yourplatform.in

Blog Post

Headspace to Storybird: 5 Tech Tools To Activate Classrooms!

We live in a world where technology is reigning with its tremendous power while traditional methods are fading into the cobwebbed corner of boredom. From educating to entertaining, technology enormously serves us, helps us, and keeps us immersed. So why not introduce educational tech tools to your students and supercharge them with striking skills, burning curiosity, and many more? Headspace We are all worried and stressed about something or other. Emotions often lash down on us like hurricanes, and it’s not always easy to keep them from spilling. Learning to calm emotions is as important as learning other lessons in school. Headspace is such an intriguing tool that will help students meditate and practice mindfulness. Regular meditation and other mindfulness practices will enrich their daily lives, by helping them ease stress, anxiety, and other mental discomforts. Duolingo Who could grab more opportunities than one who speaks more languages? Introduce Duolingo to the students, and tell them to invest 10-30 minutes daily to learn a new language. Duolingo makes it easy for learners to swallow lessons by offering customized assessments. Encourage students to compete and learn more languages with Duolingo. Booklets Here comes the educational tool packed with fun. Who doesn’t like immersing themselves in games? Booklets let you customize according to your educational topic. Students can play together, have fun while competing to score the best. Game-based tools like booklets not only engage the students but also make them curious to explore and learn more. If students are curious, teaching and learning become more fun. Remind Remind lets you update or remind the class about upcoming tests and many more. With Remind, it gets easier to reach out to parents when it’s necessary. This app ensures privacy without revealing one’s personal contact. Apart from text messages, photos can also be attached. Storybird If you want to nurture creative writing skills in students, no platform can help you more than Storybird. Storybird is a platform that lets students craft their own stories as well as read other wonderfully woven stories written and shared by others. This platform will enhance students’ vocabularies and encourage them to immerse in the realms of their imagination.

Read More

Homeschooling: Best Online Resources For Parents To Enrich Your Children’s Education

Are you afraid of your child being exposed to the negative environment of school where bullying, competition, and peer pressure are something almost inevitable? Or are you someone who constantly relocates as a part of your job? If anything is scorching your head and you’re thinking of schooling your child within the comfort of your lovely home, here’s the list of the best online resources to enhance the experience of homeschooling. Khan Academy Khan Academy is a reputed resource that you can freely rely on to nurture your kid’s education. From Maths to art, this educational site will help your child with all subjects delivered through comprehensive YouTube videos. If you’re looking for free and qualified educational content, why not hustle to create an account on Khan Academy? Funbrain Are you looking for a fun-filled online resource to make your kids enjoy learning? If yes, a fun brain is chock-a-block with entertaining games, books, videos, and even comics. Your kids will learn important lessons while having fun. These interactive games will enhance problem-solving skills, and reading skills, improve vocabulary, and many more within the comfort of your house. Newsela Newsela uniquely nurtures your kids with articles. These articles are designed to enhance one’s reading while updating your kids with current events. Apart from reading, there are comprehensive tests to further polish the skills. Though most articles are available for free, there are articles accessible to only paid users. Easy Peasy All-In-One School Here comes an easy peasy online resource crafted by a homeschooling parent named Lee Giles. This educational resource offers a full curriculum from preschool to grade 12. If you’re a Christian who values education with Bible teachings, Easy Peasy will help you lead your kids on the right path. You can either print out the chapters or buy those textbooks at a cheap rate to enrich the learning experience of homeschooling. Storyline Who doesn’t like to listen to wonderful stories narrated in a captivating way? Storyline is for kids who love bedtime stories. With stories wonderfully read by famous people, this educational resource will help your kids with polishing language skills. Listening skills in a second language is something hard to acquire, but with the storyline, it gets easier to nurture it.

Read More

Jeremy to Tears In Heaven: Heart-wrenching Songs Inspired By Real Life Incidents!

Do you enjoy immersing in intensely crafted lines flowing with captivating music? One that stirs your soul with fiercely rushing emotions? If yes, why not listen to songs taken from the tragic sea of real-life incidents? From Jeremy to Tears in Heaven, here are some soul-stirring songs to add to your playlist. Jeremy Jeremy by Pearl Jam is an excruciating song that spills the themes of bullying and suicide. This song is inspired by the suicide of a forlorn sophomore who shot himself in front of his classmates, back in 1991. Each line, woven with heart-rending words, was written from a classmate’s perspective. The Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald Here comes a song that memorialises the tragic disappearance of Edmund Fitzgerald in 1971. The incident caused by the catastrophic storm took the lives of all crewmen in the Lake freighter. Gordon Lightfoot crafted this song after reading the news article about this shipwreck, titled as “The Cruellest Month” appeared in Newsweek magazine. The song woven with strings of details is appreciated for its striking accuracy. Fire And Rain James Taylor’s Fire And Rise is a song that covers more than one incident. From the suicide of his childhood friend Suzanne to his addiction to drugs, the song revealed Taylor’s mental battles during the initial years of his career. Though the song outpours the depression and struggles sprouted by his initial failure, his songs later gained popularity and made him a renowned singer. Hey Jude Hey Jude by The Beatles is a song woven to lift a young boy from sinking into sorrow. McCartney couldn’t bear to see John Lennon’s son being beaten at such an excruciating time due to the separation of his parents. Though the song was originally sung to the boy as “Hey Jules”, it was changed to “Hey Judes” for the rhythmic flow and beat. Tears in Heaven Tears in Heaven crafted by Eric Clapton is another tragic song with the depth to stir the hearts of listeners. Clapton knitted the songs from his own tragic incident where his beloved son fell out of the window of the 53rd floor, breaking Clapton’s heart into pieces. In Tears in Heaven, Clapton asks his son, “Would you know my name? If I saw you in heaven? Would it be the same If I saw you in heaven?”.

Read More

Tips to Enhance Classroom Environment To Shine (For Kids)!

Classrooms should be a place brimming up with positivity, stirring students’ curiosity to learn and chase after academic goals. From introducing collaborative learning to applying positive reinforcement, there are many ways to mould a positive environment in the classroom where students can easily climb the ladder to their dreams. A positive environment can not only engage the students but also make teaching hilariously interesting. Introduce Collaborative Learning What could be more engaging than collaborative learning? Collaborative learning is more important to mould a strong connection between students where you teach them to ride together in the track for hitting academic goals. This also comes with a cornucopia of benefits for students, like enhancing communication skills, social interaction, creativity etc. Group projects also stirs students’ curiosity to complete the task within a short period of time. Allow Feedback Let the students give feedback about the teacher’s performance and presentation of topics. Feedbacks will help teachers improve their teaching methods as well as students can get their doubts clarified enough to swallow. Allowing students to give feedback can also enhance the student-teacher relationship where hesitation to ask questions will gradually fade away. Establish Active learning Methods Active learning methods can activate classrooms with positive energy. Introducing game based learning or blending technology to engage students in the classroom can make learning an amusing activity to indulge in. When learning becomes an activity charged with curiosity, it becomes easy for the students to learn and earn their academic goals. Enhance Physical Environment Physical environment plays a major role in magnetising a positive vibe. From creating vision boards to decorating walls to installing mini libraries, style classrooms with everything that makes students eager to explore the realms of knowledge. Ensuring access to books and involving students in enhancing the environment can also encourage them to engage with other students, resulting in strong unity among students. Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement is important to keep students motivated and engaged. Compliment students for every little effort they put in. Comfort them and console them when things are not up to expectations. Don’t forget to keep eyes on the ones who move like snails, appreciate them for the little attempts they make though fruitless. Positive reinforcement can water confidence in students, and they’ll gradually be in a position to easily succeed in every academic goal.

Read More

Super Why to Word Girl: 5 Educational Cartoons To Nurture Your Kid’s Learning Skill

Does your kid get thrilled to immerse in the animated world of fictional characters? From Super Why to Word Girl, there are some educational cartoons packed with fun-spilling adventures. These animated series will nurture your child’s brain to spell words, develop imagination and instill the curiosity to delve into the wonders of the world. If you’re excited to see them learn and shine, here’s a list of cartoons to show them! Super Why! Super Why is for the ones who enjoy “Superhero” cartoons soused with fun-jammed adventures. In this unique educational cartoon, your kids will be taken to adventures through books. The incredible blend of magic, adventure, and education will grab your child’s attention and help them learn word after word. Dora the Explorer Dora the Explorer revolves around Dora, Boots, and their adventurous journey to their destination. The series will make your child clap, tap, dance, sing, and swirl with Dora while involving them in the adventure where they’re mostly encouraged to repeat words along with Dora. The constant repetitions of words will immensely help them comprehend and spell things. From talking bags to maps, every little thing is hilariously presented to keep toddlers engaged. The Magic School Bus Here comes another adventurous cartoon with explorational journeys. The Magic School Bus is an interesting TV series that centers around Ms. Frizzle and her field trips with eight students. From the wonders of the sky to the miracles beneath the ocean, the series will nurture your child’s curiosity while introducing them to science and nature. Numberblocks Kids love seeing everything with their eyes and hands. In Numberblocks, number blocks talk and amuse kids with hilariously gripping games, songs, and puzzles. Your kids will surely love the Numberland planet, and be thrilled to dive into the mathematical adventures. Word Girl If you’re looking for a way to enhance your child’s vocabulary, Word Girl can help your child by immersing them in a fun-packed adventure. Each episode will introduce some vocabulary and will teach your kids on “how” and “when” to use them. Some cartoons teach words, but Word Girl will also teach the appropriate context to use them.

Read More

5 Fascinating Facts About Education That We Bet You Didn’t Know!

Are you someone who loves devouring knowledge? Is someone curious to discover facts and stats? If yes, have you heard about the largest school in the world? Ever imagined floating schools? So here are some of the fascinating facts about education to widen your knowledge again! Oldest University In India Nalanda University, nestled in Bihar, is believed to be the oldest university in the world. This ancient university, built back in the 5th century during the magnificent era of Gupta, also shines for being the first residential university. Around 10,000 students were taught from here. The sprawling libraries of this magnificent building housed around nine million books. Currently, the mind-blowing site of this university is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Finland School System Are you someone who often puts on your thinking cap and questions the flaws of our school system? Ever imagined any appropriate system? Well! Finland has an intriguing system where the children start school only when they hit 7 years old. Before the age of 7, Finnish children indulge in creative and physical activities. Also, Finnish students are lucky enough to have 15 minutes of break after every 45 minutes of class. Largest School In the World Here comes the largest school “City Montessori School” nestled in Lucknow. CMS houses around 55, 547 students, grabbing a position in Guinness World Book. You’ll be surprised to know that during its initial days, back in 1959, Dr Jagadish Gandhi and his wife taught the students from their own house by seating five children in a room. This school has also garnered the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education. Boat Schools in Bangladesh You must be familiar with houseboats, but have you ever imagined floating schools, libraries, and many more? Bangladesh has an astounding fleet of boat schools that let students swallow chapters while breathing the view. These floating schools serve as both school buses and schoolhouses, with 30 students in each boat. Longest Homework Are you someone who gets annoyed when completing homework? Well! Be grateful that you don’t have 14 hours of homework in a week. Chinese students have to spend so much time on a staggering amount of homework. According to reports, teenagers in China invest at least two hours every day to complete their homework.

Read More

Back-to-School: Creative First-Day Activities For A Fun-Filled, Fabulous Beginning!

Some students want their first day to be as free as an ocean while other students sit as silent as mice with slices of back-to-school anxiety. But as a teacher, you need to put on your thinking cap and find creative ways to engage students and ensure a fun-filled, fabulous beginning. From Name Game to Two Truths and a Lie, here’s the list of first-day activities to make your students go pitter-patter! Name Game If you’ve heard of the Netflix Series Anne With An E, you must be familiar with “the name game” that Miss Stacy made her students play on her first day. Well! So students have to come up with adjectives starting with the first letters of their names. For example, Anne Shirley Cuthbert is Academic, Spirited, and Creative. Writing a Letter to Your Future Self What could be more interesting than writing a letter to one’s future self? Let them pour their expectations and dreams for the academic year ahead, about the scores they’ll earn and the person they’ll become by the end of the year. Writing letters can enhance their writing skills as well as the realms of their imagination. Collect those letters and distribute them once they’re done with the academic year, they’ll be surprised to read the letters from their past selves. Scavenger Hunt Scavenger Hunt is a hilariously interesting game to make your students connect with the school environment. The touring school experience will break the ice and engage the students, turning their first day into a fun-packed day to remember. Scavenger Hunt will also break the gap between students and cement it with beer and Skittles. Would You Rather ? Would you rather let students have a creatively hilarious first day or make them drift straight into lessons? Here comes “the would you rather” fun-filled questions! By playing this game, you’ll get to know your students better, and also it’ll help students connect. For example: Ask them, “Would you rather be a superhero or someone invisible?” and encourage the students to delve into deep thoughts regarding this. Two Truths And a Lie This is going to make the whole class busy with guessing and chortling! Each student has to write two truths and one believable lie about themselves and let others find out which among them is a lie. This game will also help each other know better.

Read More

‘All We Imagine As Light’: A Cinematic Glory For Indian Cinema!

After three decades, India’s long-awaited breakthrough at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival finally arrived. On May 25th, 2024, Payal Kapadia, a talented female filmmaker, secured the Grand Prix at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival for her directorial masterpiece, ‘All We Imagine As Light’. This achievement, the second-highest prize after the Palme d’Or, was a monumental moment for the Indian film industry, marking its first-ever reception of this honour. Payal Kapadia also made history as the first Indian woman to compete and win the leading award at Cannes. This milestone, a testimony to the power of Indian storytelling, will be etched in the annals of Indian cinema for years to come, inspiring a new generation of filmmakers. Kapadia’s prize-winning movie, ‘All We Imagine As Light,’ is not just a drama centred on two Malayali nurses and their struggles and journeys in life. It’s a powerful narrative that resonated deeply with the audience, evoking vivid emotions and sparking meaningful conversations. The movie was screened at the festival on May 23rd and received an eight-minute standing ovation from the audience, which was a solid proof of its emotional depth and cinematic brilliance. It was a priceless moment for every Indian film enthusiast that will be etched in their hearts forever. In 1994, ‘Swaham,’ a directorial by Shaji N. Karun, was the last movie selected for the festival from India. Now ‘All We Imagine As Light’ has set a new benchmark for Indian cinema once again.  All We Imagine As Light: The Story Of Real Lives Kapadia’s movie is a Malayalam-Hindi feature film about the life of a nurse, Prabha. The story takes a turn when she receives a letter from her alienated partner, which throws her life in different directions. Parallelly, she develops a strong bond with her roommate, Anu. Anu is another female character in the movie who finds it difficult to spot a private place to spend time with her boyfriend in the busy city. They both find hardships in their personal relationships. Still, the story takes a different turn when they start a road trip to a beach forest. That place filled with magic becomes the accelerator that manifests their dreams into reality.  Payal Kapadia’s historic triumph was met with acclaim and pride nationwide. Esteemed figures from the Indian film industry and beyond showered her with accolades, heralding her win as a moment of national pride.  “Her remarkable talent continues to shine on the global stage, giving a glimpse of the rich creativity in India. This prestigious accolade honours her exceptional skills and inspires a new generation of Indian filmmakers.” Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi Ji wrote about the victory of the film on X.  Kani Kusruthi and Divya Prabha played the lead roles in this film, which was shot over 25 days in Mumbai and Ratnagiri. 

Read More

Highly Anticipated Digital Platform Releases You Shouldn’t Miss This Year!

Are you always on the hunt for the latest thrilling, mind-bending OTT release? Look no further! We’ve got some new releases on digital platforms that are entertainment and thought-provoking cinematic gems. These exciting stories will transport you to a world of mixed emotions and realisations.  Here is a list of some of the latest OTT releases, offering various genres, including thrillers, dramas, and comedies. Experience the ultimate entertainment and joy of watching them! Panchayat Season 3 Get ready to laugh out loud as Panchayat, the blockbuster comedy drama in Hindi, returns with its new season. Abhishek Tripathi, the panchayat secretary in Phulera village, is back again with an engaging narrative. This season is all about heightened political dramas and the fight between the two characters, Pradhan and Bhushan, who try hard to maintain the public image. The new season promises fresh perceptions and explorations of rural life. The presence of esteemed actors such as Neena Gupta and Raghubir Yadav is an additional highlight. The series is set to be streamed on Amazon Prime Video from May 28th, so mark your calendars! Swatantrya Veer Savarkar  A biographical drama based on the life of Veer Savarkar, the iconic freedom fighter, is released on May 28th. Randeep Hooda, known for his compelling performances, not only portrayed the role of Savarkar but also directed the movie. This movie explores the life journey of Savarkar, who started as a law student in London and then transformed into an activist who fought against the British. The film showcases Savarkar and Mahatma Gandhi’s relationships and interactions. The movie is premiered on Zee5 channel.  The First Omen  An American supernatural film under the horror movie category will be premiered on Disney plus Hotstar on May 30th. The story begins with the journey of a young American woman sent to Rome in the name of her holy mission to serve god. Still, she has to face many challenges there, including the dark conspiracies aiming at the worship of evil spirits and the incidents happening after this. The movie takes you into the gripping battle between faith and evil. It discusses the beliefs regarding the coming of the antichrist. Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, a period drama set in 2024, was released on May 1st on Netflix. Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed this drama series, and it has become a super hit, consistently holding the top position among trending series. Heeramandi, also known as the red-light district of Lahore, was once a centre for illegal activities and prostitution. The story reveals the unknown truths about the tawaifs of Heeramandi against the backdrop of the Indian Independence movement against the British Raj during 1940.

Read More

Culinary And Artistic Bliss – A Journey Through Bangalore’s Ultimate Creative Hotspots

Haven’t you sought a break from your weighing responsibilities, tasks, and emotional stress? How many of you genuinely wish for a productive escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life? Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India, is not just about technology and shopping. It’s a treasure trove of diverse recreational activities. These are the go-to spots for those seeking relaxing art therapies, romantic dates, friendly chats over coffee, or even some quality ‘me time.’ .  Let’s delve into the city’s unique art cafes, each a perfect spot for unlimited relaxation. Bangalore’s vibrant energy is beautifully reflected in its diverse array of art cafes, where culinary delights blend seamlessly with creative inspiration. These cafes are not just for artists and writers but for anyone seeking a spark of creativity. These cafes offer unique spaces adorned with art exhibitions, interactive workshops, and aesthetically pleasing interiors. Bristo Claytopia – A Perfect Blend Of Food And Art Bristo Claytopia, a one-of-a-kind art cafe in Koramangala, Bangalore, is where ‘food meets art’. It’s not just a place to eat but a creative hub offering a wide range of ready-made magnets, jewellery boxes, figurines, small flower vases, and mugs to explore and paint on. They have facilities for kids’ birthday parties and events, including various kid-friendly activities. You can customise the menu by choosing four favourite dishes. Moreover, this art cafe is pet-friendly.  Artville Cafe – Splash Of Art To Elevate Your Tastebuds Curl up with a book and a cup of coffee in a quiet corner and enjoy the beauty of paintings by talented artists. Artville Cafe, located in a quiet corner of Kalyan Nagar, welcomes you to the magical world of art and food. More than an arthouse or a coffee shop, this is a place where you can buy your favourite paintings or try your talent on a canvas. The friendly and warm atmosphere makes it the perfect place to relax and unwind.  The menu includes a variety of quick bites, such as pasta, sandwiches, pizzas, and burgers. You can also savour a steaming cup of coffee or a glass full of mango or ginger refresher for a change. You can even come here with your laptop, enjoy a snack, and complete your work with unlimited WiFi support.  This unique art cafe sells artwork by talented artists and conducts long-term and short-term art courses.  Urban Solace – Tiny Retreat For Art Lovers This tiny art cafe, led by Perry Menzies, has been a hub for art and food lovers for years. Urban Solace is not just a cafe; it’s a community where art lovers come together to share their passion.  This art cafe in the Ulsoor area engages artists through music and chat shows. Comedians, musicians, writers, and artists gather here, and the atmosphere is always filled with positivity and laughter. If you visit this place, do not forget to order food from their exclusive menu. You can enjoy soups, salads, cocktails, and everything from waffles to baked aubergines.

Read More