Global Warming!

Though the Bush administration has been slow to even admit that global warming is a serious issue, and has rejected the terms of the Kyoto Protocol (an international agreement calling on developed nations to curb greenhouse gas emissions), more than 30 U.S. states have passed legislation and/or formed regional coalitions on their own to promote energy efficiency and reduce the emissions that cause global warming.

Climate change and sea level rise present complex environment security risk all over the world. At this issue, India and China will be hit especially hard by climate change, and there is a possibility of a reversal of decades of human development across the Asia, a powerful coalition of aid and green groups has warned.

Measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is the need of the hour. Environment experts believe that people take in Climate changes as an abstract long term environment problem rather than an urgent threat. Also, the initiatives are taken but not part of a bigger movement. There is a lack of awareness on action or drive to be taken to make individual difference. Here's a site that shows what action we can take. A conference was held in Nederlands in February 2007 when our very own CEE Director, Kartikeya Sarabhai attended. (You got to use the Google Translate in case you find it hard to read!) Also, the Fourth International Conference on Environmental Education is held in Ahmedabad from 26th-28th November for a sustainable future. You can find the details on the CEE website. As such, all the Hotel rooms are packed over here, it seems!

Here's the update on Environment pages Q & A - Do send in your concerns, if any.

Well, today's the sixth day and Diwali celebrations are almost over for now. Here's the Diwali info in case you wish to read on this. However, we have 'Dev Diwali' yet to come our away in a few more days!

- ilaxi patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers
Author of : Guardian of Angels

Children's Day in India

Children's Day in India - 14th Nov and Chaha Nehru's Birth Anniversary.
Here's the profile of Chacha Nehru. You can find a book link and a chapter of the Book 'Nehru-The Making of India' by M J Akbar for whom, I blog as the Official Blogger on the web! He has indepth details on Nehru Biography and has even been the Spokesman for Rajiv Gandhi for some time during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure.


Nehru The Making of India By M J Akbar
Chapter from the Book




Btw, as Educators and psychologists, we often have the fear that students with Bad Behavior problems often end up lagging behind with lower grades in the classroom. However, a new research just reveals the result findings that this is not the case and such behavior do not correlate with academic results.

The findings says, Kindergartners who interrupted the teacher, defied instructions and even picked fights were performing as well in reading and math as well-behaved children of the same abilities when they both reached fifth grade. Moreover, 3-5 percent of school age children are found to be having the A.D.H.D. disorders and are affected due to brain deficit or delay in development.

You will find the NYT article here on this - a Kidsfreesouls link on Children's Day. I do come across children who are affected with the A.D.H.D. Syndrome and this link may be useful to some.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/
Newspaper for children with resources for parents and teachers
Author of Guardian of Angels

Book Week

November 12-18 is Book Week. Kidsfreesouls has it's own unique Book Week sessions in November too. The difference is that children get to read more stories and narrate them. Later, they write the Book reviews. Since 1991, all kids who entered my Library have submitted their book reviews. There's always good competition among children while reading and submitting reviews as to who read and wrote the most books and reviews.

However, many younger children like to listen to a stories. Stories like Hansel and Gretel, Red Riding Hood, etc. that influence the child and they learn the Moral Values . Read the stories aloud to kids and also find the trouble shooting areas on their reading habits. Teachers/Parents may follow the Guidelines and use these stories for 'Project work' - Make them read, write reviews, know the moral and find what part they like best and why. Once a week, 52 times and you have a child reading at least 50 stories and writing 25 book reviews. Gradually, children develop interest in reading and writing.

Get to Swagat Children Library Page for further Book Reviews Hall of Fame List and members. Supportive to reading, conduct various activities mentioned therein.

You can find the Projects page here for November month projects on Reading and writing stories - In case you are a teacher or a parent and missed on this section. Enjoy!

Keep the faith!

ilaxi patel
Editor, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/
Newspaper for children with Resources for Parents and Teachers
Author of : Guardian of Angels

Green Collar Economy

It's been Happy Days away from the web - yesterday as the Diwali Day and today the New Year - A complete sparkling celebrations going on amidst bursting crackers & dazzling lights, glowing candles and socializing! However, here's a brief update on the New Green Collar Economy. "Can the sustainable jobs save the American Middle Class? "

The E-magazine quotes, "With rising costs, outsourced jobs and a struggling economy, the American middle class is feeling the squeeze. But new green opportunities across every business sector may provide the well-paying manufacturing, management and entrepreneurial opportunities needed to bring security to American workers. E Magazine looks at the possibilities for this new “green collar” economy. Click here more to read this.

Btw, I am sure you must got to read the Breaking news at the Nasa_space page on kidsfreesouls. If you wish for worksheets and educative resources for Science in classrooms, there's a lot of info on this page and you will find the resources much more informative and helpful as much as I do.

Have a nice time as I enjoy a nice freaking out and having fun socializing this five days of Diwali. Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for kids with resources for parents and teachers
Author of : Guardian of Angels

Happy Diwali & Sunita Williams with Kidsfreesouls kids

Wishing all who pass this way...

" A HAPPY DIWALI & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR "

May your each day glow with Happiness and be bright with the colors of Joy!

There are magical moments in life and where there is love, there is peace! Here's the Diwali page on kidsfreesouls with all the info. Enjoy!

Btw, Sunita Williams was interviewed by Kidsfreesouls Kids Reporters. Here's their pics on the Kidsfreesouls main and click for the Nasa_space.htm page here. Do encourage the children with your comments on their blogs.

- ilaxi patel

Editor, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers

Author of Guardian of Angels

Jackie Chan rocks

I was just watching VH1 and it's wow, Jackie Chan rocks! Yeah, I couldn't believe, the guy who kicks is all to rock with his singing in Hongkong last July! The worst part was he was drunk and disrupted the concert and the Hongkong audience just shove him off 'Go Jackie, out n over'. Well, Jackie sings and it's cool. You can check out his videos on kidsfreesouls.com.

29th October had been the World Internet Day and I guess most of you must be prowling on the web to scoop information. And here, for me it was a pleasure speaking on Internet at a meeting on this day! Here's more on Tech Tree and also on old article on Dot com page here. Btw, Is Computing Safe for kids? Or Learn and Teach with times? You DECIDE!

Well, come Halloween Day on 31st and it's always, Mystyfying myths remain mysterious even though ultimate truths could be discovered using the human mind alone. Science has yet to reveal what caused them. Satanism, Blackmagic, tell tale, mythology and all, lead to beliefs of evil omens to exist on earth as Ghosts or demons or witches. It takes a fraction of a second to hear the sound ‘AUM’ at such times of spirit scare and take a walk outside the mind, moving from head to heart. We are all hung up in the head. One solution is get down from the head to the heart. Mysteries remain but problems disappear and evaporate leaving the trails of mysteries behind. Read More Here on Halloween Day . Also on All Saints Day and All Souls Day falling on 1st & 2nd November.

You can copy the widget to place on your site from the Halloween Day or get to Face Book and add my Developer Applications. Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with resources for parents and teachers
Author of Guardian of Angels

English Grammar

Here's Kidsfreesouls Online Grammar Resource Page. Btw, I have added Online English Grammar and Reference Web - Syndicated to English4Today with contents for ready reference and download Free English Guides.

I hope the Grammar Fun section is useful to many parents and teachers as well. Do check this for additions from time to time. I get many a phone calls asking for my Stories with Grammar and Comprehension in a Book form like my book 'Guardian of Angels'. However, this is a slow but steady updates I make here in this section. So, keep checking in -all those who are interested.

I am sure, the English Grammar Section will be useful to even parents and teachers as the updates keep regular with the syndication with English4Today.

Btw, with Halloween on 31st October, here's the Word Search on Halloween for print. Enjoy!

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

Spare the Rod...

Once, we had a debate in our class - "Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child" OR "Pick up the Ruler, Improve the Child" Some children were prompt to respond as you will find their answers here along with the article on 'Spanking'.

I think, loving parents demonstrate more values and are considerate in their disciplined upbringing. They do not control their kids nor allow the kids to take control over their feelings. They do not violate their kids by spanking – hitting them physically or abusing them with harsh words. Instead, they set limits to unacceptable behavior. So should the teachers too follow the simple 'Spare the rod, do not pick up the Ruler' but yet, sort for disciplined children.

Every child need the vital ingredients of self esteem:

Physical safety-freedom from physical harm.
Emotional security-no pressure and fear
Affiliation-sense of belonging and being wanted
Competence-capabilities
Purpose-feeling of some meaning in life and looking for direction

Problems need to be defined so as to avoid spanking. They can be ranging from School and learning problems, behavior problems or social problems. It is the role of a parent to make the children feel physically safe. If they have a feeling of safety, they would learn to be open and trust others. They will maintain an eye contact and display confidence. Here's further on to this read on 'Spanking' as the news goes around 'Deathly Punishment' in Kidsfreesouls News section.

Are adults more responsible for Discipling children? Should they be spanked? You decide and let me know what you think.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers
Author of Guardian of Angels - Read on 'Spanking' in this Book!

California burning....

California recently faced a major disaster. The news came in to my desk too sharp for me to notice the wildfires forcing 500,000 people to evacuate homes with over a 1300 homes destroyed and over an excess of $ one billion losses incurred. 15 fires blazed across on the fifth day when fire fighters said cooler temperatures and weaker winds allowed them to win a measure of control for the first time and that the worst was behind them.

As reported, Santa Ana fire was ignited due to machinery operated near dry brush, campfires or carelessly tossed cigarettes - a price which people have to pay for their own actions. You can find the five facts about California Wild fires over here on the Reuters website.

Even the world's oceans appear to be soaking up less carbon dioxide, new environmental research has shown, a development that could speed up global warming. Read more on this here.

Btw, I was real worried for my Bro, Uncle and friends who stay in California but it's a relief to know that the worst has not touched those areas. This is the time, when we realize the human values esp. some one who is close and I really feel bad for all those who were affected by the fire...it's a miserable state nevertheless. God Bless. Here's on California Fire Survivors with Gratitude.

Many of us took part on Blog Action Day and we realize how important it is for us to put our concerns to action with the Global warming. And here's Earth Talk Q & A related to Environment. Keep checking in for updates every week! Even on the Spanish Blog.

It is said, God made the heavens on earth but it is humans who made it a disaster!

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

Author of Guardian of Angels

State of Fear

Author Michael Crichton's Birthday was on 23rd Oct. Best known for Jurassic Park and State of Fear. Jurassic Park has ever been the all time favorites but State of Fear - call it a techno thriller with an alarm note on Global warming. A student of Harvard medical student, Michael Crichton wrote ER, the popular TV medical drama based on his experiences in the emergency room. People's magazine listed him in 50 people list as most Handsome person. In "State of Fear," environmental groups set off terrorist acts to focus attention on global warming. He thinks, researchers who study global warming often exaggerate the problem in order to get grants, often using celebrities to promote their cause. Quite Obvious!

People from all walks of life can play a role in slowing global warming by advocating for smarter government policies, better corporate practices, and informed consumer choices. This reminds me to mention on 'The Blog Action Day' marked for 15th October 2007 had a wonderful response with over 20,603 Blog Participation, 23,327 Blog Posts and over 14,631,038 RSS Readers. And here, Bloggers who united spread the message of Actions to be taken to save environment. Green allowed Al Gore to win the Nobel Prize. Celebrity Stars shine out to support the cause. However, this has been the Internet Power to speak for a cause. Only remains to see who follows the actions! Well, Here's the five year long Earth Talk on Kidsfreesouls.com in English and Spanish - If you have any question to ask, just send across.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Author of : Guardian of Angels

Carry on, Jeeves

P G Wodehouse was born on 15th October 1881 in Guildford, Surrey. Here's the Profile on the Literature pages and I am sure, you will like to read more in this section as I keep updating on this.

The first time I came across PGW, it was just at a local store - too many in the series and I casually picked up to find me with amusing reads. Yeah, I am talking of P G Wodehouse who is best known for his Jeeves and Wooster stories. He became a leading humorist with the characters of Bertie Wooster and his manservant Jeeves in the volume :The Man With Two Left Feet (1917), The Inimitable Jeeves (1923),Carry On, Jeeves (1925) - With a more than 90 widely read books and BBC TV series highly entertaining, this is the best book links you find on Kidsfreesouls.com.

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

Adventure Rock by BBC

Children in cyber world creating imaginary places and spaces with their fondest activities is no new now with the already popular Club Penquin, Disney, spozgirl, Barbie and many more. However, with leisure time shifting more on virtual world, BBC has launched a Beta version of a new game for ten thousand children who will be sending their comments to the CBBC Message boards. Known as Adventure Rock, the kids are free to register, explore, create, interact and innovate - creating content like music, dance, drawing and animation. Set in a 3 D virtual landscape, children can express themselves and play games in a free cyber world. You can find the story of the Adventure Rock here. Further to this, a Conference for Virtual World for Children is set for May 2008 and the research findings will be focused thereby.

The KOL - Kids aol is yet another great site for children to explore. The so colorful place with loads of activities with even Homework help is so welcoming on cyber space. Well, you can find some great links for 'Games for kids' in Google space here on WEB. Btw, do you think kids exploring on the web is so safe? It needs parental guidance and safe surfing on web. Here are two sites for safety that might interest you - Online Guard and Web Safety for kids.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/
Newspaper for kids with resources for parents and teachers

Thoughts rule the world!

Navratri - today is the 6th day of the Festival of nine nights of dancing and it's ever the happy celebrations beginning tomorrow. Faith rules and people are merry dancing for nine nights followed by tenth as Dussera and later up to Full moon.

Osho said “Every emotion arising in you is a great opportunity. Master the mind. It is a state of consciousness when the outer world is reflected in . Mind is nothing but the process of thinking, the traffic of thought” Thoughts rule the world and it is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.

Thus, goes the meaning of Navratri - overcome the obstacles that finds roots in life and know the divine self. Greed, temptation, gossip, bickering, self centeredness and any evil disguises are to be overcome otherwise it is the end like Mahishasura, the demon. The goddess reflects the noble intentions and kind deeds, determination to end exploitation and stand by the righteousness. Find here on 'Why Navratri' - Enjoy!

Btw, did I mention earlier? October has been named "National Sarcastics Awareness Month" in an attempt to help everyone understand both the positive and the negative effects of sarcasm. Here is my article 'Tame the Temper' - Sarcasm?Criticism?Rejection? To control anger is not an easy task but to melt down is certainly a positive signal to defuse a conflict and avoid the sarcastic remarks and think Positive! Here's on Tolerance. Send me your views as to how will you react when you face a blow of 'Sarcastic' remark and what you will do to defuse Anger.

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

Go Green

It's Earth Day - 365 days!

'Wanted! Seas & Oceans-Dead or Alive?' Campaign in wake of World Environment Day earlier by Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt of India, actively spread awareness on the use of Plastics. Plastic waste kills more than 20 Lac birds, one lac sea mammals and countless fish each year. More sea creatures are killed by plastic decompose but the plastic remains there killing again and again. The Plastic should be almost banned or its use reduced. It should be reused and recylced to generate minimum plastic waste.

Even for a day, Go green and follow the Go Green steps - children are our future. A good place to start is with curbing consumption. How many Beanie Babies, Barbies and IPODs will be in landfills 10 years from now?

Find more concerns, ideas and links to curb pollution, save environemnt - save mankind on environment pages here. If not all, at least one action a day to save environment makes a difference.

- ilaxi patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for kids with resources for parents and teachers
Author of : Guardian of Angels

Environment concerns

Since more than five years, Kidsfreesouls.com is associated with E-magazine column 'Earth Talk' - the Q & A column by Editor Doug Moss. So many concerns and issues related to environment that we need to reframe our life, back to basics if we really want to sustain life. However, life is ever on a faster trail with a no reverse gear but we can make a difference by creating awareness around us.

When I started blogging the Q & A column on Kidsfreesouls, every week has been topics of concerns from readers. Find the Concerns here and Just think for a while! What should be/can be done - what are the alternate ways - how to curb the problems...n more...Know the answers and spread awareness too. Maybe, while creating awareness, we even end up taking measures and find some solutions too.

Some concerned issues:

The Compact discs (CDs) and digital videodiscs (DVDs) have become the de facto standards for media storage and playback for millions of consumers and businesses around the world. But these very discs are made of metal, plastic and dye is taking a serious toll on the waste stream. According to the Worldwatch Institute, more than 45 tons of used CDs are discarded globally every month. Ironically, CDs and DVDs are made from recyclable materials, yet the vast majority ends up in landfills or incinerators anyway.

Paper usage is at an all-time high around the world, and the average office worker prints and copies through some 10,000 pages every year. Hopes that the advent of electronic communications would drastically cut paper consumption have not panned out thus far, but individuals can still do their part by replacing printed communications with electronic ones whenever possible. Find some tips here. Office Paper Reduction Quick Tips, California Integrated Waste Management Board

According to a report by the international environmental organization Greenpeace, the ecological damage from the 1990s Gulf War was “unprecedented.” More than two-dozen chemical, biological and possibly nuclear facilities were destroyed or badly damaged, dispersing airborne toxins over hundreds of surrounding miles. Bombing and troop movements ruined hundreds of square miles of fragile desert surface, while land mines killed and maimed not only humans but also many thousands of wild animals. Humans could suffer for decades to come from the effects of the use of weapons containing depleted uranium. Depleted uranium (DU) is a waste product of uranium enrichment for the production of nuclear fuel and weapons. An International Commission to Ban Uranium Weapons was formed in 2003 to try to convince military leaders to stop using DU.

Find more Q & A in English and Spanish on Kidsfreesouls - Raise your Voice and join the Force Action with the Unite Bloggers Initiative. Kidsfreesouls Support the Blog Action Day and the mission to Save Environment. Get Involved, write your thoughts on Environment and Register your Blog at:

Blog Action Day : On 15th October 2007, Bloggers around the web will unite to put a single important issue on everyone’s mind - Environment. Get Involved & Register your Blog. Make a Difference!

- ilaxi patel
Editor, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/

Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers

Author of: Guardian of Angels

Stamp Collecting Month & Letter writing

Colorful world of Stamps and as a hobby collecting them is great fun and exchanging with friends. October is the month for the World Post Day. Celebrated on 9th October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union in 1874 in the Swiss Capital, Bern, it was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations. The Posts in many countries use the event to introduce or promote new postal products and services. A World Post Day message from the Director General of the Universal Postal Union is sent each year to all Posts.

The Gujarat Postal Circle had organised a State level philately exhibition and quiz for different schools in Ahmedabad from October 6-8. Students of VIII-X standard from North Gujarat, Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar participated in the regional level competition at Philatelic Bureau, Ahmedabad GPO. The qualifying candidates then participate in the State Level Contest.
Stamp Collecting is a great hobby - it combines learning of geography, travel, history and even admiring people and fond cartoon characters. Philately is an all time favorite hobby also one of the channels for education - The World Post Day can revive the fading Letter writing to epals. Most of us have stopped using a writing instrument with the new tech gadgets.Here's the Google search above where you can find a host of Indian stamps on the WEB . Find the Project of the Month 'Stamps' and an activity with whole month collecting stamps and writing letters to friends.

Btw, here's seven mini stamps featuring the brilliant jackets of the HP Books has been released by Royal Mail in UK (Harry Potter stamps ) with 3,40,000 people pre-ordering it even before it's release. Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel

Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com

Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents & Teachers

Author of : Guardian of Angels

Is Computing Safe for Kids?

Children and safety? Always a concern on the web. With the so rosy Social networking websites, most of the children are tend to hook here. However, if encouraged to write Blogs, they do learn to be more disciplined and responsible to the words they write. They improve their writing skills and enhance vocabulary too. A lot more goes with the Blog making. Well, October is a month set aside to focus on the importance of the newer technology and understand the importance of the role it plays in our lives. Every day is a new learning experience and as we drift on the web, learning is more gaining Computer literacy.

Computer Learning month has more spreading awareness and teaching technology, communication, building a world of freedom, understanding, knowing the current events, showing talents and above all, get to be tech savvy with the computer literacy.

You can find the Computing section on Kidsfreesouls.com - For the Computer Literacy, the NIE Tips can be helpful for learning Computers in the classroom. A host of activities for the whole month and sure, you have easy setting up the Blog, Google Pages, using G Docs, writing jokes, poems, and many more tips mentioned therein.

The concerns remain 'Is Computing safe for kids? but it always has a positive say with 'Learn and Teach with Times' - get the Smart Kids to adopt the right technology with the newly added 'Blogging' Article here that I just wrote yesterday. The past blog notes has a more on various Ed notes with mentions of tech too. Explore the Kids Blogs too! Enjoy!

Ilaxi Patel
Editor, www.kidsfreesouls.com
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents & Teachers
Author of : Guardian of Angels

Amar Chitra Katha

In my earlier note, I recommended Amar Chitra Katha as it spreads awareness about Indian culture. Amar Chitra Katha is full of colorful pictures, simple language and easy narrative with Mythology and folk tales of Ramayan, Mahabharata, Panchtantra, Jataka Tales, etc. Panchtantra tales attempts to teach how to understand people, how to choose reliable and trustworthy friends, how to meet difficulties and solve problems through tact and wisdom, and how to live in peace and harmony in face of hypocrisy, deceit and pitfalls in life. The Akbar and Birbal stories are full of wisdom and wits whereas Bhagat Singh, Rabindranath Tagore, Shivaji, Arjuna, Krishna, Shiva, Mirabai and many more, inspire the kids. Amar Chitra Katha reveals the 5000 years of India's mythology, history and legend packed in volumes. Uncle Pai is the soul behind these tales and you can find his website here.

In Swagat class, most of the children have read Amar Chitra Katha and we have actual sessions of Book reading since quite a number of years! Apart from this, kids read the Archie comics, Fairy tales, stories for children and even the classics. Later on, the kids get to narrate the story, write the reviews. Sometimes, this is difficult but nevertheless a try. The kids get Quiz questions from these Amar Chitra Katha books and divided in groups, they sort for the answers. Many past students must be remembering the Gandhiji Quiz and how they looked into pages of all Gandhiji books in the library to find the answers. Refreshing memory of yester years is always so memorable too. And as teachers, we get the Stars - feathers in our cap!

Well, meaning to say - Make the class interesting and we have a learning session in progress. Like we have learning sessions every day as we explore the web! Finds Tips to use Kidsfreesouls and News in classrooms Here. Enjoy!

- ilaxi patel

Editor, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/

Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers

Author of : Guardian of Angels

Games for words

The Scrabble - All a game of fun and learn. I remember the word trivia games we played at the Talkcity chatrooms and still the game is great going all the time pick. Scrabble was introduced in 1948. These days it is produced in 27 languages, according to Mattel Inc., which owns the non-American rights to the game. Scrabble ranks # on Top 10 games in Kidsfreesouls List of games. Rest follows Monopoly, cake mania and all leading to X Box games like the recent Halo 3 - The Master Chief who makes it Big.

Teaching Board games to kids is just challenging and fun learning. The spelling rules as well as building a vocabulary is all in process as kids engage to a word building play activity. With Hangman and other spelling activities, encouraging a child is quick and easier while sparing a few moments for play. With a scrabble, an age appropriate spell fun works best as you begin to play with the letters, keeping in mind, the vowels and consonants which are verbally formed. Kids can have a Family Game Night, ready with the word list so as to be easy with the game. When I play the game of scrabble or rather allow the class kids to engage into a Scrabble game activity, the first thing I noticed is the enthusiasm as they can make their own words. Of course, we do have cheaters who spell wrong and yet, make it appear correct. This is when we find children disappointed and embarrassed when we can emphasize on what it is to learn or what means 'winning'.

Well, for the online free plays, here's Mattelscrabble and AOL games for the game lovers. And here's on Honing Sports Spirit - an article in my book - Grab a copy NOW for the read. Btw, here's recent Worksheets of Wordsearch added to the Wordsearch index and Ctrl+Print for classrooms. Enjoy!

ilaxi patel
Editor, http://www.kidsfreesouls.com/
Newspaper for Kids with Resources for Parents and Teachers
Author : Guardian of Angels

Gandhian values

Gandhi, The Father of the nation and here is the profile of a leader who influenced thousands of Indians and people round the globe with his non violence philosophy. On the D Day of the Mahatma, a two-day international conference was organized on last January 29-30 by the All India Congress Committee to mark the centenary of the launch of Satyagraha Centenary entitled "Peace, Non-violence and Empowerment - Gandhian Philosophy in the 21st Century'.The conference structured around four presentations by Scholars and Gandhians. The subject emphasized was:

conflict resolution and peace-building
Gandhian philosophy for poverty eradication,
education and people's empowerment
dialogue among peoples and cultures
towards a nuclear weapons free and non-violent world order

The 192 UN Member countries finally declared 2nd October, Mahatma Gandhi's Birth Anniversary as 'International Day of Non Violence' Day desiring to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence. In further effort to promote, UN also declared 12 September 2007 to 11 September 2008 as “The year commemorating the Ethiopian Millennium.”

Kidsfreesouls had earlier mentioned on this initiative in the News page in January.
Kidsfreesouls salute the great leader and highly believe in the Gandhi Principles. You can find the profile of Gandhiji here alongwith the Constructive plans and a Quiz on My Experiments with the Truth from the print media competition taken earlier.

However, today on 3rd October - News comes around and it's sad to say, in the Gandhian land of Gujarat, Ahmedabad Schools, college students and even the University were almost closed with children enjoying snake charmers and harry potter by a social organisation rathar than celebrate Gandhian festival with the cleanliness drive or competitions and quiz in memory of Mahatma and freedom. There has been no concern to spread Gandhi's teachings and ideologies amonst the present generation.

Well, it was too heartening to see a press pic of a mom and her two children offering their tribute with flowers at a city statue! And all so popular were the Foreign crowds at the Sabarmati Ashram!

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