The Kids' Travel and Activity Guide to India seems to be a great resource for afterschool exploration. Here is the link to the website.
For many children from middle-class homes in India, travel is a rare luxury. Most never get to travel beyond the grandparents' village. Getting children to read interesting accounts of places can help them take a virtual tour. They could even make a photo album of their virtual tour by doing some clever image mixing and editing on the computer (last summer a child in my afterschool centre 'visited' the 'new seven wonders' of the world and made a great set of photos to show off!). Such projects can make geography and history come alive. Children could also try making a travel guide for visitors to their own city/village. Writing for an alien audience can help you discover surprising aspects about places you thought you knew all about.
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Great Teacher Resources for Afterschool
Tulika Books has some really good resource books for teachers - on story telling and art for now. Here is the link to the website.
Take a look around - especially at their books for children. They are wonderful - imaginative stories, great production, charming illustrations. The only 'problem' is that they are a little expensive. So while they may be great for the library in a school or afterschool center, making a personal collection may not be affordable to many.
Take a look around - especially at their books for children. They are wonderful - imaginative stories, great production, charming illustrations. The only 'problem' is that they are a little expensive. So while they may be great for the library in a school or afterschool center, making a personal collection may not be affordable to many.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Folk Mathematics for Afterschool!
Remind yourself and your students that math should never lose its meaning!
A beautiful resource to help you do this is Numeracy Counts! a publication of the National Literacy Resource Centre. While it is basically meant for educators involved in adult literacy programmes, it is of relevance to every teacher and learner of mathematics.
The book explores 'folk mathematics' - math that is part of oral tradition, culture, art, language. It contains riddles, games, tricks and stories that are sure to delight. Best of all, as the source of this wonderful material is India's cultural context, it is sure to make you (and your students) get up and look around for more - in the muggus of their homes, in their grandmother's stories, in their kirana shop calculations...
Here is a pdf version of the book for download. Thanks to Arvind Gupta and Vidya Online.
A beautiful resource to help you do this is Numeracy Counts! a publication of the National Literacy Resource Centre. While it is basically meant for educators involved in adult literacy programmes, it is of relevance to every teacher and learner of mathematics.
The book explores 'folk mathematics' - math that is part of oral tradition, culture, art, language. It contains riddles, games, tricks and stories that are sure to delight. Best of all, as the source of this wonderful material is India's cultural context, it is sure to make you (and your students) get up and look around for more - in the muggus of their homes, in their grandmother's stories, in their kirana shop calculations...
Here is a pdf version of the book for download. Thanks to Arvind Gupta and Vidya Online.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Natural History for Afterschool
The Indian Academy of Sciences has an initiative called Project Landscape. This project seeks to provide field guides on the natural history of India for amateur naturalists and students. Here are some great resources that the project provides:
Here is an e-book on dragonflies and damselflies.
Here is an account on frogs and toads.
Here is an account on hunter plants.
Here are details of books published by Project Lifescape:
Here is an e-book on dragonflies and damselflies.
Here is an account on frogs and toads.
Here is an account on hunter plants.
Here are details of books published by Project Lifescape:
Amphibians of Peninsular India: A Lifescape - Amphibians of Peninsular India
By R. J. Ranjit Daniels, Indian Academy of Sciences
Published by Orient Blackswan, 2005
ISBN 8173715149, 9788173715143
268 pages
India, a Lifescape: Butterflies of Peninsular India
By Krushnamegh Kunte, Madhav Gadgil, Indian Academy of Sciences, Indian Academy of Sciences
Published by Orient Blackswan, 2000
ISBN 8173713545, 9788173713545
254 pages
Look up the e-books to enrich your afterschool biology programme. Also make sure your library has the Project Lifescape books.
Look up the e-books to enrich your afterschool biology programme. Also make sure your library has the Project Lifescape books.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Draw the Best for Afterschool!
Here is a wonderful workbook on drawing from Eklavya. It is ready to use 'off-the-shelf'. More importantly, it will help you in designing more activities to help children draw creatively (rather than restricting themselves to copying a drawing).
Do not miss browing around Eklavya's site. There are some great books for download. Also, do look at the list of publications. You might like getting some for your afterschool library.
Do not miss browing around Eklavya's site. There are some great books for download. Also, do look at the list of publications. You might like getting some for your afterschool library.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
A great book for Afterschool
It is important for preteen and teenage children to read biographies - of political leaders, scientists, artists...and entrepreneurs. Thanks to Amar Chitra Katha - Indian children have access to life stories of many Indians who have made a difference in the political, historical, cultural, and industrial arena - Gandhiji, Shivaji, Meerabai, J.R.D. Tata... to name a few.
But a significant gap that needs filling up is life stories of 'extraordinary ordinary' Indians. People in flesh and blood who have done (and are still doing) things that are making a difference.
A new book on the scene which will help fill this gap is Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish by Rashmi Bansal. Published by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad it captures the 'inspiring stories of 25 IIM Ahmedabad graduates who chose to tread a path of their own making'.
While this book seems to target the young MBA graduate - the style is simple enough to make it relevant to those in the 12-17 age group.
I would recommend the book as a valuable addition to school and afterschool libraries.
But a significant gap that needs filling up is life stories of 'extraordinary ordinary' Indians. People in flesh and blood who have done (and are still doing) things that are making a difference.
A new book on the scene which will help fill this gap is Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish by Rashmi Bansal. Published by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad it captures the 'inspiring stories of 25 IIM Ahmedabad graduates who chose to tread a path of their own making'.
While this book seems to target the young MBA graduate - the style is simple enough to make it relevant to those in the 12-17 age group.
I would recommend the book as a valuable addition to school and afterschool libraries.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Resources for Afterschool
Spark-India is a teacher resource unit that brings quality teaching-learning materials. It offers audio, video, printed material.
What I like about Spark-India's books for children is that they are books with sense and sensibility. The publishing space in India is cluttered with any number of books for children that are just a bunch of badly written, badly illustrated and badly produced bunch of papers (with four colour printing on art paper!) bound together.
Spark-India's books are refreshingly different. An example is Spark-India's Empathy series 'designed to get children to understand and appreciate differences, whether related to physical and mental ability, personal choice or feeling'. The current titles in this series are The Helping Hand and The Little Grey Hare.
I have both the books. Both my daughter and I love them. And not without reason...
Let me tell you a little more about The Little Grey Hare. Anita R. Singh's writing is smart and sensible. Sarada Natarajan's illustrations are detailed and delightful. The best part for me was at the end of the book - with photographs and notes on the animals featured in the story complete with a map showing their range in the Indian sub-continent.
It is books of this quality that Indian children deserve - nothing less!
What I like about Spark-India's books for children is that they are books with sense and sensibility. The publishing space in India is cluttered with any number of books for children that are just a bunch of badly written, badly illustrated and badly produced bunch of papers (with four colour printing on art paper!) bound together.
Spark-India's books are refreshingly different. An example is Spark-India's Empathy series 'designed to get children to understand and appreciate differences, whether related to physical and mental ability, personal choice or feeling'. The current titles in this series are The Helping Hand and The Little Grey Hare.
I have both the books. Both my daughter and I love them. And not without reason...
Let me tell you a little more about The Little Grey Hare. Anita R. Singh's writing is smart and sensible. Sarada Natarajan's illustrations are detailed and delightful. The best part for me was at the end of the book - with photographs and notes on the animals featured in the story complete with a map showing their range in the Indian sub-continent.
It is books of this quality that Indian children deserve - nothing less!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Vidya Online Afterschool
A great resource this time: Vidya Online. The site describes itself as "online forum which will enable introspection, discussion and examination of issues in primary education".
It has 4 sections: Classroom support, Media resources, Bookshelf and E-courses. Together they offer ideas for activities, books, photographs and opportunity for attending an on-line course. The site has much to offer - the best way to get to know more is to visit it yourself!
It has 4 sections: Classroom support, Media resources, Bookshelf and E-courses. Together they offer ideas for activities, books, photographs and opportunity for attending an on-line course. The site has much to offer - the best way to get to know more is to visit it yourself!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
India Goes for Gold Afterschool!
Indian students won four gold and one silver medal at the 39th International Physics Olympiad (IPO) that concluded on Monday in Hanoi, Vietnam. This is India's best performance ever in the physics olympiad.
The Indian participants were mentored at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), the nodal centre for India's science olympiad programme. The main activities of the HBCSE are: (a) Research and Development, (b) Teacher Orientation and Science Popularisation, and (c) Olympiads and other Students' Nurture Programmes. The HBCSE is a valuable resource for afterschool programmes.
The HBCSE website notes "One of the most painful lacunae in our school system is the absence of quality printed materials for teachers and students to supplement the textbooks. The lack of such resources probably contributes to the authoritarian and bookish approach to learning that is often seen in the classroom". HBCSE publishes quality co-curricular materials including teachers handbooks, student booklets on remedial algebra, a set of 3 books on a problem-solving approach to physics, etc.
The Indian participants were mentored at the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), the nodal centre for India's science olympiad programme. The main activities of the HBCSE are: (a) Research and Development, (b) Teacher Orientation and Science Popularisation, and (c) Olympiads and other Students' Nurture Programmes. The HBCSE is a valuable resource for afterschool programmes.
The HBCSE website notes "One of the most painful lacunae in our school system is the absence of quality printed materials for teachers and students to supplement the textbooks. The lack of such resources probably contributes to the authoritarian and bookish approach to learning that is often seen in the classroom". HBCSE publishes quality co-curricular materials including teachers handbooks, student booklets on remedial algebra, a set of 3 books on a problem-solving approach to physics, etc.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Comics for Afterschool
A lot of us grew up with the Amar Chitra Katha (ACK) comics. Children these days have a lot of reading material to choose from - but ACK is not just a comic. It is an integral part of growing up in India. The comics seem to have finally caught up with the internet generation with the launch of their fresh website.
The site offers several deals on purchase of comics, free downloads, online games, etc. It is a good place to check on what is missing in your collection and order it right away.
Every afterschool library must stock the complete ACK set - it is such a great way to get children interested in history, mythology, culture and geography. I will be getting a set for my own afterschool center soon.
The site offers several deals on purchase of comics, free downloads, online games, etc. It is a good place to check on what is missing in your collection and order it right away.
Every afterschool library must stock the complete ACK set - it is such a great way to get children interested in history, mythology, culture and geography. I will be getting a set for my own afterschool center soon.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Headfake Textbooks for Afterschool!
You've heard 'headfake' before right? If not please look this up - its worth it!
Now talking about headfake textbooks relevant to Indian kids. There is a wonderful series of science (story) books by the IL&FS. I've got a few in my afterschool library. Just yesterday a 5th grader read one of the books - Camp Yellow Submarine - it gives a good intro to the structure and working of the digestive system. The storyline is an adventurous trip inside the body in a mini submarine. I handpicked the book for her as she had just finished the same lesson in school. It was a great way to reinforce and enrich what she had learned in school.
We need lots of books of this kind at costs that are affordable. Is anyone listening?
Now talking about headfake textbooks relevant to Indian kids. There is a wonderful series of science (story) books by the IL&FS. I've got a few in my afterschool library. Just yesterday a 5th grader read one of the books - Camp Yellow Submarine - it gives a good intro to the structure and working of the digestive system. The storyline is an adventurous trip inside the body in a mini submarine. I handpicked the book for her as she had just finished the same lesson in school. It was a great way to reinforce and enrich what she had learned in school.
We need lots of books of this kind at costs that are affordable. Is anyone listening?
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