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Ekya / October 28, 2021 Posted by : administrator

Teamwork

 It was a nice summer morning and Diwali was close by. Arsenic, Bismuth, Boron, Calcium, and Rubidium were discussed about Diwali. They had various powers and they wanted to use their special power to make fireworks. 

“Everyone in the city loves blue,” said Arsenic.

“No, most people love noise.” crackled Bismuth.

Calcium told “Orange…”.

“No, green!” Boron interrupted.

“That was mean!” yelled Calcium.

“Purple is the best color!” said Rubidium.

They discussed and discussed until Bismuth came up with an idea. 

“How about we put each of our powers together to make the fireworks?” said Bismuth excitedly.

Everyone thought it was a great idea. So, they put all of their powers together and made 6 fireworks. 

5 people bought the fireworks and they kept one for themselves. They blasted the firework they made together. It was a nice and beautiful firework. 

“Lovely!” they all shouted.

From that day, they started working together as a team. 

 Fact:

Arsenic makes blue fireworks.

Bismuth gives fireworks a crackly noise.

Calcium makes dark orange fireworks.

Boron makes green fireworks.

Rubidium makes purple fireworks.

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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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#LeadershipBlogger: Designing Ekya Early Years Curriculum By, Ms Pooja Maggu Instructional Designer, Early Years Program, Ekya Learning Centre

Every Early Childhood Program should aim to provide overall, holistic development of children and consider all of the developmental domains while planning learning experiences- the physical and motor development, the cognitive and language development, and social-emotional development.  The main objective of the Ekya Early Years Program is to promote sustained, healthy development of children in the age range of 2.5- 5.5 years, and to prepare them for later school years with a strong foundation for learning. In order to realize these objectives, our Early Years curriculum is designed around seven domains: Literacy and Language, Numeracy and Mathematics, Quest, The Arts- Visual and Performing Arts, Physical Education, and Social and Emotional approaches to learning.  Ekya School’s Literacy and Language Curriculum Framework aims to develop receptive and expressive language and awareness of print and vocabulary. The curriculum is designed to ensure that skills of reading and listening (receptive), and speaking and writing (expressive) are well integrated. The Numeracy and Mathematics Curriculum and our Quest program is also designed such that it encourages students to talk about their understanding.  While designing an Early Years curriculum, certain limitations of virtual learning (learning through laptops, phones) like lack of peer interaction, lack of outdoor activities, increased screen time were well taken into consideration. And, thus during the pandemic and the planning for virtual school, it was important to design programs that encourage students to 'speak', 'talk', 'describe', and 'share' their experiences, thoughts, feelings, and opinions. We encourage students to talk to their teachers, and also students to talk to each other.  To enhance speaking skills, we ensure some practices are in place. Some practices include Circle time: Focussed circle time is built around the skills of listening, speaking, looking, and thinking. Circle time sessions are designed to stimulate curiosity and creative imagination and to promote self-expression where students are provided opportunities to express their thoughts, feelings, and opinions. For example, asking students to complete the sentence, 'I am happy when....' with what is true to their experiences. The use of such speaking stems, and sentence starters also help provide speaking opportunities to students. We consider 'circle time' as significant to 'connect' with students and to provide a child-friendly space where students feel free to talk, and where they feel that they are being seen, heard, and met, thus fostering a sense of belongingness and connectedness. In our Early Years classrooms, during this session, the students get opportunities to hone their speaking skills by sharing about their day or the topic of the day. At the end of each month, students even take part in programs like ‘Vocab week' wherein the teachers present new words related to the topics taught to children to expand their vocabulary and let them build their language skills.  Phonics program: Learning Phonics includes an understanding of the relationships between the sounds of our language and the patterns of letters used to represent those sounds when reading and writing. Through our phonics program, students acquire skills to identify and relate letters with their sounds in the text, relate letters/words/sentences with pictures, practice writing by drawing starting strokes of each letter, and so on and so forth. We learn phonics in context using meaningful and engaging texts, also ensuring that learning is fun and multi-sensory. The skills are revisited over and over again using diverse texts. This gives students enough exposure to practice sounding out letters and constructing words and sentences, and even stories and rhymes. Through our language program, students are encouraged to talk about the story they read. Our Literacy and Language program is such that it provides ample opportunities for students to ‘speak’ and ‘share their thoughts and opinions. For example, students are encouraged to retell the story in their own words, using puppetry and other techniques. Leveled Reading Program provides students with a variety of reading experiences and inculcates a love for reading. The program helps enrich their vocabulary and enables students to become independent readers. Reading to themselves, or Reading to parents also provides students with reading and speaking opportunities as they read aloud, and talk about the story read. It allows students to practice sounding out letters, blending letters to make words, and construct their own words and sentences, as they go about reading books. In the classroom, during Reading classes, students read a book sitting on the 'Author's chair' which is designed by the students themselves and their peers listen to the reading.  At the end of the class, other students question the reader about the story itself. Students first start by revising to read sight words and then start framing sentences orally. Picture reading is done at the beginning of the academic year. Show and Tell: It has been observed that the practice of 'Show and Tell' has contributed significantly to language development. Show and Tell require students to show a particular object of significance, or a book, or an experience, and 'talk' about it. Being a part of the Show and Tell audience is important too where students listen closely to each other, ask questions, and make comments. In our classrooms, students bring an object related to a topic like- events, monuments, personal pictures and talk about it. The questioning and discussion technique plays a vital role in listening and speaking skills here. Each child is given an opportunity to speak. The early stages of the show and tell begin with a limited number of sentences and later develop the confidence to speak elaborately. Students are given a time limit of 3 to 5 minutes. The platform gives them the space to speak confidently during various events conducted in the School like speaking in assemblies or presenting their work during a parent event. Asking open-ended questions, using cues and prompts: During Literacy and Language class, or Numeracy and Mathematics class, or during Quest, asking open-ended questions encourages students to think aloud and hold conversations. Open-ended questions are those questions that have more than one right answer, and those that can be answered in many different ways. Such questions stimulate more language use, encourage creative imagination and thinking, and open up conversations.  Self-expression and creative expression are also nurtured through ‘writing’ and ‘drawing’. Students are encouraged to draw out their experiences, their opinions on stories read. After writing or drawing, students are further encouraged to show and describe their work. This gives them opportunities to ‘explain’ and ‘describe’ what they have drawn, ‘share’ why they have drawn it, thus ample speaking opportunities. Students get opportunities to assume different roles like that of community helpers during Role Play during their Quest class. This gives them exposure to be their creative selves, dress themselves according to the character chosen, and actively bringing in their own dialogues! Using a variety of instructional tools and strategies: We bring in certain tools and strategies across the learning areas, to engage students in learning processes, enhance speaking, and also make learning fun! For example, using graphic organizers like the concept map and KWL charts, using learning tools like  See Think Wonder, Turn, and Talk, all of which provide ample speaking opportunities. By the end of the year, through our robust program, our students make considerable progress in their language and communication skills.    

#TeacherBlogger: Social Justice By, Virginia Issac High Tech Teacher, Ekya Byrathi

Social justice is concerned with how benefits and burdens are distributed among the members of society. This includes the fairness in which society provides, protects, and recognizes the means and qualities individuals require to both determine a conception of and live, a good life.  "It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act.' - Dalai Lama  Keeping this concept in mind, a Virtual Assembly was conducted on 27th August 2021, by the students of Grade 2, on the topic ‘Social Justice’ to be encouraged, enlightened, and equipped to do our part to make this world a better place for those who are suffering.  The assembly commenced with the Morning Prayer which is believed to provide peace and serenity to our minds and souls. Students of Grade 2 were excited to bring in their best thoughts and reasoning of the demands of the underprivileged, marginalized, and exploited workforce, especially children. Napoleon Hill’s quote “If you cannot do great thingsdo small things in a great way” set the ball rolling and drove the attention of everyone towards the tiny tots as they shared their views on Social Justice, Bonded Labour, Children’s Rights, Right to Education, and Child Labour.   To acquaint children with the Rights of Children a heart-touching Video was presented. This enabled the students to comprehend this perplexing topic in the most unpretentious manner. Justice, equity, and equality were stressed to instill a sense of responsibility and empathy in the students towards a social cause that is so prevalent and requires their small yet profound role in our society.    Many of us believe that children don’t see the outside world or other people, the way adults do, that they only view the world from their own eyes and in their way. But this is not true and it was displayed by the children who shared their experiences through videos on being magnanimous and showered their concern in little ways, to those in need.  It was truly a privilege to have amongst us Ms. Ancy Susan Alex, a Social Worker and a voluntary employee of a reputed NGO, to inspire and motivate young minds on Social Justice. Her work involves the upliftment of the poor, helping and rehabilitating bonded laborers, liberating the child labor, and allowing the underprivileged children to study.     Finally, our Head of School, Ms. Shubhra Sinha, in her address, conveyed her thoughts and suggested innumerable ways in which every child can play a small yet pivotal role in addressing this grave issue that needs to be confronted in the best possible way. Her words with sincerity and earnest plea have truly touched the hearts of everyone.   The assembly came to an end by paying due respect to the National Anthem. This assembly was a great learning experience for both students and teachers alike.

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