1 / Sep 2012
Crystal Quest
2 / Sep 2012
Crystal Quest
3 / Sep 2012
Crystal Quest
Editors Note
Dear Students, Teachers and Parents, Warm greetings from Crystal Quest! The Paradise on Earth, they say it is Goa! A former Portuguese colony, Goa is undoubtedly a blend of historic and artistic perspectives which refreshes the soul every time we experience it! To me the memory of the salty breeze of the Goa¨n beaches is nostalgic. This wonderful city, being my motherís birthplace was always an inevitable spot for summer vacations during my childhood. Hence there was no better way for me to strengthen my ties with Goa than by launching my magazine here. Indeed it feels good to be back!
Cheers to Goa!!!!
This is what team has to say about Neelambari....
A Visionary for who no dream is small or impossible. Sukreeta ○
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She wont take “NO” for an answer and brings out the best in you. She knows No Problems, only knows Solutions.
Niranjan ○
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Most people talk, she does. They plan, she achieves. They hesitate, she moves ahead. She has the courage and commitment to transform a dream into reality and it's a pleasure to be a part of her team.
Poonam ○
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She's very cordial and helpful and never stops motivating her team.
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She is a patient Teacher to anyone who wants to learn and grow.
Shelly ○
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She is very competent and is really good at what she does.
During the course of my research related travels across the country for Crystal Quest, I have met many people who have agreed with me about the lack of educational information available in the city. Be it school reviews, tuitions, coaching classes, sports activities, extra curricular activities like drawing, craft, singing or dancing. Parents have to rely on ìword of mouthî information or on teachers or friends or may be a poster on a shop front. Sometimes even pamphlets. So where is the consistency of regular information? There are many issues we dust under the carpet, issues that make students, parents and teachers uncomfortable discussing. For example when we spoke to a few students, the only thing they had on their priority list to discuss was that they do not get time for recreation. If issues like these are discussed on a common platform with the involvement of Parents Teachers Students and An Expert, we will be able to nip the problem in the bud. This will then be a Win Win situation. The education system as a whole has been one of the most neglected systems on a micro level. This is the very system that is by large responsible for developing the future of our society. Here at Crystal Quest we are humbly putting forward our efforts to help our readers view a new approach from the grass root level. Not only will our magazine be talking about the issues related to schooling and development, but is also fun to read and interactive at the same time. We want even the youngest of our readers to get their hands on the magazine. I would like to introduce an educational magazine to you which is ìAbout -For -Helping our Students, Teachers, Parentsî. My aim is to provide a platform to students, parents and teachers along with the schools and academic institutes to enable them to voice their views and necessities along with the contribution they have made or want to make to the education system. We want to deliver a magazine with substance to you each month. We are humbly trying to be a part of a huge wave in this big ocean of Educational readership, which is in the process of a stir. Please wish us luck! Each time our magazine is read in its regional language, we consider it to be a patch in the skeleton of the umbrella of educational awareness, that we want to spread.
Roma
Be The Creator Of Your Destiny And Not A Victim Of Your Fate ! 4 / Sep 2012
Crystal Quest
Content & Editorial Team
Content
4 Editor's Note 5 Contents and Editorial Team 6 Feature Article -- Gurukul To School 10 Sneek Peek -- Kala Academy Goa 12 Playschool -- Euro Kids 13 Day School -- Dr K. B. Hedgewar High School 14 Showcase-- Srinath Da kare from Union High School 15 Education Abroad -- American Schooling System 16 Know your Syllabus 18 Career -- Aeronautical Engineering 20 Art -- Passion to Profession 22 Feng Shui -- For Education 24 Teachers day 32 Children Talk -- Where and When is the time to play ? 33 Parent Talk -- The Rising Price Of Perfectionism 34 Teacher Talk -- Change Management 35 Confessions of a Prankaholic 36 Little globe trotter -- Travel to Karnataka 38 Expert Talk -- Hygiene by Dr. Rajni Mukherjee 40 Sports -- Cycling 42 Grammar -- Confused Sentences 43 Q & A -- Samindara Sawant 44 Techno -- Invention of Bicycle 45 Soft Skills for Kids -- Time Management 46 Grooming Skills -- Clean and Neat Dressing 47 My Moral Strongest -- Never Give up 48 Yoga -- For Children 49 Recipe by Kids -- Chapathi Ladoos 50 On the Shelf -- The Count of Monte Cristo 51 Eco watch -- Turtle Nesting 52 Lost Games -- Lagori 53 Subscription Form 54 Crystal Quest - CMR Event Vizag
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Trendz Developers, Unit No. 402, Rushikonda, Opp Gitam College, North Gate, Visakhapatnam, Andhra pradesh - 530045.
Hyderabad
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Srinivas nagar colony, Shivam Road, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh - 500013.
Goa Mumbai
5 / Sep 2012
Editorial Team Editor Neelambari Shelar
General Manager Jayasudha Gantasala
Feature Writers: Neelambari Shelar Nandini Sen Gupta Pallavi Borkar Sukreeta Menda Sallil Chowdary Samrat Biswas
Contributing Writers Q & A - Samindara Sawant Hygiene - Dr. Rajni Mukherjee Creative Director Neelambari Shelar Graphic / Web Architect Niranjan Kumar Palla Assistant to the Editor, Marketing and Promotions Sandeep Kamble Marketing & Promotions Deepa Bajamahal Poonam Khara Assistant to the Editor Shelly Sidhu Chandni Kargaonkar
Conceptualized and Published by Neelambari Shelar
Website : www.crystalquestmagazine.com e-mail : info@crystalquestmagazine.com Helpline No. : +91 97011 10566 Advertising Enquiry : info@crystalquestmagazine.com
Edcon towers, Unit No.306, 3rd floor, Near Fidalgo hotel, Panaji, Goa - 403001. 36 turner road, Unit No.201, turner road, Bandra west, Mumbai, Maharastra - 400050.
Crystal Quest
Cover Story
From The Vedas To The Computer Education has come a full circle. Languages and mathematical methods that were taught in the ancient days are refurbished via a computer today. Gone are those days when theories were handwritten on Palm leaves. These days any information is just a click away. We take these conveniences for granted but little do we know how the great scholars of the ancient era mastered the art of education and became immortal in history. Crystal Quest unravels this journey of education.
Ancient History of education During the Vedic period from about 1500 BC to 600 BC, education was based on the Vedas . These were recited by priests of a pre-Hindu tradition. They taught correct recitation and pronunciation of the Veda, which comprised of Hymns and Prayers. They also taught grammar and derivation, composition, the rules of sacrifice, versification, understanding secrets of nature, reasoning including logic, science, knowledge of herbal medicines and skills necessary for an occupation. Although education was free in the Vedic society over a period of time it became discriminatory as the caste system began. 500 BC, saw the birth of The Hindu texts and scriptures called Upanishads. These texts provided an exploratory learning process for both teachers and students. The teaching methods used reasoning and questioning. Two epic poems namely the Mahabharata and Ramayana explore themes of human existence and the concept of karma and dharma.
6 / Sep 2012
What is a Gurukul? Gurukul schools were traditional Hindu residential schools of learning which was taught in the teacher’s house or a monastery. The subjects taught were philosophy, literature, history, religion, scriptures, warfare, medicine and astrology. Sanskrit literature consists of poetry, drama, science, philosophy and other Hindu religious texts. Education was free, but students from affluent families paid a voluntary contribution called Gurudakshina. The Gurudakshina could also be monetary or a special task the teacher would want the student to accomplish. Only students belonging to Brahmin and Kshatriya communities were taught in these Gurukuls. The teacher and the student resided together as equals, irrespective of their social standing, learning and helping the guru in his day-to-day life, including doing mundane chores such as cooking, cleaning, and washing clothes. They strongly believed in the guru-shishya parampara (tradition). The Vedic school of thought prescribes an initiation called Upanayanam to all individuals, including women, before the age of 8 or latest by 12. From initiation until the age of 25 all individuals were prescribed to be students and to remain unmarried. By the colonial era, the Gurukul system declined in India except in a few regions, such as Kerala, where the warrior Nair clan and their own military Gurukulas called Kalaris, still maintained the tradition.
Crystal Quest
The 5th century BC saw the birth of Takshashila. Buddhism and Jainism because of their democratic character made access to education easier. The early High school centres of education were at Nalanda, Ujjain and Vikramshila Universities.
Nalanda
Each university had its specialisation in a subject.
Ujjain specialised in astronomy. Takshashila specialised in the study of medicine. Nalanda was the biggest centre hence it handled all branches of knowledge. Takshashila
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Situated in the Rawalpindi District of Punjab province of Pakistan, Takshashila (Ta xila) is an important archaeological site considered as an early centre of learning dating back to at least the 5th century BC. It is considered as a place of religious and historical sacredness by Jain and Buddhists. Takshashila has been described in detail in later Jataka tales which were written in Sri Lanka. Generally, a student entered Takshashila at the age of sixteen. The Vedas and the eighteen arts that were taught included skills such as Elephant Lore, Archery, Hunting , Medical School, Law School and School of Military Science. It attracted students from around the old world until the destruction of the city in the 5th century BC. Here are some existing Gurukulas in India: Ananda Marga Gurukula Vivekananda College near Madurai Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Hyderabad ISKCON gurukulas are several. The Bhaktivedanta Gurukula and International School in Vrindavan and one in Mayapur (West Bengal) are the oldest insititutions.
7 / Sep 2012
Nalanda Mahavira, was regarded as one of the first greatest universities in the recorded history. It was founded in 413- 455 AD during the time of the great Gupta dynasty. The history of Nalanda goes back to the days of Mahavira and Buddha in 6th century BC. As a great monastic cum educational institution for Oriental art and Literature in the whole Buddhist world, it attracted students and scholars from Korea, Japan, China, Tibet, Indonesia, Persia and Turkey. Chinese travellers Hiuen Tsang and I-Tsing also studied here. The university conferred academic degree titles to its Graduates and also offered Post-Graduate courses. Nalanda had dormitories for students that could accommodate over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers. The university was considered an architectural masterpiece, and was marked by a lofty wall and one gate. The subjects taught at the university covered every field of learning like theology, grammar, logic, astronomy, philosophy, metaphysics and medicine.
Vikramasila
Vikramasila University is another important centre of learning. It was established by King Dharmapala. The University is located in Bhagalpur district of Bihar. Subjects like philosophy, grammar, metaphysics, Indian logic were taught here, but the most important branch of learning was Tantrism. Vikramala employed tantric preceptors.
Crystal Quest
Madrasahs It is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious. Madras ah means academy in Persian and usually refers to Islamic scho ol. These universities in Persia offered training in medicine, philosophy, theology and science. The faculties were versed not only in the Zoroastrian and Persian traditions, but in Greek and Indian learning as well. They were the most important medical centers of the ancient world. Today the school teaches two courses of study: a course teaching memorisation of the Quran and a course leading the candidate to beco me an accepted scholar in the community. A regular curriculum includes courses in Arabic, Quranic interpretation, Islamic law, recorded sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad, logic and Muslim history. Some schools also offer additional advanced courses in Arabic literature, English, other foreign languages, science and world history. Ottoman Madrasahs also taught styles of writing, grammar, syntax, poetry, composition, natural sciences, political sciences and etiquette. An important function of the Madrasah is to admit orphans and poor children in order to provide them with education and training. Madrasahs enroll female students but they study separately from the men.
History of world education China Education in china goes back to the Zhou Dynasty in 1045 BC to 256 BC. There were five national schools. One being Pi Yong (an imperial school) and four other schools for the aristocrats and nobility. The subjects taught were 6 type of arts like rites, archery, charioteering, music, mathematics and calligraphy. At the age of twelve, boys were taught arts related to ritual (music and dance) and when older, archery and chariot driving. Girls learned ritual, good mannerisms, silk production and weaving. This was the time when native Chinese philosophy also developed. During Han Dynasty in 206 BC- 221 A D, boys at the age of seven started learning basic skills in reading, writing and calculation. Education through this period was a luxury.
geography, mathematics, logic and politics. Greek was the primary language of science. Boys and girls were educated. Only the elite would get complete formal education. Higher education in Rome was more of a status symbol than a practical concern.
Europe
The monasteries of the Catholic Church were the centres of education and literacy. The first medieval universities were established in Italy, France and England for the study of theology, arts, law and medicine. Classes were taught by nuns and monks. Monasteries were built all over Ireland and these became centres of great learning. There was an open air primary school in Bucharest, Romania in 1842. Later, Cambridge and many other universities were founded. Greek and Roman Empires Education was made available to a wider class of people. Art and In ancient Greece, education was mostly private except in Sparta architecture were vital educational mediums through which where children were taught to become warriors with complete religion, philosophy and history were taught to people. obedience, courage and physical perfection. In Athens, apart from two years of military training, anyone could open a school and decide Russia the curriculum. Parents could choose any subject they wanted their The abolition of illiteracy became the primary task in the Russian child to learn at a monthly fee they could afford. Girls rarely received SFSR in 1919. A new system of universal compulsory education was formal education. They were taught gymnastics, athletics, sport, established for children. Millions of illiterate adult people all over wrestling, music, poetry, drama, history and academics. The youngest the country, including residents of small towns and villages, were students learnt alphabets through songs. Further they copied the enrolled in special literacy schools. shapes of letters with a stylus on a waxed wooden tablet. They believed that studying in native languages was the quickest In 350 BC, children could also study drawing, painting and sculpture. way to increase educational levels of future generations. The affluent continued education by studying with sophists, from whom they could learn subjects such as rhetoric, natural history,
8 / Sep 2012
Crystal Quest
The Decline of Traditional Education Education had spread in India during 18th century. There was a school for every temple, mosque or village in most parts of the country. The subjects taught were reading, writing, arithmetic, ethics, medical science, religion, theology, astronomy, law and metaphysics. Students from all classes of society attended the schools.
The government launched Sarva Shiksha A bhiyan, that monitors drop-out rate, creates parental awarenes s, community mobilisation, economic incentives, minimum levels of learning, district primary education programme, and national programme of nutritional support to primary education (Mid-day Meals Scheme).
Mahatma Gandhi claimed that the traditional educational system was destroyed during the British rule.
India has been a major seat of learning for centuries. Currently, the country has some of the best Universities (IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, IISc) in the world. Let us continue this tradition with each one teach one.
The current system of education with its western style and content, was introduced and founded by the British during the British Raj, following recommendations by Lord Macaulay. Traditional structures were not recognised by the British government, hence they declined. Some British colleges like St. Xavier’s College, Sydenham College, Wilson College and Elphinstone College in Mumbai, India established many colleges.
Independence and recent scenario After independence, education became the responsibility of the states. In 1976, education was made a joint responsibility of the States and the Centre through a constitutional amendment. Indian constitution states that education is a fundamental right for all children aged 6-14 years. The Indian Education System became marks-based. However, recently some states have introduced a grades-based system in order to help curb the cutthroat competition and rote learning, and focus on creative aspects and personality development. During the eighth five-year plan, the target of ‘universalising’ elementary education was put into action. This made education accessible to children and made sure that they continued education.
Students did mental calculations in the school of S Rachinsky, a great teacher and scientist from Russia An open air primary school in Bucharest, Romania in 1842
9 / Sep 2012
Famous Teachers Savitribai Jotiba Phule, a social reformer who improved women's rights in India during the British Rule. She was the first female teacher of the first women's school in India. Lokmanya Tilak was a teacher, social reformer and independence fighter. He taught Mathematics at Fergusson College in Pune. He was a strong critic of the Western education system. Malcolm Adiseshiah is well known for his early teaching career and various educational activities. He served the UNESCO where he formulated educational programmes for the developing world. Rabindranath Tagore was a poet and social reformer who reshaped his region's literature and music. He started an experimental school at Shantiniketan where he tried his Upanishadic ideals of education. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen (APJ) Abdul Kalam: He is the people's president, missile man of India, architect of 1998 Pokhran Nuclear Tests and a renowned professor. Vikram Sarabhai: Greatest scientist, considered as the Father of the Indian space program. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1966. He along with other Ahmedabad-based industrialists played a major role in the creation of the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad.
Crystal Quest
In Sneek Convrsation Peek With..
KALA ACADEMY GOA Location : The Headquarters of Kala Academy, Campal, Panaji – Goa 403 001 Office Hours : 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. 2:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. from Monday to Friday (for administrative office)
“Kala Academy Goa” is a premier institution established by the local government on February 28th 1970, with the approval of the Government of India, Ministry of Art and Culture, as an apex body to develop Dance, Drama, Music, Fine Art, Folk Art and Literature. In other words to promote the cultural unity of the State of Goa. Unlike the Academies operating in other states of India, which have a restricted canvas, Kala Academy Goa imparts training through its various disciplines of Indian Music and Dance, School of Drama, Western Music and also, on a regular basis organizes Festivals, Workshops, Competitions, Seminars and Exhibitions. To give a scientific training in Theatre, thereby nurturing the local talents, Kala Academy, in 1987 established the Theatre Art Faculty. This was subsequently renamed as School of Drama. Shri. S. B. Josalkar, alumnus National School of Drama, New Delhi, was offered the post of Director to head the Institution. Kala Academy Goa runs a three year full time Diploma course offering specialization in Acting or Production of Theatre. Admission is based on a written test, viva (oral) and a Practical demonstration for Graduates from any stream who have reached a minimum age of 20 years and a maximum of 30 years. Exceptional candidates who have completed their plus two are considered with recommendation from the Director. Medium of instruction remains Hindi and English whereas for play production it is Konkani, Hindi or Marathi. 10 / Sep 2012
School of Drama awards scholarships of Rs. 1000/. pm. on merit basis. The academic year starts from June every year. Clas ses are conducted from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. with breaks for tea and lunch. Students may be expected to stay longer than the usual working hours, as and when practicals and rehearsals of the productions begin. Hostel facilities in lodges are provided for students who so desire (male and female separately), and who come from outside the city limits with a term based payment. Kala Academy Goa in its “Faculty of Indian Music and Dance” and “Department of Western Music” formerly known as “Academia de Musica” established by the Portuguese government and then incorporated in 1971 in Kala Academy, offers education which intends to groom young talents by providing them dedicated Gurus.
Crystal Quest
The syllabus gives the talented youngsters an opportunity to imbibe the aesthetics of music – layer by layer – by learning right from the foundation. An intensive training of the fundamentals help them to enter any “School” /Gharana – (because the basics of all Gharanas are approximately the same). The various training programmes include “Saamad Sanskar” which is a foundation for students of 10 – 12 years emphasizing on learning fundamentals of Hindustani Classical Music along with a cautious approach towards voice production, breathing exercises, etc. This is a very receptive and delicate age and the voice can be modulated only at this age. Students are taught (‘drut’)?, bandishes, so as to make them aware of ‘laya’ and their voice flexibility. “Saamad Madhyama” is the period when the student must know ‘raga roopa’ – (the forms of ragas) the phases that constitute a raga. Besides, they have to start singing ‘Vilambit Khayals’ so that their imaginative faculty is chiseled for aalaps – which is the foremost phase for ‘ragavishkar’. At this phase, the students between age groups 14 – 16 years are also busy with their studies at schools so there is no extra load of theory on them, except for a hurried reading of history of music, etc. “Saamad Kushal” is a professional degree, so it is advised that the students who really want to continue music as their profession should enter this course. The minimum age for admission to this degree should be 18 – 19 years and the minimum educational qualification expected for admission should be 12th standard. This is the phase when the ‘style’ of singing or playing any instrument starts taking shape along with the ability to write on music, define terms, analyse ragas, understand the science of voice culture, and the instrumental expertise.
11 / Sep 2012
“Saamad Parangat” is the Master’s Degree, which enables the student to achieve expertise in his subject and to stand firmly in his profession with a wide range of knowledge. This programme would enable them to ‘appreciate’, ‘analyse’ and ‘understand’ the renderings of the veterans – legendary and trend setter artistes. “Saamad Shree” is a Ph.D. in music which is the ultimate achievement only in respect of knowing music with utmost depth.
Apart from the above mentioned education, musical instruments like the Tabla, Sitar, Harmonium, Vocal Music, Kathak and Bharatnatyam are also offered. Therefore, Kala Academy Goa undoubtedly belongs to the tradition of delivering multifaceted talents across the globe.
Crystal Quest
School Reviews
Euro kids International Play School
HISTORY: Eurokids is an international chain of pre-school that started with just two pre-schools in India in the year 2011 and since then has grown rapidly .Today, it boasts of a wide network of over 850 pre-schools across 260 towns and cities in the country. Their vision is to become the dominant pre-school education provider in the world, the group is all set to make a foray into Bangladesh, Srilanka and the Middle East soon.
From the principal's desk :
Category
: Play School
Address
: Eurokids International Vasco / 08cheers chambers, Vasco-da-gama,GOA.
Phonenumber
: 09822143275
Website
: www.eurokidsindia.com
: psprabhu@eurokidsvasco.com
Grades
: A
Admission dates : January to march School strength : 110 Syllabus
: Montessori
Timings
: 9 am to 12pm
Principal
: Mr.Sunil Prabhu
12 / Sep 2012
Our scho ol is equipped with an international curriculum and a unique teaching method ology designed to ensure all-r ound development of children. Children are provided with facilities such as being picked up and dropped home, while extra curricular activities are used to intercept the learning process s o that there is no monotony and they understand the concept better. The special and unique part of the scho ol is the eur o gym which is an initiative directed at correcting the alarming situation that has arisen due to the sedentary lifestyle of today’s children leading to obesity . Therefore, we can conclude by s aying that “Euro kids International” has been playing a dominant role in grooming the children, leading them towards a brilliant future!
Crystal Quest
School Reviews
Dr K. B. Hedgewar High School Day School
The School is well known for its discipline and co-curricular activities. They have achievements at various state level and national level competitive examinations. The school has opened a “talent and excellence training centre” through which training is given to the students for co mpetitive examinations. The scho ol has to its credit achievements in sports at taluka level, state level, National level and at International level. Facilities offered to the students: Well equipped science lab, computer lab with internet facility, bus services, sports coach for Cricket and Kho- kho, school bank i.e. sanchayika run by students and many more.
School address
: Dr K. B. Hedgewar High School Mala Panaji Goa
Contact number : (0832-2422725) , email id
: kbhs@rediffmail.com
Grades offered
: Class 5th to Class 10th
Social activities organized by the school or participated by the school students: The School Parent Teacher Association along with the as sistance of teachers and Ex-students organize a blood donation camp every year on the 15th of August. They have maintained a blood group directory which helps in easy identification of the blood donors to donate blood whenever the need arises. The School has always actively participated in fund collection drives in the case of a national calamity to help the needy people.
Syllabus followed : NCERT Syllabus From the principal's desk : Admission period : December to March. Admissions are given on first come first basis. No donations are taken against admission in spite of the demand.
School History : The preprimary section of the school was started in the year 1987 which was upgraded to primary in the year 1990. Thereafter due to a growing demand from parents the scho ol was upgraded to secondary in 1996. It was started by a group of educationists. The first batch for SSC examination appeared in the year 2002-03 and the result was 95% successful. Since 2005-06 the school has achieved 100% success continuously except for a small drop of 1.5 % in the year 2009-10.
13 / Sep 2012
The school motto is to inculcate nationalistic spirit in the students and to prepare them to be good citizens of the nation. The school aims at all round development of the students and for this various activities are conducted throughout the year. To conclude we believe that “don’t give a fish to the students but teach them fishing” and the school teachers together work as a team to achieve this goal.
Crystal Quest
Showcase
UNION HIGH SCHOOL Principal : Mr.Salunke email id : uhs_sanguem@yahoo.in Grades offered: Class 5th to Class 10th Syllabus followed : Goa board syllabus
T
he s chool was found ed by Mod ern Education society in the year 1963.
The overall strength of the school is 812 in the current academic year. To improve the academics of the school, they have adopted various methods which include retaining the students in the school campus itself even after the school hours and make them study. The school being located in a village, many students are from underprivileged families and the students have absolutely no educational background. An Extra effort and Support The school started offering mid day meals to encourage and support the children’s families to send their children to school every day. The teachers have taken this opportunity to put some extra effort to train their students and teach them how to face the competitive exams. The school being in a rural ambience the concept of going home and studying cannot be expected. So, the principal took a decision to make the students stay in the school after school hours for completing their work. Along with them the teaching staff and the Principal also stayed back, sat with their students and helped them understand their les s ons properly. The students who were relatively poor in studies were kept under observation till they improved. In this way the school adopted the child himself. It remains to be seen now how the journey goes on..
14 / Sep 2012
Excellence through Dedication.....“ Srinath Dakar e ”, the boy had to spend m ore than 4 hrs a day in travelling to scho ol. But he was always go od at academics and thereby the teaching staf f identified his interest towards studies and of fered their helping hand by“transforming the school into his home ”. There was also an initiative taken by the Principal wherein they kept the student in the school completely for a period of 45 days in his 10th standard. The teachers helped him face his board exams and also increased his confidence levels by motivating him. Srinath was very happy and did his duty of putting 100% effort and finally he proved to the education world that
“It is not the fame and infrastructure of the school that helps the students in scoring good marks, but it is the combined effort of the teachers and students with right approach and attitude”.
He is a student from a family which is economically underprivileged and with no educational background, yet he stood second in the state of Goa in his 10th standard board examinations with an overall score of 565/600! This is something which everybody will say “Wow” at. I am sure many of us would draw inspiration from such cases and strive towards our goals without blaming our circumstances and God. This boy has proven “his excellence” to himself and his teachers and also made his school gain the confidence of the people. Crystal Quest
Education Abroad
Broadening Your Horizon In the United States of America schooling is given its great importance, as it is the right to education for every child. The education system encourages analysis, independent thinking and creativity. The students are not passive recipients who listen, take notes. Interaction, questioning and discussion between student, teacher and parents is encouraged. Education is compuls ory upto the age of 16 or 18, depending on the state, so that no child remains totally illiterate. A typical curriculum for an American student Mathematics, Language, Social Studies, Sciences and Physical Education. The interesting part however is that secondary schools also offer electives, i.e. subjects taken by choice. For example, Use of To ols, Carpentry and Repair of Machinery, Performing Arts, Driving and even Cooking, all of which makes the learning experience more meaningful and interesting! American students are well equipped with what can be called PRACTICAL LIFE SKILL that would help them in performing well in their life independently. Students are encouraged to think independently, this makes children becomes self-reliant and gain confidence. At the same time the system also provides The fixation with spellings again is special education teachers almost non-existent who are there to help and even though dieguide a student if he hard English Teachstruggles to understand ers would be a concept. horrified at this in India !!!!!!!
15 / Sep 2012
Learning is made Fun After learning a chapter on Mathematics a student might be asked to research and come up with games that used the same concept. This motivates and encourages a child to think independently and creatively. Schools also conduct weekly vocabulary tests, which are accompanied by online games and quizzes. So probably it would be correct to say that the education system is student centric. Parental involvement is also a must, since there is no scope for private tuitions. High Schools in the American system are immensely challenging and the syllabus is quite heavy, probably because it encourages only extremely intelligent students to pursue higher studies. This concept is not justified, to a large extent. A Typical Day Of An American Student In School School starts at 8 am with a 20 min advisory class where the Principal addresses them. They are informed about upcoming events, sometimes given information to take home to parents or even reminded of pending issues. They then proceed for their academic classes. Academic classes are of 45 minutes each. Students attend different Mathematics classes based on their individual need. When in middle school, in each individual class, students usually sit in groups to solve the problems. Here the teacher intervenes and helps where required and ultimately sums up the material learned. Next they go for a Science class where students learn through hands on experience. The next class would be an English class. There the students work on different activities related English language. For eg. Poems ; the students would be made to work in pairs to compose poems based on the subject given to them and then the next pair reads it out. This encourages group activity as well as creativity! The entire day’s activities are rounded up with sports, extra language learnt or music, thus ensuring all round development of the student. This system surely proves the well said words of Mr. Nelson Mandela - “Education is the most powerful
weapon which you can use to change the worldî and so is the US moving towards it. Crystal Quest
Know Your Syllabus
SSC The Secondary School Certificate, also known as SSC, is a public examination taken by students in Bangladesh, Pakistan and in the states of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Goa in India af ter succes sfully co mpleting at least ten years of scho oling. It is followed by Higher Secondary (Scho ol) Certificate (HSC). SSC is an equivalent to GCSE in England. The Higher Secondary Certificate, also known as HSC, is a public examination taken by students in Bangladesh, Pakistan and in the states of Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra and Goa in India after succes sfully co mpleting at least twelve years of schooling, that is two years after doing Secondary School Certificate (SSC). The examination structure differs from bo ard to bo ard. But in most of the bo ards, they are subjective examinations.
IB The field of education is growing rapidly by the day and the need to compete and excel has become every students’ and parents’ mantra. Given this, the educational system is compelled to present a more focused and to the point type of syllabus. It is certainly not easy to weigh the pros and cons of the contents of each of the syllabus. Crystal Quest unfold s each and every syllabus for an in-depth understanding.
Let us start with the basics. In India,Primary school starts with grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 and secondary school includes standards or grades from 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Standards or Grades 11 and 12 are called as Higher Secondary School or Senior Secondary School or Junior college. Some states refer to Standards or Grades 9 and 10 as High School, while 11 and 12 are termed as Intermediate. Other states refer to 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 as Secondary school and 11 and 12 as Senior Secondary School. The various boards in our country are
SSC, CBSE, ICSE, IB, IGCSE,
16 / Sep 2012
International Baccalaureate is an internationally recognised school system made up of three educational programmes namely, PYP: The Primary Years Programme (Kindergarten to Clas s 5), MY P: The Middle Years Programme (Class 6 to Class 10) and DP: The Diploma Programme (Class 11 to Class 12). The IB programme was founded in 1968 by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), a non-profit educational organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland. The IB programme is more practical and application-based. There are no examinations till the Middle Years Programme (Class 10). The focus of the IB pedagogy is on 'how to learn' rather than 'what to learn'. There are no prescribed textbooks; students can choose their own bo oks. But sometimes, they do use the local curriculum as a base. It is more challenging than other educational boards but the challenge is in the quality of assignments, not in the amount of work assigned. Scho ols recognised by the International Baccalaureate Organisation and offering the IB curriculum are known as IB World Schools.
IGCSE The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is a globally recognised qualification, taken at the Clas s 10 level, similar to the Clas s 10 examinations of the CBSE and ICSE or the middle years Programme of the IB. IGCSE, formed in 1988, is a comprehensive two-year programme, spread over Class 9 and 10, and leads to the final examinations of fered every year in May and November. IGCSE assessment is conducted by two UK as ses sment bodies: Edexcel (als o known as Lond on Examinations) and Cambridge International Examinations Crystal Quest
(CIE). A student who has passed IGCSE is eligible for any +2 level qualification, like Clas s 12 CBSE/ ICSE or any international pre-university progr amme , like the IB Diploma, Advanced Placement Diplo ma (US), and A /AS Level & AICE (UK).
direct admis sion to undergraduate courses.
university
CBSE als o conducts the A ll India Engine ering Entrance Examination (AIEEE) which is a co mm on entrance examination on all-India basis for admis sion to engine ering and architecture/planning programmes in the country. Similarly Pre-medical and Like other modern programmes, IGCSE Pre-dental Tests AIPMT (PMT/ PDT) are offers a wider range of subjects and conducted for medical and dental colleges encourages high academic standards after the 10+2 exams. through a practical appr o ach to teaching and learning. Assessment is CISCE not limited to conventional written papers and they consist of a variety of The Council for the Indian Scho ol Certificate Examinations - CISCE, is a tests e.g. oral and listening tests. board of school education in India, like The assessment is aimed at a wide CBSE. It conducts two exams: ICSE range of students’ abilities, with an Indian Certificate of Secondary Education eight-point grading scale, from A+ to and ISC - Indian School Certificate. G, with A+ being the highest. IGCSE is a balanced curriculum and a flexible The CISCE was set up in 1956 at the course of study. Most subjects offer a meeting of the Inter-State Bo ard for choice between core curriculum and Anglo-Indian Education a proposal was extended curriculum. This gives adopted for the setting up of an Indian students, of all the ability levels, the Council to administer the University of Lo cal Examinations freedom to choose subjects that are Cambridge Syndicate's Examinations in India. It is right for them and, thereby, the based in New Delhi. It is an all-India, but opportunity to score good grades. not a government affiliated board (unlike Source: Rediff.com the CBSE). Both CBSE and the CISCE, more or less, follow a similar pattern of CBSE education, though there might be CBSE stands for Central Bo ard of significant differences in some areas. Secondary Education. This is an There is an opinion that the CISCE eminent board of school education in syllabus is a bit tougher than the CBSE India. The CBSE prepares the syllabus syllabus. for students from Lower Kindergarten The bo ard d o es not accept private (L.K.G) to Clas s 12, for scho ols candidates, they must come only through affiliated with it. It conducts India's the schools affiliated to the CISCE. The two wide board examinations: the All medium of examination is English, except India Secondary Scho ol Examination the Indian language paper. At the end of for Class 10 and the All India Senior examination, marks out of 100 are Scho ol Certificate Examination for provided in each subject and a separate Class 12, which is a scho ol-leaving pass certificate is given containing the examination. equivalent grades. There are many private schools across ICSE India and other countries which have CBSE af filiation. The medium for The Indian Certificate of Secondary education prescribed by CBSE is either Education - ICSE examination is an English or Hindi. examination conducted by the Council for
students must submit compulsory course work assignments. In groups I and II, they count for 20% of the student's performance in the subject and in gr oup III the assignments count for 50%. In Science and Computers, students are tested on their lab work. In subjects where there is more than one paper, the marks in the subject are calculated by taking the average of all papers in the subject.
ISC The Indian Scho ol Certificate (ISC) is an examination conducted by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations for Grade 12. A student attempts this examination af ter first co mpleting the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education in Grade 10, although the completion of a recognised equivalent level of education is normally sufficient. Candidates have to attempt the subjects of English and Environmental Education, and must also attempt three, four or five other subjects that may be cho sen by the candidate from a wide range of subjects ranging from Fashion Designing to Biology to Political Science. Schools generally offer a limited number of these subjects depending upon their logistical requirements. So cially Useful and Productive Work is als o considered important, with students getting a grade for this along with their marksheets. Source: Wikipedia
CBSE A ll India Senior Scho ol the Indian Scho ol Certificate Certificate Examination for Class 12 is Examinations for class 10. In all subjects widely recognised internationally for other than Science and Co mputers, 17 / Sep 2012
Crystal Quest
Career
Aeronautical Engineering
Aeroplane, Aeroplane, up in the sky, I have always wondered how do you fly!!!
AERONAUTICS, A HIGH FLYING CA REER ‘To be or not to be’, the famous words of Shakespeare are so true to our world today. With pressure from parents, friends, family and society do we really make our lives the way we want it to be or do we end up doing what is expected from others? Or is it also because of lack of resourceful knowledge about available options. So come lets think out of the box with CRYSTAL QUEST.
So what is it?
AE Degree
Aeronautical Engineering (A E) is the branch of science and engineering that deals with the study and engineering of flying vehicles operating within the Earth’s atmosphere like aircrafts, helicopters and gliders. AE is derived from Aeronautics. Aeronautics is a combination of Greek words ‘aero’ (sky or air) and ‘nautics’ (sail). AE is a sub-branch of Aerospace Engineering that focuses solely on flying vehicles which operate in the Earth’s atmosphere while in Aerospace Engineering the focus is also on flying vehicles orspacecrafts that operate outside the earth’s atmosphere.
There are many universities offering aeronautical engineering programs at undergraduate and graduate levels all over the world. In India, one needs to be 10 + 2 (Science) student with high percentage of marks in Science subjects and pass in the qualif ying exam (JEE). The Madras Institute of Technology of fers a one year postgraduate programme in aeronautical engineering for B.Sc. students. One can also study for M.Tech. and Ph.D. in aeronautics from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Those who have passed the Associate membership exam conducted by ASI (Aeronautical Society of India), which is at par with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering, can also become aeronautical engineers. Universities offering aeronautical engineering are accredited by the A ll India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) which is a statutory body and a national-level council for technical education. An aeronautical engineering degree program is for 4 years in US. In UK, a 3 year course earns you Bachelors degree and a 4 year course earns you Masters degree. Universities offering aeronautical engineering are accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology in US and by the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) in UK. Major countries involved in AE education and research are US, UK, Russia, France and Germany.
What is the focus in the study? The study involves designing, manufacturing and operation of flying vehicles like airplanes, helicopters, gliders, missile systems, etc. It also involves the study of science and technology in the making of these flying machines. Students are also encouraged to come up with innovative ideas to design newer flying machines which can be more effective.
What do they do? An aeronautical or aero space engineer applies scientific and technological principles to research, design, develop, maintain and test the performance of civil and military aircraft, missiles, weapon systems, s atellites and space vehicles. They als o work on the different components that make up these aircraft and systems.
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Crystal Quest
Industries that require Aeronautical Engineers A n aeronautical engine er can work in industries that design and manufacture Aircrafts and Helicopters. Many government, defence and space agencies are also on the lookout for aeronautical engineers to develop the future of flying vehicles and systems. Due to Globalisation, the demand for aero space and aeronautical engineers is surely to remain high in the Aviation industries.
Roles, Responsibilities and Specialization The role is focused on enhancing high-quality flight safety and standards as well as reducing system costs. Many engineers specialise in a particular area such as Propulsion, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Aerodynamics or Materials and Structures. Since, AE is a specialised field, an aeronautical engineer’s salary is higher than that of other engineers.
Some AE colleges in India Nimra Institute of Science and Technology, Vijayawada, A P Amity Institute of Aerospace Engineering And Research Studies, Amity University, UP Indian Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Pune Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram Indian Institute Of Technology, Bombay (Mumbai) Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and Kharagpur AE Indian Institute Of Technology, Madras (Chennai) Malla Reddy College Of Engineering & Technology, Hyderabad Marri Laxman Reddy Institute of Technology, Dunigal, Hyderabad Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Hyderabad Madras Institute of Technology SRM University, Chennai Sathyabama University, Chennai VSM Aerospace, Bangalore Maheshwara Institute of Technology, Hyderabad (MITP) Bangalor e Guru Gram Institute of Aeronautical Engine ering & Technology, Faridabad Gurunanak Engineering College, Ibrahimpatnam, Hyderabad M.V.J College of Engineering, White Flied, Bangalore
Typical Job Description Applying principles of science and technology to create aircraft components and support equipment Researching and developing design specifications Doing systematic manufacturing, involving the as sembly and modification of components Resolving issues that arise during the design, development and testing processes Supervising assembly of airframes and the installation of engines, instruments and other equipment Participating in flight test programmes to measure certain parameters Modifying designs to improve safety features or minimise fuel consumption and pollution Investigating aircraft accidents Using computer-aided design (CAD) software to create designs and plans Working with teams, suppliers, clients and managers to agree upon budgets, timescales and specifications
…………..Aeroplane Aeroplane up in the sky I just cannot wait to make u fly !!!!
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Crystal Quest
Passion to Profession
Art,
Passion tto o Pr of ession Prof ofession
The simplest thing that a child begins even before he learns to write is to paint; if not with a brush or colour pencils but with his hands and feet. And voila! there is a smile on Mama’s face, Papa’s face and baby’s face. Have you ever wondered why?
This month we are covering PAINTING which can be pursued more seriously. SO LET US GET TO KNOW OUR PAINTING BETTER ...... Painting is an art that gives expression to your thoughts, beliefs and ideas. It is a creative and constructive activity. Painting is of great benefit because it helps to calm the mind and surround you with tranquility. It also gives you what is known as “Me Time”. Painting is a great hobby and whatever the medium you use, painting can be fun. Most painters need to be in the mood to paint, but it is definitely a stress buster. It is a gratifying experience whether you are painting from imagination or have a model. There are different mediums to be used for painting, as oil, watercolours, charcoal, pencil sketching, glass painting, crayons, inks and acrylics. But the most popular among painting enthusiasts are: oil, watercolor and acrylic. Oil painting is done with pigments that are held together using an oil based medium, usually linseed oil. Oil paint dries slowly but is very easy to mix. An artist can draw his subject on a clean canvas and then use oil paints to cover the image. This gives depth to the painting. Watercolor is painting with a thin, water based paint. These paints dry fast but can sometimes be difficult to blend. Painting with watercolors is simple and clean. Acrylic Paints: This is a fast-drying paint made of pigments which binds with the help of acrylic polymer. What is interesting is that acrylic paint when diluted with water or other mediums looks either like watercolour or oil or even sometimes has its own unique look. Painting has a long and rich history dating back to prehistoric humans. Infact painting from different eras show the progress of humanity. The cave paintings were the oldest and rather crude, yet they depict the life of those days and and modern art has its roots there. Paintings worldwide belong to different schools of art that have varied from country to country and era to era.Upto the beginning of the 20th century the themes of paintings whether in Europe or 20 / Sep 2012
Asia remained religious and classical, after which it became abstract and more conceptual so that today we have what is popularly known as modern art. Things that you would need to start painting are a good easel, brushes, paints, and canvas. And of course paint and there you are ready to start pursuing a new hobby. Painting can be a reward in itself. You can paint pictures to give as gifts and this will give you tremendous personal satisfaction as the appreciation you get helps you to become more confident. Gradually with improvement of your skill in painting you might even be able to exhibit your paintings and this is the best possible feel good factor you can ever have.
SOME FAMOUS PAINTERS Salvador Dali from Spain Surrealism: This work features the element of surprise and unexpected juxta positions. It is an expression of the philosophical movement where the art work is an artifact.
Paul Klee from Switzerland Surrealism and Primitivism. In primitivism, the visual forms are borrowed from non-Western or prehistoric peoples. It comes under the style of naïve or folk art.
M F Husain from India Cubism: In this, forms are drawn by using an analytical approach to the object and painting the basic geometric solid of the subject. Everything in nature takes its form from the sphere, the cone, and the cylinder; these three shapes are used to depict the object of the painting. Crystal Quest
In ancient times it was believed that the Red Color was the dried blood of Elephants and Dragons mixed together. It was more than a thousand years before the truth was discovered that it is the gum from a South East Asian tree. Colors made in ancient times were usally from natural substances like plant juices, plant leaves, flower petals, tree barks, from insects, from seashells, anything in nature that would leave a color stain behind if rubbed on something or if the object was soaked in a mixture of the substance and water. It is impossible to ever know exactly when people started using color!! The earliest use is likely to have been in a form that would not survive more than a few hours. The colors were simple then-burnt wood from the fire, and yellowish and reddish clays. At first the color was simply applied wet and allowed to dry, but eventually a basic kind of paint developed as it was discovered that the addition of animal fats, or honey or egg would make the colors more durable.
Types Crayons
Pros
Cons
They are easy to work with, not If you leave them in direct mes sy, blunt, non-toxic, very sunlight, being wax they will inexpensive, and available in a melt in hot conditions. wide variety of colors. Easy to use. Cheap. Smooth finish. Any colour imaginable. Provides a soft picture.
Easily runs and ruins work. Can cause paper to become rough, hard to paint over with other watercolors. Can warp the paper and make it all wavy. Doesn't give a bright or bold colour.
Felt Pens
Cheap. Easy to use. Wide variety of colours. Bold and Bright Colours. Makes a sharp picture.
Blots on some papers. Cannot be washed. Non eraseable. Dries up if the cap is not closed. Cannot mix colours.
Color Chalks
Easy to use. Cheap, Provides a soft picture. Can be erased easily.
Mes sy. Hard to preserve. Cannot be sharpened. Cannot mix colours. Doesn’t come in bright and bold colors.
Color Chalks
Cheap. Easily available. Provides a sharp picture.
Messy. Cannot mix colours. Doesn’t come in bright and bold colours. Cannot be erased neatly.
Water Colours
So get ready to pick up your brush and give expression to your inner most thoughts Leonardo Da Vinci from Italy
Andy Warhol from US
Realism: Here the art concerns the depiction of subjects as they appear in everyday life.
Popular or Pop Art: The artist shares some interest in the urban, consumer and modern experience hence the images used are of mass media, advertising, comics and consumer products.
Pablo Picasso from Spain Cubism and Expressionism. An expressionist portrays the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas. The artist tries to express meaning or emotional experience rather than physical reality.
Vincent Van Gogh from Holland Post impressionism: The Post-Impressionism has links to the original Impressionist ideas. But they try to depart from those ideas. Basically it's their modernist journey from the past into the future. Each artist takes an aspect of Impressionism and exaggerates it. 21 / Sep 2012
Pierre-Auguste Renoir from France Impressionism: It is a style of art that presents an immediate impres sion of an o bject or event. The painters try to show what the eye sees at a glance, rather than what they know or feel about the object or incident.
Claude Monet from Paris Impressionism. So Moms and Dads save up your tiny tot’s painting and have an exhibition on a special family occasion or birthday and you have a painter in the making. Crystal Quest
FENG SHUI For Education So what exactly is FENG SHUI ? (Pronounced fung-shway) Feng shui is an ancient art and science developed over 3,000 years ago in China. It gives us a basic knowledge of how to balance the energies of our living space to assure the good health, good fortune and safety of people living it. Feng Shui teaches us the ancient Chinese art of placement of colours , element, shapes symbols etc based upon the movement of natural energy called as Chi through our environments. Feng Shui also teaches us how to use Good Energies known as Shen Chi and press down Bad Energies known as Sha Chi. These energies are brought by Wind (invisible force-Feng) and Water (visible force - Shui). With the help of wind and water and the elements in our surrounding we can eliminate stagnation and bring back the desired motion in our lives.
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Feng Shui governs all our cardinal directions like NORTH , SOUTH, EAST, WEST- NE, SE, NW, SW – NE1, NE2, NE3, and so on.
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Each of these directions have their own Element, Colour, Shape ,Number, Season A Member of the family, Body Part, etc.
☯ There are basic five elements in Feng Shui which Produce – Weaken –Destroy each other.
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These directions are also dedicated to different areas of our lives Wealth, Health, Career, Friends, Relations, Children, Education, Travel, Trade and Fame.
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Each person is governed by a Kua number which is calculated depending on the date of birth.
☯ This Kua number is related to one cardinal direction for each person. Do we believe in something that is more than a few thousand years old or do we shun it off like fiction? There are many theories in science, physics, chemistry that our human mind accepts readily because of its evidences. We believe in God even though we have not met him personally … why? It’s because when our wishes are answered we know he exists. Like him God has created many things we cannot see but have the power in them to make a difference to our lives. For example WIND. There are many self help elements in our universe that are available to our use only if we want to be helped. 22 / Sep 2012
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In turn each person is governed by that element.
☯ The Kua number gives each person his 4 good and 4 bad directions. These can be used to optimize you success, by eating, sleeping, working ,praying by facing the good direction and by completely avoiding the bad directions. ☯ All the cardinal directions also govern different body parts and illnesses.
Crystal Quest
So for starters I would like to keep it simple ,so that a better understanding of Feng Shui is developed in the minds of my readers. For a few Issues,I will be focusing on children’s education areas. ( put pik of bagua) So lets begin, How many of you would relate to 3 or 4 of the following situations : ☯ Children put in their best for exams but the end results are not good ☯ Children are not able to concentrate ☯ Fights among siblings ☯ Low energy levels ☯ Low confidence level ☯ Hyper Active ☯ ILL health ☯ Falling down and getting hurt for no reason ☯ Lack of interest ☯ Nightmare ☯ Lack of Enthusiasm If your answer is “Yes” to any one or two or three of the above situations then stop for a minute and think …. WHY ??? Like I mentioned earlier there are many Energies that govern our lives. Some good and some bad. All these above situations can be caused due to a disturbance in the children’s area i.e the West or the North East of the house(the education area) having incorrect Feng Shui. By incorrect Feng Shui I mean the incorrect use of color, shapes, element etc in a specific area. Also Presence of bad energies or Sha Chi can cause disturbances . These are caused due to external forces like poison arrows, transformers, sharp edge of a neighbouring building , a straight road etc. Sha chi can also be caused due to clutter in the house. I personally give more weightage to the clutter in the house or your living space causing 70% of the disharmony. (I will be discussing more on De- Cluttering in my following issues.) Also, if your child is in the pursuit of scholastic excellence, having good Feng shui will in fact maximize his chances of super success!!! When it comes to education luck, the most important areas to take note of are the bedroom and the study area. First of all, it is not advisable to place the study desk in the bedroom. The bedroom is a Yin area of the home. On the other hand, studying or preparing for exams is a Yang activity.
So some points to take a look at -: If the study desk is located in the bedroom, the child will easily feel tired while studying, and also be easily distracted (due to the clash of Yin and Yang energies).
☯ Place the study desk in a bright and spacious area of your home. Make sure your child is seated with his back towards the wall for good support. ☯ Place a glass pyramid or a Candle on your desk to help you concentrate while you study. ☯ The candle trick helped one of my close friend’s daughters to prepare for the entrance examination to a very prestigious school in India . This very sweet and hardworking duo of mother and daughter, had faith in my tip and sure they did succeed. ☯ Also be careful not to place the study desk next to, above, or below a toilet. The toilet not only emits foul smell but also negative Chi that can adversely affect the study process. ☯ The desk should be neat and clean at all times. Try to clean it with soap and water at least once a week. ☯ Old books ,broken pens, unwanted erasers sharpeners should be discarded . ☯ Color pens ,crayons , color pencils, water colors , art material , etc should be neatly maintained. ☯ Cover uncovered books and replace torn book covers. ☯ Discourage children from scribbling in text books. ☯ All projects should be filed properly or displayed in the South (for fame), North West (mentor luck),West (children area) or the North East (education luck). The area that governs education luck is the Northeast. The element in this sector is the earth. To activate your child’s education luck, you need to strengthen the earth element in the Northeast. This can be done by placing lots of earthenware and crystal objects in this sector. Square shape can also be adopted in curtains or bed sheets . Keeping the Northeast area brightly lit, will also help as the element of fire will produce more earth, which will in turn enhance your scholastic luck! Look at the chart above and get creative !!! In the next issue, I will help you identify the 4 good and 4 bad directions to help you to tap them for your child’s success . For Consultations Contact
Neelambari Shelar Feng shui simple Solutions, Harmonising with Nature Flat No. 402, Trendz Developers, Rushikonda, Opp Gitam College North Gate, Visakhapatnam - 530045. email : neelambari@fengshuisimplesolutions.com
What we look for is to strike a right balance ! 23 / Sep 2012
It is upto us how well we understand our universe and nature and use them in our lives for positive effects. Crystal Quest
Teachers Day
24 / Sep 2012
Crystal Quest
25 / Sep 2012
Crystal Quest
Teachers Day
26 / Sep 2012
Crystal Quest
27 / Sep 2012
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Teachers Day
28 / Sep 2012
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29 / Sep 2012
Crystal Quest
Teachers Day
30 / Sep 2012
Crystal Quest
31 / Sep 2012
Crystal Quest
Childrens Talk
Where and When is the time to play
?
We had too many topics to choose from but the one that stood out the most was the much debated issue of Lack of sports activities. Today, with the competition rising at lightning speed, students are becoming more burdened with studies. Crystal Quest spoke to students from various schools across the city to voice their opinion.
Only work and no play can make Jack a dull boy “In my school we have a lot of games to play but unfortunately we only get one PT period per week. If we are interested in playing any sport, we are asked to stay back after school which obviously clashes with our tuition classes and time for homework. Throughout the day there are 8 lectures, we don’t have a single period for extracurricular activities. We are called back to school on Saturday for any other activities apart from studies.” says Sukriti Crystal Quest Feels: In the last several Decades innovations have taken over. Fear of child safety and test scores have pushed recess and physical education to the side even more. It has been estimated that children today spend 50% less time outside than the children twenty years ago. Not surprising, given the attraction of the internet and obsession with videogames available for entertainment. But it won’t be fair blaming the technology entirely for this, the government and the schools management should take keen interest in this issue.
“In my school the teachers are not bothered about sports. They are more concerned about finishing the syllabus. Our sports teachers do not follow appropriate parameters for selecting students for any team. Teams are made sometimes according to merits and at times there is favoritism. We do have various sports activities but our school ground is quite small and accommodates only small games like throwball, hand ball, etc.” says Sriraj Crystal Quest Feels: By inviting children to use their own initiative, explore possibilities and take chances we can provide them with opportunities to learn. Children today are more exposed to technology than any other generation before them. In the race to meet the requirment, to be a part of the school sports team, students are getting demotivated if not selected. This results in students spending less time on the playground and more time with computer games. Teachers must try to combat this demotivation and encourage students more to participate in sports activities. “We have four different school campuses and only one campus has a ground which is very small. One of the campuses uses their assembly hall as a sports ground. I wish we had a bigger campus with a big ground for all sports activities to take place. We go to Andhra University ground for sports. Also, only those students who are good in sports are selected. I think it is important that each and every student should get a chance to participate in sports activities. But I have to agree that considering the amount of pressure class 10 students have, our teachers sympathize with us and give us PT periods whenever we want to refresh.” says Sharyl Sudhakar “I don’t think there is lack of sports activities in schools. It’s just that there is very little importance given to sports. In my school, we have sports day once every three years and our school ground is too small to accommodate big sports. I have played sports only once this whole year. We have other activities like quizzes, debates, elocution, indoor activities, etc. Also, our school constantly has foreign delegates visiting for whom our teachers are busy preparing us for various functions which do not include sports activities.” Says Rachna Allena The simple reason sports is so important in today's education is be cause play provides a positive ef fe ct on their growth and development in social abilities, skills and talents, self esteem and problem solving skills. We should not let the pressures stop us from exposing our children to sports. Playing sports is not just about letting off steam. It is a vital part of childhood that helps children develop physical strength, coordination and balance. It can also provide opportunities for children to learn and develop.
Social Skills - when they play with other children they learn to communicate, share, collaborate and empathise with others. Imagination and creativity - outside play is often open-ended and children need to be creative about what and how games are played. Thinking and problem solving skills - as children assess risks and tackle new challenges they learn about having a go, persistence and perseverance and the success those attributes can bring. Confidence - as they master new skills and play with other children they improve their competence and confidence in their own physical and social abilities. Sense of conne ction - with place, with peers, with the lo cal community and the environment. Self care skills - managing physical and s ocial challenges helps children to learn about keeping themselves safe. 32 / Sep 2012
Crystal Quest
Parents Talk
THE RISING PRICE OF
PERFECTIONISM As soon as the exams get over and students breathe a sigh of relief, the fright notice of 'results' pops up, bringing stress back into their lives. In this stressful anticipation of a ‘good’ percentage, students go through a roller coaster of thoughts and emotions that take a toll on their mental and physical health. To add to this misery is the advent of a brand new single entrance examination called NAT (National Aptitude Test) which will rank students across the country for professional, management and allied programs at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. With cut throat competition amongst educational institutions and the rising cut offs for entrance — the pressure only builds. “I just want my son to be excellent in his studies. We are working parents hence my son is quite independent when it comes to his studies. Even though he is an above average student, I feel he should work harder. Today, children are lazy and waste their time in doing random things. My son wastes a lot of time eating meals. Generally, I don’t pester him about studies but I certainly have expectations of him”,explains Jagadish B, a real estate entrepreneur whose son studies in class 9. Experts say that it is important for parents to be positive and have realistic expectations for their child’s achievements and behaviour. When a parents' expectation for their kids is set at the right level or is reasonable, kids do very well in life. Hence assess your kid as an individual and understand your child's developmental stage. “I don’t put too much pressure on my children regarding studies. My elder daughter completed her intermediate exams and she faired pretty well. Many of her friends joined coaching classes and gave entrance exams but I told my daughter to do what she thinks is best for her. Her classmates, who studied day and night, scored same marks as her. Children who are intelligent will automatically get good marks and admissions in top colleges. But I feel that if you are too aggressive with your child about studies chances are they are going to forget everything they have learnt. I believe, instead of worrying about the future, children should concentrate on what is in their hands at present,” suggests Lakshmidevi, mother and a homemaker. Today we thrive on competition. Which is why our phones are smarter, our sportspersons are international stars, our farm lands are more productive, our films are Oscar winning, and our lives more luxurious every year. In schools too we have adapted the idea that success should be accompanied by a reward like a title, a trophy, or a gift. How American! But remember, knowledge is its own reward, after all. Sailaja Kurella, a parent whose daughter studies in ICSE board believes, “I think the average student suffers the most; he/she has to put in extra efforts to be in par with other intelligent students in the market. I as a parent 33 / Sep 2012
Crystal Quest asks parents,
“Is it fair for children to be under such extreme pressure?”
don’t want my child to undergo such pressure but then I don’t want them to be lagging. Parents are helpless. The syllabus is vast and only if you are thorough with your subject, you will be prepared for the competitive world ahead. One thing is certain that even with the competition rising, there is a lot of scope for all kinds of subject. I think it is important that a child should at least score 60% in the board exams.” Children respond in a variety of ways to academic competition. Some thrive on the intensity of the competition to be motivated while others step aside and become wary of the increasing pressure. Reactions to such events are entirely individual. If parents sense that the child is succumbing to the pressures of academic competition, it is important for them to help alleviate their child’s concerns. “When I graduated, I had a tough time scaling through the engineering common entrance test in those days. I found it absolutely ridiculous fighting for one of the 700 seats in the whole of Andhra Pradesh. Today, the stress is even more. Children going through this grind are suffering from sleep apnea. Also, there is a lot of reckless peer group pressure among children. Questions like, ‘what next after 10th standard?’ is a nightmare for most. “The kind of projects ICSE students are subjected to, are rubbish. We want children to be crusaders of eco and green earth but I saw my son writing 6700 pages every other day and running helter-skelter to the printers for his project. I like the concept of projects but if this could be electronic then a child could simply carry pen drives and do their projects. I don’t remember spending long hours doing paperwork when I was in school. We are not letting our children blossom,” asserts M N Rao, a parent and banker.
Parents Need To Remember Every child develops at a different rate. So be very careful about comparing your child to others.
information for learning how to do things differently the next time. With a performance mindset, the focus will be on success or failure of the outcome.
Don’t try to fit your child into a mould. W hen you are evaluating your child for Do not set a personal expectation or goal
for your child without taking that 'reasonable' behaviour, take temperament and individual child into consideration. development into consideration, and adjust your Stop finding faults in your child. Instead expectations to meet his/her capabilities. W hile dealing with your kids, stres s on focus on finding benefits. Catch your child doing something right by noticing excellence rather than perfection. and shif ting your tendencies to be Cultivate a learning mindset in your child rather critical. Celebrate the good things more than a performance mindset. With a learning than searching for things that go wrong. mindset, mistakes will be considered as Crystal Quest
Teachers Talk During times of change your child may be clingy - moody or irritable - angry - sad - anxious - afraid - less sociable than usual. These behavioral patterns generally disappear as your child adjusts to the change. As a parent you can help by being sensitive to your child’s feeling.Talk to your child about what she is feeling and be a good listener. Offer extra love, encouragement, and support during this time.
Helping your child deal with change
A new student is always welcome to his new school. When a child starts and ends his or her school, he gets familiar with the school and his comfort levels are in great shape. But when a child has to move to a different school for some reason like transfers, change of residence or moving into a school with a different curriculum, it does take a toll on the child’s mind either in the form of excitement, anxiety, nervousness and sometimes resistance. At the same time, the Teacher also has to cope with a student who comes from a different school and curriculum. Teacher plays a vital role, as he/she has to understand the child’s psychology to meet up with his needs and requirements. A child’s brain is like a soft clay and it can be moulded the way we want. It’s the parents and the teachers together who are responsible for guiding the child towards a better future. One of the most important skills parents can inculcate is to help your child develop the ability to deal with change, such as adjusting to a new school, to new teachers and friends. As parents, you can help your child develop the skills to handle change by understanding your child’s needs and by offering encouragement and support.
How change affects children Most children like a particular routine. Adjusting to a new school and new friends can be difficult. All children, like all adults, react differently to change. One child may be affected for months when a best friend moves away while another child may adapt quickly to this change. Many children adapt easily to a new school, taking the changes and challenges in stride. Many other children show signs of anxiety and stress. How your child adapts to change will depend on his or her temperament, personality, and your family’s circumstances.
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Do what you can to be available during times of transition and change. Talking to your child helps a great deal. Talk about the change, about what will happen and make it sound exciting. Show the school’s website. Talk about the teachers and the faculty and how much fun it will be in a new place, and what to expect. Answer as many of your child’s questions as you can. It may so happen when your child comes back home with negative thoughts or complaints. This is when you take initiative.! Always make your child look at negative situations positively. At the same time, listen attentively if you think the situation is serious and do discuss the same with the school faculty. Acknowledge your child’s worries and fears. Allow your child to feel angry, sad, and confused during times of change. These feelings are normal and your child needs to be allowed to express them. Acknowledge your child’s feelings positively- “Yes, saying goodbye to a friend is really hard. That makes me feel sad, too.” Or “Are you worried about going to a new school? I used to worry about that when I was your age, too,” Or “I know you miss your old friends from last year. It’s hard when things change.” Visit the school with your child before the first day of class, get a copy of the school newspaper, or go online and look at the school’s website together with your child. Meet the new teachers and the staff with your child before the start of school. Maintain family routines around bedtime, TV, and family meals as much as possible. It helps your child feel grounded and secure. Follow up with teachers once in 15 days to see how your child is adapting well to the new environment. Don’t worry about academics immediately. Enroll your child in extracurricular activities in the school to get him familiar with other students in a fun way. Comfort level of a child with his or her school is important for him or her to focus on academics. Make sure your child eats well, gets plenty of exercise, and gets enough sleep. Have a positive attitude. If you are confident about an upcoming change, your child will be positive, too.
Crystal Quest
Confessions of a Prankaholic About two years ago. I was in love with bourbon Biscuits and I had been studying hard for my upcoming exams and not getting any credit for it from my mother. “ Who doesn’t have school bullies? The school would not be fun without them, but if you are on the receiving end, life can be tough. In my eighth standard I was topping the Hit list of two such boys. I had enough and decided to give them a taste of their own medicine (so to speak). So, one day, my friends and I sneaked some eggs from home. Our school is on three levels starting with the seniors at the ground level. At recess we waited at the second level balcony for the said boys to exit. As soon as they were below us we released the eggs on their heads. The whole school saw this and broke out into laughter and ever since they have been nicknamed EGGHEADS. ” -- Rachana
One day I decided to play a prank on her. I called up my mother imitating my dad’s voice and told her “Rachel shall I come to pick you up? I’ve noticed Pradeep’s been studying really hard. He likes Bourbon biscuits . Please bring that for him. Ok Bye Bye”. And so I eventually got my treat and till date my mother does not know it was me who called her. --- Pradeep
Last year when I was living in Hyderabad. Every evening after 6 the Chief Minister’s convoy would pass in front of our house thus blocking the whole road for about a good 45 mins. On my birthday I decided to take full advantage of the fact. So, I called over a few friends and ordered Dominos Pizza. Their service guarantee is “half an hour varna free”. I placed an order knowing fully well that the road would get blocked in the next 15 minutes. That way I got Rs 1500 worth of pizzas free! ---- Vishnu
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Crystal Quest
Little Globe Trotters
The Travel and Living channel must be a hot favourite with many of you and am sure you must be wishing that you were amongst the lucky ones who keep travelling to those exotic places! And why not?
Lets start with places closer to home and before you realize it you will be a Globe Trotter.
A Quick Travel Checklist India is a vast country with breathtaking natural beauty, rich heritage and culture, steeped in a glorious history. And all this is easily accessible to those adventurous ones willing to travel. Belur and Halebid in Karnataka We will discover together Belur and Halebid, the two most awesome places of interest in Karnataka.
Belur Located in Hassan district, Belur is 222km fro m Bangalore and 38 km from Hassan. It is famous for its Chenakesava temple, a magnificient co mplex with exquisite architecture and art that leaves you spellbound.
• Toothbrush • Bottled water • Sun block • Medication • Sun hats • Motion sickness pills • Crayons and coloring books • Entertainment (CD’s, Videos, Audio books, Games) • Insect repellent (if you’ll be outdoors a lot). • Disinfectant wipes or hand sanitizer.
Halebid Halebid is 17 km away but both are referred to in one breath, as belonging together. They are quite different in appearance though the architect for both is the same, Jakkanna Achari. Along with these the other important place to visit in this area is Sravanabelagola, the fam ous Jain temple or pilgrimage.
Our Little Photographers can find INSPIRATON here
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Crystal Quest
Places to see are the Chennakeshava temple, in Belur which was built in 1117 by King Vishnuvardhana in order to commemorate his victory over the Cholas. He was initially called Bittiga till the sage Ramanuja converted him from Jainsim to Vaishnavism. The temple took 103 years to complete and it is filled with intricate structures and lovely carvings. The architecture is mostly of beautiful maidens who are celestial in nature. The temple is very imposing and the main shrine has several smaller ones around it. The Hoysala sculptors have signed their sculptures and are indeed very popular even today. Halebid or ‘the ruined city’ flourished as the capital of the Hoysala Dynasty for about 150 years in the 12th and 13th century AD, then known as Dwarasamudra (gateway to the seas). It was subsequently robbed of its treasures and left in ruins. It was then, when the Hoysala Kings shifted their capital to Belur.
The Shiva temple has two unique features in the linga form and gigantic figures of Nandi, the bull. The temple doors are ornate and architecturally beautiful and the outer walls have intricate figures beautifully carved depicting episodes from the epics.
Sravanabelagola has a colossal monolithic statue of Gomateswara on the top of a hill which is 3000 feet above sea level. You have to climb 614 steps to reach the statue. It is said that Emperor Chandragupta Maurya came here with his guru Bhadrabahu Swami and converted to Jainism. The word Sravanabelagola means the ‘Monk of the White Pond’ and this 57 feet high statue stands on top of Indragiri, part of the Vindhyagiri mountain range. You can also visit during the two famous festivals, Hoysala Mahotsava and Mahamastakabhishekam, Hoysala Mahotsava is a dance festival , a cultural
fest held at Belur- Halebid, where you can witness a cultural extravaganza.
Mahamastakabhishekam is a magnificient event held at the temple, where Lord Gomateswara is bathed once in 12 years in milk, ghee, saffron and gold coins.!
So enjoy this cultural extravaganza during your next school break by taking a trip to Karnataka, especially if you have been closely following your history lessons.
Belur and Halebid can be reached by road, rail or air. Sravanabelagola is on the way from Bangalore to Mysore. The best time to visit is between October and April. Temperatures during can go upto 37 degrees and during temperatures can go upto 20 degrees. People here speak Hindi and English besides Kannada. Hotels are in plenty.
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Crystal Quest
Expert Talk
Dr Rajni Mukherjee M.D. (Paediatrics) Consultant Paediatrician & Neonatologist SevenHills Hospital Vizag
“This is the way we wash our hands, wash our hands, and wash our hands This is the way we wash our hands and wash the Germs away!”
What’s Most Important To Have…
But Difficult To Keep ???
Yes, it is Personal
Hygiene !!! “Oh yes! I know it !!! I do practice cleanliness” , but really do you?? Our Expert Dr. Rajni Mukherjee is going to help you get better at it!! Pers onal Hygiene d o esn’t only mean washing your hands but it is also taking care of the rest of your body!! Taking care of your body, keeping your hands and body clean is an important part of keeping you healthy and helping you feel good about yourself. Personal hygiene is also important because no one likes to be close to a person who is dirty and stinking. Most of the infections we get, especially colds and diarrhea are due to the germs present in our hands. Its very important to wash hands. It also means being careful not to cough or sneeze on others, and taking care when you are handling or eating food. 38 / Sep 2012
Use clean water and soap to wash your hand and wrists. Use a brush to clean dirty nails. Keep nails short and clipped. Dry hands with something clean like towel or air dryer. Use hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available. Remember:
Wash your hands before you eat Wash your feet before you sleep!
Smelling clean: Nothing smells better than clean skin, and perfumes are not a substitute for a shower or bath. If you are a bigger kid, you may want to use deodorant. Clothes get dirty, sweaty and stained, so you need to change them often. Underclothes and socks are right next to your skin and collect dead skin cells, sweat and possibly other unmentionable stains. Overnight bacteria starts to work on these stains, so your clothes start smelling. Change out of your school uniform as soon as you get home and don’t forget to wash your hands. Towels too need to be dry and clean.
Shoes: Always keep your shoes clean by brushing, polishing or washing. They will look better, last longer and be less likely to smell. Remember your feet have a very large collection of sweat glands and the bacteria thrive in moist leather or fabric, making them smelly.
Feet: Wash your feet well and keep them dry to prevent fungal infections. You may use talcum powder over your feet. Crystal Quest
“
Hair: The oil, sweat and dead cells, all added together makes your hair look greasy and dirty.
Funny things happen,
As we get a little older…
To keep your hair clean,
We get a little stronger
Wash regularly with shampoo Massage your scalp well to remove dead skin cells and dirt Rinse well with clean water Conditioner is helpful for long hair Use a wide toothed clean comb Get rid of lice and nits
And smell a little bolder! So we use deodorant, And bathe everyday… And put on clean clothes, So the smell goes away.
Teeth: Brush your teeth twice daily once in the morning and once before
We need to brush our teeth, going to bed. During the day, fill your mouth with water, swish it around and rinse to get rid of food particles. Floss daily after the age of ten. Your mouth And learn how to “floss”… isn’t completely clean until you have brushed the tongue. You could use a It prevents bad breath tongue scraper if you like. And possible tooth loss! Food: In case the food is contaminated with germs (bacteria), you can feel We practice “good hygiene” habits sick, vomit and have pain in your tummy and diarrhea. It’s easier than it seems…
Always clean your hands before you handle food Wash all food that will be eaten raw, like fruits and salads. Store food in clean containers and keep it refrigerated.
[
It Is Very Important To Wash Your Hands...
It’s all a part of growing up
[
After handling pets like dogs and cats. Before making or eating food. If you have been around someone with a cough or cold. And after using the toilet (remember to flush).
And Building Self Esteem
”
Taking a proactive approach towards hygiene is important as it is the best preventive measure against illnesses. The habit that you form in your hygiene routines early in life will help you to stay healthy in the future! And the biggest Bonus will be to see you parents smile with pride!!
Know your nutrients for a HEALTHY ,VIBRANT ,GLOWING skin. Nutrients
Action
Sources
ZINC
Helps in skin repair
Eggs, seafood, baked beans, cashews, peas, and chickpeas
VITAMIN A
Keeps skin supple, prevents dryness, helps shed dead cells
Carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, mangoes, papaya, egg meat
Improves blood supply aids in formation of collagen,
Citrus fruits, guavas, watermelon, tomatoes, cauliflower
and milk VITAMIN C
gives skin a smooth appearance VITAMIN E
Powerful antioxidant. Helps slow down ageing
Sprouts, nuts, peanuts, broccoli, tomatoes and spinach
IRON
Helps in blood formation, makes the skin glow
Meat, eggs, green leafy vegetables, dried fruits like almonds
and raisins. PROTEIN Building blocks of the body. Important for skin and hair. FATS
Helps keep the moisture balance
Meat, eggs, milk, grains and legumes Eggs, butter, cheese (in moderation)
Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water- to keep the skin hydrated Good general nutrition is essential to maintain a healthy skin. The key to good nutrition is BALANCE. So, it’s true that the skin mirrors the state of one’s Health and Hygiene !!
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Crystal Quest
Sports
CYCLISTS are pedalling their way to
SUCCESS Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. People engaged in cycling are called cyclists or bicyclists.Apart from the ordinary two-wheeled bicycles, cycling also includes riding unicycles, tricycles, Quadra cycles and other similar human-powered vehicles (HPVs). Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century and are used as the principle means of transportation in many regions.
Various types of cycling sport Cycling is categorised into three types: Off-road, On-road, and BMX or Stunt Riding. Off-road cycling is mountain biking or dirt riding, where the rider has to tackle the rigors and stresses of large obstacles and uneven terrain. These bikes are heavy and have hydraulic shocks in the front fork. Road riding is about speed and distance, and ranges from commuting and fitness to multistage tour racing. These bikes are small and light with thin and smooth tires. BMX riding focuses on stunts rather than distance or speed. It has been introduced in the Olympic Games wherein the points are awarded for stunts performed on specially designed tracks or obstacles. These bikes are the smallest designs, but are often heavy. They have fat tires but small wheel diameters.
Learn professionally The coaching of all cyclists is conducted under the supervision of national level co aches. Regular diploma courses are conducted at National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala. Today, there are more than 40 technically qualified coaches in cycling sports and their services can be availed at the Cycling Federation of India.
Lance Armstrong World famous cyclist Lance Armstrong is best known for his unbeatable record at the Tour De France that he won seven consecutive times. He popularised the yellow Livestrong wristband which was launched to raise funds for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, founded by this former road racing cyclist and cancer survivor. The bracelet itself was developed by Nike.
National Championships for Junior and National Championships for Sub Junior Ridershave given an opportunity to all age groups to participate in the three different National Championships which are held regularly every year. Along with this there are constant Indian Cyclothons that take place throughout the year all over India. CFI organises the following championships every year: 1. National Road Cycling Championship 2. National Track Cycling Championship 3. National Mountain Bike Championship
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Crystal Quest
Tour de France
ARJUNA AWARD WINNERS Amar Singh Minati Mahapatra - Presently with SteelPlant, Rourkela. Armin Arethna - Migrated Cycling Federation of India (CFI) As a sport, cycling was first introduced in India by Janki Das in mid 30s. Das was the only Indian cyclist to participate in the British Empire Games at Sydney, Australia in 1938. No sooner had Indian cycling secured affiliation of National Cycling Federation, than it was affiliated by the National Cyclists Union of England. A few years later, Sohrab H Bhoot of Mumbai along with Das joined hands in promoting cycling and formed the National Cyclists Federation of India in 1946. So on the Indian Cycling Team participated in World Cycling Championships in Switzerland, Lond on Olympics, World Cycling Championships at Amsterdam and Brussels, and various other Road Races. Late Amar Singh Sokhi won a silver medal in 1962 at the Asian Cycling Championships in Japan. Cycling was included in the 1st Asian Games held in 1951. In 1966, the name of the cycling body in India was changed to its present Cycling Federation of India. In comparison to the early years of cycling as a sport in our country, today there are many concrete tracks built for training in New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Patiala, Bangalore, Bikaner (Rajasthan), Ludhiana, Jaipur, Pune, Trivandrum, Secunderabad and Imphal.
DER AILLEUR
Derailleur: apparatus used to transfer the chain from one toothed wheel to another. Shifter: solid, movable arm, attached to a fixed point, that increases applied force. Locking bolt: piece of metal, placed at the centre, with a head at one end and a thread at the other. Used with a nut. Control cable: set of braided steel wires, used to control the brakes. 41 / Sep 2012
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. Started in 1903, the race lasts for three weeks. The race attracts riders and teams from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages. Individual times to finish each stage are counted in total to determine the overall winner at the end of the race. The rider with the lowest aggregate time at the end of each day wears a yellow jersey. The course changes every year, but the race always finishes in Paris along the Champs-deÉlysÊes.
Check out
Cycling in India Email: info@cyclinginindia.com, Website: www.cyclinginindia.com Trekking in India Website: www.trekkinginindia.com Email: info@trekkinginindia.com Adventure hills Website: www.adventurehills.com Email:info@adventurehills.com adventurehills@adventurehills.com Frolic Boonies Nature Camp Website: www.kidssummercamp.in email: camp@kidssummercamp.in
Sheath bushing: piece that holds the brake cable in place. Control cable: set of braided steel wires, used to control the brakes. Tension spring: part that returns a second part to its initial position. Adjustable stop screw: small piece of metal that regulates the tension of the gear cable. Roller: metal protuberance used to transfer the chain from gear to gear. Frame or roller: mechanism that permits the operation of the moving part of the bicycle. Clutch: cylindrical part. Jockey roller: metal protuberance used to transfer the chain from gear to gear. Cable: set of braided steel wires used to control the brakes. Chain guide: part of the mechanism guiding movable parts. Nut or hub: piece of metal with a threaded hole at its centre. Used with a bolt. Gear: wheel of the gear system. Frame: chassis of a bicycle. Crystal Quest
Grammar With the advent of internet, there is a growing popularity of SMS lingo and internet slang. We regularly use incorrect English and believe that we are correct. But little do we realise that grammatical errors while speaking could often lead to us being a laughing stock. In fact, one of the parameters necessary to sharpen one’s language skills is not just to speak better but also to write better.
Here are some commonly confused sentences when speaking Wrong: Are you having dinner? Correct:Are you eating dinner? Wrong: What is the correct time? Correct: Could you tell me what time it is? Wrong: Many scientists such as Einstein think in strange ways. Correct: Many Scientists think in strange ways, Einstein for example. Wrong: He don’t care about me anymore. Correct: He does not care about me anymore. Wrong: (Sign at the checkout of a supermarket) Ten items or less. Correct: Ten items or fewer. Wrong: I never would of thought that he'd behave like that. Correct: I never would have/ would've thought that he'd behave like that. Wrong: I'm not speaking to nobody in this class. Correct: I'm not speaking to anybody in this class. Wrong: I should have went to school yesterday Correct: I should have gone to school yesterday. Wrong: Its going to be sunny tomorrow. Correct: It is going to be sunny tomorrow. Wrong: He has took the train. Correct: He has boarded the train. Wrong: Walking down the road, a friend bumped into me. Correct: Walking down the road, I bumped into a friend. Wrong: Teacher I want to do toilet. Correct: Teacher, may I please go to the toilet? Wrong: Please close the fan. Correct: Please, switch off the fan. Wrong: I’m not having the book. Correct: I do not have the book. 42 / Sep 2012
and writing.
Wrong: Slow the TV. Correct: Please reduce the volume. Wrong: He didn’t came home today. Correct: He did not come home today. Wrong: I can’t to tell. Correct: I cannot tell you. Wrong: Remove lights. Correct: Switch the lights off. Wrong: My friend is sitting on the computer. Correct: My friend is using the computer. So if you want to master the English language and speak correctly then it is important that you mind your language, use the appropriate word at the appropriate place to have the desired effect.
SINGULAR & PLURAL English nouns can be classified as count (singular
and plural) and non-count. The singular form is used when considering the noun as a single item (count) or entity (non-count). e.g.; brick, dog, airplane, person, foot, water, sugar, truth, education
The plural form is used when considering more than
one of the same items. Non-count nouns do not have a plural form. e.g.; bricks, dogs, airplanes, people, feet
Most plurals are formed by adding -s or -es to the singular noun. e.g.; boys, cars, pills, tips, chiefs
Some nouns take on a different form in the plural. e.g.; women, teeth, mice, children, people
Crystal Quest
Q&A Q. Once at a family gathering, my 5 year old son refused to share his food with anybody. He kept asking for more but never finished it himself. When asked to share or finish the food, he got angry and started to cry. How can I tackle such a situation? A. Young children are often ego centric, and sharing doesn’t come natu-
Q & A with
Samindara Sawant Director and Clinical Psychologist at Disha Counseling Center, Mumbai
She specialises in psycho diagnostics, clinical assessments, adolescent counselling, behaviour therapy for autistic children, hypnotherapy and psychotherapy. She is the author of the book 'Taming the Tornado’, it is a parent manual to help manage ADHD children.
rally to them. Sharing is a learnt behaviour, and young children tend to be more spontaneous in their behaviour, and sharing is simply not something that comes naturally to most of us! It is something that we cultivated by parents and society. If your child doesn’t seem willing to share, don’t get too agitated about it, and don’t make an issue, particularly if it is not the usual behaviour. Yes, after the event, it would be important to talk to him, explain to him what sharing means, and why it is important, and keep talking about this to him from time to time. Children often engage in such behaviour to get the attention of the adults around them. They can get angry and cry when they are hungry, when they are bored, or when they are tired. Food can also be a tangible form of security. Whenever such a behaviour occurs, it is important that you find out what triggered that behaviour, and work on the trigger rather than the behaviour as such.
Q. Every time I try to teach my 12 year old son anything, he Q. My 14 year old son does not change his socks turns around and gives me his own version. At times, it can be everyday. Because of which he had fungal infection understood from his point of view but then sometimes the between his toes. I took him to the doctor and cured retaliation is too much. How do I explain to him that he has to his infection. But once his infection was cured, he has gone back to his old habits. How do I improve my listen to me and that I'm his mother and I know better? sons habits and keep them constant?
A. Your son is on the brink of adolescence. This is the age when he is
A. Inculcation of habits always requires patience and slowly moving towards emotional independence, when he feels he is all perseverance. The first step can be to explain to the child why a habit is necessary and what the consequences of not inculcating certain habits are. In this case, explaining to your son why it is necessary to have clean socks and also linking it to the consequences (in this case, the infection that occurred) will be helpful. Linking case and effect or behavior and its consequence is very important as it will help build a larger picture, and 14-year olds are well able to understand this concept. However, do keep in mind that most children this age will not be much concerned with the consequences of their actions. Hence, you may need to use additional means to inculcate certain habits. You could… Link good behaviour/ implementation of a good habit to a short term and a long term reward. You can set a daily point system, where the child earns a point if he indulges in a good habit. At the end of the week, he can convert the points earned to a tangible reward such as a chocolate/ candy or TV show. Remember the reward should motivate the child to indulge in good behaviour. You can also have negative consequences or what is commonly called, punishment. Here the points are deducted if the good habit has not been implemented. All the best !!!!!!
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grown up, smart and capable of deciding what is good or bad for him. Naturally, his version of things seems far more interesting and plausible to him than your version, which may, to him, seem boring and unexciting. It might be helpful to endorse ‘his version’ at times, which will make him feel that you believe he is capable of thinking for himself and that you respect his views. Give him ‘structured independence’. You can tell him that he has to study for two hours every day; which two hours he should take, and how he studies, are his choice. This way, if you negotiate with your child, he will learn to abide by some of the rules that you set for him, because he will feel that he has a say in what is decided for him. Logic it out! Growing kids need to understand why they are asked to do certain things. Don’t expect him to listen to you just because you say so; but explain to him the rationale behind why you tell him something. But when you want to be firm, just be firm, but in a calm manner.
A few pointers to remember and implement gently Calm yourself. You will be amazed at how much of the parents’ behaviour is picked up by children, and often expressions of anger are an imitation of parents’ expressions. Do not get into a power struggle with your child. Express clearly what you expect out of her, and don’t get agitated when she doesn’t fall in line with those expectations. Provide alternatives. If she insists on doing something you don’t want her to, give her other alternatives that might be appealing. Always appreciate positive behaviour. This way, you bring out the contrast between what is expected and what is not. Crystal Quest
Invention
The Bicycle has long be en man’s best friend and a favourite mode of transport. You certainly cannot give traffic jam excuses if you are riding one to work. Apart from being environmental friendly cycling is also one of the healthiest ways to stay fit.
The two wheeled wonder in a tête-à-tête with Pallavi Borkar discusses how it all happened....
My Birth I was born in Paris. My innovations go far back to the year 1818 when the draisine was first introduced in Paris. I was invented as a draisine by Baron Karl Drais in Mannheim, Germany, and patented in January 1818. In this, my rider sat across a wooden frame supported by two in-line wheels and pushed the draisine along with his/her feet while steering the front wheel. I did not have pedals. Yeah, I know! In the year 1839, a Scottish blacksmith named Kirkpatrick MacMillan refined me by putting a mechanical crank drive to the rear wheel. This led to the creation of me, the first bicycle. It was only in 1870 that an ordinary version of me was created by an Englishman named James Starley.
The original bicycle Originally, I was a dwarf hence the front wheel diameter was reduced and the seat was placed further back. But because of this my rider had to pedal and steer through the front wheel which was difficult. Starley’s nephew J K Starley, J H Laws on, and Shergold s olved this pro blem by introducing the chain drive - connecting the pedals held with the frame to the back wheel. These models had lower seat height and better weight distribution and so everybody started to call me a safety bicycle. Soon, they gave me a seat tube, creating the doubletriangle diamond frame of the modern bike. 44 / Sep 2012
The golden age In 1890s as new innovations increased, historians started calling this period the ‘golden age’ or ‘bicycle craze’. By 1888, Scotsman John Boyd Dunlop's invented the pneumatic bicycle tyre which became popular for its much smoother ride on paved streets and was later univers ally adopted. Soon thereafter, they gave me a rear freewheel. This allowed my rider to glide without the pedals spinning out of control. This modification led to the invention of coaster brakes in 1898. I as a ‘safety bike’ became one of the pioneering vehicles of transport for both men and women. In the middle and late 1890s, I became popular among the elite and middle classes in Europe and North America. American feminist, Susan B Anthony, tagged me as the ‘freedom machine’. Later, to make me even more efficient, derailleur gears came into use. They are commonly referred as gears, but these are technically sprockets because they drive or are driven by a chain, and are not driven by one another. It consists of a chain, multiple sprockets of different sizes, and a mechanism to move the chain from one sprocket to another. Hand-operated cable-pull brakes were also manufactured during these years. By the turn of the century, cycling clubs were started by my connoisseurs. And touring and racing became extremely popular. I was the original form of private transportation just prior to the automobile. One of the well known bicycle race is called the Tour-de-France.
Giacomo Caprotti, a pupil of Leonardo da Vinci, had supposedly made this drawing of the bicycle (ci. rca 1493). It is considered to be a hoax by many.
TEN ADVANTAGES OF RIDING A BICYCLE 1. It is environment friendly. 2. You save money on fuel. 3. It requires very little maintenance. 4. It is healthy to ride a bicycle. 5. It helps you develop a strong heart and muscular limbs.
6. You can never be stuck in a traffic jam with a bicycle.
7. You can never have a parking problem or have to pay to park.
8. It is a great exercise to ride a bicycle hence you don’t have to spare time for exercising.
Crystal Quest
Soft Skills
So how many of us do agree that Mummy keeps asking us to wake up on time, eat breakfast on time, do our homework on time and sleep on time, well you know what!!! Mummy knows best. Daddy too…sometimes... D o we kids really need time management? Isn’t time management for grown-ups? These questions used to bother me too. But friends, let me tell you if we all follow a routine or a time table in our daily chores, it will make us smarter and more disciplined. Friends there are only 24 hours in a day and no matter who it is, He-Man, Batman or Superman or Spiderman, You cannot change that. Right? But what you can do is learn how to manage our time wisely and not worry mummy and daddy about it. Here are some tips: 1) Start every week by creating a schedule easy for you to stick to. You can use a calendar or a diary or draw your own weekly chart. Note down a schedule for your daily chores like what time to wake-up, brush, bathe etc. separately. Use this chart to write down activities that you would like to do, e.g., do 2 pages of cursive writing, 1 hour of music practice, 1 hour of homework, park time etc. Do not forget to set some break-time between 2 tasks. The mind needs to tune out of one task and tune into the next one. Also, you can make a note of family & friend’s birthdays and anniversaries…give them a pleasant surprise on their special day! 2) Always include at least 1 activity besides school work and park time. This will help you think about your interests and can help you pick up a few satisfying hobbies. 3) If there are some bigger things to do, You can break them into smaller things to do. 4) Decide when to do these things, mummy and daddy can help here for sure. Especially when you need their help to complete the task you should discuss it to block that time with them. 5) If there is spare time, use it wisely. Do not spend hours and hours on Facebook or in front of the TV or play video games or be stuck on mobile phones (talking to the same friends You met today in school). I’m not asking you to stop these, but you can save time by spending less time on these. You can spend time on these when you want to reward yourself for achieving a target.
Won’t that be fun? 45 / Sep 2012
So, are you interested to know how you can do all this? Here are some of the benefits you have from managing your time wisely. 1) You learn how to be responsible at an early
age 2) You can keep a track of home-work, assignments and their due dates, so you are never behind at school 3) You can reduce some stress on our parents (they can sure use some of our help) 4) And most importantly, MORE FREE TIME which your parents can trust you to plan for because you have been such a smar t manager Kids also benefit by putting some basic management techniques into practice. So let’s get started little managers and make your parents proud. Crystal Quest
Grooming Skills
Clean shoes Clean pants, now we are ready to shake hands …. Hey kiddos, you are surely wondering why we need clean pants and clean shoes when all we do is study and play ??? Well, all study and all play will not make you
a gentleman or gentlelady.
But why should we give away even 5 minutes of our valuable time to all little details of dressing?
Who is going to look at us on the playground and in school anyway?
Bang on! You are absolutely right! No one is going to look at you!! But that’s when you are shabbily dressed.
So what are the possible benefits of being well dressed children? Build Confidence When your shoes are clean, your shirt is ironed and your hair neatly combed , people will definitely give you first preference. This in turn will increase your self-confidence. You will be m ore confident to talk and enhance your personality. Greater Imagination You will build your creativity. You will have a better understanding of color co-ordination when you try to match your skirt to your top and then find hair clips, socks and shoes to match it with. No more fighting with Mommy As long as your choice of clothing is modest and correct for the Weather, Party, Festival, Playground, it will be allowed. Trust us fighting over clothes is not worth it!
Follow our simple points to great dressing !!!!
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Wear clean clothes. Change clothes often. Clean clothes keep us in good health. Dress neatly. Make sure your clothes are ironed. Make sure the cuffs and collars are always clean. Wash your hair regularly. Comb your hair well . Apply some oil if you think you cannot keep your hair in place neatly. Carry a handkerchief with you at all times. Wear clean footwear at all times. Do not wear rubber slippers outdoors… Top it all with a confident smile !!!
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Well dressed children = Proud Parents.
so think and think again .. we are watching you!! 46 / Sep 2012
Crystal Quest
My Moral Strongest
NEVER GIVE UP
Let’s take a sneak peek in our history and see how never giving up pays off !!!! When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, it did not have too many potential backers. After making a demo call, President Rutherford Hayes said, “That’s an amazing invention, but who would ever want to use one of them?” Thomas Edison was one of the greatest inventors in the world History. When he first attended school his Teachers complained he was “too slow” and hard to handle. As a result his mother took him out of school and decided to teach him at Home. The young Edison was fascinated with by Science. And at the age of 10, he had set up his own Chemistry Laboratory. Edison’s unlimited energy and genius let him to produce More than 1300 inventions in his Lifetime. When Thomas Edison invented the Light Bulb, he tried over 2000 experiments before he got it to work. A reporter asked him how he felt to fail so many times. He said that he never failed even once. It just happened to be a 2000 step process which led to the invention of the Light Bulb. Charlie Chaplin once lost a contest for a Charlie Chaplin look alike. A newspaper editor fired Walt Disney because he "lacked imagination and had no good ideas." Albert Einstein was 4 years old before he could speak. Einstein tutored a girl in math in exchange for some homemade cookies.
Imagine what what would would have happened if Aryabhatta, Aryabhatta, Steve Jobs or Bill Gates gave gave up on on their dreams and visions. Imagine a life without inventions and technology. technology. Without Without Internet
….PSP….Computers…… Video Games ????
Efforts only fully release their rewards after a person refuses to quit.
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Crystal Quest
YOGA
Children live in a fast-paced world, full of academic pressures, difficult homework, computer and video games, and competitive sports. These influences can stress out children and leave them feeling overwhelmed and low.
Tired of sitting in one place ? Try a stretch with
YOGA!
Yoga teaches children techniques for relaxation and self-health that can help them to better manage life's challenges.
The word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit word ‘yuj’ which means to unite or to join. Yoga is a practical aid, not a religion. It is a form of exercise, meditation, and breathing practices which originated in India designed to bring unity to the mind, body, and spirit. The continued practice of yoga makes the body strong and flexible; it also improves the functioning of the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, and hormonal systems. It brings about emotional stability and clarity of mind.
Advantages of Yoga
1. Yoga strengthens the body and helps it to become more flexible and
If a student is an athlete, yoga can help to build muscle and strength, balance and coordination, mental focus and energy – all which will improve his/her performance. A student who is into performance art, yoga will help them remember lines and conquer fears, such as stage fright. A student focused on scoring good marks, can do yoga and increase concentration and discipline needed to get good grades.
coordinated.
2. Enhances self-awareness Children who practice yoga learn early to tune into their bodies. Self esteem is boosted as the child gains control over his body and mind.
3. Increases imagination and empathy as children learn to connect with all the life forms that exist on the planet and realise that similarities are more important than differences.
4.
Allows kids to have fun and move their bodies without being competitive. Yoga is not about being right or wrong, it is about bringing unity to one's own life.
5.
Teaches self-discipline While practicing yoga, kids need to be slow, hold certain postures, breathe or think in a certain way. This helps children to master themselves rather than wait for an adult to control them.
6. Helps strengthen family bonds. Yoga is one form of exercise that It also supports the kindness and openness that makes us better world citizens.
par-
ents, children and grandparents can practice together.
7. Helps children learn ways to relax and get control of stress in their lives. A child worried about exams can use the meditation or breathing techniques of yoga to help him calm down and focus. Watch this space for YOGA Asanas for kids by a yoga master from the next issue onwards.
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Crystal Quest
Recipe
By Hamzah-Vizag International
Grind the Chapati in a mixer grinder.
What
Health benefits
Grate jaggery . ( Get someone to help)
Peanut
1. Rich in energy. 2. Good source of dietary protein essential for growth and development.
Wheat
1. Wheat flour contains B-vitamins, calcium, folacin, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, minimal amounts of sodium and other trace elements. 2. A wheat-based diet is high in fiber content.
Jaggery
1. Has sucrose and glucose along with good amounts minerals and vitamins.
Slightly roast peanuts. Crush peanuts coarsely. (not fine powder) Add the ghee and all the above ingredients in a bowl . Wash your hands thoroughly. Mix all the ingredients together. Apply some ghee on both your hands.
2. Helps in relieving fatigue, relaxing the muscles, nerves and blood vessels. 3. Moderate sources of other minerals like calcium, phosphorus and zinc which are essential to maintain the metabolic activities of the body.
Now shape them into round balls.
Ghee
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1. Ghee is rich in vitamins A, D and riboflavin as well as minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. Vitamin A helps maintain vision, healthy skin and acts as an important antioxidant too. Crystal Quest
On the Shelf
Book Review Title : The Count of Monte Cristo Author : Alexendre Dumas Genre : Adventure
Considered to be one of Alexendre Dumas’ finest works, The Count of Monte Cristo has also been made into several movies and is one of the most adapted stories in cinematic history. It is highly recommended for fans of literature in general. The book was written in 1844. The story is set in the first half of the 19th century and is a tale of jealousy, intrigue, revenge and betrayal. The story centers around a young and ambitious sailor, Edmond Dantes, his wrongful imprisonment, and eventual escape and revenge against his enemies. The story begins with Edmond Dantes and his friend, Fernand Mondego who are crew members on a ship when the vessel’s captain becomes ill. Edmond sails the ship to the island of Elba where he gets medical assistance for his captain. Mondego and ship mate, Baron Danglars plot to imprison Dantes, both for a different reason. Mondego is jealous of Dantes and his pending marriage to the beautiful Mercedes. Danglars is angry that Dantes was made captain over him. With the help of the investigator Villefort (who is more 50 / Sep 2012
concerned with political expediency than true justice), Dantes gets imprisoned. While in prison, Dantes is treated poorly and beaten by the warden. Fortunately, he befriends a fellow prisoner, Abbe Faria, a elderly and wise Italian priest. Faria acts as friend and mentor to Dantes and teaches him many things, everything from philosophy to history. Dantes learns flawless manners and to become a good swordsman. The two friends were carrying out their escape when Faria dies. While he lay dying, Faria tells Dantes the location of a buried treasure, which would yield wealth beyond imagination. Finally, after 18 years in prison, Dantes manages to escape. He immediately begins plotting revenge on his three enemies. Using his new found wealth and a series of aliases (including the Count of Monte Cristo), he takes revenge on the three men. Danglars eventually becomes a wealthy banker. Dantes, through a co mplex series of trans actions, manipulates the financial markets and bankrupts Danglars. Dantes also destroys Villefort’s reputation and political future by revealing embarrassing secrets of his past. He also exacts revenge on Mondego who, through dishonest means, had married Mercedes. Dantes revenge is complicated by the interwoven relationships between the main characters and he is not always able to destroy an enemy without also hurting a friend.
Alexandre Dumas ( 1802 - 1870 ) - He was a prolific French playwright, a historian and an author of other amazing books like The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, The man in the Iron Mask, The Black Tulip.
Crystal Quest
ECO Awareness
Turtle Nesting ...the turtles are here. And they are coming to the East Coast near you. According to the recent news, the nesting of Olive Ridley sea turtles begins in the Bay of Bengal in November. The marine turtles have been a part of mankind for 100 million years. Their population used to be abundant until a few hundred years. Now their population has been reduced from millions to an endangered species today !! Here is what happened to them
Marine Turtles Lets get to know these beautiful creatures........ They have a large shell called a carapace, four strong paddle-like flippers and like all reptiles, lungs for breathing air. Their characteristic beak-like mouth is used to shear or crush food. Marine turtles are an essential part of the traditional culture of many tribal people living in the coastal region throughout the world. Turtles migrate long distances between their feeding grounds and nesting sites. Of the seven species of marine turtles in the world, six are there in Australian waters, namely:
Flat back turtle Green turtle Hawks bill turtle Leather back turtle Loggerhead turtle Olive Ridley turtle The Loggerhead and Olive ridley turtle are considered as endangered which means that these animals will vanish from earth if we do not protect them.
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Why do we need to protect? Marine turtles everywhere are dying needlessly because of things people do. They are killed for their shells and meat. People steal their eggs, build houses right next to the place where they lay their eggs (nesting sites), and put bright lights on the beach thereby disturbing their natural life. Water is polluted with chemicals and garbage. We carelessly throw plastic bags into the sea, where a hungry sea turtle can mistake it for food and die. Just as the health of animals on land tells us a lot about how the land is doing, the marine turtles of the world are an indicator of how our oceans are doing. Dying turtles are symptoms of sick oceans. Oceans are the original source of life on this planet. There are very few green, hawksbill and loggerhead turtles left in the world. Australia has some of the largest marine turtle nesting areas in the Indo-Pacific region.
How can you help? There are many NGOs, conservation organisations and nature lovers who organise beach walks in the night in order to help turtles lay their eggs on the beach. You can support eco tourism to save some of the world's most endangered species by promoting the conservation of wildlife and important habitats thereby providing a source of income for local communities living in that area. This is especially important where turtles lay their eggs on or near tourist beaches. Remember, the more informed you are, the more you will be able to help. Spread awareness about the plight of turtles. Olive Ridley Genetic studies show that Olive Ridley sea turtles in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans originated from India. It is the smallest of all the sea turtle species and gets its name from the olive green colouration of the carapace. They are known for their arribada (synchronised mass nesting) during which tens of thousands of female ridleys come ashore to nest. And when the eggs hatch, millions of olive ridley turtle hatchlings emerge and return to the sea.
Check out: - Sahyadri Nisarga Mitra: www.snmcpn.org - Applied Environmental Research Foundation (AERF), Maharashtra: www.aerfindia.org - Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and Centre for Herpetology, Tamil Nadu: www.madrascrocodilebank.org
Crystal Quest
Lost Games
The Games we learned from our parents and elder siblings are well on their way to being replaced with gaming Technology. In this section we are going to revive our lost games.
So let’s see what you are missing out on !!!!! When we were kids the Games were a whole different set of Fun, it involved open grounds and other kids instead of PSP or Xboxes. When i see my 3 year old today gliding her fingers on the Ipad. I just wonder where are those lost games? Rain was a welcome sight because mom would let us play since there was no electricity but my daughter on the other frets that the TV is not working and maybe we should upgrade the inverter?
LAGORI originated in Karnataka. ☺ ☺ ☺ ☺
It is also called Seven Stones, Saat Patthar and Pittu. It’s played by two teams in a ground or an open area. Played by two teams The Hitters and The Seekers with a of minimum four players each. You will need a Soft ball and Seven Smooth or flat even stones to be stacked one over the other.
Lagori To start the Game the heap of stones is piled and placed in a small circle and the two teams stand on either side of any diagonal of the circle about a meter away from the centre. The Seekers throw the ball at the stack of stones to displace it. The game begins once the stones are displaced. The seekers then try to restack the pile of stones while the opposing team,the Hitters then try and stop the seekers by throwing the ball at them. If the ball touches a seeker, he is out and his team continues without him. But a team member can always safeguard himself by touching the opposite team member before the ball hits him. The Seekers have to shout “Lagori” after stacking the last stone to mark the end of the game.
Rules of the Game: 1. The Hitters can only pivot with the ball and not move around. The
4. Clearly mark the boundary. If any of the seekers crosses
maximum time he is permitted to have the ball in his hands is about 50 seconds. He has to pass the ball to other members of his team who will attempt the same – to make a player that they are marking ‘out’ by hitting their leg with a ball below the knee. People with the ball, however can dodge.
it then he is out.
2. The stones have to fall within the circle only. If they fall outside the circle, then its again 1 point for the Hitters plus they get to throw the ball now.
5. If the person trying to knock down the pile cannot do it in three tries then he is out.
6. In any of the three tries, if the thrower's ball does not knock down the pile and is caught by an opponent after the first bounce then the thrower is out.
7. If the thrower's ball bounces off the pile and an opponent
3. The player of the Seekers team can shield himself from the ball, by
catches it then the thrower's whole team is out.
hitting it away from the main area, so that time is wasted when the opposing team player fetches it from far away. However, the palm should not be used and only a closed fist can be used to push the ball away.
8. If the seekers succeed in restoring the pile then they
Tips: The point to note about 7 stones strategy is that you should attempt to disrupt the stack of Stones as little as possible. Preferably, just the top stone being knocked relatively close by, with a glancing blow from the ball. That will mean your rebuilding will be trivial. Blast all 7 all over the place with a powerful direct hit, and you are in for trouble rebuilding. 52 / Sep 2012
can use the point scored to buy back their ousted team mate.
So what are you waiting for ? Grab your friends and head for the Playground for laaaaaagori !!! Crystal Quest
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