Wednesday, April 23, 2008

World Book Day

William Shakespeare who was baptised on 26th April is believed to have been born on 23rd April 1564. His works include 37 plays, including comedy, Tragedy and Historical alongwith Poems, sonnets. A brief listing exposes his imaginative style of writing, rich in language literature and imagination. This is the day when all over the countries, "World Book Day" is celebrated. (Also Copyright Day) A lot is said on Shakespeare on the web but here is Kidsfreesouls Literature page that you may look forward for more updates. Also, I enjoy reading Shakespeare Sonnet a Day and am sure, you will like to get the same in your mail box.

I have a couple of Shakespeare books but the most easier for children and a must in Library shelf are Cherrytree books "Shakespeare for Everyone" by Jennifer Mulherin and Illustrations by George Thompson (As You Like It (Shakespeare for Everyone Series)). If Shakespeare plays are performed in the classroom, children understand the story and its character. These books describe the play's characters, story along with illustrated pictures and supportive maps and explanations.

I got all the Shakespeare easy to read quotes for children in the library. Also, kids refer the Quotations books and write down quotes in their scrap books. We have a number of books for quotes but if you need to buy a copy for reference read, I recommend Oxford Reference - The concise Oxford Dictionary of Quotations with over 9000 quotations from nearly 2000 authors. The best is the keyword index to trace quotations and their authors. You will find 30 pages of Shakespeare quotes in this book.

Encourage kids for reading and writing. It is important for a child to read to better understand writing on topics and also computing. This World Book Day, Spread the message of 'Reading' and join Swagat Children Library World reader's club. Send your book reviews anywhere you are in the world. Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel
Editor, Kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for kids with resources for parents and teachers

Monday, April 21, 2008

365 days Earth Day@Kidsfreesouls

Earth Day - 22nd April and Here's All 365 Days Earth Day on Kidsfreesouls.com with the Environment Talk - Issues and concerns. Find the 10 Personal actions that make bring about a difference to save Environment. You may draw and color Earth with your own ideas and list down all that you can do to save environment. Maybe, grow some plants or explore nature. Also find Environment pages in Spanish - However, this needs more posts and you can look ahead for updates as I keep posting here.

Here's the Power Game - the Official Game of Earth Day 2008 as also the Green Apple Festival which got celebrated in 8 cities in US with Art, music and educational Programs. Here's Earth Day - The countdown begins calling all to attend the events and Call for Climate.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, Kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers

Stupid Kid!

What a FRUSTRATION!!! Here is an interesting Teacher's post. A child is venting his anger - written a hate note for his Teacher and sorting for ways on How to Punish a Teacher. Ridiculous? Not really. This new generation do have their own way of yelling with innocence, nevertheless, a message so clear that if Teachers punish children, even kids can punish them and How, their imaginative ways.

How often, we come across children who write d instead of b and vice versa. They even write _uck instead of duck as you can see here clearly on 'Your Kid is Stupid'.

Well, here's the Counselling column with an concerned question of Manisha and we've the advice coming from Kirandeep who has immense tips to offer her. Manisha's son seems to be making the same mistake of d~b and would even forget inspite of learning several times.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, Kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers

Friday, April 18, 2008

Twitter, twitter n twittering.....

Twitter, Twitter, Twitter...and I think, it could be something like chatter, chatter and chirp...! Some months ago, when I took this account of Twitter, I said to myself, "Why should someone possibly want to tell the world what you are doing?" However, yesterday I came across this account of mine once again and amazing, I find it too mysterious and drawing my attention. A lot of changes but too simple to manage and Twitter Twitter...simple and sweet to let the world know what you are up to! You can now Follow me from this blog (check my Twitter on right side bar) as Kidsfreesouls is now connecting to people, wherever they may be. You can follow to my Twitter at www.twitter.com/kidsfreesouls for random updates and musings. So, see you on the 140 Character web and share my Twitters, follow, leave, join, say, comment, ask, whatever...whatever!

- ilaxi patel
Editor, Kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers
Author of Guardian of Angels

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Crossword Puzzle Day & Humour Advertising Slogan Generator

April 18 is Crosswords Puzzle Day. Here's the Crosswords section at Kidsfreesouls with Wordsearch pages getting updated with new additions from time to time. Here are new puzzles added to the Word Search Index page.

Crossword puzzles are said to be the most popular and widespread word game in the world. The first crosswords appeared in England during the 19th century. The first known published crossword puzzle was created by a journalist named Arthur Wynne from Liverpool. He is credited as the inventor of the popular word game. It appeared in a Sunday newspaper, the New York World on December 21, 1913, Wynne's puzzle differed from today's crosswords It was diamond shaped and contained no internal black squares. During the early 1920's other newspapers picked up the newly discovered pastime and within a decade crossword puzzles were featured in almost all American newspapers. It was in this period crosswords began to assume their familiar form. Ten years after its rebirth in the States it crossed the Atlantic and re-conquered Europe. Read here more on this with the 1st Crossword Puzzle for you to solve.
Well, kids can explore creativity during vacations and here's the Word Search Index pages on Kidsfreesouls with Crosswords section along with and amazing worksheets at Fairyland to time pass + Fun Learn at leisure. Enjoy!

Btw, Humorous Day is set for April 19. Till I update my Laugh Aloud pages, here's Random Laughter Generator Toy and it sure do generate Humorous Advertising Slogan Generator. I tried mine as you can find on Kidsfreesouls and had a lot many options to choose the title slogan. You can try out here for your product. Enjoy.
- ilaxi patel
Editor, Kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Adsense secrets by Joel

Writer's Block? So happens, Content creation is a critical part and daily blogging your way, gets you into Writer's Block! You tend to pose a big question, "What do I write today?" Happens to everyone but than you always have ways to write something, everyday. It's only words and words to sledgehammer your way through the barricade of writer's block and maybe you find, this is the best ever post you did - for all the posts you write or at least, some of them.

Anyways, we have way to go, once we decide to blog. And so many topics. Yet, writer's block hits every blogger quite often.

I was going to write something Interesting today but didn't know what and so here's for you to Check out Joel's video ( In You Tube on Kidsfreesouls) which inspires me to go ahead - BLOGGING way out on the web. Like Joel says, a Writer's Block can be a nightmare sometimes for some people. His tips are cool and as always, Joel "Rocks". If you want to be a next Internet Millionaire, Joel do show you the way with great marketing tips at Joel's Internet Marketing Tips. You can go for the Secret Classroom to learn more on ways to Marketing especially 'Adsense Secrets' - Joel's 4th Edition of Google Adsense Secrets which is ready for download on 16th April. A definite guide to passive Income, Joel's book will cover everything from Adsense optimization to case studies, ad tracking and monetize your site.

Let me be frank, the first time Joel's first book 'Adsense Secrets' costed $77, later the 2nd and 3rd costed $97 and all I did was to follow all the tips Joel gave 'Free' :-) And here me, imagine if one buys the book, you sure get closer to be a Millionaire, for sure. We define the rules of our own earnings but sometimes, it's a casual Blogging way on web - just out of Love for children. Who cares for $$ - But, if you are really a Tech person and an SEO, here's your chance Blogging Google Adsense and Affiliate marketing through all Joel's tips - Countdown begins for you for the 4th Edition download of Joel's Book. Cheers and all the best....Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel
Editor, Kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers
Author of Guardian of Angels

Monday, April 14, 2008

Sinking of the Titanic

Yesterday, I was watching a late night Movie 'Titanic.' The sinking of Titanic was the worst maritime disasters in history. This British luxury liner 'Titanic' of the White Star Line, struck an iceberg about 153 km south of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland just before midnight at 11.40 p.m. on April 14, 1912 and the sinking of the ship continued in the early hours of April 15, 1912 in the ice cold waters of North Atlantic. Titanic Disaster occured on the linear’s first voyage from Liverpool to New York city. Of the more than 2220 persons aboard, about 1513 died including the American millionaires John Jacob Astor, Benjamin Guggenheim, and Isidor Straus. The ship weighed 46,000 gross tons. It measured 269 metres in length. The ship had been proclaimed unsinkable because of its 16 watertight compartments, but the iceberg punctured five of them, one more than had been considered possible in any accident, and the Titanic sank in less than three hours. The ocean linear Carpathia responded to the distress calls of Titanic arrived two hours later after it had sunk.

Most of us have seen the movie but do you know, it was American built Alvin that can carry Oceanographers as deep as 3600 m (12000 ft). It is equipped with underwater lights, cameras, a television system and a mechanical manipulator to collect bottom samples. This was used in 1986 and took pictures of Titanic. Robert Submersible which go deep as 20000 ft. used for underwater exploration such as "Argo" was used in 1985 to locate the wreck of Titanic and a smaller Robot called "Jason" was used to explore the wreck.

Well, another sinking of the German Battle ship 'Bismark' was during World War II and it was first the Reuters reported news from Britain that the ship was sunk. You can find details of this warship here on wiki.

Btw, We all know, Leonardo Da Vinci began working in 1495 over the Last Supper painting. He finished The Last Supper in 1498 with all the controversies hovered around who was sitting next to Jesus. The Book "Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown reflects his research on the Code of Leonardo. Here is Leonardo Da Vinci's Profile as he was born on 14th April. Kids can add the profile in their Literature collection.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, Kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers

Amar Chitra Katha & Tinkle Resources

The Bhagwad Purana religious text of Hindus, continues the fascinating tales of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. Ramnavmi is being celebrated on 14th April (9th day of Chaitra Sud as per Hindu calendar), the birth of Rama to King Dashratha and Kaushalya.

For kids, Here's an excellent series of Amar Chitra Katha, the illustrated classics of India with books on Rama & Ramayana. Their Mythology series, Folk tales and legends, etc are very interesting reads in the form of comics based illustrated classics connecting Indian children with cultural roots. Uncle Anant Pai, the founder of these Amar Chitra Katha classics is the soul behind Amar Chitra Katha classics and Ed of Tinkle (India Book House), a highly read mag for kids with over 65,000 copies circulation per month.

Tinkle has launched new website online - Tinkleonline is a child-friendly version of Orkut and it will allow kids to make friends, but all messages will be monitored. Safe environment, Indian culture and loads of fun filled activities. Children can earn points by writing stories, solving puzzles and participating in quizzes, which can then be used to buy books, toys and posters. Kids also get to make friends with their favourite characters like Suppandi, the village simpleton, and Shikari Shambhu.

Well, first Saturday in May, we have an "Exclusive Archie & Comics day" announced at our library - Free for all kids below 15. Last year too, we had an Archie Day - kids enjoy reading Archie comics - single and double digest of Archie, Betty, Jughead & Veronica. Also, they read Amar Chitra Katha books and narrate stories. We also have Stories with Grammar sessions. Online kids can visit Fairyland and send their book reviews to kidsfreesouls. Kids can even join the Swagat Children Library sessions for summer and Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel
Editor, Kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers
Sphere: Related Content

Friday, April 11, 2008

Whisper Poetry-Arts to hearts

Whisper Poetry Club - "In bringing arts to our hearts." Stan Almendro, the founder of Whisper Poetry says in their April Newsletter, "A day needs to come where every preacher repents before God & apologizes to the people for their lack of spirit & spirituality. When this happens the people will again begin to enter the House of God & in AWE acknowledge that God is in this place." Not every Christian, every human being need to stand to rise and fight against an evilness - above all come to realize the importance of your personal relationship with God - be it a church or a temple or Mosque "Faith is discipline and trusting in tomorrow and dreaming God's dream."

Well, Whisper from the Heart Poetry Club has, since its’ inception three years ago, supported thousands of students in Africa & in particular South Africa. Whether you are a poet; music lover; an ardent reader; writer; artist; photographer or art - Whisper Poetry encourages the Artistic flair. The site conducts various competitions for which, the closing date for Short Story & Art competition is the 30th June 2008.The Photography competition closes on the 21st of each month & monthly prizes will be awarded. The entry fee for the Photography is free of charge. Also, a number of Books, CDs are available on their site and introduces to famous artists with a variety of themes worldwide. It offers African experience with the African Tours and Safari.

Whisper Poetry publishes four books per year and gives away free prizes - all through the Donations they receive through the website and sponsored ads. If you think, you can support the mission and would like to help many students around, here's you chance to do a kind act. Click here to Donate.

Btw, April is the National Poetry Month and here's Poetry pages with lots to learn with the upcoming Poetry Comprehension - Watch there soon in Grammar fun pages too. Enjoy.

- Ilaxi Patel
Editor, Kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Kids eating habits and Obesity

Parents offer the choicest dishes to children especially serving the food that is appealing and not preferably nutritious. It so happens that over busy schedules and exhaustion ends up to stereo-type cooking to serve anything in quick cooking style. Moreover, children often tend to get food in front of television, while playing video game or while playing outdoors. As a result, the attitude goes in for binge eating - A compulsive overeating habit which is almost followed by kids and teenagers, who eat large amount of food and don't stop even after full. There's where you become a food addict and become obese. Moreover, this makes a person feel helpless, hopeless and get those pangs of depression.

Hunger pangs and it's always asking for more. Here's my note on Statesman Blog on this. Btw, here's a newly added Newsweek Health News widget and you can know more on the Worst kids Habits. Gandhiji words refer, 'You are what you eat' - However, here's to say, 'You are where you eat.' So very true. When children are served while watching a television or computer, the brain can be too distracted to know when the stomach is full.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids under age 2 have no screen time, and that kids older than 2 watch no more than 1 to 2 hours a day of TV. A study published last month in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that cutting kids' TV and computer time by half reduced the amount of food they ate and helped them lose weight. Even, omit the junk food from the plate. Stop the prepackaged meals that is available at malls which come as convenient cooking and stop storing the fatty snacks in the cupboard which are tempting. We can stop obesity spreading it's claws around us and our kids by getting aware of ways to curb the pangs of hunger.

Children need to have a role model and no other than parents can be - They are the best role models so that children follow their message. Practice what you preach and kids follow the steps.

Keep the Faith!

- ilaxi patel
Editor Online, kidsfreesouls.com
Subscribe Ed Posts to read in a reader

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

World Health Day

World Health Day (7th April) - Protecting Health from Climate Change - The WHO focuses on the need to protect health from the adverse effects of climate change. WHO selected this theme in recognition that climate change is posing ever growing threats to global public health security.We all are witnessing the global changes. It is learnt that the warming of the planet will be gradual, but the effects of extreme weather events - more storms, floods, droughts and heat waves - will be abrupt and acutely felt. Both trends can affect some of the most fundamental determinants of health: air, water, food, shelter and freedom from disease.

Millions of people are killed due to various reasons. One is diseases. They include malnutrition, which causes over 3.5 million deaths per year, diarrhoeal diseases, which kill over 1.8 million, and malaria, which kills almost 1 million as reported in the Press Release of WHO. Warmer temperatures have more favorable conditions for Mosquito population and transmission of Malaria. India is among the Asian countries with warmer weather to face the Malaria, cholera and other mosquito-water borne diseases. Here's the 10 Facts and Climate Changes on Health. WHO also celebrates the 60 Years - Activities for Health and Future.

Well, whenever comes a special day, we find the Govt Ad and this time, it's National Rural Health Mission which rededicates itself to taking accessible and affordable Health care to the remotest and marginalised household in India. The Ministry of Health and Family welfare website focus on Health Related Activities and National Health Programs has information on the Malaria and Dengue diseases. Time to check on Health Issues with scorching summer heat ahead and concerns.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, Kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Robert Peary: Dare to Dream



Robert Peary realized his dream of reaching the North Pole on 7th April 1909. As a child, he use to go for long expeditions and when young, went for hikes for 25 miles every week. When he made his first attempt to reach North Pole, he faced darkness and minus Fahrenheit temperatures upto 63 degrees. He learnt how to build igloo, drive dog sled and keep warm with animal clothings. With several more attempts, in his eighth attempt, Robert Peary raised finance and saw his dream come true. However, a Fredrick Cook claimed that he had reached before Peary. Here's the NYT article 'In Triumph or not, In Cook they Trust' . The press demanded both the men provided evidence but Peary had stronger financial backers and he won the battle.

On web, there are battle for Polar fame. Robert Bryce, in his 1997 book, “Cook & Peary: The Polar Controversy Resolved,” presents evidence that Cook was inept at taking astronomical readings and that those he submitted were fabricated by a sea captain in his pay. Mr. Bryce wrote that “Cook was one of the greatest observers of the Arctic,” but that he did not discover the North Pole.

Well, Whatever! It is quoted, 'If you dare to dream, you can do it.' And it always happens, When you do it, you are always facing some or the other controversy! Lessons learnt are the best experiences in life. And here's on How to create a Genius in your Child (an article from Guardian of Angels). “Weave ‘Emotional Literacy’ into the fabric of daily life in you and the kid and take the flight steps to E-IQ with the added SQ.

- Ilaxi Patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers

April Calendar, Project Ideas and Hans C Anderson

Find the April Calendar here for print as well as the Project Ideas for April. In US, National Poetry Month is more 'Learning Poetry, Writing Poetry' - How to Write a Poetry session can be taken in classrooms.

Btw, Hans Christian Anderson was born on April 2, 1805, a shoe-maker's son who became Denmark's famous author. Anderson wrote around 350 stories. Even after his death Hans Christian Anderson is still remembered today. Hans Anderson died on August 4, 1875. Denmark's people always celebrate his birthday with a party called "Odin Story Day". The Anderson home in Odense is now a museum, and thousand of people visit it every year. Anderson's stories are too popular and with a touch of humor as well as kind feeling for the poor, his own childhood experiences reflects in his tales.

Hans stories are 'Classic of the classics' coz the beautiful stories lets your imagination go surfing on 'cloud nine' and these tales conveys moralistic message. The Princess and the Pea is my fav' story and so is the 'Emperor's clothes' - Totally, an amazing fairy tales of Hans Anderson that grips you delightfully reading even as an adult.

In the Pacific Story Section, you can read a few online stories of Hans Anderson. Review of Hans Anderson book can be found on my Amazon Review pages. And here's Fairy land pages - with more Stories coming soon.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers