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Ekya / November 29, 2018 Posted by : administrator

The NASA Experience


Travel to Mars is something that we all may dream about, but not really venture into. Senior students of Ekya School had a wonderful opportunity to experience space travel at NASA Astronaut Training Experience (ATX) Centre. Our students were hosted at the NASA Astronaut Training Experience (ATX) Centre, where they participated in a new mission simulation that included launching, landing and walking on Mars.

Trained as the next generation of space explorers, our students were introduced to a wide range of simulation technology and virtual reality, to experience the environment of Mars, and the difficulties faced on the Martian surface. Students got to see and experience a day in the life of an astronaut as they participated in a spacewalk through micro gravity technology, monitored the launch of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) and were part of the Orion capsule crew for launch monitoring and other mission-related activities.

En route to NASA, the students visited Hershey’s Chocolate World, Niagara Falls, Universal Studios and few other tourist attractions for some learning through fun.

Here are few stories from our students about the NASA Trip that express their exhilaration about the entire experience;

The Journey to NASA

“The cold never bothered me anyway.  We may be wrapped up in our thick, warm woollens complaining about the weather, but the gleeful looks on our faces say otherwise. We ventured around with our bonhomie guide, Annie, and learnt the depth of Washington’s history. After the knowledgeable tour, we were off to the Niagara Falls for a nail-biting experience. Literally, the legendary falls looked ravishing when illuminated with contrasting lights as they did in the morning. We got on the Maid of the Mist boat tour to get closer to these spectacular falls.”

“Who doesn’t love some chocolates right?

We were surrounded by kisses, Reese’s, kit kits and so many more delicious treats. The chocolate tour gave us an insight into how they manufacture the world-famous Hershey’s chocolates. It was quite the ride that dropped us off at the chocolate store with a large bounty of the sweetest treats.”“We gathered up at UNIVERSAL STUDIOS. It looked like a place where all our dreams and every favourite movie came to life.  The roller coasters turned us around in every possible direction, the VR rides were better than our expectations and words will never be enough to truly describe it to precision”

THE BIG DAY, the astronaut training experience

“Every one of us had a name badge and a shirt waiting as soon as we reached NASA. There was a quick briefing and later we rushed to leave everything in the lockers to prevent anything from holding us back in space. All set to explore the space, we were divided into teams with matching wristbands and shirts.

We looked for rock samples on Mars, worked through sandstorms, while our eyes and ears were on our teammates working their best behind their monitors and we successfully placed the samples inside the rover. It felt like a piece of cake until microgravity hit us. We took a little spacewalk to shake off the anxiety and fixed up the instruments. Each team did their best work and it has to be mentioned it was a lot harder than the moonwalk we attempt on earth.

In between each training slot we got a chance to record video logs. Though it felt embarrassing, was fun too. Just when we thought we got a hang of it, we had to drive a Mars rover, which literally turned everything upside down. It gave us all a jump start for the launch mission. Every single member was required to make sure we had a successful launch. Teamwork indeed does lead to dream work. After all the hard work we got to cool off while learning about the space suit, lunar dust, Martian soil and space food!”

Soaking the Miami heat before heading back to Bangalore


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Ekya / March 14, 2024

Strategies to help students focus on their studies

The famous quote by Bruce Lee, “Concentration is the root of all the higher abilities in man,” aptly describes the importance of concentration. When it comes to students, concentration plays a major role in their overall performance. From understanding the concepts in the classroom to solving advanced mathematical problems or playing their favourite sports, everything is directly related to the power of concentration. Many of them wonder how to stay focused on their studies. For them, it is advisable to take small breaks in between their study sessions. Also, students should make an effort to participate in an extracurricular of their choice, be it playing guitar or making goals in the field. Activities of their choice would not only give them a break from studies but would also boost their dopamine level.

As per American psychological society, there is a decline in student's attention for 10 to 15 minutes. However, there is a need to look out for strategies for boosting productivity and focus among students

Here are some tips to concentrate on studies and boost focus:

Prepare short summaries of the lessons:

After completing the lessons, preparing a summary of it will help students to get a good hold on the topic. Short summaries will also be useful during the revision before final exams. Sticky notes to write important points will also help

Take periodic breaks:

A small break after a study session is one of the learning tips for children given by many experts. Small breaks help students refresh their mind and focus on the topic. Students can also use the Pomodoro technique which includes 25 minutes of study and 5 minutes of break or 50 minutes of study and 10 minutes of break.

Encourage them to finish tasks faster:

Setting a time limit will help students to channel their energy in one direction. This is a good way to increase their concentration. Children should also be advised to divide the bigger tasks into smaller pieces and solve them one by one. This technique will teach students the lesson of time management and will enhance their concentration.

Try to make learning sessions fun:

It is one of the best tips for studying. As it will engage the students in the most fun manner. For this, various learning toys can be used to make them understand complex topics. Including memory games would also be a good option to increase their concentration.

Implement Ed-Tech learning:

Involving Ed-Tech learning is one of the best ways to keep the students engaged, as it captivates their attention. Ed-tech learning methods are designed in a way to not just boost the student's interest but also help improve their concentration.

Take the feedback seriously:

Always encourage the students to take the feedback given by their teachers seriously as this way they will get to know more about their weaker areas and work over them. It is a good way for students to channel their focus on the areas that demand more attention.

Understand the student's potential:

This point is very important for teachers and parents to consider. Every child is blessed in some or the other way. Comparing them with other students not just demoralises them but also lowers their confidence. So it is essential to understand the true potential of every student. This way they can excel in their desired career fields.   Ekya School is among the best schools in Bangalore, if you are seeking a school with an ICSE curriculum, this is the place for you. It is also among the CBSE schools in Bangalore, that provide students a holistic approach by innovative curriculum design based on the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework. With over 30 years of education legacy, it has excelled not only in academics but also outperformed in co-curricular activities. Ekya’s experienced teachers help students concentrate on studies through different methods of teaching, clearing doubts, and revision sessions, pedagogy method of teaching is applied for better outcomes. Moreover allowing students to take breaks, participate, and enjoy their personal activity time. Ekya promotes the importance of co-curriculum activities such as physical health, sports, school clubs, music, dance, coding, debating, and more. All these approaches help in concentration and focus, also these are elements that demand variety and quality breaks in between everything we do. Furthermore, students are offered excellent opportunities here in Ekya that help them grow in a safe and supportive environment.  

Ekya / March 04, 2024

Teachers, The Unsung Heroes

In the vast tapestry of society, there exists a group of individuals who are shaping futures, nurturing minds and instilling values but continue to remain unsung heroes. Their efforts and contributions often go unnoticed despite the indispensable role they play in society. Despite their pivotal role, teachers are most often undervalued and underappreciated. It’s crucial to recognise and acknowledge their efforts. Acceptance of their importance motivates them to continue their noble work.

Beyond the confines of books and teaching teachers play a significant role in shaping the lives of their students. They serve as mentors, confidants and role models guiding young children through challenges and opportunities. With their role comes great responsibility as they not only impart education but also nurture character, empathy, and resilience. Teachers have the power to ignite passion, unlock potential, and instil a lifelong love and learning.

The commitment of teachers transcends mere profession, it’s a lifelong dedication. Despite facing numerous challenges, from limited resources to societal pressures, they remain committed to their pursuit of providing quality education. The impact they create in the lives of individuals is unfathomable. The smile they bring to the faces of young children is something that only they are capable of and that’s what brings joy and fulfilment in their lives.

As we reflect on their profound impact, let’s celebrate and honour their invaluable role in shaping the world we live in. This tribute to teachers is a recognition of their transformative power in shaping the destiny of individuals and communities. Let’s cherish and support them in their noble endeavour to enlighten minds and build a brighter future for generations to come.

Sreepriya Unnikrishnan Head of School Ekya School, JP Nagar

Ekya / March 04, 2024

Education, the essence of life

Education is the most beautiful creation, be it in nature or human life. I choose to do the Cambridge International Diploma course to enhance my understanding of how to teach effectively. This course enabled me to accept challenges and think outside of the box. It helped me develop critical thinking in my students, motivating them to revolutionize their thought processes as they are taught “How to think?”, not “What to think?”.This course has helped me improve my teaching skills creating a better learning environment for my learners. The use of active learning strategies like think-pair-share, brainstorming, class discussion, and Socratic Questioning has helped widen their horizon, as the students develop problem-solving skills and communicating and collaborating skills. As a teacher, following my passion has been enriching and rewarding. Written by, Shalini Joshi
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Ekya School visits Bannerghatta National Park

Grade 4 students of Ekya Schools JP Nagar had a thrilling experience of spending a day with wildlife at the Bannerghatta National Park. The students didn’t just learn about the living habits of different animals, but the whole experience was instrumental in developing compassion among children for animals. Here is an account of the experience in the words of Rishikesh Murali Mohan (Grade 4 A) Field trip to Bannerghatta National Park I woke up at 4.30 am in excitement and got ready for school in record time. I raced to school and couldn’t believe that today was finally the day of the field trip. Everyone in our class was ready for an amazing field trip. We started on the school bus, all in high spirits. We finally reached the park after a fun bus ride. The moment we reached we hopped into the animal safari, alert and ready for watching wild animals. The bear safari was the first one in which we saw black bears. I knew this was only the start of the wonderful safari. Next, it was the lion safari which was twice as good as the bear safari. We observed how wild animals walk up and down flattening the grass before sleeping. Finally, we saw the white tiger and royal bengal tigers. After the safari, we saw many animals in their cage like monkeys, jackals, etc. We sat down for lunch and then played in the garden. Then we went to the butterfly park in which we saw cool butterflies, plants and more. After all this, we had come to an end of the trip. While returning in the bus, we played a word building game of what we saw on the trip. It was just awesome! Apart from learning many other things we mainly learnt to preserve the delicate balance of nature. Now I guess I am sure nature trips are not as boring as it sounds!

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Ekya JP Nagar attends Art Camp at CMR University

Exploring Art 


We had the amazing opportunity to attend an art camp at CMR University and interact with artists from different parts of India. Each artist had a unique style of art. We saw acrylic/oil paintings, oil pastel art, and artwork with charcoal. It was incredible how artists used the medium of canvas and paint to create original works of art. We learned about woodcut art, which was used to make more than one copy of a piece before machines were invented. We observed how artists use different tools and materials to produce their desired results. Usually, in art galleries, we see the finished product, but here we saw work in progress and the steps it takes to complete an art piece. Outside the art room, we also saw metal sculptures in the making. The fun part is, we dug our hands in paint and created our own artwork. The entire experience was fun and educative.

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