French).

Grand and Prix racing began begaan in 1906 and became becam the most popular type internationally in the second half of the 20th century. Some of the famous F1 drivers are Michael Schumacher, holding the record for winning the most championships with seven titles. Juan Manuel Fangio stands at No. 2 with five championships won during the 1950s, as well as having won the greatest percentage of wins. Jochen Rindt is the only posthumous World Champion, who passed away in the 1970s.

India has produced its own genius in F1 — Narain Karthikeyan. He is the first Formula One motor-racing driver from our country.

Cars that race in the F1 are known to be the speediest multi-turn racing cars of the world. Recording very high cornering speeds, these cars achieve their distinction of being the fastest because of the generation of large amounts of aerodynamic down-force. These cars race at speeds of up to 350 km/h (220 mph).

April-May 2013

Crystal Quest

45 While Europe is credited with being the continent of origin of F1 and is known to host about half of each year’s races, during recent years, the sport has extended itself significantly in terms of Grand Prix to other continents as well.

This sport is an extremely expensive one. Since the year 2000, the ever-growing expenses have forced several teams into bankruptcy. Some others were rescued by being bought by corporates that wished to create a niche for themselves in the sport.

HOW F1 RACES ARE RUN Let us try to understand how exactly the race is run. It begins with a warm-up lap, after which the cars assemble on the starting line in the order they have qualified. This lap is often referred to as the formation lap, as the cars lap in formation with no overtaking. The warm-up lap is actually meant for drivers to check out the condition of the track and their cars while giving the tyres chance to warm up and thus get increased traction, as well as to allow the pit crews time to clear themselves and their equipment from the grid.

Once all the cars have taken their positions on the grid, a light system above the track indicates the start of the race.

Five red lights are illuminated at intervals of one second. Then, they are all extinguished simultaneously after an unspecified time (typically less than three seconds) to signal the start of the race.

With such high-speed driving, the officials of F1 keep all safety measures at hand. If they find that there is a high risk for safety of competitors or the track, the race marshals and race officials may choose to deploy the safety car. This means that the race is suspended till it is proclaimed safe to restart the race. Mercedes-Benz supplies Mercedes-AMG models to Formula One to use as the safety cars.

NOW LET US UNDERSTAND WHAT A CIRCUIT IS A typical circuit comprises a stretch of straight road where you have the starting grid. The pit lane, where the drivers stop for tyre changing and minor repairs during the race, retracting from the race, and where the teams work on the cars before the race, is usually located close to the starting grid. The layout of the rest of the circuit varies widely, although, in most cases, the circuit runs in a clockwise direction. Those few circuits that run anticlockwise (and therefore have predominantly left-handed corners) can cause neck problems among drivers due to the enormous lateral forces generated by F1 cars that pull the drivers’ heads in the opposite direction to normal.

Famous street circuits are those in Monaco, Melbourne, Valencia and Singapore. Of these circuits, the one in Monaco, with its tales of glamour and history, is still in use despite the talk of it not adhering to the strict safety requirements imposed on other tracks. World champion Nelson Piquet described racing in Monaco like “riding a bicycle around your living room”. For Formula One drivers, car manufacturers, and of course fans, life is all about living on the fast track!

Sporting/Rules Length of Race: Apart from the maximum distance of 305km, there is also a maximum time limit of two hours for each race.

Tyres: Leading tyre manufacturer Pirelli supplies teams with two different dry-weather compounds for each event.

Both these compounds are used on a race day during dry conditions. A maximum of 11 tyres may be provided to a driver, although this can be increased by the FIA. Different types are tyres are used during each race and each set of tyres is indicated by a colour code. For example, hard tyres have orange writing, medium ones have white, soft tyres have yellow, super-soft tyres have red, intermediate ones have green and full wets have blue.

Qualifying: This consists of three sessions. During the first session (called Q1) a car needs to register a time within 107 per cent of the fastest time in Q1 to be eligible for the Crystal Quest

April-May 2013

46

Sports – F1 Racing

race. The same rules apply to Q2; however, the slowest six cars are eliminated at the end of 15 minutes. Q3 is completed by the fastest 10 cars during a 10-minute race for the top ten grid positions.

Drivers: All aspiring participants at a grand prix must participate in Saturday practice. A maximum of four drivers may be fielded by each team over the season.

Points: Points are awarded to the top ten finishers as follows: 1st= 25 : 2nd = 18 : 3rd = 15 : 4th = 12 : 5th = 10 : 6th = 8 : 7th= 6 : 8th= 4 : 9th = 2 : 10th= 1 Participants are awarded half these points if a race must be stopped before 75% of the distance is completed. Points are awarded for individual drivers as well as the team.

Penalties: There are various causes for penalties during a grand prix and these are recorded by race officials known as stewards. Blocking a rival driver, causing a crash, speeding in the pit lane or jumping the start can land a driver with a penalty.

A common cause for penalty is the drive-through. Here the driver is required to pass through the pit lane at the speed limit without stopping. If the stewards give a drive-through penalty and there are less than five laps of the race remaining, a 25-second penalty will be added to their race time.

A more time consuming penalty is the ten-second penalty, this is also known as the stop-go. Here the drivers are required to stop in their pit box for ten seconds, during which no work can be done on the car.

The third is a time penalty, which can be added to a driver’s race time after the chequered flag, often dropping him down the order.

Fourth is a grid-position penalty for the next race. These are normally given after the race following investigations into dangerous driving. Teams are allowed to protest against these penalties.

Fifth is a basic reprimand.

The sixth and seventh are the most serious and can exclude a driver from the results or suspend them from future races.

April-May 2013

Safety Car: This is deployed to ensure safe passage of the racing cars around the track. Ususally, after an accident, a race may have to be stopped. However, the use of a safety car allows the race to continue while the problem is being solved. Laps under the safety car still count towards race distance. The safety car turns off its yellow lights to indicate that it is leaving the circuit. In dangerous circumstances such as heavy rain, a race may be started behind the safety car.

Clothing Flame retardancy is the most important criterion while designing suits for FI drivers. Earlier driver suits were similar to NASA space suits with five layers of flame retardant materials to protect the driver in case of fire during an accident. However, Nomex®, a fire-resistant, lightweight artificial fibre, is being used since 1975 to provide safety and comfort to racing drivers. This material is tested with an open flame of about 300 to 400 degrees Celsius at a three centimeters. It is only used in the driver’s overalls if it fails to ignite within 10 seconds.

Modern drivers’ suits consist of elastic cuffs on wrists and ankles made of two to four layers of Nomex®. This multi layered overall undergoes 15 washing and dry cleaning processes before heat testing. The critical level of 41 degrees Celsius may not be exceeded inside the overall for at least 11 seconds. Even the zip and the thread used to sew the materials must be fire retardant to prevent risks of burns and injuries to the driver. Owing to the fact that many sponsor logos are printed on the drivers’ overalls, the weight has been reduced by about half a kilo. Advanced racing suits are also extremely breathable in order to allow escape of drivers’ sweat.

Flam retardancy is also maintained in the drivers’ gloves which are made of suede leather palms to provide sensitivity of the steering wheel. Fireproof ankle boots are made of soft, cushioned leather to provide accurate and slip-free contact with the car’s pedals. During a race, drivers are advised to wear flameproof underwear and balaclava.

Did you know?

vers to survive for The Nomex® fibre allows dri ratures of 840 degrees about 11 seconds in tempe maximum temperature Celsius. Compare this with a d 800 degrees during of 100 degrees in a sauna an lcanic eruption can be a house fire. The lava in a vo 1000 degrees. anywhere between 750 and Crystal Quest

Parent Talk

47

Netiquette for Kids

“Mom, please don’t shut do wn the computer. I am down come back from the footba loading something importa ll match!” shouted 15-yearnt… will check the status old Rahul just before he ma once I who, being in her early 40s de a dash for the do or. Rahu and, like most other parents l’s mother, her age, isn’t tech-savvy, is accesses on the Internet. His constantly worried about wh cla at her son surfing the Net. Rahul, on the ss teacher has already complained twice that he spen ds most of his time in comp other hand, feels that his pa uter class information on the World Wi rents don’t give him enough de Web. In today’s day and sp ac e wh en it co me s to accessing age, the Internet has become measures should parents an imperative to our existence d teachers take to regulate . So, what its use? What implications section, we will hear parents, would that have on children students and teachers on the ? In issues they have and see wh at they recommend to resolv this e them.

I have a 14-year-old daughter, who recently started an account on a social networking website. I noticed that she had started taking a great interest in her appearance. Initially, I thought it was normal. However, when I came across her social networking profile, I saw that she had over a hundred profile pictures, each one showing that she had grown far beyond her age. All those pictures were ‘liked’ by her friends.

Also, when I walked into her room once, she closed her chat window on seeing me. This has deeply disturbed me. For a girl of her age, I think it is extremely unhealthy to have an account on a social networking site and use it in this manner.

Hence, as a measure, I have given her specific timings during which she can access that site, under my supervision. I block the website at other times using an IP address that is known only to me. I have made it clear to her that, if she doesn’t adhere to the rules, she would need to delete her account. I feel it is essential to take some extreme measures at times. As they say, spare the rod and spoil the child.

— Ritu, Panaji

My son has always been tech-savvy. He is in class X and always helps everyone at home when it comes to gadgets and technology. Recently, he was involved in brawls with other boys at school. I was summoned by the Principal because of this. One day, I decided to check my son’s computer history to see what he was up to. What I discovered was very disconcerting. He was accessing a lot of websites where there was plenty of false information on different people. I was completely shocked, as I realised that was why he had been getting into conflicts at school. I confronted him in a gentle way and asked how he could possibly accept the content of such websites without questioning. He said that he once attended a Philosophy session in school, which got him curious about cultures. One thing led to another and soon he was deeply involved with these websites. I told him that breeding such habits is unhealthy and that we should learn to question information. I haven’t imposed a ban on what he does on the Internet, as I feel curbing his rights totally would hamper his overall development. But yes, I have blocked those websites, although I keep sending him links of constructive and reliable Internet articles and we have discussions on them at home in our spare time.

— Mr. Ahuja, New Delhi

Recently, a few of my son’s friends had come to our house. They’re all his classmates in Class VIII and had come over to finish a science project. While my wife was serving them dinner, I happened to go to my son’s room to fetch something. Just then, I discovered something very unsettling — that my son and his friends had been accessing some wrong websites and had also registered themselves on those sites! I let the matter go that night. But, the next day, I spoke to my son about the same. I told him that I needed to trust him, and, for that, he would need to be transparent regarding his activity on the Internet. I told him that, if I find the slightest possibility of something going amiss, I would disconnect the Internet. I allowed him to continue surfing under one condition — that he does so under my supervision.

He understood the point and promised to be responsible. I reminded him of the line that was popularised in the movie Spiderman, “With great power, comes great responsibility”. I added that, if he wanted freedom, he had to be accountable to my standards till he reaches an age where he can handle himself. I do feel it is important to trust your children in such matters.

— Mr. Pereira, Mumbai

Crystal Quest

April-May 2013

48

Student Talk

What We Think of the Net Let’s hear what our dear students opine about the alluring world of the Web. I am in Class IX. All my friends are registered on a social networking site. They share intense discussions about various events. Recently, a friend of mine uploaded pictures of a class party on that site. While everyone was discussing after class hours the various funny comments and ‘likes’ the pictures got on that site, I stood blank, without a clue of what was going on. This is because my parents haven’t given me permission to open an account on that site. I can see the website only through my friends’ IDs when I visit their homes. There, we stay online till late at night and have a lot of fun. I agree that there are some negative aspects about social networking, which can get out of hand if not controlled in time. But I wish my parents would trust me more and at least let me check out the website at home in their presence. I am positive I won’t let them or their trust down.

— Aashima, 14 years, Hyderabad

Two years ago, a cousin of mine introduced me to a website where I could make pen friends from anywhere in the world. So, I signed up and, in no time, I had two ‘pen pals’ — one from Australia and the other from Sweden. It was exhilarating. I learnt a lot about their cultures and they learnt so much about mine. But my parents started getting worried about my safety. Hence, I invited them to see my interaction with my pen pals and showed them pictures of their schools and families. Despite the safety assured by the website, my parents asked me to stop talking to my pen pals and sending them pictures. It’s been six months since I last interacted with my pen friends. I wish my parents had appreciated the fact that I was being completely transparent. I also said I would interact with my pen friends only under my parents’ supervision and restrict my time with them. But my parents completely disagreed and said I should interact only with ‘real’ and ‘physical’ friends. My classmates continue to have a good and safe relationship with their pen friends, whereas I have none. I wish my parents and I could have worked out a mutual understanding.

— Rishabh, 13 years, Mumbai

Currently, I am studying for my Class X final ICSE exams. I have to prepare projects for my ‘internal assessment’.

As a result, I spend a lot of time researching on the Internet, as it is a vast source of information for all subjects. My parents, particularly my father, think that I am not working on any project but whiling away my time on the Internet.

My father feels the time I spend on projects accounts for only 30 per cent of my total time on the Internet. He says that I should, instead, research in my school library. I try to explain to him that, on the Internet, it takes only a fraction of the time I would normally spend in a library to obtain all the necessary information and that I can spend the rest of the time preparing for exams. In fact, my library too has computers with Internet access. However, my dad doesn’t relent and has disconnected the Internet service at home. I think a solution could have been worked out where I could have been given a specific time frame for accessing the Internet and all social networking sites could have been blocked by changing the IP address.

— Nirav, 15 years, Goa

April-May 2013

Crystal Quest

Teacher Talk

49

Good to Log in?

The Internet is undoubtedly useful for gaining information and knowledge. But is it the best way to get these? Let’s find out from our dear teachers, who share their insights based on personal experiences.

The recurring problem I face whenever I give my students assignments is that they obtain information from online sources without realising that this information can be plagiarised or inaccurate. I have observed this problem in the assignments of almost 7 out of 10 students and it has existed across the 10 years I have been teaching. What I feel is that children Copy-Paste material from the Internet after giving it just a cursory glance. As a result, they do not know half the things written in their own assignments. Furthermore, the authenticity of the information contained in these websites is often questionable.

To counter this problem, I have a question-answer round with my students and I also ask them to explain certain concepts to me. Apart from this, I ask them for specific bibliography, which I cross-check. Sometimes, for some projects, I ban the use of certain websites. Another good solution is to make the students write the project with pen and paper.

— Mrs. Malik, teacher at a prominent school in Hyderabad I teach Computer Studies to students in cclasses V to X. I have mostly seen that students waste their time on surfing the Internet. It is impossible to keep an eye on each and every student. We do monitor what students do by checking their surfing history, but that doesn’t happen all the time; even if we do, the he history can be easily deleted. Many students complain that their parents don’t give them sufficient time on the Internet rnet for project work and/or leisure, and they request that we give them time in class for tthe same. This eats into the time ime that should ideally be spent on learning the topics given in the curriculum. What we would wou suggest to parents is thatt they give their children sufficient time to surf the Internet. This could be supervised — it ccould be during certain hours of the day, unwanted websites can be blocked using secure IP addresses, and children should sh be told to share their passwords with their parents. Parents should not be so worried about the negative aspect aspects of the Internet to such an extent that their children are left far behind in the bargain. enoy, teacher at a prominent school in Mumbai — Miss Shenoy, I teach at a school offering the IB curr curriculum. Due to this, the use se of the Internet for student assignments is indispensible. Within the past year or so, we have received complaints from rom parents about a very baffling situation — children getting addicted to the Internet and a experiencing withdrawall symptoms (such as edginess, indifference, irritability and shiftiness) when they don’t get ge to use the Internet at home. me. We have observed these children at school and found that they avoid social activities and a events, choosing instead to spend time at the campus Internet centre.

Also, these students believe that what they learn l ore advanced than what they learn in class. To on the Internet is far more counter this problem, we have developed a ‘cyber ‘ club’, which is similar to group therapy, where activities are designed for all age groups to work on, using the In Internet. These are discussedd orally in the class along with the problems/ challenges faced while trying to perform the activities. These activities can be purely scholastic in nature, like essays and mathematical problems, and, sometimes, sometim these can be transformed ed into online educational treasure hunts. We have also inculcated a ‘back to the basics’ programme, p ers conduct classes on the playing field or any wherein teachers other open-air area on campus pertaining to the subject. We have limitedd timings during which children can access the Internet. We believe that these small steps w ate a balanced use of the Internet. will go a long way to incorporate — Mr. Shah, teacher at a school in Mumbai

Crystal Quest

April-May 2013

50

Soft Skills for Kids

Chatty Children Here are some really easy and interesting tips on how you can develop your conversation skills.

She continues, “Children, always remember that you are excellent and natural communicators, and, interestingly, you tend to speak what comes to your mind without being diplomatic or devious. However, at times, for many of you, talking to another child or an adult is an extremely daunting and terrifying experience. This could happen because you may either be a tad bit shy or perhaps have trouble deciding where to start and how to carry on talking on any topic.”

Shaping Your Conversational Skills Dilnavaz elaborates on the significance of good conversation skills. “Conversation skills are crucial for academic and social behaviour at all grade levels. A school is a place that is filled with a range of sounds, from cries and screams to laughter and conversations, so there is always a possibility that in this mixed environment you may struggle delivering a conversation, both socially and academically. But, after all, there’s always a solution to everything!”

Here are some tips that you and must keep in mind to develop lls: ski al ion sat enhance your conver

1 To begin with, always smile. A smile is the best starter for

any conversation. Especially if you’ve just joined a new class or group and don’t know the children around, begin the conversation with a true, straight-from-the-heart smile!

Benaifer J. Mirza Conversation is the key to everything. A good dialogue can take you a long way, and having the right conversation skills are imperative, be it in your schooling years or even once you grow up and become a lawyer, doctor, engineer… in any and every phase and profession of your life. The basics of good conversation skills can be imparted right in your early years, as these values and habits will take you a very long way.

The ABC of Conversations Dilnavaz Shroff, Global Manager, Digital Alchemy Business Solutions, Inc., a U.S.-based Indo-U.S. joint venture, teaches soft skills, especially in the areas of management and customer care, at the organisation. Among many other things, she has also authored books for children and parents for an Indo-British publishing house and has ghostwritten ebooks on soft skills too. Speaking about the importance of conversation, she says, “Conversations are the earliest forms of civilised ‘sound’ used as a communication medium. They started off as grunts and snarls and have today evolved into tweets and text messages.

Conversations can be described as boring (yawn), exciting, spontaneous, animated communication… it is essentially the sharing of thoughts between two people.”

April-May 2013

2 Be a patient listener, and don’t simply start speaking. Good

listening skills are the key to good conversations. Be an attentive listener, as that adds to your conversation skills.

3 Try finding common topics and likes, as these could be good

ice-breakers. Something as simple and basic as “What did you have for lunch?”, “What would you like to do for your birthday?” or “Which is your favourite animal/ ice cream/ colour/ food/ game?” can be great ways to begin a conversation. And you can keep building the conversation from there.

4 Once you have established a level of comfort with the other children, feel free to ask questions. Remember, asking questions won’t make you look silly but would simply show your level of interest in a conversation.

5 Make eye contact when you’re speaking to your friends,

classmates, teachers and elders. Looking into a person’s eyes while listening and speaking is a sign of confidence and interest.

6 Avoid contradicting the other child. It is okay to have a different opinion, but express it in a soft and dignified manner.

7 Be energetic and lively while you’re conversing.

Remember to enjoy every conversation, as there’s something that you can learn and take from every little chat and talk!

Crystal Quest

Soft Skills for Parents

The Art of Sharing

51

Here’s how parents can take their children throughh one of the first steps to becoming a good human being.

Poornima Subramanian Deepa was at her wit’s end. A mother of two, her firstborn, Pia, was increasingly refusing to share her toys with her sibling and friends. Entreaties, threats, punishments, incentives — Deepa tried them all, but nothing worked. Pia, in fact, became more adamant and territorial.

Show w and tell: Practise what you preach. Make it a point to share your favourite things with your sister, friend or spouse. For example, during a family dinner share your favourite pizza with your spouse. This will help children see for themselves and understand that sharing is common across all age groups and not a rule imposed only on them.

This is a familiar scenario in most homes. Teaching to share, however, need not become a tug-of-war between the child and you. With tact and empathy you can make this a pleasant task and teach your children to share.

Incentivise: It always works. Tell your child that if they share their toys, you will allow them to invite friends home more often, give them extra TV time, or something else.

Respect their views: Suggest but never impose.

Make sharing a must but give children the freedom to decide what they wish to share and with whom. If they do not wish to share a special toy or a favourite game, respect their decision. This will give them a sense of reassurance and make them more amicable to sharing.

Earmark certain weekends as ‘sharing weekends’ and take your children to the nearest orphanage and share their toys with the children there. Explain the intangible — the happiness they spread. Reward them for their effort. Make it a point to share this with friends and family and say how proud you are of them (within their earshot). This will definitely serve as a booster for the children to share more.

More is less: Explain the benefits of sharing. Tell them that, by not sharing, they will end up with the same toys (two cars of the same variety). However, if they do share, ey will get two different toys (a car caar and a truck) and they ave more fun. In case of a single child, child hildd, you y can still follow have is approach with friends andd extended extende exte ed family — akin to this a toy pool.

Teaching children to share is a time-consuming process.

Despite your best efforts, there is a possibility that your child may refuse to share. That is par for the course cours and not a cause for worry. But do not give up. Persist, an and your child will definitely discover the joy of sharing.

Crystal Quest

April-May 2013

52

Soft Skills for Teachers

The Teacher’s

Touch!

Teachers need to maintain a fine balance between warmth and discipline when it comes to dealing with their students, as that’s the first step towards being approachable.

Benaifer J. Mirza William Arthur Ward, author of the book Fountains of Faith, once said, “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” It’s a teacher who is often a child’s parent outside his/her home and loves, teaches, disciplines and inspires the child like nobody else. And one of the biggest and most important traits that a teacher needs to possess is that of being approachable. That is the first and most primary step in the teacher-student bonding.

Dilnavaz Shroff, Global Manager, Digital Alchemy Business Solutions, Inc., a U.S.-based Indo–U.S. joint venture, also teaches soft skills, mainly in the areas of management and customer care, at the organisation. She has taught journalism and management at St. Xavier’s College and K. C. College of Management Studies, both in Mumbai.

Dilnavaz has also authored books for children and parents for an Indo-British publishing house and ghostwritten ebooks on soft skills. She shares her expertise on how teachers can become more approachable towards their students.

According to Dilnavaz, “Children usually see teachers in two ways — either as ogres and monsters, always angry with them, or as fairies and princesses who are always extremely nice to them. However, the good thing is that, at least 80 per cent of students perceive them as good and are happy with them. The trick is for the teacher to gain respect from the students and also make himself/ herself approachable to them. Here are a few tips and tricks for that:

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1. Do not intimidate the students: The first step towards being approachable is not to be intimidating, because as soon as a student gets intimidated or worried, he/she won’t be open to learning and will want to be away from the teacher and the class.

2. Make them feel safe by encouraging questions: Help them ask questions. Students need to feel that they are safe asking a teacher any question, without having him/her get angry on them. The greater the amount of interaction a teacher has with his/her students in question-answer sessions, the faster the students will respond to them as someone they can approach easily.

3. Students need motivation: Motivating students simply means that the teacher interacts with them in a friendly way and ensures that their trust is maintained when the students speak to them. Encouraging the students to be more confident of themselves and maintaining their enthusiasm levels high in all subjects helps.

4. Appear friendly: If the teacher is stressed or looks unhappy, this immediately reflects on his/her face and body language. Children are extremely perceptive and will immediately pick up on this. The teacher must relax; this will ease tension and make the classroom a happier learning place for students as well as the teacher.

5. Mentor kids: To be an approachable and successful teacher, one needs to be looked upon as a mentor for the whole class. Being approachable will have kids coming to the teacher and asking for guidance. This is especially crucial in today’s times, when both parents are working and may not have much time for their children, and also for kids from nuclear families, where they do not have the benefit of asking and interacting with grandparents.

The bond between a student and teacher is extremely special, and the key lies in nurturing it every passing day, in every possible way.

Crystal Quest

Confessions of a Prankaholic

53

My best friend has a strange habit; he always collects things like stones and pieces of paper from the road, as he thinks he will uncover some secrets. Once, I got an idea to play a fun prank on him. Using superglue I stuck a `5 coin on the road towards our school. While travelling together, I pointed this coin to my friend and he was very excited. He tried all methods to extract the coin using a stone and even a big stick. After trying for about 20 minutes, he gave up and decided to leave the coin for a poor person. I revealed my prank when I saw him struggle so hard trying to remove the coin from the pavement. Even today, he always laughs when I remind him of this prank.

Nimit Joshi, 14, Mumbai

My entire family celebrates the festival of Holi with joy and enthusiasm. So, I wanted to start the day with a small joke. The previous night, I stuck a waterproof adhesive tape on all the taps in my house. Thus, when my family members used the bathrooms and sinks on Holi morning, they were sprayed with water and got completely drenched. My father thought that the taps were leaking, but when he saw that everyone in the family was wet, he asked if this was my idea. Initially, I thought they were angry. But then, my brother immediately began the Holi celebrations by applying colour on my face.

Gauri Nair, 12, Visakhapatnam

Due to his obsession with video games, my cousin spends a lot of time on the computer and doesn’t interact with other family members. On his birthday, I stuck a sticky note at the bottom of his computer mouse. As the tracking ball was blocked, the mouse was not functioning properly and hence, he could not start the computer. We all laughed from behind the curtain as he tried desperately to scroll the mouse. When he rushed from his bedroom into the hall to complain about his computer, we all wished him a very happy birthday. Also, we had written “Happy Birthday� on the sticky note below the mouse and showed it to him.

Meenakshi Kamat, 9, Goa

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Lost Games

Seven Tiles R. Krishna Participation in physical games can have a gigantic positive impact on a child’s self-esteem and confidence.

Children, who take part in games like these, get praise and encouragement from friends and parents, which help in building self-confidence. They also learn to believe in their own capabilities and push themselves further. Constructive criticism is a key aspect of participation, and young players learn to acknowledge such criticism and use it to their advantage.

So, finish your homework, get off the PC and switch off the television. How often have we heard these words from parents or an older sibling? Children are so used to the comforts of the above that they have forgotten how to enjoy games that take them closer to nature and physically test their skills.

However, there are some people who like to relive these healthy moments with their children. Today, to perk up a lazy Sunday afternoon, adults and children alike get into a gully or playground and build their tower of Seven Tiles, a game that keeps the adrenalin flowing, whirs up the blood circulation, creates excitement and alertness in equal measure, and tests your energies till someone yells ‘Seven Tiles’! The game culminates into a sense of satisfaction for the winning team and a surge of meeting the challenge for the team that wishes to win the next round.

WHAT IS SEVEN TILES? Seven Tiles is a game mainly played in the outdoors and is a lot of fun. It is still played by children in India and other parts of the world, but rarely so. It is known by

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Put on your shorts, socks and shoes and run to your building compound. Turn off those video games and play old-school style.

Seven Tiles is such an exciting, exhilarating and enthralling game that, once played, will only bring you back for more. different names in different parts of our country. Known as lingorchya in Maharashtra and pitthu in Haryana, the game is played with seven flat stones and two teams with six or more players. First, a mini tower of flat stones is built, and the first team takes a shot at throwing a tennis-like ball at the tower from a distance of about 7–9 metres. If the first player from this team misses, then the next player from the same team gets a chance to hit the tower.

Now, if the player gets lucky and hits the tower, the second team gets ready to retrieve the ball and aim it at the members of the first team. The aim here is to hit the opposing team members one by one to get them all out.

During all this, the first team who actually hits the tower now has their members running about frantically to place the stones back into the shape of the tower while dodging the hits from the other team members. No one is allowed to run with the ball but, instead, pass it onto the brother/sister member of the team and aim well.

This activity goes on till every member of the first team (those who hit the tower) gets out or, alternatively, the first team rebuilds the tower amidst this excitement of hits and misses and cries out aloud ‘Seven Tiles!’ and declare their team the winners of the game.

You have to be alert, have great team spirit, aim well and be able to distract the other team from rebuilding the tower.

Interestingly, lagori or Seven Tiles is not only a favourite of children but adults too love playing this game. In Oman, the Indian community, which is really large there, has founded the Indian Social Club and guess what their favourite game is? Yes, you are right. Seven Tiles, of course!

Crystal Quest

Yoga

Illustration by Team Oktopus

Whether you wish to remember what you study or emerge as a winner in sporting activities, concentration is that one important element that will take you closer towards your goal. Here are some asanas that will help you to concentrate well and effortlessly.

Priyanka Agarwal Concentration can, at times, be a tricky word to define.

But if we go with the Google results that appear on typing in ‘concentration meaning’ or any such keywords, we can say that the term refers to the ability to focus the mind on the one thing that we are doing, without being distracted by other thoughts, noise or anything else. Now you know what your parents and teachers mean when they keep telling you, “Concentrate on your studies”; they mean that you must simply focus all your attention towards your studies, without your mind being diverted by thoughts of something else.

You may counter by saying that we are all human and hence we can be prone to lapses in concentration.

Yes, you’re right — even adults are known to fall prey to distraction and can let their minds wander off onto a path other than the task at hand. However, if you want to be the best student in your class and a successful person when you grow up, you will have to learn and master the art of concentration.

Good concentration will also give you the following results: Your mind will be under control and so you will think only desirable thoughts.

You will be unaffected by negative, unproductive thoughts in case they pop up.

You will be able to stay peaceful and calm.

You can do and achieve more work in a lesser amount of time.

Your memory will improve.

You can save your energy for more tasks and feel active all day.

You will learn to make better choices in life faster.

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To become adept at concentration, why not turn to yoga?

Let’s learn a simple exercise, which, if done even for 1-2 minutes every day, can work wonders for your concentration.

DHRUVASANA (TREE POSE) 1. Stand straight with your feet together.

2. Raise your hands as high as you can so that the insides of your upper arms touch your ears. Fold your palms over your head into a Namaste.

3. At the same time, fold your left leg and place the sole under your groin area. Make sure your entire body weight is resting on your right leg. (In the beginning, you may find it difficult to bring your leg to the groin area. In that case, you can place your leg at any point on the other leg.)

4. Fix your eyes at any point in front and concentrate on it for as long as you can. Breathe normally.

5. Once you finish concentrating on it for at least 30-40 seconds, bring your left leg down and stand straight.

6. Now, repeat steps 2-5 with the other leg.

7. Every day, increase the amount of time you devote for concentration by a few seconds till you reach 1-2 minutes.

BENEFITS Other than improvement in concentration, this asana can enhance your health and well-being in the following ways: Improves your balance and posture.

Boosts your memory.

Strengthens the knees and ankles.

Develops the nervous system.

PRECAUTION Avoid doing this asana if you have an injury or inflammation in your knee or hip.

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58

Grooming – Posture

Right Bearing A good posture is a wonderful habit and a simple means to achieving a healthy body and mind for life.

Sohini Dey Maintaining Good Posture It is easy to slouch and bend over, instead of constantly making an effort to keep up a good posture. But practice makes perfect and this holds particularly true when it comes to mastering the art of keeping your back perfectly aligned. Here are some tips.

“Sit straight.” “Stand properly.” “Do not stoop when you walk.” Isn’t it rather annoying when parents and teachers constantly ask you to sit or stand straight and maintain a good posture? But as it turns out, their advice is worth following. Bad posture is a sure way to end up with a backache or, worse still, a deformed spine in the long run.

Why Bother with Good Posture?

Posture may be understood as position in which we hold our bodies. Its roots lie in the Latin word ponere, which means ‘to put or place.’. Our bodies maintain a certain posture at all times, while we are standing, sitting, walking and even sleeping. And, as we have already mentioned, having a good posture makes a whole lot of difference.

In medical sciences, good posture is often known as neutral spine. The human spine has three normal curves, held together by ligaments. A good posture will require you to position your body in such a way that it exerts the least amount of pressure on your back/spine. If your back feels strained while you’re engaged in an activity, it’s a sign that you need to modify your posture.

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Having a good posture has a great deal of good eơects such as these: The primary beneƤt of having a good posture is that it reduces the pressure on your back.

All the bones and muscles of the human body are connected. A healthy posture not only eases your back but also ensures that all the other muscles and bones function in comfort.

A good posture is immensely necessary for easy and regular breathing. It is also relaxing.

You will not feel tired too quickly and will be able to carry on working for longer.

A good posture lends an air of conƤdence. People with bad posture often look hesitant and unsure of themselves.

Crystal Quest

59 : When You’re Standing body Place the weight of your on the not on your heels but balls of your feet.

-width Maintain a shoulder et. distance between your fe ck and Pull your shoulder ba tuck in your stomach. loosely Your arms should hang down your body. r long, If you have to stand fo body shift the pressure of your r. from one foot to anothe When You’re Walking: Keep your hea d and shoulde rs aligned with the rest o f your body.

Resist the urg e to slouch or bend your head forward.

When You’re Sleeping : Invest in a good mattre ss and always sleep with a pillow unde r your head.

A body pillow too can be useful.

Try not to crouch too muc h as you sleep.

Do o not sleep on your stom ach.

A little awareness of how you walk, stand, sit and lie down will go a long way in making certain that your posture is always correct.

However, the benefits of proper posture last a lifetime and it is prudent (not to mention, very convenient) to start early. After all, The Hunchback of Notre Dame may be a wonderful story, but no one wants a stooped back in real life.

Crystal Quest

ing: When You’re Sitt touch the ƪoor or Make sure your feet st. some sort of footre backrest, sit Ƥrmly If the seat has a against it. oulders straight Keep your sh but relaxed. ps should ideally Your knees and hi l. be at the same leve r sition at regula po ur yo ge n ha C intervals.

Note to Parents and Teachers Correct children as soon as you spot them slouching.

It’ll be harder for them to get rid of a habitual posture once they have cultivated the habit.

Carrying heavy bags make children slouch and can thus have an adverse effect on their posture. Make sure their bags are as light as possible, or consider investing in a trolley bag.

Comfortable mattresses and pillows may be expensive but go a long way in guaranteeing that children do not crouch or feel discomfort as they sleep.

Do not take lightly any complaint children may have about an uncomfortable feeling or pain in their backs. A visit to the doctor may be necessary and indeed helpful.

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60

Eco Page

Bits and pieces matter!

Textbooks, exams and story books all have one thing in common… paper! We use it so often, but do we use it carefully? If you don’t, now you can. We tell you how!

Rashida S. Arsiwala India versus the world All of us know wasting paper is terrible for the environment. But did you know just how much wastage of paper occurs in India? To put it simply, a lot. Of course we in India, too, try to do our bit and save paper, but compared to a lot of other countries, we aren’t doing enough. For example, it was found that in India, only about three million tons of waste paper is recycled, which is about 27 per cent of the total waste output. In contrast, some countries have much higher recycle rates. Germany recycles 73 per cent of its waste paper, Sweden 69 per cent, Japan 60 per cent and so on. This may seem just like senseless numbers, so let’s think about it this way: Imagine there is a box full of candy in front of you, and you are free to take all the candy you want. But the box is made in such a way that you can only get a few pieces of candy out; the rest are stuck inside and you have to leave them there. Seems like a massive waste, doesn’t it? That’s exactly how waste paper recycling works!

What can you do?

There are some more interesting facts about paper recycling that I could tell you. For example, recycling one April-May 2013

ton of paper can save up to 17 trees! Or that it saves 7,000 gallons of water. So, what can you do? Well, plenty.

The simplest and easiest thing you can do — and I’m sure many of you already do — is not to waste paper!

Seems confusing? It’s very simple! The next time you write one line on a piece of paper and think about tossing it away after you are done, don’t. Simply scratch out that line and use the rest of the page, front and back.

Growing up, my friends and I didn’t use printouts for school projects and assignments the way kids today do.

But if you do take printouts, there’s one simple thing you can do – use both sides to print. Same rule applies to photocopying notes.

Innovation at its best Young people often have the most creative minds.

Do you want to test how creative you are? Simply think up cool ways of saving paper. To get you started on this experimenting phase, here are some cool things you can do to save paper. If you travel by public transport to school, don’t toss out the bus tickets. Save them, and use them for writing little notes. When mom asks you to go grocery shopping, hand over a couple of the tickets Crystal Quest

61 for her to jot down the list on. She will be impressed and proud of your thoughtfulness. (Psst… this also works for passing notes in class, though don’t tell your teacher we told you so!)

From personal experience, I can say that using loose sheets of paper for doing homework or writing self-study notes can be quite annoying, because one can always misplace/lose them. So, how can you avoid this? The easy way out would be to staple the sheets together. But if you want to be really creative, here’s what you can do. Assemble a few sheets of pages together (20-30 at a time is good enough) and, using your geometric compass or any other pointed object (be careful not to hurt yourself, though!), poke it through the sheets at two points, and run a string (or thread, if you don’t have string, but make sure the thread is doubled-over, or it’ll break) through the two holes, and tie it up. Do this for about 4-5 sets, and then just glue them all together with Fevicol. If you want to be even cooler, save up the covers of your old notebooks and give the new hand-bound notebook a brand new ‘old’ cover. Tada, your handmade notebook is ready! But if this is too much work for you, simply find the neighbourhood binder, who will do it for you gladly for a few rupees.

The big power of small differences Waste paper is under-utilised because we, as citizens, don’t do our bit to save paper. Do you make sure that the waste paper you discard goes into the correct waste bin? Dry waste and wet waste should be segregated;

Handmade paper If you’re still feeling creative, try your hand at handmade paper. All you will need are used paper, some water, a sieve and a grinder.

Take used paper, put it in a grinder with water and mix it into a pulp.

Spread out the pulp onto a thin wire mesh (a flour sieve will do the trick), making sure the pulp is evenly spread in a thin layer.

Put it out in the sun to dry and voila, you have a handmade sheet of paper ready!

(Note that if it’s paper that was written upon earlier, the new sheet may end up being blue. That’s great; you have coloured paper!)

it becomes easier to channel it to the right source for recycling. In your own homes, make sure this is done, and also get together with other kids to get all the adults within the housing society to follow this rule. You will definitely make a difference, I promise you!

Children are the future of any country. So, if you start trying to make a difference now, it will benefit not just you, but the entire country in the long run. Paper brings us information, joy and knowledge. Shouldn’t we do our bit to save it?

Or, try making envelopes: First, open the ends of an envelope. Then, take a used A4 sheet of paper (or any coloured waste paper), and trace the outline of the envelope on it. Cut and fold along the lines, and stick the ends with glue. There, you have your own envelope!

Crystal Quest

April-May 2013

62

On the Shelf

Heidi

Read about what this little girl learns in the mountains and how she responds to city life. This is a tale of love and care, warmth and longing. Heidi is a learning experience for each one of us.

R. Krishna

Take a tour with me into 1880, and you will find that the world had many interesting events recorded that year. It was the year when Thomas Edison received the memorable patent of his incandescent lamp that lit the way for the future use of electricity. Theodore Roosevelt (fondly known as Teddy Roosevelt), who was to later become the 26th President of the United States of America, turned 22 years old and married his sweetheart, Alice Hathaway Lee, that same year.

The year 1880 was historical for the publishing industry as well. Readers in Europe first, and then slowly those all over the world, were served a literary treat — Heidi, a heartwarming story written by Swiss author, Johanna Spyri.

Heidi transports the reader into the Swiss Alps, and one can actually smell the fresh alpine air and experience the heavenly sights of the Swiss landscapes by reading this classic.

How beautifully the author manages to paint her characters, each with a strong trait of his or her own personality! The story spins around Heidi who is raised by her aunt, Dete, post the demise of Heidi’s parents. After a couple of years, aunt Dete decides that it is time for five-yearold Heidi to go and live with her grandfather, a grumpy old man who does not share a very pleasant relationship with the villagers and lives in semi-reclusion. In the beginning, he is upset that Heidi has come to him, but, slowly, Heidi, with her sweet and kind nature, gets her grandpa to love being with her. Life gets to be so joyful for little Heidi as she befriends a goatherd called Peter. Everything is so well-settled till Aunt Dete shows up one day and insists that Heidi go with her to Frankfurt. Here, she tells Heidi that she will be a companion to a 12-year-old girl named Clara Sesemann. Clara is seen to be an invalid and moves around in a wheelchair.

Heidi is so very unhappy to leave her grandpa and April-May 2013

Peter and faces the harsh looks and words of Sesemann’s housekeeper, Frauline Rottenmeier. This only adds to poor little Heidi’s homesickness.

However, Clara’s grandmother is a kind lady and tries to cheer Heidi up and tells her that she should pray to God for a solution. She also spends time with Heidi and teaches her to read, but Heidi’s unhappiness continues. She is so disturbed that she also starts to sleepwalk. Then, the family doctor is called home and he suggests that Heidi immediately return to her grandfather in the Alps. Heidi is then allowed to go back to where her heart belongs.

Back with her beloved grandfather, Heidi shares her belief in God with him and he changes his outlook and Grandpa even starts going to church. Heidi begins to go to school and, after a while, Clara, her father, her grandmother and Dr. Classen visit Heidi from Frankfurt. The visit proves very good for Clara, as she lives with Heidi in her humble home and learns to walk.

Peter gets a bit jealous of the great attention that Heidi is now paying to Clara, and he does a very naughty thing — he pushes the empty wheelchair over the hill one day.

Grandma understands why Peter has done this. She does the unexpected — she rewards Peter instead of punishing him, as she believes that this act will only make Clara more independent and encourage her to walk. This proves true.

The time then comes for the Sesemann family to return to their home, but not without promising Heidi’s grandfather that they will take care of Heidi financially once her grandpa is no more.

So, read this book and let Heidi share the lovely lesson of friendship with you. We will all realise that life is beautiful and we only have to turn its pages with optimism and strength to discover the truth of living.

Crystal Quest

CRYSTAL QUEST STUDENT DISCOUNT CARD – NATURE OF DISCOUNT AND VALIDITY PERIOD Visakhapatnam Merchant Details

Nature Of Discount/Offer

Discount Period

Chill Out Ice Cream Parlour She Collections Clothing Store Punjabi Tadka/Hangout Cafe Dolls-n-Chic Boutique Purple Fashions Aarif Opticians Wardrobe Clothing Store WFC - Food and Gaming Zone Deep Blues Clothing Store 13 Square - Food and Gaming Zone Suhagan Beauty Parlour Sai divya beauty clinic Life way tours travels Kalavathi hospitals Bala vinyagar mixtures Venkat communications Rehin sons Star sports National sports centre Paragon foot ware Lucky sports Pioneer shoes Moon walk shoes

Get an ice-cream Sundae worth ` 65/- on bill value above ` 400/10% on Clothing 10% on Food 10% on Clothing 10% cash discoount on all products 15% to 30% discount 10% discount on clothing 15% on Food 30% on Clothing 20% on party hall, 12% on food and gaming 10% on all services 10% of any kind of treatment 5% of 1000/- and above booking ticktes 15% of any surgery 10% of purchase of 1000/- and above 5 % of purchase of 1000/- and above 10% on MRP 20 % on MRP 10% on MRP 10% on MRP 15 % on MRP 20 % on MRP 20 % on MRP

01-10-2012 to 30-04-2013 01-09-2012 to 01-09-2013 01-09-2012 to 01-09-2013 01-09-2012 to 01-09-2013 01-07-2012 to 30-06-2013 01-07-2012 to 01-06-2013 01-07-2012 to 30-06-2013 01-09-2012 to 31-03-2013 01-09-2012 to 01-03-2013 01-10-2012 to 31-01-2013 01-09-2012 to 01-09-2013 15-04-2013 to 14-04-2014 11-04-2013 to 31-12-2013 15-04-2013 to 14-04-2014 15-04-2013 to 14-04-2014 15-04-2013 to 14-04-2014 25-04-2013 to 24-04-2014 25-04-2013 to 24-04-2014 25-04-2013 to 24-04-2014 25-04-2013 to 24-04-2014 25-04-2013 to 24-04-2014 25-04-2013 to 24-04-2014 25-04-2013 to 24-04-2014

Nature Of Discount/Offer 10% on any sale 10% On Gifts 10% On Gifts 10% From ` 3000 & 5% From 1K to 2999 10% From ` 500 Onwards 5% on all items 10 % on all treatments and products 10% on all books and stationery (except note books) 10% on all gifts and toys 10% on all ranges of bags 10% on all gifts, toys and stationery 5 - 10% on all items 10% on any kind of treatment 5% on any purchase 10% on any item 10 % on all products and services 10% on all products and services

Discount Period 30-08-2012 to 30-08-2013 30-08-2012 to 30-08-2013 30-08-2012 to 30-08-2013 10-09-2012 to 10-09-2013 16-08-2012 to 16-08-2013 27-09-2012 to 27-09-2013 24-09-2012 to 23-09- 2013 27-09-2012 to 27-09-2013 27-09-2012 to 27-09-2013 27-09-2012 to 27-09-2013 15-09-2012 to 14-09-2013 25-09-2012 to 24-09-2013 28-02-2013 to 27-02-2014 08-04-2013 to 07-04-2014 28-02-2013 to 27-02-2014 08-04-2013 to 07-04-2014 30-04-2013 to 29-04-2014

Nature Of Discount 10% on all products 10% on all products 15% on all range of pearls 10% on all branded earrings / 15% on other prodcuts 10% on all accessories 10% on stationery and gifts / 5% on sports wear / 20% on bags 10% on all books (other than notebooks) 15% on all range of clothes Free entry to the park (FLAT ` 350/- discount) Free entry to the park (FLAT ` 250/- discount) 10% discount on all Books (Not applicable for Notebooks & Textbooks) 15% discount

Discount Period 01-10-2012 - 01-10-2013 01-09-2012 - 31-08-2013 05-09-2012 - 04-09-2013 10-09-2012 - 09-09-2013 01-09-2012 - 31-08-2013 01-10-2012 - 30-09-2013 10-09-2012 - 09-09-2013 01-10-2012 - 01-10-2013 01-10-2012 - 01-10-2013 01-10-2012 - 01-10-2013 10-09-2012 - 9-09-2013 05-09-2012 - 04-09-2013

25% discount on Mobile Repairing

01-11-2012 - 31-12-2013

10% discount on all Phone Repair 2% discount on purchase of Rs.1000/- and above 10% discount on any item except Recharges & Vochers Upto 10% on services 10% discount on Event organised by our company 10% discount on any item 10% discount for total bill amount of Rs.1,500/- and above on Food and Beverages 10% Discount on note books 10% Discount on All Toys

28-12-2012 - 28-12-2013 01-01-2013 - 31-12-2013 01-04-2013 - 31-03-2014 01-04-2013 - 31-03-2014 01-04-2013 - 31-03-2014 01-04-2013 - 31-03-2014 01-04-2013 - 31-03-2014 01-05-2013 - 30-06-2014 01-04-2013 - 31-03-2014

Hyderabad Merchant Details Priyanka Enterprises Archies Dilshuknagar Archies Kothapet The Looms Sri Rama Kids Wear Nagender Ribbon and Bangle store Abhinav Homeo stores Heera Stationery and Novelties Tripura Gifts and Novelties Honest Bag Centre Bombay Gift House YSSR Computers Kolors Health Care Staedler Sri Lakshmi Gifts and Ladies emporium Queens Aerobic center and beauty parlor Sri Shanmugan Skin and Diago center

GOA Merchant Details Ahsaan Bags Footmark Bicholim Goa Jai Santoshi Pearls,Panji Kanekar Corner KGN Gifts and Toys Corner Laxmi store (book store) Singbal’s Book House Tanin garments Blue Lady water park Time Zone (Play area for kids) Singbal’s Books House Jai Santoshi (Hydrabadi Pearls) Sainath Cyber Zone, Gaming & Mobile Repairing & Computer Repairing Shrey Enterprises M/s. Froyson Laxmi Mobiles NKIS Computers Bulls Eye Entertainment Raza Food Joint Mermaid (Swimsea Beach Resort) Sai Durga Traders (Stationery Shop) Gifts & Toys Center