The month of August started on a positive note, with encouraging words from our parents. We had our first Parent Interaction Session in the first week of August, where we met the parents, one on one, for feedback and suggestions.

The following is a brief overview of the virtual learning and activities:-

HELPING HANDS : (PREP & KG)

Children were encouraged to be helpful around the house and be appreciative of all that their parents do for them. We were amazed to see videos of our five year olds doing chores around the house. Following the ideas of conservation - switching off the fan and light when not required etc. were practiced.

PLAY WITH COLORSChildren were encouraged to play with colors and mix different colors together, to make new shades. They enjoyed mixing colors and experimenting with new shades. They were asked to color a paper with all the new shades they made.

VIRTUAL BIRTHDAYTheir special days were made more special with virtual cakes and virtual visits from their families. The value of bonding and love towards family was reinforced.

KERALA VIRTUAL TOUR

KG enjoyed a tour around the major cities in Kerala, exploring the different culture, food and traditions and got an understanding on the different dialects of Malayalam. They also got a sneak peek into the lives of people in Kuttanad where the mode of transport is water.

EXPLORING INDIAVIRTUAL TOURBoth KG and Prep explored different parts of India through a virtual tour. They went visiting all the important places with the magical elephant Appu. This was in association with Independence day celebrations for the children understand the diversities of their motherland.

CONVERSATIONAL ACTIVITYActivity “A memorable trip” was done by the Prep, where the children had to speak about a memorable trip they had made inside India. Children were encouraged to speak about what they liked the most and the food they ate and the places of importance there.

To reinforce the diversity in culture and traditions in different parts of the country, the teachers and children dressed in the traditional attire of different states, further adding to the fun and understanding of our diverse cultures and traditions.

National symbols were introduced to the children through videos, PPTs, and reinforced through quizzing and art.

TRICOLOR

The pride of our country, our National Flag was introduced and reinforced through art and life skills. Tricolour day was celebrated to remember the colours on the National flag. A PPT about Independence day was shown to reinforce the concept and its relevance in our country - Prep & KG students were quizzed on the same. The children and teachers dressed in tricolours as a sign of respect to the Nation.

ART: Drawing the flag, Finger print coloring, cutting & sticking.

LIFE SKILLS: Tiranaga sandwich - Children made tricolor sandwiches to reinforce the colors of The National flag.

WATER BELL

Everyday, a bell is rung in the middle of the class to encourage children to drink water and remind the importance of drinking water and replenishing their systems. Teachers also join to motivate the children to drink water.

ORDINAL NUMBERS

Ordinal numbers were introduced in the form of a story , and it was further reinforced with a game of treasure hunt. The winners were given the places according to ordinal numbers.

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL DRESS UP

The traditions, culture and lifestyle in different countries was explored. The children and teachers dressed as people from different countries and spoke about their attire and which place it belonged to.

The lantern festival of Japan was discussed and the children made lanterns during their art class. Scissor grip and eye-hand coordination were focused in the art activity.

LIFE LESSONSOn being thankful, to forgive and be respectful.To encourage an attitude of gratitude, children made Thank You cards for their parents and grandparents.

POURING ACTIVITY (KINDERARK)To ensure the eye-hand coordination and gross motor skill development, pouring and sorting was done. This also helped in sensorial activities like feeling and seeing (differentiating) and listening to the sound when it is poured, smelling the grains etc.

C/V/C “a”words(prep), blends and sight words were revised using PPT’s. This was done during the break out room so that more of individual attention could be given to the children.

SHAPES - SEMI CIRCLE (FOR PREP), RECTANGLE (FOR KG)Shapes were introduced in KG and Prep. Rectangle and Semi circle respectively, through videos and objects. KG children were given an activity to “show and tell” rectangular objects and Prep had a hands on activity to cut a circle and then make a semi-circle by folding it into half - which showed them that a circle is made of two semi-circles and it has a curved side and a straight side.

To revise and reinforce facts about our country, Trivia and quiz on India was done.

EXPLORE INDIA : RAJASTHAN !Children were taken on a virtual tour of Rajasthan. Teachers further reinforced the traditional attire of the state by dressing up like Rajasthanis.

UNIFORM DAY & WHITE COLOR INTRODUCED IN KG Children dressed up in their uniforms to understand the concept same and different. They were introduced to the color white through videos, PPT’s and objects. They were asked to hunt for something white in color and show and talk about it.

KG introduced the topic Three Meals of the day-with a PPT and then the children were asked to talk about their favorite meal.

HEALTHY FOOD AND JUNK FOODKG made salad so as to stress on the importance of healthy eating. KG also had a dress up day, where kids dressed up as their favorite vegetables.

ONAMKG and Prep were introduced to the story of Onam and also the culture, traditions and different art forms of Kerala.

A Kalari instructor showed some basic moves to the children of Prep and introduced instruments like Kadhara and Gadha.

ARTPulikali mask and flower carpet( finger print art ) were done.

BOOT CAMP BY HOB SPACEThree days of science and music was what the boot camp focused on. Children not only enjoyed the music but learnt that music can make them laugh relax and think. Mr. K (Kevin Shah) played his ukulele and enthralled the children just like a pied piper.

The second day of the boot camp students has a lot of fun by making a water wheel and learning the science behind it. It really made the children believe that “science is awesome” indeed, just like the mentor Kushal said.

The third day of the bootcamp was fun with bubbles. Children learnt the science behind bubble making and were thrilled to make their own.

UPCOMING EVENTSSeptember 7 - School reopens after Onam, Teacher’s Day celebration.

September 11 - Story time with Granny.September 25 - Colour day Red.

September 29 - Talent Time Dance.

ONAM CELEBRATIONBeing online didn’t affect our Onam celebrations this year. We had as much fun in our online Onam celebrations, as always. Children and parents actively participated in the Onam festivities. Mahabali visited the children through Zoom. There were little presenters, who hosted the show and spoke about Onam. We also had junior chefs who prepared Onam cuisine, little nightingales who sang the Onam song beautifully and artists who adorned their homes with beautiful pookalams, cute little tigers who played pulikalli and strong ones who did the tug-of-war and rowed the vallam kali boat. To top it all the teachers had a surprise online Sadhya prepared too. All of this added to the spirit of oneness of the Choice team.