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I Wonder What Mud Roti Tastes Like!

9/3/2021

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It was a serene evening when the sun was setting and it was time to wind down and leave school for the day. I was intrigued by a couple of kids busy making a cauldron of mud and water mixed together, cheerful as their hands, clothes and feet were covered with mud. 

It took me back to my childhood memory of playing hours in the sun and led me to wonder what they were up to. So I went closer and asked, looking at them busily toiling and moulding the mud, "What are we making here?" 

N looking at me says without a blink, "I'm making chapatis and lollipops!"

Being pulled into his imagination, I continued, "Oh, I wonder how it taste like?"

"It is brown chapatis because it is made of chocolate and it tastes chocolaty", was the response I received without a second further spent in the imagination.

I was struck by the thought of how play goes beyond what it seems like outwardly, to a process that involves imagination, thinking, connections and logic, innovation, reasoning, motor skills and a lot, lot more. 

Play revels the inner creator in kids. They blend culture with passion and create a world of their own. A world where chocolate chapatis are the norm and they can make as many of them as they want with abandon. 
​Here at SM we believe that play is just not an act but a deep learning process that a child involves in with all their senses and enriches with learning.

Contributed by Grace Veronica, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool.
​
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Griffins Poetic Soiree!

18/12/2020

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"Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words." - Robert Frost.'

We have all read/ learned/ wrote poems as kids, in our teens...a lot of which followed well into our adulthood. Poetry to some is an inflow/ outflow of expressionism while to some it is an appreciation of art. Well, you get the idea.

Our children, at SM, found themselves living, breathing, consuming poems and the process of poetry, creating their own, channelling the ones they connected with; pretty sure that this inspiration and love will be life-long. And during our annual Poetic Soiree event, they came together in their houses (Griffins, Pegasus, Phoenix, Sphinx) to express themselves through poems. As our pandemic motto, 'No-Virus Can Stop Our Learning!', they marched through with might and grit, fun and laughter, love and play, and a little bit of 'Learning Never Stops!'. So here they are, showcasing their poems to you.


Sit back and enjoy the show!

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Song Creators - How things fly?

12/11/2020

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The pre-schoolers (3 to 4 year old) showed a lot of curiosity with regards to flying objects during our discussions on what magic is according to them while reading the book 'Witchety Sticks and The Magic Buttons'. This progressed to them seeing a video of things that fly (which emerged from their discussion on what are some of the magical things they see around and why they are magical) and what they came up with post that is nothing short of magical.
When asked about what they think are flying things, a wide variety of answers came in as responses from the children:

Aa: Aeroplane
S: Butterfly
Aa: Jet
Ab: Eagle
K: Those triangle things that guys take and fly. When there is wind they can fly (kite)
An: Dragonfly and bees
S: Helicopter, aeroplane
H: Parrot
Aa: Jet packs can fly when we wear and we press the button
S: Chicken, hen
F: Can they fly?
S: They have wings
F: So does everything with wings fly?
Collectively: Yes.

Post this they moved onto watching the video of birds, balloons, kites, helicopter, aeroplane, etc. flying and we had a discussion on they each flew. They explained about how each of them fly,

K: Ma'am, I can see one bird and one baby bird. Balloons can also fly
F: But balloons don't have wings. So how do they fly?
H: With the air
H: When the wind, when somebody leave hands, they go up.
K: It can be popped like this <claps his hands together> pop!

Then came a kite,

F: How does a kite fly?
H, K: Air , Wind

Then a bird and a helicopter,
K: Eagle! It has wings like this <pretending to fly>
F: Next. What's this?
Collectively: Helicopter!
F: How does this helicopter fly?
K:With its wings
S: Propeller goes tugh tugh tugh
An: Helicopter go like this (up and down motion)
K: I have a drone in my house. Makes sound and hand movements

Out came an…..?K: Aeroplane!!!
F: How does an aeroplane fly?
An: Wings!
K: I know how to make the aeroplane with my hands
S: This aeroplane looks like it has wheels on the wings
F: That's an interesting observation. Why do they have wheels on the wings?
An: To land. When they are going up and come up, they need wheels to come down.
F: What about a helicopter? Does it have wheels?
K: No.
F: Then how does it land?
An: It jumps down
Ab: It'll go down

Sees a spaceshuttle flying

S: Rocket! Only space shuttles can go outerspace. Only spaceshuttle have fire

The conversations went on and on about various things that fly. Since children were fond of singing 'Fly Fly Fly The Butterfly' nursery rhyme, we thought it would be a great idea to get them all together and create extensions to it to sing about some of their favourite things that flew other than the butterflies.

Here is the result:

F: So let's make a song now. What all things fly?
H: Balloon
Aa: Jet pack, rubber band
S: Rocket
K: Space Shuttle
An: Ribbon
L: Bird, aeroplane
S: Helicopter



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Song:
Tune of 'Fly Fly Fly the Butterfly'

Fly fly fly the balloon fly
Up in the sky it's flying high
We try to catch it but it's too high
Fly fly fly the balloon fly

Fly fly fly the jet pack fly
I am going to fly very high
Then I land to the station
Fly fly fly the jet pack fly

Fly fly fly the rocket fly
In the night to the space it flies
Then it flies and lands on the moon
Fly fly fly the rocket fly.

Fly fly fly the ribbon fly
In the meadow it's flying high
With different colours it flies to the sun
Fly fly fly the ribbon fly

Fly fly fly the birdie fly
Up in the sky it's flying high
Quick quick quick it's sitting in the nest
Fly fly fly the birdie fly
 * quick being the sound it makes when it sits in the nest.

Fly fly fly the aeroplane 
Up in the sky it flies so fast
All the around the world it's flying high
Fly fly fly the aeroplane fly.

Fly fly fly the helicopter fly
Up propeller and back propeller
Turn turn turn turns really fast
Fly fly fly the helicopter fly

Fly fly fly the rubber band fly
We pull it and leave it
It fly so high and lands on the ground
Then we pick it up and throw it up again!

Contributed by Sruthy Krishna, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool.

#sparklingmindzglobalpreschool
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#reggioinspiredphilosophy
#21stcenturylearning
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#everychildcan
​

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Can you lift ice without touching it?- a Covid-19 challenge!

12/9/2020

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​Times have been unpredictable, with the COVID-19 spreading, driving the world to take refuge in a dark shell of uncertainty. First, the schools were shut, then we were to keep our distance from each other and then, a complete lock down extending for over a month. Does this mean we shut everything down? Should children's learning stop? How are parents going to keep them engaged? These are some of the questions we asked ourselves.

We, at Sparkling Mindz value and nurture growth mindset. We believe that there is always a way, even in the face of adversities. We took to technology and reconnected with our children over video calls. Our children too vibed with our mindset, that NO Virus Can Stop Our LEARNING! 

We have been connecting with our children ranging from 7year Olds to 14 year Olds, reiterating to them about the importance of managing themselves mentally, emotionally and physically, and being able to create a routine that involves productive engagement. Oh! trust me, our children can create amazing schedules for themselves. 

On the last video call with our youngest group of children (the 7 to 8 year Olds), we presented a variety of activities that they could add to their schedules, which included different kinds of chores, workouts, experiments, skill building activities etc. Our children were  more than delighted to accept the repertoire of  options to choose from. 

Here, we have V trying to pick ice cubes with a piece of string as part of his play and learn experiment. The joy on his face shows us his engagement and wonder. Knowing V, we can imagine the curious wonder questions and observations he must have made while he experimented. 

Here is our Advika, doing the same challenge, inspiring all of us in the process, in her own creative way!
We viewed this adversity not as a hindrance but rather as an opportunity that presented itself to help our children and us learn and grow through it. 

Children, need to be encouraged to deal with adversities with a growth mindset. Why? So they become individuals who can deal with their circumstances without giving up on themselves or their dreams.


Contributed by Disha HK, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global School.

#sparklingmindzglobalschool
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When Children Found Their 'Power Within Me' to Create SM Times!

13/5/2020

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Before the pandemic and online classes became the new normal, children at Sparkling Mindz had been discussing the 'power within me' in their House Circle. This was a culmination of the theme for the previous year and the various inspiring ways in which the children had engaged with it. 
With the online mode of operation becoming a reality, we decided to bring together their inspiration in the form of a newsletter. Now, if this newsletter had to take forward their House Circle Time, it had to be essentially 'for the students, of the students, by the students'. 
We are glad to say that it is - from compiling their individual inspirations, to documenting their journeys of finding the 'power within me' in the form of a cover story, adding other external elements like crosswords and quotes, requesting a facilitator to write a column, self-learning the aspects of layout on an online platform to the final writing, designing and reviewing - it is an example authentic student-work. It is not perfect, but glorious. It is not a 'product' but an output of genuine student-led learning. It is the start of a new learning curve. It is the first of the many SM Times' to come in the future. 
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SM Times - Phoenix 
Phoenix House have not been able to put together their final version yet, and this will soon be uploaded. 


Contributed by Poorva Agarwal, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global School.


#sparklingmindzglobalschool
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#everychildcan
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​#gamebasedlearning
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Learning never stops!

1/4/2020

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Who said learning has to ever stop even when we are quarantined? 

Today we met our 5 to 6 year olds on Zoom for a year end reflection session. As discussed, they all waited for their turn to share, learned to speak by independently, talked about their favorite memories from their class. They also bid farewell and sent love and good wishes to those they will not be seeing next year as they move to Dolphins (1st grade) and mostly, they held space for each other.

They learned that learning can happen anywhere!

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#inspiringconfidentlearners
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#21stcenturylearning
​#everychildcan
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Let's make India beautiful: Our 5 year olds creating a change

22/2/2020

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It's the month of August, the month that's special for every Indian. It was the month in which India achieved Independence from the British rule 73 years ago. As the rest of India celebrates this month by reminiscing the sacrifice of the various people who contributed to the Indian freedom movement, our pre-schoolers (5-6 year olds) at Sparkling Mindz began their discussion with a prompt "What do they love about India?" and the following were their responses along with how the discussion moved forward.

*Sh: I love that India is a big country and I love the national anthem.
Sh: Why do we sing the national anthem?
Ash: We sing national anthem to wish India*

This opened up an opportunity to discuss about the geography of India. The States, union territories and their capitals. How big India was before Independence and how big is it now and a little about the national anthem.
*Ana: I love that freedom fighters fought for our country*

This led us to discuss about who did the freedom fighters fight against and why? Why did the British East India company come to India? Who were the freedom fighters and how did they fight (Violence and Non violence)?

*Em: everywhere I travel in India, I love the buildings*
This led us to discuss about the famous monuments or heritage towns in India.

*Aad: I love India because it's colorful*
This opened up an opportunity to talk about the diversity in language, food, clothing, culture etc. And how inspite of our difference we love each other.
*Tan: I love India because it's beautiful*
*Abh: But, there are also people who litter in India*
This statement ignited a spark in the class and everybody seemed upset and concerned.
Facilitator: Why do you think people litter in India.
Abh: Because they are bad people.
Facilitator: It is? Sometimes in class we forget to follow ground rules, does that make us bad people?
Class: No, they just don't know the ground rules.
Facilitator: what do you think we should all do about this?
Tan: When somebody litters we can take it and throw in the dustbin.
Facilitator: Do you think they will learn if we pick up all the garbage for them? Is it possible for us to pick up all the garbage in India?
Ved: We need to clean our roads.
Abhi: We need to have more bins on the pathways.
Avy: We need to have poop bins for the dogs on the streets.
Adi: If you don't find garbage bin, keep it in a bag and throw it when you see a dust bin.
Post this discussion, children began reporting about littering incidents they come across on a daily basis while traveling from school to home and other places.
Noticing the concern and the spark in children to make a change, the facilitator gave them a choice to come up with ways to educate people on keeping India clean.
​
Few suggestions they came up with were-
1. Role play
2. Making placards
3. Making videos
4. Writing letters

Considering all their suggestion the facilitator helped them thread through a mime which they performed to educate their parents on Independence day. They also went about and wrote letters to people they see littering the streets. 


Picture



​Contributed by Yashika CG, Facilitator, Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool
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Care and kindness lessons by our 5 year olds

20/2/2020

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As part of their Independence day visit,  our pre-schoolers expressed interest in knowing more about the freedom fighters. Considering their curiosity, they were taken to Freedom park, a place that served as a prison during Indian freedom movement which is now converted into a park. 

As children arrived at Freedom Park, A noticed grass growing on the gaps between the tiles on the pavement and screamed.

A: Stop everyone! Do not step on the grass! 
He succeeded in getting everybody's attention and they walked carefully making sure to not step on the grass. 
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Post this incident of A displaying kindness and care and encouraging others to do the same, they walked ahead exploring the different areas of the park, the prisons, the execution place etc. As they walked, they came across a little insect strolling on the grass. Av, picked up a small twig and killed the insect. 
Rest of the group screamed: Ma'am Av killed the insect.
Em (visibly upset): it didn't even do anything to us.

Seeing his friends holding him accountable for his behavior, Av feels bad and tries to defend himself by speaking gibberish. 
​
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A while later, children exploring the park found a fallen branch. They picked it up and started playing tug-of-war (it's been their favorite game ever since it was introduced to them a year ago). Just then, M saw it and ran to her friends. 
M: Everybody stop! You'll get hurt.

Picture

It was moving to see how children had beautifully taken in the values of care and kindness towards each other and things around them. As adults and facilitators working with children, it's important for us to inculcate in ourselves the valves that we would like to see in our children. Things learnt during their formative years are learnt deeper and children learn better by observation. Let's be that good example that our children can observe and learn from. Let's create the world that we like to have for our children by being that world.


Contributed by Yashika CG, Facilitator, Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool

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We 'fixed' our 'Invention' poem!

13/2/2020

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It's Poetic Soiree time of the year again and the preschoolers are busy practising their poems. The two 4 year olds in Cubs class at SM Preschool were reciting their poem called Invention by Shel Silverstein, which goes like,

I've done it, I've done it!
Guess what I've done!
Invented a light that plugs into the sun.
The sun is bright enough,
The bulb is strong enough
But, oh, there's only one thing wrong...
The cord ain't long enough.

Post this recital, the Cubs weren't happy with leaving the ending in a way where the invention seemed useless. So together they solved the problem, and came up with an extension to the poem with the help of the facilitator,

' So I take six ladders,
Put them together as one.
Then I take a few cords,
Attach them together
And plug it into the sun!'

Children used empathy as a tool here to come up with solutions. They stepped into the shoes of the poet, became the poem and realized that they could help figure out what the poet can do to make the invention work! At first they were unhappy with the original ending, as they found it ending with a problem and not a solution. And almost immediately, with no intervention required, they started exploring various solutions for the same. They moved around the class, pretending the sun to be at a high place, having a short cord, asking each other what they can do. And in a matter of less than 5 minutes, they solved it together as a group! 

When children are invited to wonder, the world of curiosities open up. They step into that world and emerge out victorious with questions, solutions, answers...Perhaps that's all we need as children and adults, a safe space to wonder, be curious, ask questions and figure things out. 


Contributed by Sruthy Krishna, Learning Facilitator, Sparkling Mindz Global.
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"I fixed it!!" - A tale of how Aad learned to not give up.

12/2/2020

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​"Ma'am Aad broke it!" came Avi running to me holding 2 pieces of a plastic block they were playing with.

Aad looked concerned.

I bent down to the mirror cave he was sitting in with a blank expression and asked him what had happened. 

"I was playing with it and it broke", replied Aad.

"Okay. How can we fix this?" to which he said with so much hope, "I'll fix it with a glue!!!", and he runs to his class to get the glue. Aad and Av are part of the Cubs (4 year olds at SM). This happened before the class started (around 8:40am). 

He came back with 2 glue sticks and a fevistick. He realized that with the glue stick, the pieces wouldn't stick. So he switched to fevistick without a word. "I am putting only little ma'am", said Aad. Since children were pouring in too much fevicol to stick little things, we had a discussion on how much glue was too much which, he seemed to have remembered at this point and put to practice. He came to sit next to where I was sitting, trying to get it together, without giving up.

It was so evident how much he had grown as a person when I saw him not giving up on it because it's easier to give up and not try harder if the first few tries fail. 

"It's not sticking ma'am", said Aad with a perplexed expression. 

"Don't give up. Keep trying!" I reinforced. And he followed suit. He did not give up.  


A few minutes of trial and error, comes Aad with so much excitement yelling," I did it ma'am! I did it! See?" And he showed it to me and everybody around. Av who initially showed it to me that it was broken seemed just as excited.

It was such an important moment in Aad's life where he realized that he could solve anything if he kept trying, to start trusting his capabilities. And it was very important that he was given the freedom to fix it and to keep trying. Watching him work was also a very inspirational moment for all of us too. Because it reminded us of what children are capable of with the right amount of encouragement and trust...and the freedom to make mistakes. 

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And it wouldn't have been possible to learn this important lesson if the pieces of the blocks were taken away from him and/or just left it at 'Be more careful when you play.' ​


Contributed by Sruthy Krishna, Learning Facilitator at Sparkling Mindz Global Preschool.

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