Human rights day assembly

Human rights is the soul of our foreign policy, because human rights is the very soul of our sense of nationhood.

Jimmy Carter

Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the world on 10 December. The day is normally marked both by high-level political conferences and meetings and by cultural events and exhibitions dealing with human rights issues. In addition it is traditionally on 10 December that the five-yearly United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights and Nobel Peace Prize are awarded. Many governmental and nongovernmental organizations active in the human rights field also schedule special events to commemorate the day, as do many civil and social-cause organizations.

We all were informed a day before that we had to put up a special assembly on the occasion of human rights day. I and my friend  were instructed to host the assembly and organize it with the remaining classmates.  Organizing is not easy as we think. Everything is an art, so doing the job was not easy. We had to plan it out and work together.

We firstly made a draft of what all thing we would do in the assembly. Once done with the draft, we finalized the events and made the proper list of events, which were going to be held. Now we started working on the material which we needed for the particular events. I was nervous about hosting the show, I know it’s not my first time but still. We started working as soon as possible. Me and my friend started working on the script. We took some help from our classmate Himanshu, while working on the script. me and also helped the other classmates. While working on the script and searching about human rights days all of us become more aware and were ready spread the awareness.  Few worked on the presentation and the other half worked on decorating the board which was to be displayed in the hall. We worked collaboratively and completed the work. All of us participated equally in the assembly as we were going to tell the audience what is human rights? Why is celebrated? How are we dealing with the issue of global importance? We all came to know what all were the human rights in India and when did it come in India. I learned to be more spontaneous and confident. Learning new thing and completing your task is really a good thing. I did enjoy organizing and hosting the assembly. Till then enjoy! 

Rock climbing and rappelling

The last two days in the trip were amazing and we visited many places also like the B-fall, the pandav caves. Today was the last day of the trip and we woke up early got ready and reached the ground where rappelling and rock climbing was going to take place. Mr. Dinesh the main instructor of our group briefed us about rock climbing and repelling. He himself did it and showed us how it is done.  He also briefed us about the dos and don’ts. He told us that while rock climbing focus on the points where u can get the grip and while rapelling our legs should be straight, the knee should not bend or we might get hurt.

I was really nervous because I have done nothing like this before. It was a big challenge for me. I decided that no matter what I would go up till the top and complete it. I don’t care what other people think of me if I fall down or fail. Life is not about always being happy. There should always be a balance between happiness and sadness. This activity meant a lot to me. I had to prove myself that I can do it. Though I was a bit under confident, by doing this activity I would learn to be more confident about things and how to manage myself in difficult situations. While participating I felt as if I would just die. I had the spirit but at the same time I was scared, while I saw the rock of 50ft., the first thing which came to in my mind is that I would die or fall off. It was my turn and I was wearing the suit. I started off really well but in between I did get stuck. I couldn’t think of anything. But I didn’t let myself down. I gained my confidence back and told myself that I can do it. The height for climbing up and coming down was of 50 ft. In the starting I thought 50 ft. is nothing!  But when I started to climb I realized that 50 ft. is very much. My fingers were completely out of sense and as the rock was cold, the fingers also went cold. As I reached the top, I realized that I have made it. I was really happy that I took up this challenge. But this is not yet complete. I had to do the rappelling now. As I came down I came slowly and steady. Dinesh sir appreciated me a lot and said that I really did well from others. It was great experience for me. From this I learned how I should come out of my comfortable zone and try new things always. I understood that at times when you feel alone and don’t know what to do, just do what your heart says. I also understood that I should not judge things which I have not done before. Without knowing how it feels, I shouldn’t judge about it or about anything. I will carry this lesson with throughout my life. 

Paragliding

Today when we were off to the sunset point, we stopped before a ground where there were few activities like paragliding, riding bikes etc. taking place. Our teachers asked us what we wanted to do. And we were given a option of doing any one activity. I choose paragliding. I wanted to know how it feels to fly in the air. I knew that this is my first time and it’s a new challenge for me. I decided that I will not get scared and do it with all the confidence. Three people were supposed to go together. With me my friend Ketki and Vibhuti joined me. We had to dress up and sit in the jeep and go to the starting point.

The instructors tied us and gave the instructions. While taking off, it is necessary to run in the starting and while landing also. Otherwise we would hurt ourselves. My heartbeat suddenly increased, and as soon as they started the jeep, I started running and suddenly I was up in the sky. At first I couldn't believe t but then later on I felt really amazing. While I was up in the air, I realized how life can be fun and how we should enjoy by taking risks. I did learn to be more confident about my decisions and that sometimes it is necessary to take risks. It was a great experience for me. As the height was too much, taking a photograph was a problem and even the video also, as it wouldn't zoom too much.While landing, when all three of us ran, my leg twisted and unfortunately all three of us fell. Thank god no one was hurt. I didn't let myself down just because I did the landing wrong. After all Humans learn from mistakes only. I decided that the next time I do it, I will keep this mistake in mind and not do it again. I learned that as a team how communication is important. Even if it’s a very small team. Like I could have communicated with my friends while landing but I did not. Now I understand the importance of communication. Coming out of one’s comfort zone is one big thing. It makes the person more confident and allows the person to think differently. I did understand this thing and accepted it. I will always keep this in my mind and reflect it more often in the coming days of my life. 

Gardening_2

Today was the second day of our gardening session. Our CAS coordinator decided that we would be diving the work in different areas. I was given the work of weeding and ploughing in the selected area of the garden.

As I had done a little bit of weeding in the last session, I had to do it now also. I got tensed, I mean not again. But then instead of giving up I should try right. So I called my CAS coordinator Ms.Vijaylaxshmi and asked her how to do it properly. Vijayalaxshmi ma’am also like gardening and thus had the knowledge about gardening. Once ma’am told me how to do the weeding, I started off by taking out the small plants. Ma’am also told us that if there are any wrappers or plastic lying, we should clean the place first and then start with weeding and ploughing.

Doing weeding again was a tough task for me. I am not used to doing gardening SO MUCH. But as I had to do it, I took it as a challenge and did it. As I finished weeding, I realized that now I learned this skill of weeding. It wasn't really that hard as I was thinking before. And this time there were no itchy plants. After weeding I had to do ploughing of the area which I had received. Ploughing was not that difficult. It was an easy task but a tiring one. I was tired at the end of the day. But I was happy that I had completed my goal and by taking up this challenge I could complete the activity today. All of the DP II students worked collaboratively and cleaned the main garden area of the school. It was great and fun to work. I hope I do something more interesting and fun in the next session.

Till then stay happy!

Teaching football_8

Day eight

The day which the kids were waiting for so much. There some children absent due to which we had to shuffle the team. As I didn’t know much of the rules for this game, shafqat become the referee for this game. It was great to see these children play with all the energy they had. I really felt amazing down in my heart by just looking at them while playing and having fun. Jaidev and Kaustubh managed their teams and discussed some strategies too.
I, Jaidev and Kaustubh were cheering for our teams. It was unforgettable experience for me. The match was won by Jaidev’s team. It was an unforgettable experience for me. At first I was afraid to work with my classmate as I was the only girl, but later on when day passed, I gained the spirit to work with them and not feel alone. It was difficult for me to adjust in the environment being the only girl. I felt uncomfortable also in the starting as I have never worked alone with boys. But then I slowly overcome the uncomfortableness. I understood and realized how to deal with such an environment where you are the only girl. I could see myself as an individual who has learnt so much and was happy to teach these small little energetic children.

Till then stay happy!

Teaching football_7

Day seven

It was the second last class of my session, and it was time that I and my classmate kaustubh make the children prepare for the match. As we told the children about the match it was great to see their enthusiasm. At first I made them revise what all had been taught in the last classes. After which I and kaustubh told them about the fouls in the game, about offside, some skills for attacking and defending. It was time that tomorrow was an important day for them as well as for me also.

Teaching football_3

Day three

According to our timetable which we had set today we were going to teach the children about dribbling. Dribbling is one of the skills which require a lot of practice and used for attack moves. For these children it would very difficult to learn. It is not easy to learn this skill at one go. I had to make the girls understand that they are not supposed to hit with toe while dribbling. It took some time for them to understand this thing. I knew that they wouldn’t learn dribbling quickly as they did for passing. But I was patient and had the faith that they will take some time but they will understand it and do it properly. While I was looking at the children how they are learning and are listening to us, I realized that no matter how old we grow we should also be good listeners and learn new things which come up in our lives. We shouldn't always complain about it.

At the starting of the activity I thought that the girls would find it boring. Most of the girls like football, and at a lower age itself the girl is told that football is a boy’s game and she cannot play it. I don’t believe this. It is not necessary that only boys should play football. I believe that the gender should not matter when it comes to a sport or a game.

There is always the other side of it. It was great to see the spirit in the girls while teaching them football. They did gain interest in the game and were eager to learn more about it.

Unfortunately because of my ill health I couldn't attain the coming three classes. But I decided that I’ll be fine soon and take the classes again.

Abhodaya Global Village School Activity

Teach love, generosity, good manners and some of that will drift from the classroom to the home and who knows, the children will be educating the parents.  --- Roger Moore

Poverty is a major global issue in the world. India is trying hard from the past 10 years to reduce poverty line. And now people have become more aware about why education is important. Education is not only about reading or writing. It’s about how the person develops certain skills which are needed in life and how the country’s future is being developed. Abhyodaya has taken the initiative to do so. Abhyodaya Global village is a project started by Mr. Prakash Gandhi in the year 2010, with 28 students . Recently Mr. Gandhi’s daughter Mrs. Bhagyashree Deshpande had joined the project and this year they have 191 students in their school.

Through our CAS coordinator we came to know that we would be going to Abhyodaya Global village school to teach the students over there. From past one week we were planning together what all activities can we do and made a time table for ourselves for different classes. The school had children from 9 different villages and the children were from nursery to third grade. We assigned ourselves in different classes as below:

Class	Nursery	KG 1 – A	KG 1 – B	KG 2	1	2	3
Students in charge	Dristi, urja and kiran.	Rucha	Shradha	Himanshu	Jaidev	Kaustubh	Shafqat

  

We planned all possible activities which we could do. We decided instead of swiping our classes which normally happens in school we would be in the same classes for the whole day and have different sessions each. In each session we would teach them and make them do different activities. We decided together that we would have 4 session each session of an hour or 1hour and half. We had to be spontaneous about the timings and our lessons and activities which we were going to teach them. I was nervous. Though teaching wasn’t a new task for me but these children come from different villages and we didn’t know how would the place be and the students obviously. I was ready for this new challenge and decided that I would be responsible and take all the responsibility if a problem arises.

Assembly area

The children welcoming us

We departure from school and mostly in an hour and half we reached Abhyodaya school. First we attended their assembly and was really impressed by how the kids follow the assembly, as it wasn’t expected. After the assembly was finished, we were welcomed by the kids with small flower bouquets. It was really great to see them smile and their eagerness to meet us and waiting that when will their class start for today with their new teachers. After the assembly we went to our respective classes.

Session 1

This session started off with an introduction of myself and of the children also. I started my class by knowing what all they have studied before and took a small revision. After the revision, I taught then good manner, good habits, how to be safe, how to keep oneself clean and healthy and the things which are necessary in a person as a personality that is being polite and humble, to be curious, to help others in need, to be responsible and punctual. After teaching all these lessons, we again had a small revision. So, now it was time for some coloring. I had some worksheet with me for coloring but not only coloring it was joining the dots and coloring. I explained what does joining the dots mean and then asked them to color it according to their favorite color respectively. There were some children who didn’t speak up really as they were really shy, but I made sure they try to talk to me at least personally. After the coloring activity it was time for lunch, so the children went to have their lunch. We had ours too.

Teaching good habits

My class and their students 

Teaching as a teacher 

Students and their imagination. P.s- the coloring sheets of the students.

Add caption

 Session 2

After lunch, I decided that I would teach them some origami. Origami is a part of art and craft. It is necessary that each child experiences their inner likes and dislikes. In the starting obviously every child like art and craft and as these people never learnt what origami is, it was new to them. I first though them how to make a joker and later taught them how to make a dog. I instructed them how to do the folds one by one and very slowly, as they are new to this technique, it will take time for them to adapt to it. There were many children who couldn't understand so I personally went to them to their desks and made them understand how to do the folds. It was really great to see their curiosity and enthusiasm. After the origami session, it was time for some cartoons. We decided together that these children don’t get the opportunity to see cartoons frequently, so we bought some cartoons with us. We combined the students of nursery, KG – 1 A and B section and KG – 2. We showed them some Pixar cartoon and some cartoons based on good habits and some funny stories. It was great to see them laugh and enjoying that particular moment.

Showing steps of how to make joker  

The students trying themselves 

Helping the students 

Student taking interest in learning something new

Session 3

It was almost the time that the school would end so I obviously didn’t have the time for session 4 as I took too much time in the 1^st session itself. So now it was time for some sports. I decided to teach the dodge ball. It’s new for them and it’s a really enjoyable game. I took them out and explained them what the game is and how they are supposed to play.  We started playing the game and it was really fun to play with these kids. Seeing them enjoy to the fullest is really great to see and an unforgettable experience for me. To end the day, we had a small running race to make it memorable.

Teaching them dodge ball 

Letting them a chance.

Instructing them  

Racing time !

Everyone participating.

Happy and enthusiastic ! 

For me this was great experience and I shall hope that these children have a bright future. I had a great time with these children. It was a new task for me as I learned that it isn’t easy to teach. We have to change our methods according to the children and changing methods frequently is also not easy. One you adapt yourself, it is a bit difficult to get out of our comfort zone. It’s one of the new skills which I have learnt and I am grateful that I got the opportunity to learn so many thing through this CAS project.

Till then enjoy.

Teaching football_2

Day two

As the time started for these children training, the first thing was to take the warm up session. I and my classmates took the session together this time. Taking it together is much better than taking it in groups. We worked collaboratively while doing the warm up session. After the session I made them run two rounds of the ground. Once the warm up was done, I and kaustubh took the passing practice again which was taught in the last class. 

Practice is necessary or otherwise these children would forget all these things quickly. In the starting I thought that it will be very difficult for these children to learn. As it was the second day I saw that how quickly these children have learned passing and still remember it. I felt proud of these children and myself that what I taught them, they remembered. I felt that I had a connection with these kids. I realized that how difficult is teaching as well as how important teaching is.

Teaching football

Winners never quit and quitters never win. -  Vince Lombardi

Sports in one the important part of our lives. It where we realize about our physical abilities, strengths, weakness etc.  Through sorts there are many things which we can learn. Like to be confident, preserve, how to respect your team etc. Our CAS coordinator Ms. Vijiayalaxshmi informed us that we have the opportunity to teach the small children football. As my classmates Jaidev and Shafqat are very passionate about football, they were keen to teach the children football and were really happy. As the two of them couldn’t take care of all those children alone, I and kaustubh also joined in. I was really happy that I had a chance to make their lives better and teach them something new.

All four of us and our coordinator planned the activity. We decided that we would teach the kids two days in a week. We divided ourselves into three groups. Group A’s leader was Shafqat, group B’s leader was Jaidev and group C’s leader was Kaustubh and myself. We planned all the activities which we would make the children do according to our classes. Activities like passing, dribbling, shooting and controlling were chosen.

Day one

On day one, the first thing which all four us decided was to take the warm up sessions for the kids. I and kaustubh made the children from grade 1-5 stand in a line and made them jog the ground. Once this was done, we took our respective groups and taught them few exercises which are done in warm up. Once the warm up was done, we started to teach how is passing done. I and kaustubh divided the girls and boys.  Girls in one corner and the boys in other. We first decided that we would teach them short distance passing. In this the children are supposed to use their inner part of the foot to hit the ball. It increases the accuracy to pass the ball.

The accuracy is necessary during the game, if the player is stuck or is taking a turn or wants to move forward. It took a while for the kids to understand the technique of how to kick with the help of your inner side of their foot. In the starting few girls couldn’t understand.

I being their teacher, motivated them and made them understand calmly that this is how it is done. Once we were done with short distance passing, kaustubh decided that we would teach them long distance passing. I and kaustubh worked collaboratively to teach the children how passing is done. Not only this I learned a technique of how to teach sports to small children and how to motivate them.

Poem writing

“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words” – Robert Frost

Poems are one the beautiful things in the literature world.  Poets have done a really great job in the past and in present, as there are some poems which are written in past and yet are still fresh and beautiful as it was before. Writing and expressing your thoughts is not really easy but we can always try.

Many times, my older school use to arrange poetry writing competition though I never won. But as I came to know that our school’s newsletter is coming up, I decided to contribute by writing a poem. I am inspired by many poets namely Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Rudyard Kipling and many others. I haven’t read many poems of these authors but I have read few. Once my friend told me “Poetry is an expression of life in a way it really sounds”. I thought about it and decided that I would narrate my story, feelings through my poem. I have never really written a poem properly before, this is my first time. I am ready for this new challenge and hope all of you like my poem.

For all the things given,

Lies a hidden agenda.

Cruel is the word,

For itself and for people.

Though people stabbed; front or back,

No hatred was established.

In Silence, Smile, Laughter and Eyes,

Lies all the pain.

Still no hatred for pain,

Cuz it’s the infection and the cure.

Through which we learn,

Is the not the end but the beginning.

I never knew that I would write a poem like this. I tried my best to arrange my own rhyming scheme, but I really couldn't.This is one skill which i didn't learn and I hope to learn it soon. It’s not necessary that every poem should have a rhyming scheme.  I did learn some new skills, like how to write down your thoughts and experience in a poetic manner, how to use figure of speeches in the poem. The next time I write a poem, I hope it would have rhyming scheme. I hope everyone who ever reads this poem, likes it. I have tried my best and hope to see it soon in the newsletter. Till then enjoy! 

Baking Cupcakes

“Good teachers know how to bring out the best in students.”

On any special day we always tend to bring cakes or pastries to make the celebration more special. And all thanks to the pastry chefs who make such tasty cakes and pastries. So for the next two days, including today, I decided to become a pastry chef. The reason behind my decision is that teacher’s day is coming close and to make the celebration a little bit special, I decided I would bake cupcakes for my teachers.

I have never done baking before and this will be my first time and I was really excited. It was a new task for me, a new challenge. I had a goal to complete. In total I had to make 43 cupcakes for all these teachers present in my school. Making 43 cupcakes is not an easy task and one needs skills to bake. I was completely unknown to all the skills needed in this activity. Firstly I planned what to do and when to do. I decided that today I would make at least 2 sets of cupcakes i.e. total 12 cupcakes. So first let me tell you all the thing needed for baking cupcake. Things needed:

·         Cake flour or all purpose flour.

·         Baking soda

·         Baking powder

·         Salt

·         Unsweetened cocoa powder

·         Unsalted butter, softened

·         Granulated sugar

·         Pure vanilla extract

·         Milk

For chocolate butter cream frosting:

·         Unsalted butter, softened

·         Unsweetened cocoa powder

·         Confectioners’ sugar, sifted

·         Milk 

 

The procedure is as follows:

   Fir take two separate bowls, one for dry ingredients and other for the wet ingredients. 

·         Take 3/4^th cup of flour and add it to the bowl.

3/4th cup of flour. 

·         Now add 1/4^th teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of baking powder into the bowl.

1/4th teaspoon of baking soda.

1 teaspoon of baking powder. 

·         And add 3 table spoon of cocoa powder to the bowl n mix the ingredients.

Adding cocoa powder.

·         Now add 3 tablespoon of butter in the second bowl, which for wet ingredients and make it pomade.

·        Now add ½ cup of granulated sugar into the bowl and whisk it properly until it’s seems to be fluffy.

·         Add 1/4^th teaspoon of vanilla extract into the mixture in the second bowl.

·         Mix it well.

·         Now add ½ cup of sifted dry ingredients in the second bowl and add half cup of milk and mix the batter well.

·         Now add the rest of the dry ingredients and half of the other milk slowly and keep mixing it with the batter.

·         Adjust the thickness of the batter by adding 2 or 3 tablespoons of milk.

·         Now once the batter is ready, put it into the molds.

·         Put the mold inside the oven and set 180 degree Celsius for 20 to 25 minutes. 

After taking out the cupcakes, let it cool down for 10 mins and then take them out of molds. For decorating the cupcake and hiding some cracks, I used frosting. You can buy ready-made frosting from any bakery shop but I made the frosting on my own.

Baked cupcakes. 

It was my first time and I had to make so many cupcakes, but I was nervous thinking that will it be successful or not. Making the batter for first two times I failed. First time it was too runny and second time it was too thick. Then I took a deep breath and calmed myself down and started again. It was a new experience and I learned many baking skills like how to put the frosting on cake in patterns, how to mix the batter properly and how to put the batter properly in the mold. I had with myself while making cupcakes. Somewhere or the other I explored myself and tried something new. I thought I would never try baking and though that I would have no fun in this. It was like a fun challenge kept in front of me for trying it. I had planned and tried my best to keep the kitchen clean, but as it was my first time, it had to be messy. No wonder Next when I cook, it’ll be more and something new I guess. Till then have fun!