The mysterious letter q

I have often wondered about the mysterious letter q. It does not have a unique sound of its own and it is the second least frequently used letter in the English language. It is still part of the English alphabet and holds its own charm. I have a distinct feeling…

View More The mysterious letter q

Elephant Toothpaste – The Chemistry

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the Elephant Toothpaste experiment I did with my students. A few readers who read that post were curious about how to conduct the experiment and what happens in it. Hence, this follow-up post on the Chemistry behind the experiment. Incidentally, my lesson plan for…

View More Elephant Toothpaste – The Chemistry

Compound Words – Learning through play

Making new words Have you ever wondered about building vocabulary by making new words? It is indeed an interesting method. In an earlier article, we spoke about building vocabulary through word families. In the early stages of learning, word families provide an excellent method to build a vocabulary quickly. As…

View More Compound Words – Learning through play
Chemistry lab table

Elephant Toothpaste – Fun with Science

Expectation Elephant Toothpaste – does it sound absurd? On the contrary, it is quite a popular Science experiment. I have conducted it many times, watched it even more times, and enjoyed every single experience. However, it has been some years since I did this experiment. Last week in my 9th…

View More Elephant Toothpaste – Fun with Science

Building Vocabulary through Word Families

Vocabulary through imitation For a child who is beginning to learn to speak, building vocabulary is primarily through imitation. She learns words by observing her surroundings and mimicking the words spoken around her. As the child grows and more conscious learning sets in, vocabulary building becomes a deliberate activity. When…

View More Building Vocabulary through Word Families
glass of milk

Experiments in the Kitchen

Kitchen is a Science lab My husband is very fond of experimenting, especially conducting experiments in the kitchen. A few days ago, while I was away from home, he got the idea to set home-made ‘curd’ (yogurt, ಮೊಸರು, दही). When I returned home in the evening, I saw a vessel…

View More Experiments in the Kitchen

The different sounds of ‘ea’

What different sounds come to your mind when you see the letter combination ‘ea’? Do you think there is only one sound or many? Can we simply add the sound of ‘e’ and ‘a’? Let us explore. We have explored earlier about learning English spellings through Phonics. Also, we have…

View More The different sounds of ‘ea’
stack of logs

What are the things around us made of?

Out of thin air Have you ever wondered what we are all made of? Many years ago, I attended a seminar in my office. The speaker was a visiting delegate from the USA. His expertise was in K12 education. He had carried a thick wooden log with him to use…

View More What are the things around us made of?

2 English spelling rules that you did not know existed

Spelling is confusing Learning English spelling is not straightforward. It is confusing to learn and remember all the spelling rules. After spending many years with the English language as a student and professional, I use the language intuitively. If you ask me to explain a spelling rule, I will have…

View More 2 English spelling rules that you did not know existed

Making a difference – one child at a time

Human nature inspires us to make a difference throughout our lives. It might be through our work, our relationships, our hobbies, or even the way we live. I know for sure that the cement that holds Team NumberNagar® together is to make a difference in children’s learning experiences. What does…

View More Making a difference – one child at a time