Storybooks are every child’s favorite pastime. They love to learn about new characters, flip through artistic caricatures, and read out new words aloud. Being lost in fantasy-land, children often assume the ‘lead role’ and think of themselves being ‘superheroes’ and ‘princesses’ as they accomplish a mission of ‘saving the world’ and spreading ‘peace’. While all this creativity is good, how would you comprehend whether the essence of the story is understood by your child correctly? Did the child manage to expand his vocabulary? What were their thoughts on the ending of the story?

Storybooks are every child’s favorite pastime. They love to learn about new characters, flip through artistic caricatures, and read out new words aloud. Being lost in fantasy-land, children often assume the ‘lead role’ and think of themselves being ‘superheroes’ and ‘princesses’ as they accomplish a mission of ‘saving the world’ and spreading ‘peace’. While all this creativity is good, how would you comprehend whether the essence of the story is understood by your child correctly? Did the child manage to expand his vocabulary? What were their thoughts on the ending of the story?

Why did you choose to read this book?

To understand the child’s thought process in choosing the book, ask this question – Why did you choose this book? Do not expect elaborate answers though. It’s not like they must have done research about the book and then picked it up. The reasons could be as simple as; ‘I liked the book cover’ or ‘My friend told me to read it’. It could also be that the child is more comfortable reading books of certain genres. Choosing books like- ‘Science is Magic’ and ‘Outdoor Maker Lab’, indicates the child’s interest in Sciences, while books like ‘A Children’s History of India’ and ‘Who Was Anne Frank?’ are storybooks of interest for History lovers.

Who was your favorite character from the book and why?

Children who read common fiction stories, might not necessarily like the same character. They may have their own favorites. While some may admire the braveness of the ‘dog’ in Harper Collins ‘Go Away Dog’, others would adore the helpfulness of the ‘dwarfs’ in ‘Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs’. Hear the child out; as to which character is his favorite; and the reason for it. It gives parents an idea about what ‘values’ and ‘characteristics’ children uphold as important and correct them if they are not on the right track.

What was the most interesting scene from the storybook?

A story is basically different scenes and incidences interwoven together, which adds essence to the book. Some parts of the book really stand out, while others are just a drag. Ask the reader, which part did he enjoy reading the most! You would be amazed to learn how intelligently children connect their personal lives to the scene in the book and instantly are excited to talk about it. Say for instance the child says; ‘I liked it when Anita became friends with Mohan in the end, though they had some misunderstandings in the beginning’. Probably the child would have experienced something similar in their lives, where they become friends with someone, they were not really fond of in the start. There is a strong emotional connection here with the scene, and hence children enjoy reading & talking about it even more, as compared to other scenes in the book.

What was the lesson you learnt from this book?

If it’s a storybook with a moral, ask the reader what are his thoughts on it. Did he like the moral? Would he practice the learnings and apply them to his day-to-day life? In the book ‘David Gets In Trouble’ by David Shannon, the moral of the story is ‘We should own up our actions, even if we are afraid we might get a scolding from mom and dad’. Have a conversation with the kiddo and tell him, it’s absolutely okay to make mistakes, but it is also important to confess it and say sorry thereafter promising not to repeat again. This gives children confidence, the next time they make a mistake, to acknowledge it and speak the truth.

Did you like the ending of the book?

Not always do children like what they read in the storybooks. Sometimes, the ending is not what the reader was expecting and this leads to disappointment. But what if they had a chance to recreate or retell the story differently? Encourage students to narrate how they feel the ending should have been and it will pleasantly surprise you. Allow the flow of thoughts and creativity, while the child is engrossed in retelling the tale. Don’t forget to compliment his efforts and applaud his imagination.

The above exercise gives pre-schoolers confidence that their ideas and opinions matter, and therefore start showing more involvement while reading. The child develops communication skills, learns how to express his feelings, and showcases creativity.

About myON

myON is a digital library aimed at personalizing reading experiences for students as per their age and level of readiness. The platform has over 7,000 interesting books including some time-tested classics. Parents and schools in GCC and other countries of the UAE encourage subscribing to myOn, as it emphasizes on Smart Reading and assigns projects to students based on the book to test their level of understanding. Adults can even track the progress of the child and guide them accordingly. To get instant access to its full-fledge e-library in Dubai – Middle East, visit our website https://knowledge-hub.com/

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We often hear the statement ‘health is wealth’. This statement couldn’t be truer than now and its importance is growing each day. The seeds of a healthy lifestyle and good food habits have to be sown when the child is young and in school. It is the teacher’s duty to make children realize how important physical, mental, and social wellbeing is and encourage them to follow it as a ‘number one’ priority. Learning about the importance of health & wellness is pretty boring if it were to be mugged up from a textbook.

About TechnoFit

The famous TechnoKids platform has introduced the ‘TechnoFit’ curriculum to drive children to learn about fitness in a unique way. The module includes numerous hands-on activities and group challenges which makes the whole learning process quite exciting and rewarding. The TechnoKids curriculum has become quite popular amongst parents and educational institutes in Dubai and other regions of the UAE, who wish to teach their children computer lessons, in a fun & engaging way.

Be Fit Challenge

Students become elite members of the TechnoFit Club and undertake the ‘Be Fit Challenge’. To start with, children are first made aware of healthy eating and exercise habits. After the basic knowledge is gained, students must follow the same practice and challenge themselves to live a healthy lifestyle.

The next step is to prep up and design a digital ‘food guide’ and online ‘fitness posters’ to prepare for the on-ground ‘Be Fit’ event. The celebration begins by dividing students into teams and competing with each other to present ‘healthy dishes’ and ‘recipes’ that can be replicated in normal day-to-day living. Students use their creativity and Graphic design skills to curate an ‘e-Menu’ and ‘Invitation Cards’ to send out to parents, teachers, and staff in school, thereby inviting them to their stall. Here’s a breakup of the tasks that are to be undertaken in a systematic manner:

Session 1

Students join the TechnoFit Club (TFC) where the unanimous motto is ‘Eat Right, Be Fit, Live Well.’ Students watch the ‘The Be Fit Challenge’ video and they get to understand the importance of diet and exercise. Each kid who signs up for the challenge is presented with a membership card. This card is designed by students themselves and includes their names, picture, and other information.

Session 2

Participants learn about a balanced diet and what to include in everyday mealtime to get the right amount of nutrition and energy to nourish the body. Children then design a ‘Be Fit Food Guide’ to spread the importance of a balanced diet further. To make the Guide interesting, children collect pictures of food items and organize them under the various Food Group headings. This way it is a constant reminder for students to make healthy food choices.

Session 3

Students perform the right kind of exercise, and make posters to highlight the various exercises to be practiced daily. Putting up the poster at a prominent place in the school premises and home sets a cue to take a break from studies and dedicate 30 minutes of rigorous physical exercise at any time through the day. Making posters again & again will only give the child more practice on various design aspects

Session 4

Students use Microsoft Publisher to create a side-fold ‘card’ and an ‘invite’ to be sent out to the audience and jury members with the schedule of the events. The aim is to welcome all health & fitness-conscious audiences to the ‘Be Fit’ final event.

Session 5

It’s time to show who’s the fittest at The ‘Be Fit’ challenge event. All Food Groups display their food items and flex their muscles before the esteemed jury panel; which includes; teachers, staff, parents, and co-students.

Session 6

An elaborate award ceremony is well deserved and all participants rightfully earn a Certificate. This certificate is designed by the students themselves for all TechnoFit members, using the Microsoft Publisher tool. Hurry, it’s time to celebrate – you are now Certified as Healthy!

The Project Includes The Following Materials

Teacher Guide, Student Workbook, Customizable Resources, Assessment Tools, Activities, Sample Files, Templates, Parent Letters, and Certificates.

Tech Skills Gained

Publishing, Graphics, and Word Processing.

To learn more about TechnoFit and source the latest software anywhere in the Middle East, including GCC Countries, visit our website

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According to definition, the subject Chemistry is the study of matter, its composition and the changes it undergoes. Before we start exploring the fascinating aspects of chemistry, let us start by understanding what matter is.

Explanation of Matter

Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Matter can exist in different forms or states and has various characteristics. Also, any object that has a physical form can be made of matter. Tiny bits of atoms are bound together to form molecules, that makeup matter. Your table, the chair you are sitting on, your food, all of this is matter.

Three States of Matter

There are 3 distinct states of matter; solid, liquid, and gases. Solids have fixed shape and volume- ex: a rock. Liquids have a fixed volume, but take up the shape of the container ex: water. Gases have no volume and no shape ex: air in vehicle tires.

What is a substance?

Substance is a form of matter that contains only one type of atom or molecule. That means substance is matter in which all parts are alike. Substance is further divided into two sub-categories:

Elements

An element is a chemical substance that is made up of a piacular kind of atom and cannot be broken down further or transformed by a chemical reaction into different elements. Examples of elements are; gold, oxygen, sulfur, and iron.

• Compounds

Compounds on the other hand; are pure substances that are made up of two or more elements. Examples of compounds are; salt, water, and sugar.

Mixtures

A mixture is formed when two or more substances are mixed together. A Mixture can either have homogenous or heterogeneous properties. Let us find out what this means;

• Homogenous Mixture

In a homogenous mixture, the components mix with each other having a uniform composition. However, the components cannot be seen with the naked eye. Also, the components cannot be separated from the mixture easily. Example: salt solution, sugar solution, and detergent.

• Heterogenous Mixture

A heterogeneous mixture is one, in which the composition is not uniform throughout and different components are observed. Unlike Homogenous mixtures, components of Heterogenous mixtures as visible with the naked eye. Even the size of the particles are large. You can separate the components of a heterogeneous mixture. Example: salt and oil, ice cubes in a drink, sand & water, etc.

Methods for Separating Mixtures

The components of a mixture can be separated physically. However, the technique to be used may be different for different types of mixtures and their chemical composition. Here are the different ways in which mixtures can be separated;

• Using a Separating Funnel

A separating funnel can be used to separate two immiscible liquids. These are those liquids that do not mix together, instead, they form different layers that can be clearly seen with the naked eye. Examples of immiscible liquids are; kerosene and water, oil and water, honey and oil, etc.

Experiment:

Fill the separating funnel with kerosene and water and allow it to settle down. You will clearly see two distinctive layers forming; water is at the bottom layer & kerosene at the top. Open the stopcock of the separating funnel. You will notice that water flows out onto a different vessel. When all the water is emptied, shut the stopcock, so that the kerosene remains in the separating funnel.

Evaporation

Through evaporation, you can separate solids that are dissolved in water. The thought behind this is, solids do not evaporate, but liquids do, and the solid substance is left behind in the vessel.

• Experiment

Take a glass and mix water with salt. Now empty the salt & water mixtures into a petri dish and heat is continuously over a burner. By heating, the water starts to form vapor and evaporates into the air. Keep heating until all the water is evaporated and only the salt remains in the dish.

Distillation

Distillation is the process of separating the components or substances from a liquid mixture, by using the technique of boiling and condensation.

• Experiment

Add a few drops of ink into water and empty it into a Conical flask. Add some anti-bumping granules in the conical flask and arrange the apparatus and test tubes, before you begin with the experiment. Heat the conical flask over medium flame using a burner, and watch the ink as it starts to boil. Observe the delivery tube and notice condensation starting to happen, as vapor turns into liquid again. Wait for all the water to condense, leaving only the liquid ink in the flask.

Carolina’s Building Blocks of Science® 3D: Structure and Properties of Matter (©2019) Carolina is a world-renowned supplier of Science lab equipment to schools across the globe and in Dubai, Middle East. The chemistry module on ‘Structure and Properties of Matter’ Is aimed at students of Grade 5 and it helps students discover the physical and chemical properties of matter. The kit comprises all the materials to conduct experiments, a teacher’s guide, and a student reader.

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Technology all over the globe is rapidly advancing and now we live in a world where robots have made their way into a normal human’s life. MiRo, an autonomous companion robot is a perfect example of that. It is inspired by the concept of a carefree home system that allows people to look after themselves using smart devices. Instead of relying on external help and resources, this system allows you to tackle your personal and intimate issues in an empowering and cost-effective manner. A UK-based start-up called Consequential Robotics and collaboration between Sebastian Conran Associates and the University of Sheffield is working towards developing a program that facilitates independent living. And MiRo has set out to do just that!

Designed to be a companion to humans, MiRo is an animal-inspired robot that is both friendly and approachable. It does not offer any kind of physical assistance but it monitors behaviour with utmost accuracy and offers companionship. It has pet-like features that one can emotionally engage with and is also a flexible programmable platform for researchers and app developers. Using the MiRoCODE programming environment, students all across GCC, Dubai, UAE and the Middle East are able to create their own programs, try them on-screen and advance in their STEM subjects.

Winning the Best Demonstration Award at the 2017 Human-Robot Interaction Conference in Vienna, Austria, MiRo interacts with wristbands and other digital wearables to track physical activity, environmental factors, monitor any risks, checks our vitals etc. to analyse whether the person is healthy or requires any kind of support. With accurate data recording, this robot can prove to be extremely useful for caregivers who can review the situation and take appropriate action. However, the features are not just restricted to the elderly. MiRo-E is a fully programmable, reasonably priced, robotics platform that allows students and universities to expand their knowledge in robotics, technology and improve their AI coding skills.

MiRo has been the talk of the town because it comes packed with advanced technological features including sensors for facial and voice recognition, navigation technology and light-sensitive vision. Moreover, the companion robot also displays animal-like behaviour such as moving-ear, eyelids, tail and a Bluetooth speaker that produces sounds. It also connects to Wi-Fi and comes with a SD card reader. Over the years, MiRo has been trialled on the elderly by a number of research institutions across the globe. The customer version will be available at 600 pounds, which will not only act as an ideal companion but also play a significant role in evolving STEM education.

Since it displays a superior ‘brain system’, this amiable robot adapts to most situations with mind-blowing accuracy and also shows emotions, makes decisions and responds to human cues in its own unique way. The wider vision behind developing MiRo is to provide emotional aid to humans and decrease the sense of isolation. This empowering model benefits the elderly, healthcare professionals, students and researchers alike.

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Radio Broadcasts have always played an important role in disseminating important information and entertaining mass audiences. Through the medium of Radio, listeners get to learn about political agenda, hear-out views of famous personalities, and be aware of the developments in the world around them.

The same concept is brought to educational institutes, including those in GCC regions, where children can launch their own Broadcasting show and speak about topics that are important to them via the School Radio Platform. If you are a student, here are some topics that might be of interest to you. It’s time to make your opinions public & share them with peers, teachers, & school management;

Innovative Start-Ups & Business

Entrepreneurship is the new buzz word and everyone seems to be excited to start a new brand or bring-in fresh ideas into the market. How about starting a Radio Channel that gives budding entrepreneurs a chance to showcase their ideas! Why can’t the seeds of a great business be sown in your high school days? To get students enthused about this, invite a few businessmen who have been successful with their start-ups and ask them to share their stories of challenges, struggles, and hard work. Following the same footsteps, students can present their start-up ideas; no matter if it culminates into something big in the future, or is just a seedling of an idea taking birth.

Health and Wellness

Stats show that 41.6% of cases of anxiety and depression related to Mental Health disorders are found commonly amongst school-going students and collegiates. Nearly 1 out of 3 adolescents aged 13 to 18 face anxiety disorder. So why not create a platform on your School Radio station to talk about it? Inviting Mental Health experts and wellness coaches on a School Radio talk show to talk about healthy self-care practices, is a great idea. Also, introduce students to the benefits of meditation and yoga via and stress on broadcasting positive experiences of students who benefitted from it.

Music

Everyone loves music! Even middle-school graders follow the cult and have their eyes on top ‘music artists’. Music Albums create quite a rage, and children start idealizing these pop icons and try to copy their sense of fashion, to stay relevant in their social groups. Talking about the different genres of music and playing some classics on School Radio is much of a stress buster! If you are a member of your ‘school band’ here’s your chance to outshine! Create some tunes and even record a fresh album, to be the next ‘Mr. or Ms. Popular’ at school.

Sports

Sports enthusiasts always want to be the first ones to get up-to-date information about their favorite game and sports club. Sports is an important extra-curricular activity in school, and it instills a sense of healthy competition amongst students. Sports also have manifold benefits on fighting obesity and contributing to the individual’s physical well-being. Via School Radio channel, discuss sports news, celebrate important milestones, and invite famous football/cricket personalities to your school talk show. So, are you ready to cheer for the ‘Al Nasr FC’, UAE’s most loved football team?

Technology

This is a dynamic topic and each day we get news about something innovative happening in the Tech space. From Elon Musk sending the Tesla Car to Mars and Google making advancements in Quantum Computing, Technology is advancing at a super-fast pace. Even educational institutes adopt the STEM curriculum focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and encourage children to learn to code & enable Robots to do amazing things. Use the Radio channel platform to broadcast content on amazing facets of technology and inspire students to venture wholeheartedly.

So, what topic are you going to talk about when it’s your turn to host a show on School Radio? Make sure you prepare well before going ‘live’ and speak about the subject with passion & conviction. School Radio is already making waves in 430+ schools across the Globe, including some schools in Dubai & other regions of the Middle East.

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