pencilspapernme

As we dash from one part of our lives to another, we need gentle reminders that we are part of a community.This is especially true for students who are actively occupied with varying activities.
As a part of our February and March unit on ACTS OF RANDOM KINDNESS the students had to draw self potraits using a generic body shape.
They had to ensure that their potraits were unique...once complete all the potraits were joined at hands together with speech bubbles stating their hopes and dreams for a better world.They wrote a positive word about themselves under each potrait.Cutouts of their hands were also put together to form a peace sign.

I firmly believe that pieces of prose and poetry as well as epigrams and other quotations are often an opportunity to stir the minds of the passer-by into a profitable thought.
This gave birth to -Quid for Quote.....at a staff meeting.
Here is what we did...at the start of the year in each assembly the assembly head teacher and one of the school leaders( a student)did a piece on their favourite quotation.This was followed up by the class teacher.Each student had to go home and as a home assignment share and discuss a minimum of five quotes with their families.Then on completion atleast one quotation from each student was framed and put up in the classroom,corridoors and other bullietin boards.In short just simply displayed.
"This is the true joy in life, being used for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one;....being part of a great enterprise rather than a feverish selfish little clod of ailments complaining that the world won't devote itself to make you happy....i want to be thoroughly used up when i die, for the harder i work...the more i live....Life is no brief candle to me.It's a sort of a splendid torch which i've got hold of for the moment and i want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations."-
George Bernard Shaw
The visual and aural and behavioural impact of the scholl plays an important part in the likelihood of a schools sucess.Ensuring that your schools visual environment is stimulating is always a challenge.This activity provided a simple way to create awareness on varying issues.

We shall be celebrating the entire month of January with the theme -Astronomy...so the whole school is working together on it...yes..the kindergartners as well as the main school students.
Here's an activity that my grade 1&2 students did, related to the theme.They made a "TRIPTYCH".And this is what it looks like.

A Triptych collage is a piece of art or writing on three hinged tablets. Triptychs were used in ancient Rome.
What you need:
Mat board / box board
Torn paper
Glue & water
Stamps
Nails
String
Beads
Paint brush

What to do?
1. Cut the shapes for the triptych from box board
2. Tear paper and glue paper in an overlapping fashion with glue(diluted with water – 1 part each)
3. Use stamps collage items, cut papers patterns according your monthly theme idea to further decorate, like the sample here shows ‘solar system’ our theme for the month.
4. Lay the triptych pieces with the inside panels facing up. This is where you can write the words.
5. Finally with a nail, poke holes near the top and bottom of the panels, where they connect to each other.
6. Thread pieces of string through the matching holes in the panels to connect the panels together.
Tie the pieces of strings together and bead it together.

Leading Ladies- Women who Inspire India
- by Sudha Menon
Leading Ladies is an inspirational book, that follows the journeys of some of India’s most admired women acheivers, who have made a difference to society.This book brings to life their individual stories and anecdotes that shall serve as a beacon for many of us.
It aims at showcasing their principles, personal and proffessional beliefs that, have guided them on their path of success. Their stories might seem like fairy tales, but each and every one of them fought over their personal weaknesses and braved all odds to reach where they are.
Amrita Patel, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Shubha Mudgal, Vinita Bali, Mallika Sarabhai are few of the women this book acknowledges.
As I read, through this book page after page the one thing that came to my mind was that, The most important thing for any woman is to follow her heart, and live her life with Integrity, Honour, Love And Commitment.
Every time you feel sorry for yourself, look around and see the challenges that other people have to face in their lives, every day. Then, you will feel less sorry for your situation and become more Sensitive towards others around you.
The Mind and Soul pages in the book are just as refreshing, giving a glimpse into the minds and souls of these women. One that specially caught my attention, is by -
Vinita Bali-“None of us exist as an island.We all need someone to reassure us that there is another way of looking at something.Our friends can be our mentors.My father was a trusted mentor and when he was alive ,i used to call him everyday for advice”.
Sudha Menon is a journalist with over two decades of experience in news and feature writing.She has worked with some of the prominent newspapers-The Hindu Business Line, The Independent.
This is a truly inspirational book-a must read for women and men alike. It brings to light the enormous potential of women in all walks of life.
The Cover of the book is just as attractive, and the Book-“ A must for every bedside table.”

to continue on our concept learning for transport it was the camel cart that followed the horse cart....amidst all the excitement and joy that it bought, the preschoolers had a lot of fun taking joyrides on the cart..

This is a series of posts that i shall add here to share with you on how we taught our preschoolers the various modes of transport..