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Ekya / July 21, 2022 Posted by : administrator

What did you ask at school today?

As parents, we are equal partners in our child’s learning as a teacher. Along with the teachers at school, we can make a big difference in how our children look at the world, and their emotional, mental, and psychological development. 

The first question that we usually ask our children after they come back from school is “what did you do/learn at school?” how about we twist that question a little bit and make our children agents of their learning, and ask them, “what made you wonder today?”

Asking questions is not only about clearing fundamental doubts, but also sharpening higher-order thinking skills. When a child comes up with questions, they are vigorously thinking through a problem while investigating the problem from various angles.

It helps them develop communication skills, encourages listening skills, makes them open-minded to others’ opinions, leads to discoveries, polishes decision-making skills, and more.

In this ever changing world, one skill that will always stay relevant is curiosity/asking questions. Here’s how you can support your children’s questions. 

  1. Celebrate each question – A lot of times children are afraid to ask questions, mostly because they feel scared to ask the wrong question. The best way to solve this problem is to celebrate all the questions and bring children to answer their questions. 

  2. Present Thought Provoking Prompts – Learning experiences should promote thought as well as curiosity. The skill of asking questions is more important than getting answers! Present your children with thought-provoking questions that get them on the hook and push them to think.

  3. Avoid setting a limit on the number of questions your child can ask and avoid saying no to questions – To encourage curiosity and asking questions, it is important to not set a limit to how many questions your child can ask per day, however, you can park the question, using a “parking lot” and come back to answer these questions later. 

  4. Create a safe space for asking questions – Children often avoid asking questions due to fear of judgment, creating a safe space for them to ask any questions they may have helps them feel comfortable asking questions. 

  5. Ask them to find or explore for possible answers As parents we often tend to answer all the questions that our children may have, rather than giving them answers to encourage them to find their answers, you can guide them through the process of finding the answer, but avoid answering the questions yourself. 

  6. Be  Curious yourself   Children observe their parents and the values they hold and follow their footsteps. So as a parent you need to be curious about the world around you. Ask them questions that ignite curiosity and make them think beyond what is being taught.

  7. Share the answer with your child and also show them how you arrive at the answer   use language that they understand and can relate with, ensure your answer is age appropriate and factually correct . Additionally you can also add a follow up question for which they can find the answer.

  8. Thought-partner with your child to find the answers – irrespective of your knowledge about the answers, you can always think through the answer with your child. It will be a fun process to come up with the answer together. 

Know that it is okay to not know the answers, and it’s okay to tell your child that you don’t know the answer. All that really matters is making sure that your child’s curiosity is harnessed. 

One additional tip, rather than asking your children – “what did you learn today?” try asking “what did you ask at school today?”

Here are a few interesting questions, learners at Ekya and CMR have asked…

  1. Why are some corals soft but others are hard?

  2. How do coral reefs protect the lives of people during storms?

  3. Can we go to another city from Bangalore in Rockets? 

  4. Why aren’t farm animals as colorful as unicorns?

  5. Why is 70% of the earth covered with water? 

  6. I want to go to space, how can I go there? 

  7. How can such tiny seeds grow into huge trees? 

  8. Why did planets decide to revolve around the sun? 

  9. Why are we not moving when the earth is rotating? 

  10. Why do whales not live on land?

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Ekya / March 26, 2024

The Hot Garlic Soup Inspired by ‘The Last Leaf’ by O. Henry

Sue and Johnsy, two young artists, shared a small flat on the third storey of an old house.
Johnsy fell ill in November. She was diagnosed with pneumonia. She would lie in her bed, gazing out of the window. Sue sent for the doctor. The doctor said to Sue, “Johnsy’s condition is not so serious yet. It seems she is unable to recover because she has lost the will to live.”
Sue became extremely worried for Johnsy’s well-being and mental health. She tried to make Johnsy interested in the things around her, but Johnsy never replied with more than a noncommittal hum.
One day, Sue was painting when she heard Johnsy counting backwards. Sue looked out of the window and saw an old ivy creeper climbing on the brick wall. The ivy was shedding its leaves in the strong gust of the wind.
“They are falling faster now,” whispered Johnsy. “Three days ago there were so many leaves. Only five are left now.”
“It is autumn,” said Sue, “and the leaves will fall.”
“When the last leaf falls, I will die” said Johnsy with finality. “I have felt this for the last three days.”
“Oh, that’s nonsense,” replied Sue. “Why do you believe your fate is tied to those old ivy leaves?”
“Human life is fleeting, just like those ivy leaves,” said Johnsy. “I got sick just as the ivy started shedding its leaves. It must be an omen. The last leaf will fall, and I will slip into slumber forever.”
Sue sat on Johnsy’s bed, kissed her and said, “You are not going to die. Plenty of people fall sick in autumn, and they recover soon enough. Do you want some soup?”
“I don’t want any soup. My time is almost up, I’m sure of it,” murmured Johnsy.
Sue decided to change tactics. She was not going to give up on Johnsy.
“It is true that human life is somewhat fleeting, but that’s exactly what makes life valuable. Do you not want to see what life has to offer before you slip into slumber? Will you not miss the cool breeze waking you up, the warm embrace of sunlight? Do you want to give up the feeling of the paintbrush gliding over the canvas?” Sue quavered.
“Look beyond the ivy to that tree over there,” Sue continued. “Even that tree is shedding its leaves, but it is also growing new leaves. It is going to live for many more years, just like you.”
Johnsy contemplated for a while. Then, she looked out of the window and smiled.
“Perhaps I will have some hot garlic soup. You made me realise that life is worth living after all.”
Written by Aahana,
from grade 9A

Ekya / March 22, 2024

Importance of Literature in a Classroom.

"Literature is one of the most interesting and significant expressions of humanity" - P.T.Barnum

We as humans are social beings. We can't imagine our lives to be solitary. Literature facilitates us to understand and communicate with one another in society. It helps us explore the world around us and is a medium to express our views and experiences. So it is of vital importance that the students are introduced to literature at a young age.

Literature is necessary for students as it helps them to develop imagination, improves vocabulary and language skills and even enhances creativity. Literature helps them understand the world outside their home and school.

It is disheartening to see that literature is often not put on the same pedestal as other technical subjects like Math or Science. where it shouldn't be the case.

Literature includes different types of texts like stories and fables, myths

and legends, poetry and drama or even informational texts that help them explore other subjects. It prepares students to read and understand the real world.

There are one too many benefits of including literature at a young age. It is like an exercise for the brain, keeping an individual mentally active and stimulated.

Exposure to cultures from different countries brings in a sense of respect and tolerance, a feat possible through literature. It motivates one to appreciate different lives and their ways and also to graciously disagree with something that may not be right. The different characters the students are introduced to become a source of inspiration. They start to imagine themselves in varied situations. they learn different solutions to problems they come across.

More importantly, reading is fun and literature develops an inclination toward reading and makes them self-learners.

It can be concluded that literature is a gateway to nurturing a child’s life skills more than any assignment or task

can ever do.

Written By:

Shruthi Prakash

English Educator - Primary

Ekya Schools BTM Layout

Ekya / March 22, 2024

A Day to Remember: Juniors Bid Goodbye to Seniors with a Spectacular Farewell Party.

As the academic year draws to a close, emotions run high at our beloved school. The time has come for the juniors to express their gratitude, love, and affection for their departing seniors.

And what better way to do this than by throwing an unforgettable farewell party?

The air was buzzing with excitement as the juniors meticulously planned every detail to make it a night that their seniors would cherish forever.

The audio-visual room was transformed into a place of nostalgia and celebration, adorned with decorations to welcome the seniors. Each performance was filled with energy, enthusiasm, and dedication. Each video played, spoke volumes about the memories shared and the bonds formed throughout their academic journey, blanketing the atmosphere with a mix of joy, laughter, and a hint of bittersweet anticipation.

Our seniors were all dressed up to the nines for the occasion with the girls in a blue and white saree and the boys in black suits.

But how did all of this come to be? I am a grade 11 student and let me take you through behind the scenes of this event and how we prepared for this event.

  • Many girls formed a group and decided to dance to “Paint It Red” and “All Is Well”. Everyone’s efforts are to be appreciated as they come up with new steps and formations. Well-coordinated teamwork led to an amazing performance that got everyone cheering.

  • Meanwhile, my batchmate, Lara,  and a few teachers were preparing to sing songs dedicated to the seniors. Lara sang a melodious rendition of “When You Believe” and the teachers sang a medley of songs which got the seniors singing along as well!

  • The boys planned on dancing to the song “Galti Se Mistake” and their performance was full of creativity and humour. The choreography was inspired by the original music video of the song and they worked hard together and taught each other the steps. This performance got everyone giggling and cheering so loud!

  • It did not end with the students, even the teachers chose to step into this grand celebration. They danced on a variety of songs and each song made the seniors hoot louder. Even though they had a very busy schedule they would still take time and dedicate it to the dance practice during after-school hours. Huge kudos for their coordination and effort!

  • Mohana and Arshia came up with a very engaging script which had the attention of the audience. A small game was organised for the students where they had to write something good about one of their batchmates. Everybody put their hands together and made 32 crowns of appreciation for their seniors. A video of the seniors was made including photos and videos of their dearest memories. Last but not least, our teachers also prepared a video message for the seniors bidding farewell and wishing them the best for their future endeavours.

The day finally came. The 10th of February came. It was the day - the day for which we had been preparing for days. The graduation.

The place was set, the background screen was ready, the mic was ready and the sound system was ready. Our seniors came one by one and the auditorium was filled with chatter until the anchors came in and the event started.

After a few minutes, the head boy gave a heartfelt speech, followed by the chit game of affirmations then Lara’s beautiful performance.

The girls donned black kurtis and sunglasses and danced to “Paint It Red”, which got a round of applause. The seniors loved the “Galti Se Mistake” dance by the boys for its creativity and comedic execution and what made it better was the shorts with shirt and tie combination. The dance finale was to the song “All Is Well” which got the audience cheering for the dancers with lots of enthusiasm.

Then a video filled with the memories of the seniors was shown which made most of them emotional. The dance which everybody was eagerly anticipating started - it was our beloved teachers who completely rocked the stage with their amazing performance.

Then a few teachers gave a very emotional message followed by songs dedicated to their students. The event came to an end with video messages by the teachers,  a crowning ceremony and high tea.

In conclusion, the event was successful, and enjoyed by all the students - juniors, seniors and teachers. It wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s contribution and teamwork. It was an emotional roller coaster for everyone and a day which will never be forgotten.

Written By:

Stutee Samantray

(Grade 11, Ekya BTM)

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#TeacherBlogger: 5 Most Useful Online Tools For Teachers That Can Be Used Even For a Physical Classroom By, Ahlada Sudersan Head of Professional Development Institute, Ekya Schools & CMR K-12

5 most useful online tools for teachers for a physical classroom 

The pandemic has completely changed the way teachers taught and students learnt, and the sudden change from in-class teaching to on-screen teaching pushed us to change the tools we used to teach. Chalk and board became screen and mouse, “don’t talk in the class” became “mute yourself”! 

While we transition back to our physical classroom, here are some tools that you can use. These tools will help you make your classroom more interactive and engaging. 

  1. Kahoot 

Kahoot is a game-based learning platform that lets you create fun learning games. You can make a quiz on any topic and in any language, and customize the quiz with videos, diagrams, and images. Students participate in “kahoots” (games) by logging the game codes on their device or application. You can use this in your classroom for a Hook activity if devices are available in the classroom. If not, assign a Kahoot homework task to check their understanding or as pre-work before the start of a topic. 

  1. Quizzizz  

Quizzizz is a web-based assessment tool that allows you to present quizzes on Science, Social Sciences, Computer Science, Technical education, and Art to students as a timed test or homework with a specified deadline. Similar to Kahoot, you can use this tool to check for understanding, as a part of homework or as a hook to start off your class. 

  1. JeopardyLabs 

JeopardyLabs is an online service that enables you to build Jeopardy games without PowerPoint, by using a simple editor. You can also choose from ready-made games created by the platform users on such subjects as foods, cities, countries, books, and hygiene. This is a great tool for a fun check for understanding, or group work, this will not only engage your students but also ensure that there is a fun element involved. This also improves inquiry skills of questions as they reframe answers as questions.

  1. Canva 

Canva for Education is 100% free for K-12 students and teachers. You and your students can create and personalize your own designs from scratch, or choose from thousands of high-quality, copyright-free educational templates. This will help you design engaging, fun lesson plans that will ensure that your students are constantly engaged. Apart from lesson plans, Canva provides a plethora of templates through which you can create assignments, yearbook, asynchronous material, timetables and many more things. 

  1. Padlet 

Padlet takes the idea of the notice board and makes it digital, so it's enhanced. This creates a space for teachers and students in education to share but in a way that's actually better than the real-world version.

Unlike a physical notice board, this space can be populated with rich media, including words and images as well as videos and links too. All that and it's instantly updated for anyone sharing the space to see right away.

What do you need to know before creating digital material on these platforms?

  1. All these platforms have a free version and a paid version. Explore the free version first to see if the platform fits your needs.
  2. Most of these platforms require you to sign in using an existing account (Google, Facebook etc) or create an account. This way, the material that you have created will be stored in the cloud and can be retrieved through your account credentials. Watch this video to learn how to create a free account in Canva.
  3. To learn more about the features of the platform itself, explore the learning material available on their official websites. Here is a collection of resources for kahoot.
  4. You may need accessories such as a headset and webcam if you are planning to record videos and create presentations with audio-video elements.

Hope these platforms provide you with interesting ideas to make your classroom engaging and fun!

#StudentBlogger: Singing Competition By, Anika Khanna 12-E, Ekya School, ITPL

Singing  competition

It was around 8:20 am on a Tuesday when the children of grades 3 and 4 sat in the amphitheater bubbling with anticipation for their singing competition. This competition was hosted by Simrat Hanspal and judged by teachers, Ms.Agnes, Ms. Carmelin, and Ms.Dhanya- who was a guest judge.

The children exhibited their outstanding voices through various songs, ranging from English, Hindi, Bengali, and Marathi. This only showed how versatile the students of Ekya can be!

Throughout every performance, the children were energetic and always made sure to encourage their peers. Overall, it was a delightful event that everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

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