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Ekya / March 17, 2021 Posted by : administrator

“Mesmerizing Iceland – Land of Fire & Ice”

On the night of 21st December 2018, my parents and I left for the airport for our vacation in Iceland. When we landed in Iceland, it was the evening of 22nd December. When we got off the plane, it was so cold that I was shivering!! After we got our bags, we left for the Blue Lagoon in a local taxi! 

Blue Lagoon is a place where there is hot natural earth water!! When we reached there, we changed into our swimsuits and we were ready to go! But first, we had to walk to the water!! There was a long pathway!! Since we were wearing only our swimsuits, it became extra cold!! But finally, when we jumped into the water, it was very warm! After we finished swimming in the water it was time to go to our hotel.

Blue Lagoon

We went to our hotel on Laugavegur street in Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik. Reykjavik is a clean and beautiful place. Laugavegur is the most famous street in Reykjavik

Reykjavik City & Laugavegur Street

Iceland gets only about 5-5.30 hours of sunlight during the end of December! We used to leave our hotel for the tour at 8 am. But when we finished our breakfast and came outside, it was like we were traveling in the night!! It was so dark!! Sunlight would appear only by 10.30-11 am. Again by 4-4.30 pm, it would start getting darker.

On the second day of our trip, we went to the Pingvellir National Park, where the country’s parliament Alpingir was founded a thousand years ago. It is also a site of geological wonder as it has a rift valley between two tectonic plates – Eurasian and North American plates. It was so cool that we went between the border of two tectonic plates !! Also, that was the place where I experienced snowfall for the first time!! 

Pingvellir National Park – Parliament    Pingvellir National Park – Rift Valley 

Next, we visited two main places which represent that Iceland is indeed a place of ice and fire – Jokulsarlon and Hverir!!

Jokulsarlon is a super awesome glacier lagoon. The nearby place “the diamond beach”, seemed totally out of the world! There were so many huge chunks of ice crystals all over the beach!! 

Strokkur Geyser 

The “Black Sand Beach” was amazing with black sand and huge columns of basalt rocks. But this beach was scary!! It almost pulled me over to the water due to strong winds! It is always extremely windy at this place!! Iceland is considered the second windiest country on this planet.

Diamond Beach

Hverir, a geothermal field is filled with bubbling hot springs and gaseous fumaroles, in contrast with the cold Icelandic weather. It is a very smelly place and we were advised to stay away from super-hot mud fumaroles!      

Hverir – Gaseous Fumaroles 

Iceland also has many beautiful waterfalls like Gullfoss, Skogafoss, etc. But we sadly could not play in the water as it was super cold.

During this trip, I tried something which I had never done before – “Glacier hiking”!! It was so cool! My guide said that I was the youngest hiker to go on this journey! My guide said that if the ice is colored dark blue, then it is very deep, and if the ice is light blue then it is hollow. We wore these special shoes called crampons, so we do not skid on the ice.

Glacier hiking with my guide

While we were hiking, we saw pieces of ice that looked like glass, they had rainbow reflections!!

This trip was unique as I got to visit a huge ice cave and walk through a lava tunnel as well!! The ice cave was cool!! We had to wear crampons there as well so that we do not fall while walking on the ice. We went with protective helmets so that we do not get hurt. While walking inside the cave, there was a huge chunk of ice that was about to fall on my head!! Luckily, I moved towards the other side and did not get hurt one bit. The ice cave tour was a wonderful experience.

Ice Cave Tour 

On the last day, we visited an old lava tunnel! It was super dark, so we went with torches. Our guide showed the actual darkness of the tunnel by switching off all the lights!! It was super scary! The lava tunnel was created due to a volcanic eruption a long time ago. The dried lava was very colorful, mainly shades of red, and formed many interesting shapes and structures. Guide told us that there were special bacteria in the lava tunnel feeding on minerals present in the lava. They looked like crystals and it seems that NASA Scientists are studying these bacteria.

Inside Lava Tunnel 

The most memorable day of my Iceland trip was the early hours of 28th December 2018. At around 1 am while we were fast asleep, the hotel reception gave us a Northern Lights alarm call. We woke up immediately, wore our warm clothes, and ran downstairs!! We saw it! We saw it!! It was the Northern lights, also called Aurora Borealis!! The Northern lights initially started as green colored light and later so many rare colors like purple, red and yellow also appeared with so many amazing patterns, as if the lights were dancing!! And it lasted for more than half an hour! Then when it stopped, we went back to bed. I was super thrilled!!

Northern Lights 

After finishing our 10-day tour of Iceland we returned home, back to India 🙂 That was my favorite trip and a very memorable one as well!! I suggest you plan and go on a trip to Iceland!! That place is truly awesome, with no doubt!!!

By, Siri Sharma, Grade 5, EJPN

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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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#StudentBlogger: The Future of Journalism by Meera Karthik, Grade 5, EJPN

Meera’s Blogbox (2020)

Categories – 

  1. The Future of Journalism 
  2. Letter to the PMO (Prime Minister's Office) appreciating current scenario or voicing your concern about it
  3. Your review - Give your critical viewpoint on any law or act / movie / book / restaurant / news channel /journalist, etc.

The future of Journalism

Journalism, what is it? Journalism is the activity or profession of reporting news and events from across the world. Journalists write for magazines/newspapers/online news websites/local newspapers reporting the latest news. In journalism, we write about various news and alert people if there are any terror warnings the people should look out for. The latest terror has been the outbreak of the COVID 19 virus. Journalists have continuously been giving the citizens updates. Journalists play a very important role in the lives of humans. 

With the COVID-19 pandemic, people have started realizing that online newspapers have the exact amount of content as the printed newspaper. Hence the future of journalism is going to be online reporting. Also, the online news is instant whereas in the printed newspapers you will have to wait an entire day. As we cannot step out of our houses the journalists are helping us by printing online newspapers.

I conclude that the future of journalism is going to be online. The COVID-19 pandemic has quarantined us all, the journalists are doing a great job giving us news online and till they find a vaccine the future of journalism will be online reporting.

Letter to the PMO (Prime Minister's Office) appreciating the current scenario or voicing your concern about It.

To, 
The Prime Minister of India,
New Delhi,
India.

From,
Meera Karthik
Grade 5, 
Ekya Schools (JPN)
Bangalore.

Subject- Voicing my concern about the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has become extremely deadly regarding the number of cases. I have compiled the following data, sourced on the internet -  

Current cases RecoveredDeaths
3.54 Million (+76,472)2.71 Million63,498 (+1,021)

I think we should consider going back into the stage of complete lockdown for at least about a month. And we should consider converting the open fields into COVID-19 beds.

The slums can be sanitized and disinfected. The people of the slums can be provided with masks and a small amount of sanitizer. The unused lands can be made into a COVID-19 center.

I request you to look into this.

Yours humbly,
Meera Karthik.

My review: Give your critical viewpoint on any law or act / movie / book / restaurant / news channel /journalist, etc.

The movie Dora and the lost city of gold represent the animated T.V series - Dora the Explorer. In the movie they show Dora as a teenager who is 16 years old- she is shown as a teenager who is keen on exploring. Her parents are professors and are also explorers. They go to find the lost gold of an ancient Inca city-Parapata.

Dora and the lost city of gold is an amazing family movie. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate, 8- considering all the appropriation and violence. It mostly depends on the age group viewing the movie. The movie also inspires young kids to follow their dreams. 

The movie is a great example of showing children that history can also be interesting. The movie also shows how the Incas lived and their architectural ideas. It also shows how the early civilizations lived with the barter system and how they started to grow crops. Overall this is a very historical movie.

I would recommend this movie as a family movie.

By Meera Karthik, Grade 5, EJPN

#StudentBlogger: The Little Rainmaker – Book Review by Sreemayi Ramesh, Grade 5, EJPN

Gripping and heart – warming!

The Little Rainmaker by Roopal Kewalya (Published by Penguin Random House in 2018)

It is the year 2028 and it hasn’t  rained for nearly ten years. People drink a chemical version of water, called as H2O.

Ten year old Anoushqa has never seen the rains. She loves listening to her grandpa’s stories about the rain and a colourful arc in the sky called a ‘rainbow’. Sometimes, she even wondered if the rain is even real or just a part of grandpa’s imagination! 

A few days after Anoushqa’s tenth birthday, her grandpa is on his death bed and the poor man’s last wish is to see the rain for the last time. As a loving granddaughter, Anoushqa wants to fulfil his last wish. But how? Can she really battle the sceptics and do the impossible?

The little Rainmaker is a story of love, hope, power and determination of a little girl. It makes a joyous read, rekindles our faith in the power of children – our favourite superheroes! The ending is moving and heart-warming.

 The protagonist, Anoushqa’s greatest superpower is that she believes that she can – her immense faith and unshakable determination is worthy of appreciation. She is a change maker, intelligent, passionate, enterprising, resourceful, imaginative and determined.

The other important characters in the book include Samaira, Anouskqa’s best friend who helps her raise funds for the rainmaking miracle. Anoushqa takes the help of Gargi, the scientist and the magician, both of who promise her that they would deliver rainfall.

The book aims at making its readers mindful of environmental preservation. The characters in the book, the world at large, suffer the consequences of vandalizing the environment. This book would surely make the readers conscious and revaluate their relationship with the environment and the ecosystem and urge them to  make personalized efforts in setting things right.

Roopal Kewalya, the author, is a screenwriter and also a story teller and a performer for children. This is her first book.

 I enjoyed reading this book as it reminded me of the good times I had with my own grandpa who sadly passed away a few years ago. It was a heart-warming story that made me feel hopeful of a better future. I would recommend this book  to those who love a combination of a good science fiction and fantasy. This book would take one to a completely different and a new world of the future. The ending is both happy as well as sad.

Title: The little Rainmaker
Author: Roopal Kewalya
Genre: Science Fiction
Price: Rs. 250
Rating: 4/5
Age Group: 8+

By Sreemayi Ramesh, Grade 5, EJPN

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