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A miracle
Miracles can happen if you believe in them.
Scene setting
Read the following statements. Which of them are true for you? Tick them. I believe in myself. I know I’ll be a great person someday. I love and respect other people. I listen to my parents and teachers. I don’t listen to people who say negative things. I am courageous. The first statement above is very important. You have to believe in yourself. You have to know that you are an important person. You have to know that you can do a lot of things. You have to know that you are the best. Now sit straight and say out loud: I am the best! That’s good. When you believe in yourself and know that you are the best, you can even do miracles. You can increase your grades. You can play better games. You can make lots of friends. The first and the most important thing is to believe in yourself. Then the whole world will support you.

Reading
Here is a true story of a little girl Angela who always said, “I can do it.” She believed in her dreams. Finally her dreams came true. Let us read how. Angela was an eleven-year-old girl. She was suffering from a nervous disease. Hence, she was unable to walk or move. Doctors said she would spend her whole life in a wheelchair. They said that Angela could never walk. But, Angela did not listen to the doctors. She believed that she would walk someday. Thus, she said, “I will definitely walk someday.” Angela often imagined walking. She would close her eyes and think of running. She also dreamed of playing skipping and jumping around. She always remained positive. She believed that she would get out of her wheelchair someday. Finally, one day a miracle happened. Angela was lying in her bed and imagining that she was walking in a park. Suddenly, the bed moved. It began to move all around the room. Angela started screaming, “Look I moved! Look I can do it!” Actually the bed had moved because of a huge earthquake. But she didn’t know it was an earthquake. Other people were screaming and running. She didn’t hear their screams. She was screaming with joy. She was so happy to see the bed move. Nobody told Angela that it was an earthquake. She thought that she made the bed move. She felt powerful. After that day, Angela believed in herself even more. Slowly, little by little, she really began to move her legs. Then she could even stand. A few years later, Angela started going to school on her own two legs.

She finished her school, went to college and also started dancing. She even participated in many sports in school. It was Angela’s positive belief that made her walk. The earthquake was one of God’s miracle to tell her that her belief was correct.

A. Answer the following questions.
1. What did Angela believe in? 2. What did Angela often imagine? 3. What miracle happpened in Angela’s life? 4. What is the main lesson you’ve learnt from Angela?

B. Fill in the blanks.
1. Angela was unable to walk or move because of her ____ ____. 2. Angela ______ that she would walk someday. 3. She would often _____ herself walking. 4. The bed had moved because of an ______. 5. Angela ____ that she made the bed move.

Mini project
Take a sheet of A4-size paper. Write I CAN’T at the top of the paper. Then write down a list of things that you think you can’t do. For example, maybe you think you can’t sing. So write “sing.” Fill the paper with everything that you think you can’t do. Now do the following: Rub out the ‘T’ from the the word CAN’T that you have written on top of the paper. Now you have I CAN instead of I CAN’T. Colour the ‘I CAN’ with sketch pens or markers. Paste that paper on the wall of your room. Believe that you can do all the things you have written.

Dealing with feelings
Emotion management
Warm up A. Look at these faces. They show different feelings. Match each face to a word by writing the correct number in the box.

1. angry

2. worried

3. sad

4. scared

5. happy

B. Read the situations below. Then draw a face or write a word to show how you would feel.
1. You are going to watch a nice movie next Saturday. 2. You think that you may fail the test. 3. Someone hit you in the face. 4. Your best friend is sick. 5. It rained all day yesterday. 6. You just found Rs 100 on the street. 7. You got lost in a strange place. 8. Principal has called you to his/her office.

Feeling up and down
We all have feelings. These feelings change all the time. It’s a bit like being on a rollercoaster ride. We can be feeling happy and excited one moment and then sad and worried the next moment. It’s OK to feel sad or happy. It’s also all right to show how you feel. For example, if you are feeling really sad, you can cry. Or if you are very happy, you can laugh and jump around. But when we show our feelings, we have to be careful not to hurt others. We must help ourselves without harming others. What can you do when you get the following negative feelings? Think and match. 1. anger 2. fear 3. greed 4. sadness 5. nervousness think about others’ needs breathe deep and try not to worry walk away and cool down stand tall and try to be brave do something to cheer yourself up

Angry and sad
These are two very common negative feelings. You’ll get these feelings from time to time. Its’ okay to feel angry or sad sometimes. But you shouldn’t keep your anger or sadness for a long time. You should let them go. If you keep them for a long time, they will become habits. And negative habits are hard to give up.

What to do when you’re angry You feel angry when others do something bad to you. For example, they hit you and you feel angry. Now you have a choice. You can hit them back and make them angry too. They’ll hit you back again because they are angry. They will make you more angry. So, do you think that is a good choice? You have another choice too. When they hit you, you smile and walk your way. The people who hit you will be puzzled. They have failed to make you angry. So you win! When other people can’t make you angry, you become a strong person. You become a winner. What to do when you’re sad You may feel sad due to many reasons. You may feel sad when you lose something. You may feel sad when your friend hurts you. Again, it’s okay to feel sad and cry. But not for a long time. You should get up, wipe your tears and start playing. Remember that if you lose something today, you’ll gain something else tomorrow. If some friends don’t want to play with you, that’s okay. You’ll find new friends who want to play with you.

So cheer up!
A good way to cheer up is to smile. When you smile, sadness disappears. Try it right now. Smile!

What should you do to change the feeling? Write in the box.

What should you do?

angry

cool

What should you do?

sad

happy

Project
You’ll do a very special project for this chapter. You won’t have to write or present anything. You just have to smile. Starting today, right now, you’ll smile more. Whenever you meet someone, smile at them. When you talk to somebody, look at them in the eye and smile. Smile at your friends. Smile at your teachers. Smile at your parents. Smile at your brothers and sisters. Smile at your neighbours. Smile at the shopkeeper. Smile, smile, smile! Do this for a few days and smiling will become a habit for you. You’ll be a happy person. Smile!

The praying hands
The importance of loving and helping each other
Warm up
Before you read the story given below, answer the following questions: Who pays your school tuition fees? Who buys you books, copies, pencils and erasers? Who buys you clothes and toys? Who gives you healthy food to eat and a happy home to live in? The answer must be the same for most of you. Do you know what that means? It means that someone is there who helps you all the time. They love you and take care of you. They want to see you happy and successful. You should always remember to be thankful to them.

Reading
Here is a story about two brothers. One brother helped the other fulfil his dreams. Let us read how. Long long ago in the fifteenth century there was a tiny village called Nuremberg. In that village lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! Yes, eighteen. The father was the head of the household and he was a goldsmith by profession. To feed all his eighteen children he had to work almost eighteen hours a day. When people are poor, they mostly think about food. But two of the goldsmith’s children thought of something else. They had a dream and they thought of it all the time.

The names of these children were Albrecht Durer and Albert Durer. They wanted to become artists. They wanted to go to art school, learn art and become great artists. But they knew that their father did not have enough money. He couldn’t send them to art school to get education. They began to think of a way to get educated. After long discussions, they made a plan. The plan was this: Only one of them would go to art school. The other would work hard in the fields and earn money. He would pay for the other brother’s education. After four years of studying, that person would become an artist. Then he would start earning money and send the other brother to art school. This way both could get education and become artists. But who would go to art school first and and who would work in the field? They decided this by tossing a coin. They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to art school. Albert went into the fields to work. For the next four years, he paid for his brother’s education. Albrecht became a big success. He started to earn a lot of money from his art work. When he returned to his village, the Durer family held a big party. Everyone was very happy to see Albrecht’s success. In the dinner, Albrecht rose from his seat and said, “Albert, my dear brother, all that I am is because of you. Now it is your turn to go to art school. I will take care of you.” All heads turned to Albert. But, Albert sat with tears streaming down his pale face. He said, “No, brother. I cannot go to art school. It is too late for me.” He showed his hands to his brother and said, “Look what the four years of hard work have

Albrecht Durer, the artist

done to my hands. My fingers have become hard and they pain a lot. I have blisters and wounds all over my palms. I cannot even hold a glass properly. I cannot hold a pen or brush with these hands. No brother, for me it is too late. But I am happy that you have become an artist.” So Albert didn’t go to art school. He couldn’t become an artist. Albrecht Durer wanted to show his love and repect for his brother. So he made a drawing of his brother’s hands. He named the drawing “Hands”. Later the entire world loved this drawing. Then they renamed it as "The Praying Hands." Always remember that we always need each other’s help. Be willing to help others and also be willing to receive their help. Look at the drawing of the ‘The Praying Hands’ above. It is the same drawing that the great artist Albrecht Durer drew. Look at it and remember this story and the lesson you have learnt.

Word power goldsmith streaming someone who works to make gold falling down

A. Answer the following questions. 1. What did the father do to feed his family of eighteen children? 2. What did the two children want to do? 3. How did they find a solution to follow their dreams? 4. What happened to both the brothers after four years? 5. Why did Albrecht draw the hands of his brother? B. Fill in the blanks. 1. The Durer family had _____ children. 2. _______ and ______ were the two children of the Durer family who wanted to become artists. 3. One brother went to art school and the other brother went to work in the ________. 4. ‘The Praying Hands’ is a ______.

Application
Make a list of people who have helped you in your life. Now write down how they have helped you. Always keep this list with you. Remember to be thankful to all these people.

Beware of advertisements!
Understanding advertisements and decision-making
Group discussion
Certain food items are not allowed in some schools. You can’t find them in the school canteen and you’re not allowed to bring them from home. Even the parents don’t want their kids to eat or drink these items. They may allow you to have them once or twice, but not always.

Here are some of these food items.

noodles and chips

fizzy drinks

sweets and chocolates

Do you know why your parents and teachers don’t want you to eat or drink these food items? Sit in groups and discuss. After discussion, share your ideas with your teacher.

Understanding advertisements
How do you know when a new product is available in the market? It’s mostly through advertisements. You always see a lot of advertisements in the media. You see them on television, in the magazines and on the internet. You’ll sometimes see advertisements for good things. For example, they may advertise about a children’s fair or a blood donation

programme. But you’ll also see advertisements for bad products. For example, they advertise about alcohol and cigarettes which harm people’s health. Sometimes you’ll also see advertisements for useless stuff. For example, they may advertise about a new kind of pencil. You go and buy the pencil and then you find that it doesn’t write well. It keeps breaking. You realize that you wasted your money. But advertisers never say that their product is bad. They make it sound like it is the best thing in the whole world. So you shouldn’t buy anything just because the advertisement says it’s good. You should decide for yourself.

You should ask yourself:
Do I really need it? Is it necessary for me? Is it good for my health? Will it help me in some way? Or will it waste my time and money? How much does it cost? Is it worth it?

A new chocolate with strawberry flavour. It’s sweet and tasty!

Sweet and tasty, huh? Sorry, I don’t want to be fat and lazy by eating such stuff. Besides, I don’t want tooth decays. I’d rather eat a carrot. It’s sweet and tasty. And it’s healthy too.

Magic water bottles usually break when you touch them! So, no thanks! I already have two water bottles, and my mom cooks potato every day. I don’t need to eat more potatoes!

Wonderful potato chips. Made in Mexico. Buy it and you’ll get a magic water bottle FREE!

a hoarding board

Now answer these questions. You will find some of the answers in the text that you just read. For other answers, you’ll have to use your own knowledge and ideas. You can sit in pairs and discuss before answering these questions. 1. Where do you see advertisements? 2. Do you also see advertisements on the walls and hoarding boards? 3. Can you remember some good products that are advertised on TV and newspapers? 4. What harmful products are also advertised? 5. Should you buy everything that you see in the advertisement?

6. What questions should you ask before you buy any products? 7. What is your favourite advertisement? Why do you like it? 8. What is the purpose of advertisements? 9. What makes advertisements nice to look at? 10. Do all advertisements tell the truth?

Fact versus opinion
Advertisements don’t always tell the facts. For example, they don’t say that the noodle contains a lot of monosodium glutamate (ajinomoto), which is harmful for health. They just say that the noodle is very tasty. To say that “it contains ajinomoto” is to tell the fact. To say that “it is very tasty” is to express an opinion. A fact is true. It doesn’t depend on whether you like it or not. You’re in grade 4. It’s a fact. Everyone agrees to it. An opinion is not like a fact. It changes from person to person. You may say that your dress is beautiful. But your friend thinks that your dress is horrible (very bad). You are both expressing your opinions.

Fact: It’s a leather bag made in Pakistan. Opinion: It’s a beautiful bag that will make you happy.

A. Here are the words from some advertisements. Write whether each one is a fact or an opinion. 1. Made in Nepal 2. Beautiful and nice 3. Very useful to everyone 4. Price Rs 50 5. Weight 250 grams 6. Very tasty 7. It will make you happy 8. It is available in Bhatbhateni Department Store B. Look at the following advertisement. Find the facts and opinions in it.

Ferrari Skateboard

It’s beautiful, isn’t it? It’ll make you popular among your friends. Grey in colour Made in Korea Only $30 Visit our store in New Road

Oh, you’ll love it!

My choice!
You may have newspapers and magazines at home. Flip through them and choose an advertisement for any product. Cut out that advertisement and bring it to class. Think whether you would like to buy the product or not. Then tell the class. Why would you like to buy the product mentioned in the advertisement? Or why wouldn’t you like to buy it? Give reasons for your choice.

Project
Many of the advertisements we see and hear are for junk food. Select a healthy food you enjoy and think of a fun way to advertise it. Design your advertisement on an A4-size paper. Use colours and pictures. Then bring it to class and talk about it. Finally put your advertisement on the class bulletin board.

Genghis Khan and his hawk
Why it’s not good to do things in anger
Scene setting
Many things can make us angry. We usually get angry when we do not get what we want. When we get angry, we might do things that we later regret. In anger, we might make mistakes. Sometimes the mistakes are small, but sometimes they are big. Let us now read a story about a warrior Genghis Khan and how his anger made him do something he later regretted.

The story
Genghis Khan was a powerful Mongol king. One morning he decided to go travelling on his horse. Genghis Khan had a pet hawk. It always accompanied him wherever he went. The hawk sat on his wrist and off they went. All day long Genghis Khan rode on his horse. He travelled through villages and towns. He crossed many rivers and valleys. Towards the evening, he reached a big forest. Genghis Khan was feeling tired and thirsty. So he stopped his horse to take rest. His pet hawk then flew off from his wrist. Perhaps it wanted to

fly around for a while. The king looked around to find some water. To his joy, he saw some water trickling down the edge of a rock. He took a little silver cup from his bag and went to collect the water. He held it so as to catch the slowly falling drops. It took a long time to fill the cup. The king was so thirsty that he could hardly wait. At last the cup was nearly full. Then he put the cup to his lips, and was about to drink. All at once there was a sound in the air, and the cup was thrown from his hands. The water was all spilled upon the ground. The king looked up to see who had done this thing. It was his pet hawk. The hawk flew back and forth a few times, and then perched on a nearby rock. The king picked up the cup, and again held it to catch the trickling drops. This time he did not wait so long. When the cup was half full, he lifted it towards his mouth. But before he could drink, the hawk jumped down again, and threw it from his hands. Now the king began to grow angry. He tried again, and for the third time the hawk did not allow him to drink. The king was now very angry. "How do you dare to act so?" he cried. "If I had you in my hands, I would twist your neck!" Then he filled his cup again. But before he tried to drink, he drew his sword. "Now, Sir Hawk," he said, "you won’t dare to spill this water." The hawk once again threw the cup from his hand. The king quickly flicked his sword and killed the bird.

The poor hawk lay bleeding at its master's feet. Then it died. "That is what you get for not obeying me,” said Genghis Khan. But when he looked for his cup, he found that it had fallen between two rocks. To get it, he had to climb up a few rocks. "At any rate, I will get that cup and drink that water," he said to himself. He began to climb towards the rock where his cup had landed. When he reached the rock, he saw a large pool of water there. He also saw something lying in that pool of water. When he looked closely, he saw that it was a huge, dead snake of the most poisonous kind. The water that he was trying to drink was coming from this pool. The king stopped. He forgot his thirst. He thought only of the poor dead bird lying on the ground below him. "The hawk saved my life!" he cried, "and how did I repay him? He was my best friend, and I have killed him." He climbed down the bank. He took the bird up gently, and lay it in his bag. Then he rode back home on his horse. He said to himself, "I have learned a sad lesson today, and that is, never to do anything in anger."

A. Answer the following questions.
1. Who was Genghis Khan? 2. What made Genghis Khan very angry? 3. What did he finally do to his pet hawk? 4. What did Genghis Khan learn in the end? 5. What did you learn from this story?

B. Fill in the blanks.
1. Genghis Khan felt ____ in the evening. 2. He took out his ____ ___ from his bag.

3. The hawk ____ away the cup from the king’s hands. 4. The hawk did not let Genghis Khan ____ the water. 5. Genghis Khan took out his ____ and _____ the bird. 6. He saw a dead snake of the most_____ kind.

Experience sharing
Do you remember anything you have done in anger and regretted later? Write down what it is and share it with your bench partner. Also write down what lesson you learnt from that incident. Tell your bench partner about it.

Brother and sister
Relationship-building skills
Do you have a brother or sister? Yes No

How many brothers/sisters do you have?

How often do you fight with your brother/sister?

Do they irritate you?

What makes you angry about your brother/sister?

What do you do when you get really angry with your brother/sister?

Do you think your brother/sister is your best friend?

Sisters and brothers can be your best friends and your worst enemies. Sometimes you get along well and sometimes you argue. This is all part of growing up together! You may get angry with your sister when she takes something that is yours. You might also get angry when she keeps disturbing you when you are with your friends. Your older sisters or brothers may tell you what to do. Your younger sisters or

brothers may want to be with you all the time. It is not a good idea to fight all the time with your brother or sister. So here are some methods you can use to avoid fighting with your brother or sister: 1. When you get angry, go for a walk or go to a separate room. 2. Talk to your parents/guardian if you want some advice to deal with your brother/sister. 3. You can even make rules for your brother/sister. For example, tell your brother/sister that they can take something that is yours only after asking you. You can also make a rule that your younger sister cannot come to your room when your friends are with you. 4. Decide how you are going to share things like telephone, computer, and TV. You can decide at what times and for how long each one of you will use. 5. Do not fight for no reason at all. Sometimes the fight could be for little things like what to watch on television. Remember that having good relationship with your brother/sister is more important than watching television. When you stop fighting you can start building a good relationship with your brother or sister. Do fun things together like going for a bicycle ride or playing a computer game. This will give you a chance to be like friends and have fun together. Remember that there are lots of great things about having sisters and brothers. They can:

be like your friends cheer you up when you win comfort you when you lose teach you how to share help you talk with your mom or dad

Here is a true story about a little boy who loved his sister very much.
There was a girl called Liza. She was suffering from a serious disease. She was lying unconscious in the hospital bed. She could be saved only if her five-year old brother gave her blood. The doctor explained this to the boy. Then they asked if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. He hesitated only for a moment and said, “Yes, I’ll do it to save Liza.” While the blood was being transfused, he lay in a bed next to his sister. He started to smile as he saw the colour returning to his sister’s cheeks. He was happy to know that his sister would soon get well. Then his face grew pale and he stopped smiling. He asked the doctor, “Will I die before Liza wakes up?” Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor. He thought that he had to give all his blood to save Liza. The boy loved his sister so much that he was even ready to die for her. In times of need, brothers and sisters can help each other. They can even save each other’s lives.

A. Answer the following questions.
1. In what ways can your older brother or sister make you angry? How can your younger brother or sister make you angry?

2. List the methods you can use to avoid fighting with your brother or sister. 3. What are the great things about having sisters and brothers? 4. In the story, what did the little boy think when he was giving his blood to his sister? 5. Write down some ways in which you can build better relationship with your brother/sister.

B. Complete the following sentences using your own words.
1. Brothers and sisters can be _____________________ . 2. When you start to get angry 3. It is not a good thing to . .

5. To build a good relationship with your brother or sister you can _____________________. 6. The best thing about having a brother or sister is ____________________.

Application
A. Take an A4 size paper. Fold it in exact two-halves. Now you have a paper looking like a card. In front, write down in big letters with a colourful pen: I LOVE YOU BECAUSE.... On the next page, write down the reasons you love your brother or sister. Give this card to your brother/sister. B. Watch a movie with your brother/sister. It is good to do some things together. It will bring you closer and make you good friends.

The window
Helpfulness versus selfishness
Warm up
Think about the following questions before you read the story below. You don’t have tell the answer to anyone. Just think. When you look at the sky, do you see only the clouds or the clear blue sky and the flying birds? Are you happy to wake up every morning or are you sad because you have so much school work to do? What do you usually talk about – what you have or what you don’t have? Are you jealous of someone because he/she is happier than you?

Reading
Once upon a time there were two men. Both of them were seriously ill. They both occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour a day. His bed was near the window. So, when he was allowed to sit up, he would look outside the window. But the other man had to spend all his time lying flat on his back. The men became friends. They talked with each other for hours. They usually spoke of their

families. They also spoke of the jobs and vacations they had when they were healthy. Every afternoon, the man in the bed next to the window was allowed to sit up. He would look out of the window and describe to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. He would say, “I can see a beautiful park and a lovely lake from this window. Ducks and swans are swimming in the lake. Children are playing in the park. There are big trees and flowers of every colour in the park.” The man in the other bed would listen to him attentively. Sometimes he closed his eyes and imagined the scenes being described. One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by in the street. The other man quietly listened to his friend. Suddenly, a thought entered his head, “Why should he have the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see anything?” It did not seem fair. Slowly the days passed. Every day the man would think, “Why can’t I be near the window?” He kept thinking it over and over again. He no longer enjoyed listening to the other man. He wasn’t even able to sleep. Late one night, he was lying in his bed and staring at the ceiling. The man by the window began to cough. He wanted to call for help but he couldn’t. He kept coughing harder and harder. The other man did not move. He could call a nurse for help but he chose not to do it. In less than five minutes, the coughing stopped. The man had died. The whole room felt silent. The next morning, the nurse arrived to give the two men their medicines. She saw that the man next to window was dead. She called other nurses and sent the body away. After the body was taken away, the man asked, “Can I be moved next to the window?” The nurse was happy to move him next to the window.

She made sure he was comfortable and left the room. “Finally I can see it all by myself,” said the man to himself. Slowly and painfully, he lifted himself up and sat in his bed. Then he looked out of the window. There was no park like the other man had described. There was also no lake. There were no trees and no flowers. There was only a huge wall next to the window. He now knew the truth. His friend used to describe the beautiful things just to cheer him up. He was such a good friend. He realized his mistake and started crying. He missed his dear friend.

A. Answer the following questions.
1. What did the two men talk about? 2. How did the man near the window describe the view of the window? 3. Why couldn’t the other man in the room sleep properly? 4. Why do you think the man did not call the nurse when the man near the window was coughing and needed help? 5. What was actually there outside the window? 6. What lesson did you learn from the story?

B. Write down whether the following statements are true or false. Then correct the statements that are false.
1. Both the men in the hospital room were seriously ill. 2. The man in the other bed did not like to hear about what was outside the window. 3. When the man near the window described the park, the other man closed his eyes and fell asleep. 4. The other man wanted to shift near the window. 5. After the man near the window died, the other man enjoyed the view from the window.

How to handle teasing
Knowledge and skills to deal with teasing
When someone makes fun of you, it is called teasing. People may call you names or laugh at you when they tease you. Now answer the following questions.

Have you ever been teased?
Yes No

Where did the teasing take place? at school in my neighbourhood at home other places

Write down how people tease you?

Does the teasing disturb your mind?
Yes, it disturbs me very much. Yes, it disturbs me but not very much. No, it doesn’t disturb me at all.

In what ways does teasing disturb you?
It makes me feel sad. It makes me feel embarrassed. It makes me hate myself. Many people are teased. Children are also teased by other children very often. Sometimes your friends tease you just for fun. You can laugh at it and forget about it. But, many times the teasing can be harmful. You may not like to be teased. It could make you feel sad or embarrassed. It is

harmful when teasing makes you hate yourself. It is, therefore, important to learn how to handle teasing. We are going to learn that in this chapter.

How to handle teasing
You cannot stop others from teasing you. Fighting with them or answering them back is useless. They might tease you more if you do this. But, when you don’t fight back or don’t get upset, they may stop teasing. So, here are some ways in which you can handle teasing. Self-talk. Tell yourself, “I can handle the teasing.” Also ask yourself, “What is true – what they say about me or who I really am?” Of course, who you are is more important! You need to believe in yourself. Try doing this: look into the mirror and say, “I will not let the teasers upset me. I will keep my head high even when they tease me. I will not cry or fight with them.” When you start talking to yourself this way, you will feel more confident.

Ignore. If you become angry or start to cry, then the teasers will tease you more. So, simply ignore them. Act as if you didn’t see or hear them. When you don’t respond to them, they may stop teasing you. Speak. If you are in a classroom and other children are teasing you, then you can speak up for yourself. You can go in front of the class and say, “I don’t like it when you tease me. I would like you to stop.” But don’t try this when you are inside the bus or in the playground. The teasers may tease you even more when they find you alone. Turn it into a compliment. You can turn a negative teasing into a positive compliment. If someone teases you about your hair you can tell them, “Thank you for noticing my hair.” If someone teases you about the way you walk, you can tell them, “Thank you for noticing my walk.” Agree. You can agree with the facts because facts are truths. If someone says something that is true about you then accept the truth. If someone teases you by saying, “You have curly hair” then you can say, “Yes, I have curly hair.” Similarly if someone calls you a skinny boy, you say, “Yes, I am really thin.” Always remember to smile when you reply this way. Laugh. You can simply laugh when someone teases you instead of feeling upset. Laughter is a good way to handle teasing. When you start laughing at yourself, it won’t matter when others laugh at you. The teasers may be surprised to see you laugh. They might even stop teasing after some time. Ask for help. If the teasers still don’t stop teasing you and start to bully you

then you can ask for help. You can talk to your teacher or parents. They can then take action against the teasers. Teasing is never a good thing to do. You should not tease others. But when others tease you, you have to learn to handle them well. You should also always remember that what teasers say when they tease you is not what is true about you. Word power embarrassed confident ignore compliment bully felt ashamed and insulted sure of oneself not notice something say good things to somebody treat someone very badly

A. State whether the following statements are true or false. Then correct the false statements.
1. 2. 3. 4. 6. 7. When someone teases you, you should fight with them. Who you are is more important than what teasers tell about you. You should get upset when you are teased. You can always speak up for yourself at any place. You can talk to yourself in front of a mirror. You have to learn to handle teasing.

B. Answer the following questions.
1. 2. 3. 4. When does teasing become harmful? What can you tell yourself to handle teasing? How can you handle teasing when you are in a classroom? Imagine you have braces on your teeth. Now how will you respond when someone teases you? 6. What is the last thing you can do to handle teasing?

Extension
It is not your fault if someone teases you. No matter what happens, remember that you are all right.

I’m all right!
If you call me names, I will not cry. If you laugh at me, I’ll just walk by. If you pick on me, I will not fight. No matter what happens, I’m all right.

Unconditional love
A true story about loving and helping
Scene setting
We all love our family and friends. Family takes care of us and friends are great fun to be with. But what about the people who don’t have anyone? Do you love the lame beggar on the street? Do you love the dirty-looking child roaming around the park? Not everyone loves them. Some people even step away from them because they smell so bad. There are even some rude people who scold them and tease them. It is good to be kind to all. You can even be kind to those beggars and children in the street. Giving them money is not always a good idea. But you can give them food or your old clothes and shoes. When you help these people, they cannot give you back anything in return. Still you help them and give them your love. Unconditional love is to love someone without expecting anything in return. Here is a story about unconditional love that inspired Robin. It is a true story.

One day Robin went with his family to eat in a restaurant. They were sitting at a table and waiting for their meal to come. All of a sudden, everyone around them started to cover their nose with their handkerchiefs. Some of them even left their tables and went away. When Robin’s family turned around to see what had caused this, they saw two poor homeless boys. These boys looked dirty and smelled bad. But, both these boys were smiling and had beautiful blue eyes. Their eyes were trying to search for kindness. One of the boys went to the counter and he counted the few coins he had. The second boy looked sick and he stood quietly. The young lady at the counter asked the boy what they wanted. He said, “We want only a cup of coffee.” That was all they could afford. They wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up themselves. It was really cold outside. But to sit inside the restaurant, they had to buy something. When Robin’s mother saw this, she wanted to help the boys. So she ordered two more plates of food. Then she went to the table where the two boys were seated. She put the plates of food on the table and touched the sick boy’s cold hand. He looked up at her with tears in his eyes and said, "Thank you". Robin’s mother then said, “I did not do this for you. God says to love and help everyone. I did this for God.” When Robin saw what his mother did he understood the value of unconditional love. His mother treated those poor boys kindly. She did not expect anything in return. Nowadays Robin saves his own pocket money and helps the poor boys whenever he can. He says, “God wants me to help you.”

A. Answer the following questions.
1. Why did the people cover their noses when the homeless boys arrived? 2. Why did those two boys come to the restaurant? 3. What did Robin’s mother do? 4. How do you think these two men felt when Robin’s mother bought them the lunch? 5. What did Robin learn from this incident?

B. Fill in the blanks with the correct information.
1. Unconditional love is to love someone without __________________. 2. The two boys wanted only a cup of coffee because that was all ________________. 3. When Robin’s mother saw the homeless boys, she ______________. 4. Robin’s mother said that God says to ______________. 5. Robin understood the value of ________________.

Class project
Sit in groups and hold a discussion. The topic of the discussion will be: We want to help someone. Who can we help and how can we help? Think of people in the society who might need your help. They may be old people, sick people, homeless people or street kids. Now think of ways how you can help them. You are only in grade 4, so you may not be able to help them in big ways. But perhaps you can collect one rupee each and buy some food for a poor and old lady. Or you may decide to collect your old clothes and donate them to an orphanage. Of course your teacher will help you to do that. When you really want to help, you will find people whom you can help. You will also find ways to help them. When you help someone in need, you will feel really good. Try it and see.

Puppies for sale
Love and understanding
A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell. He painted a sign advertising the pups. He placed the advertisement at the gate of his house. A little boy saw the advertisement and went inside the gate to meet the farmer. The little boy said, “Mister, I want to buy one of your puppies." The farmer rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck and said, "Well, these puppies come from fine parents. They cost a good deal of money." The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then he reached deep into his pocket. He pulled out a handful of money and held it up to the farmer. "I've got ten dollars altogether. Is that enough to buy one?" "Sure," said the farmer. Then he let out a whistle. "Here, Dolly!" he called. The little boy saw Dolly running out from the doghouse followed by four other puppies. When he saw all those puppies, he felt very happy. As the dogs reached towards the fence, the little boy noticed a small puppy inside the doghouse. Slowly the puppy appeared. It was smaller than the others. It started limping towards the others. It was trying its best to run with the others. It did not have one leg! "I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the smallest puppy. The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these
Puppies for sale

other dogs would. You see, it doesn’t have one leg. It will be a waste of your money." When the boy heard this, he reached down and began folding up one leg of his trousers. He showed the farmer the steel brace of his leg. The boy too did not have one leg! He walked with the help of an artificial leg. His right leg was not real. He looked back up at the farmer and said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands." The world is full of people who need someone who understands!

A. Answer the following questions.
1. What did the farmer puy at the gate? 2. What did the little boy want to do? 3. Why was the boy very happy? 4. Which puppy did the boy want to buy? 5. Why did he want that puppy?

B. Fill in the blanks.
1. The farmer placed the _____ in the gate of his house. 2. The little boy wanted to _____ one of the puppies. 3. The boy took out _____ from his pocket. 4. He noticed that the little puppy was _____ towards the others. 5. The boy’s right leg was not_____. He had _____ legs.

Information sharing
Tell the class about your pet. Say how and where you got the pet from. Also mention how you take care of it.

Water
Drink it. Save it. Love it.

What do you, the trees and rabbits have in common? Think about it. You all need water! All living things must have water to survive. Without water, your body stops working properly. Water makes up more than half of your body weight and a person can't survive for more than a few days without it. Why? Your body has lots of important jobs and it needs water to do many of them. For example, your blood, which contains a lot of water, carries oxygen to all the cells of your body. Without oxygen, those tiny cells would die and your body would stop working. Water is also in lymph (say: limf), a fluid that is part of your immune system, which helps you fight off illness. You need water to digest your food and to get rid of waste. All the cells in our bodies need water to work properly. Water is like fuel for the body. Your body doesn't get water only from drinking water. Any fluid you drink will contain water, but water and milk are the best choices.

Lots of other foods contain water too. Especially fruits and vegetables contain a lot of water in them. Eat a water melon and you’ll know! Since water is so important, you might wonder if you're drinking enough. There is no exact amount of water that kids need to drink every day. Usually, kids like to drink something with meals. You should also drink when you feel thirsty. When it's warm out or you're exercising, you'll need more water. Be sure to drink some extra water when you're out in warm weather, especially while playing sports or exercising. When you drink is important too. If you're going to sports practice, a game, or just working or playing, drink water before, during, and after the activity. Don't forget to carry your water bottle. You can't play your best when you’re thirsty. Even when you are in class, take out your water bottle and drink water at the end of every period. Just take a couple of sips. This will keep your body and brain functioning well. You will feel alert and you can concentrate better. When your body doesn't have enough water, that's called being dehydrated. Dehydration will make you feel tired and lazy. It can even make you sick. Never let your body dehydrate. Take a sip of water now and then. Not only does water fight dehydration, but it's also very refreshing. Give your body enough water so it can do all its jobs well. When your body works well, your mind will work well too. You’ll be active and you’ll feel great. Now open your water bottle and take a sip from it!

A. Answer the following questions.
1. What is one common thing in all living things? 2. What happens to your body if you do not get enough water? 3. What are the benefits of water to your body?

4. When should you drink extra water? 5. What is dehydration and how can you prevent it?

B. Fill in the blanks with the correct words and phrases.
1. Without water your body will stop ________. 2. Water is like _______ for the body. 3. You should take a sip of water now and _______. 4. Lots of _______ and _______ contain water too. 5. When your body doesn’t have enough water, that’s called _______. 6. Drinking water is very ______. 7. When you are in class, drink water at the end of every _______. 8. When your body works well, your ______ will work well too.

Yoga and you
Natural way to health and fitness

Kids nowadays have a lot to do. You have to study, complete your homework, participate in sports, do project works and sometimes even volunteer. There is also great competition to be the best. All of this might create stress. Yoga helps you relax and get rid of stress. It also feels good to stretch out your body, slow down your breathing, and relax your mind. Yoga is a form of exercise. It makes you feel stronger and helps your body become more flexible. Yoga includes a lot of stretching. Yoga also focuses on breathing and meditation, which means thinking calm thoughts. If you want to start doing yoga, then tell your parents. You can also join a children’s yoga class. The yoga instructor can teach you how to do the poses correctly.

Here are some yoga poses which are good for kids. But always remember to have an instructor with you when you are starting for the first time. Wrong poses can cause some pain.

1.

Cat-cow pose
Kneel like a table – knees below your hips and hands below your shoulders. Spread your palms on the floor. Relax your spine and your head must be facing parallel to the floor. Inhale and let your hips go up. The belly goes down, shoulders go back and the chins go up. Look upward towards the ceiling. This is known as the cow pose. Exhale and drop your head towards the floor. Gaze towards your navel. This is called the cat pose. Repeat the steps up to 10 times.

To do this pose...

This pose helps you to have a strong back. It also prevents back pain. When your back is strong, you can easily play many sports.

2.

Downward dog pose
Stand with shoulder width distance between your feet. Keep your feet firmly on the ground. Slowly start bending down at the waist, till the hands reach the ground or are close to the ground. Lean your body back slightly, so as to resemble an upside down V.

To do this pose,

You will need to hold in the position for 10 to 15 seconds, before you release the pose.

3.

Cobra pose
Lie with your stomach down on the floor. Place your hands by your chest. Using your upper body, try to move upward/forward as much as you can.

To do this pose,

4.

Butterfly pose
Sit on the ground and bring your legs together. Grab the tip of your feet with both your hands. Flap two legs up and down like the wings of a butterfly. Repeat this 10-15 times.

To do this pose,

5.

Corpse pose
Lie flat on the ground and let the feet fall out to either side. Bring the arms alongside the body, but slightly separated from the body. Turn the palms to face upwards. Relax the whole body, including the face. Breathe naturally.

To do this pose,

This pose will relax the body and mind. It will also make your mind calm.

When you want to do yoga, find a spacious place. Wear comfortable clothes and no shoes or socks. Having a yoga mat is a good idea. Doing yoga regularly helps you to be more flexible and have a calm mind. It makes your body feel very light. You can also concentrate better in your studies.

A. Answer the following questions.
1. What creates stress? 2. How can yoga help you? 3. List the various poses of yoga that you have learnt in this lesson. 4. Why should you have an instructor when starting yoga for the first time? 5. What are the requirements for doing yoga?

B. Match the following.
1. Kneel like a table 2. Lie down and relax 3. An upside-down ‘V’ with your body 4. Flap your legs like a wing 5. Lift your upper body and look at the ceiling - Downward dog pose - Corpse pose - Cat-cow pose - Downward dog pose - Butterfly pose

Application
Practise the poses discussed in the chapter every morning before you have your breakfast. Completing the whole yoga routine may take 10-15 minutes. Take the help of your parents to ensure that your poses are correct. It is important to practise yoga on an empty stomach. You can do it early in the morning after having a glass of water. If you want to practise yoga at any other time, then make sure you haven’t eaten for at least three hours.

Vision care
Taking care of your eyes

Eyes are a valuable part of our body. They help us see the world around us. So taking care of your eyesight and your vision is very important. Eating carrots and green vegetables are good for your eyes. You should also have regular eye exams. This helps to spot whether you have any problems with your vision. The sooner the eye doctor sees a problem, the sooner it can be fixed. By the way, an eye doctor is called an optometrist!

Spotting eye problems
You can know you have an eye problem when any of the following starts to happen. You should immediately visit an eye doctor when an eye problem occurs. You can’t see objects at a distance. You can’t read what’s written on the board.

Your eyes pain when you read books. You often feel dizzy. You often have tears in your eyes. You have dry eyes. You often get headaches.

Eye exams
You might be wondering what happens during an eye exam. First, the doctor will do some different tests on your eyes to see if your vision is good. For example, he or she will ask you to read from a special eye chart. The chart has lines of letters and numbers on it in different sizes. You'll have to read the eye chart from left to right. First you read it with one eye covered and then with the other eye covered. This way the doctor can test both your eyes. If you need glasses, there's a special instrument to check that. It actually looks like a big pair of glasses. The doctor will put different lenses into this instrument. He or she will ask you to see through these lenses. You have to tell which one looks the clearest to you. If you're really not sure, it's OK to say so. The doctor will explain it to you.

Vision troubles
Nearsightedness and farsightedness are both common eye problems. Lots of kids and adults have one or the other. Nearsightedness means you can see things that are near but you have trouble seeing

things that are far away. For example, you can read a book in your hand but you can’t read what’s written on the board. Farsightedness means you can see things that are far away, but you have trouble seeing what is near. For example, you can see what is written on the board but you can’t see the words in your book properly. Another common eye problem is called astigmatism. This can make things look really blurry when you look at them.

Know your eye doctors!
Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who have special knowledge about the eyes. They can even perform surgery on the eyes. Pediatric ophthalmologists have additional special training to treat kids' eye problems. Optometrists provide services that may be similar to ophthalmologists, but they don't perform surgery. Some optometrists specialize in kids' eye problems. Opticians fit and adjust eyeglasses.

The solution
After your doctor checks your eyes, he or she will tell you if there is any problem. They may write a prescription for some medicine. Or they may ask you to wear glasses. They may also ask you to eat certain kinds of foods. Fruits and green vegetables are especially good for the eyes. Your eyes are like windows through which you see the world. If you had no eyes, the whole world would be dark. You would see nothing and no one. Life would be very difficult. Be thankful that you have eyes to see. And do take good care of them.

A. 1. 2. 3. 4.

Answer the following questions. List two things you can do to take care of your eyes. When can you know you have eye problems? What are the common types of eye problems? Why should we take care of our eyes?

B. State whether the following statements are true or false. When they are false, correct them.
1. Carrots are good for the eyes. 2. If you cannot read what is written on the blackboard, it means you might have an eye problem. 3. An eye-chart has pictures of different types and colours of eyes all over it. 4. The doctor tells you to wear glasses to make you look funny. 5. If you cannot read the letters in your book properly then you may have nearsightedness. 6. An optician is an eye doctor.

C. Fill in the blanks.
1. The eye doctor will ask you to read the letters on an _________. 2. If you have to sit too close while watching TV then your eye problem is ________ (nearsightedness/farsightedness). 3. An eye doctor will do different ________ on your eyes to see if your vision is good. 4. If things look blurry when you look at them, it is called _______. 5. You must follow the advice of the ________.

Pair discussion
A. Have you ever visited an eye doctor? What happened there? Did the doctor prescribe any medicine? Tell your friend. B. Blind people can’t see with their eyes. So how do they move around? How do they recognize people? Discuss.

Internet safety
Being safe in the cyber world
Do you like surfing the internet?

What is your favourite site?

How many hours do you use the internet every week?

You can learn the rules of any game, read about your favourite movie star, or download pictures for your school project. You can do all these things online and then email your best friend about it. But when you’re using the internet, you need to stay safe. You wouldn't want to swim in real water when you don't know how to swim. Similarly, you don't want to use the internet without knowing the rules of safety, would you? Here are some tips to follow while surfing the net.

1. Don’t chat with strangers. Your parents are right when they say
“Don't talk to strangers”. As far as possible never talk with strangers in adult chat rooms. You really don't know who the person is that you are chatting with. Because you can't see the person, it would be very easy for someone to mislead you. People on the internet can pretend to be anyone or anything they want.

Remember that people online may not be who they say they are. Don't let them fool you. If you like to chat, make sure that your parents know that you are chatting, where you're chatting, with whom you're chatting, and what information you are giving people. Never use bad language on the internet. Don’t argue with or answer anyone who uses bad language. Never give your name, address and phone number to anyone over the net. This is very important. People can track you down through the telephone directory, so be careful. Never show your picture online to someone without your parents' consent.

2. E-mail safety. Never open up any e-mail or attached files or web pages that you receive from people you don't know. You can delete it without opening it. Or ask your parents to look at it first. Sometimes emails may contain viruses which could harm your computer. Once there was a famous Pokémon virus that came through e-mails. It looked like a cute animation. Actually it was a dangerous virus. Ask your parents to install the latest anti-virus program. Tell your parents if someone is sending you e-mail that you don’t like. Never reply to emails from strangers.

3. Ask and surf. Always ask your parents before surfing the internet.
If your parents tell you not to use certain sites, listen to them. If a web site looks suspicious or has a warning page, then leave immediately. Some sites are not meant for kids.

If you come across a site that you aren't sure about, then ask your parents. Be careful when you download games. Some sites have viruses which come free with the downloads! It is better to be safe than be sorry.

4. Passwords. Passwords are a secret, so don't give out your passwords to anyone.

5. Set your time. Don't spend all your time online. Set a time limit on your computer use. So, with a little care and understanding, internet can a safe and fun place. Happy surfing!

A. Below are the meanings of the words that are in bold in the text. Right down the correct word next to each meaning. a book containing telephone numbers a program that damages your computer permission doubtful people that you don’t know _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

B. Answer the following questions.
1. Make a list of things you can do using the internet. 2. How can you stay safe when using the internet? 3. What should you do if you like to chat? 4. What are the safety tips for e-mails? 5. What should you do about passwords?

C. Write down whether the following statements are true or false. If they are false, then write down why they are false.
1. You can do everything on the internet that you can do in the real world. 2. If a stranger talks to you, then you should always talk to them.

3. You should ask your parents’ permission before showing your picture online. 4. When you download something, it is possible that you may also download a virus. 5. It is a good thing to spend all your time on the internet.

Interesting and educational sites for kids Yahooligans yahooligans.com Discovery Kids kids.discovery.com National Geographic Kids kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/ Fun Brain funbrain.com PBS Kids pbskids.org CBBC bbc.co.uk/cbbc/

Be a green kid
Environmental awareness

You learnt in grade three about Earth Day. On Earth Day, you show your love for the mother earth. You can plant trees and promise to reduce, reuse and recycle. But you should love the earth not only for one day. You must help to preserve the earth every day. You can do this by being a green kid. Green is the colour of nature. Plants are green. Without plants, the earth wouldn’t be such a lovely home for us human beings. So, being green means you are protecting the earth every day. But how can you protect the earth and be a green kid? Here is how: 1. Reduce the amount of things you use and throw away. 2. Reuse the things when you can. 3. Recycle cans, bottles, paper, books and even toys. 4. Enjoy the earth – go for a walk, plant a tree, and eat some of the delicious food it produces.

Reduce It!
When you use less of something, you do a good thing for the Earth. For instance, you can use less water when having a bath.

Here's a list of other things you can reduce:
Turn off lights when you don’t need them. You can also ask your parents to use compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. They last longer and use less energy. Turn off the water while you're brushing your teeth. Unplug the chargers of mobile phones and MP3 players when the charge is full. Whenever you can, walk or ride your bicycle instead of travelling in your parent’s motorbike or car. You’ll save petrol and you’ll get some exercise too! Put your computer to "sleep" instead of leaving it on with the screensaver running.

Reuse It!
Instead of buying new things every time and throwing away your old items, you can reuse them. If you don’t want to reuse them, you can give them to someone who might need them.

Here is how you can reuse things:
Use rechargeable batteries in your clock, computer games or remotes. Use metal cups and plates instead of paper or plastic cups and plates which you will throw away after use.

Take your own bags when you go for shopping. Organize a swap among your friends. To swap means to exchange. You can swap books, toys, even clothes. It's a way for everyone to get something new without spending any money. And of course you’ll be helping the earth by not throwing away things. Take paper from your computer printouts and use the other side for more computer printing or just to draw.

Recycle It!
You can reuse even the waste products by recycling them. To recycle means to put to other uses. For example, you can turn a juice can into a pencil holder. You can separate plastic bottles, cans, papers and plastics from other wastes. You can put these wastes in separate dustbins. The plastic bottles, cans, papers and plastics can be recycled for other uses. These goods can be sent to a recycling plant where they can be crushed, broken down, and later turned into new cans, bottles and paper. This way the amount of waste coming out of your house decreases. Even water can be recycled. The used water from washing your clothes and shower can be cleaned up and used for watering the grass and flowers.

Enjoy It!
The earth is full of beautiful places you can visit. You can, thus, enjoy the natural beauty of the earth. You can go for a hike with your parents or visit local parks and gardens.

You can also make your own garden a beautiful place. Plant a tree or little fruit and vegetable plants. It doesn’t matter if you get your hands dirty. It will be interesting to watch the seed you planted growing into a big tree. Try to be a green kid. Start loving your planet and doing activities that are good for the health of the earth.

A. Answer the following questions.
1. What does it mean to ‘be a green kid’? 2. In what ways can you be a green kid? 3. How can you reduce the use of resources? 4. How can you recycle? 5. What can we do to enjoy the earth we live in?

B. Write down whether the following statements are true or false. Then correct the false statements.
1. We must plant trees only on Earth Day. 2. Being a green kid means wearing green clothes every day. 3. You are helping the earth by using less water. 4. You should throw all the paper, bottles, and cans along with other waste into the river. 5. Gardening is a way to enjoy the earth.

C. Tick the correct answer.
1. If your old clothes don’t fit you, then you should throw them away. give them to someone who needs them. store them in your closet. 2. When you go to a grocery store, carry your own shopping bag. ask for separate plastic bags for each item you buy. bring what you buy by carrying in your hands.

Brain power
Developing and using the power of brain
Warm up
Look at the two pictures below. One is the picture of a latest computer, and the other is the picture of a human brain.

Now, sit in groups and discuss these questions. 1. What can a computer do that our brain cannot? 2. What can our brain do that a computer cannot?

Write the information in the charts below.
A computer can A human brain can

There are certain things that a computer can do very well. It can calculate large numbers pretty fast. And our brain can do certain things that a computer can’t do. Our brain can think and decide!

Our amazing brain
Scientists say that our brain is actually more powerful than any computer on earth. Our brain contains 100 billion cells. It’s a really large number. It would take us 3000 years to count them all. To learn something new, certain brain cells have to connect with each other. For example, when you begin to learn the multiplication table of 9, some brain cells will start connecting with each other. When the connection is strong, you have learned the table well! Now what would happen if all your 100 billion brain cells were connected with each other? You could learn everything. You could calculate anything. You could read and remember all the books in the world!

Such is the power of human brain!
If our brain is so powerful, then why do we forget our lessons? Why can’t we remember everything? It’s because we don’t give enough exercise to our brains. It’s also because we don’t follow the right way of learning. For example, you learnt the right way to memorize things in grades one, two and three using the linking method and peg system. Are you practising them? The brain cells will make new connections only if you keep on learning and practicing. In the higher grades, you’ll learn even more systems and techniques for improving your memory and learning skills.

Interesting facts
Our brain produces electricity. It produces enough electricity to light a bulb. We have not one but two brains inside our head, the right brain and the left brain. The right brain controls the left side of the body and the left brain controls the right side of the body.

Exercising your brain
Your brain is a part of your body. Just like other parts of your body, it too needs exercise to stay fit and healthy. It needs both physical and mental exercises. Breathing: Your brain needs plenty of oxygen to run well. So you need to breathe well. Take deep breaths whenever you can. Take a few right now. Anulum-bilom is another very good breathing technique. It helps to balance the left brain and the right brain. If you do anulum-bilom for few minutes before study, it helps you to concentrate well. Brain-gym: Brain-gym is a collection of physical exercises for the brain. Now we’ll learn just one of them. It’s called the cross crawl. Do cross crawl for five minutes in the morning and evening. It will improve your thinking and concentration.

anulom bilom

Brain gym cross crawl Stand comfortably and raise your left knee and touch it with the palm or elbow of your right hand. Now do the same thing with your right knee and left hand. Continue the process for about five minutes.

Reading: Reading is a mental exercise. The more you read, the stronger your brain becomes. Read at least one or two new books every month. But of course, you should read only good books. Some of them are listed at the back of this book (Appendix 1). Puzzle and games: You’ll find lots of interesting puzzles and games in children’s magazines and on the internet. You’ll find crosswords, sudoku, jigsaw and spot the differences. Learn to solve them. Maybe you can do it every Saturday. Creativity: Learn to do creative things. You can draw, paint, play music, write stories or follow other hobbies of your choice. Just start doing them and your brain will give you new ideas. Imagination: Your brain is like a film studio, just like Hollywood or Kollywood. You are the director, and you can make any movie you like. These are mental movies and you make them with your imagination. For example, you can make a movie where you are the superman or an angel. You can do anything and you can solve any problem in your imagination. Imagination is a very good mental exercise. Even Einstein, the great scientist, used to imagine a lot. Once, in this imagination, he rode on a sunbeam (as if it was a horse) and went on a tour of the universe. This helped him to come up with his great formula e=mc2. “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” - Einstein

e = mc2

Mental-lab
Do you sometimes feel sad and lonely? Do you sometimes have problems that you can’t solve? You can go to your mental lab and fix the problem there. A mental lab is an imaginary place. You create this place in your mind. It’s like your private office. Imagine a beautiful office of your own. In that office you have your own table and chairs. You can invite guests to your office and talk to them. You can even invite your favourite heroes there. Let’s say you are feeling sad and lonely. Close your eyes and sit in your mental office. Then invite a funny person (may be Charlie Chaplin) or cartoon characters (Tom and Jerry) to come in. Greet them when they come and ask them to cheer you up by telling jokes or acting in funny ways. Watch, listen and enjoy what they do. Then thank them and see them off. Open your eyes. You’ll be smiling and feeling better. Similarly invite your heroes and ask them how you can be like them. You can even invite your teacher to come and help you to understand a subject. This mental lab is a very powerful technique. Many people such as leaders, actors and sportspersons also use it. Try it. It really works!

Note There are no comprehension exercises in this lesson. It’s because this is a completely practical lesson. All you have to do is understand and apply the techniques.

Smart learning techniques
Multi-sensory learning and photographic spelling Multi-sensory learning
Do you remember the time when you were in preschool? That was the time when you learnt to read and write the alphabet. You also learnt some common words. You learnt words like apple, bat, yak and zebra. Now do you remember how your teacher taught you the word apple? Let’s see. First, she brought a real apple to the classroom. She showed it to all of you. Then, she said the word apple. You all repeated after her. Next, she gave you the apple to touch it and feel it. It was smooth and round. After that, she cut the apple into pieces. She gave a piece to each one of you and told you to smell it. It smelled sweet, didn’t it? You felt like eating it. Finally, she asked you to eat your piece of apple. It was yummy! She was a great teacher. She taught you so well. She knew how to teach using the multi-sensory method. To teach or learn by using the multi-sensory means to use all of your senses. The senses are: Sight (to see something using your eyes) Sound (to say or hear something using your mouth and ears) Smell (to smell something using your nose) Taste (to taste something using your tongue) Touch (to touch and feel something using your hands)

So how did the teacher teach you the word apple using all the senses? Show the apple – sense of sight Say the word apple – sense of sound Feel the apple – sense of touch Smell the apple – sense of smell Eat the apple – sense of taste Multi-sensory method is one of the best methods for learning. In this method you use the power of all your five senses. Do you think it is possible to use multi-sensory method to learn anything? Yes , it’s possible but not all the time. For example, if you are learning about rocks then you don’t use the sense of taste. Otherwise you might break your teeth! But you can almost always use the senses of sight (by using your eyes), sound (by using your ears and mouth) and touch or movement (by using your hands and legs). Suppose you want to learn about the planets, you can - see the pictures of planets or watch a video about them (use of eyes) - say the names of planets out loud and listen (use of ears) - draw pictures of the planets and write about them (use of hands) You can also use multisensory learning with the help of your imagination. Suppose again that you want to learn about a planet. Let’s say it’s the planet Mars. First read the information in the book. Then close your eyes and imagine yourself standing on planet Mars. You look

around and see that it is red everywhere. So it’s called the red planet. You also pick up some soil and stones from the ground and feel them. You look up into the sky and see that there are two moons. There’s a big signboard on each moon. One signboard says Phobos and the other signboard says Deimos. Those are the names of the moons. It’s really interesting to learn this way – by carefully using your senses and your imagination. Try it more and more and as often as you can. Learning will become more fun.

When I learn a story, I not only read it but also imagine it. I make a movie of the story in my head. It’s so much fun and it’s easy to remember.

Photographic spelling
Now we’re going to learn an interesting technique for learning spelling. It’s called the photographic spelling technique. Do you learn your spelling by saying the letters of the word over and over? It takes a lot of time to remember it this way. You can use the photographic technique. It’s quick, easy and quite interesting. Let’s learn how to do it. We’ll use a very simple word now. The word is suineg. Write the word suineg on a piece of paper or in your notebook. Hold it up slightly to the left of your eyes. Keep it a little above the eyelevel. This way you have to look up a little to your left to see the word.

Now look at the word. Don’t try to spell the word, just see it. See it as if it is a picture. Then close your eyes. With your eyes closed, see the word in your mind. Open your eyes. Again look at the word in your notebook, close your eyes and see it in your mind. Do this a few times. Now keep your notebook down. Look up and try to see the word in your mind. It will be there. You will see it like a picture. You will see the word so clearly that you can even spell it backwards! Try it backwards once. That’s right. The word is genius! We just practised with a small word. Small words are easy, aren’t they? With this method, even big words are easy to spell. We simply need to break the word into small parts. Then look at the word one part at a time. For example, if the word is zweipronsultz (it’s not an English word!), you break it down like this: zwei pron sultz

You are learning this technique for the first time. So it may be a little difficult now. But if you practise it a few itmes, it will become so easy!

Seeing through sounds
A lesson about overcoming disabilities
Scene setting
Write down the use of the following parts of your body.

Do you think you can still do all the things you want to do without these organs? Well, let us read about someone who could see even without his eyes. He saw through sound. He saw with his ears. His name is Ben Underwood.

Reading
Ben Underwood was born as a healthy baby. But when he was two years old, something happened. His mother started to notice a strange glow in his right eye. It looked like

a marble. Later his entire right eye pupil turned white. He had cancer in both eyes! To stop the cancer from growing, his eyes had to be removed through operation. Now he had no eyes. He was only three years old when this happened. Even though he had no eyes, Ben played basketball and rollerblade. He even rode his bicycle. He also wrote a book and did his school work using a Braille writer. Mostly blind people take the help of someone to do things. Sometimes they use a guide dog. They also take the help of a walking stick to move around. But Ben did not need anything, not even a stick. He listened to the sound of echoes from objects to guide him. Ben saw through sounds. He could pick up the echo of sounds reflecting on objects. When Ben was walking somewhere he would make a sound of sharp click with his tongue. The sound of the click produced echo when it reflected from objects around him. He then figured out where an object was located. This way of seeing through sound is called echolocation.

Did you know?
Echolocation means the location of objects by echo. It is used by bats and dolphins to see. They make a sharp noise first. The noise hits an object. The noise is then reflected from the objects as an echo. They can figure out the distance of an object by how long it takes the sound to reach them.

Ben’s mother, Aquanetta, was very loving and supportive. When his eyes were removed Ben started crying, “Mom, I cannot see. I cannot see.” Then his mom said, “No baby, you can see.” She put his hands on her cheeks and said, “Feel me. You can see with your hands.” Then she put her fingers under his nose and said, “Smell me. You can see me with your nose.” She then held his ears and told him, “Hear me. You can see me with your ears.” From then on, Ben always believed he could see. But of course Ben couldn’t see with his eyes. He couldn’t say if anyone was ugly or beautiful by looking at their face. When he heard someone saying bad about someone else he said, “That is the problem with people who can see. They look at each other and judge by how you look.” Ben was a sweet boy. He loved everyone and everyone loved him too. Ben did not let his blindness stop him from doing the things we wanted to do. He played games, sang songs and travelled to places. He enjoyed life. He was never sad. But something sad happened to him. The cancer which was in his eyes travelled to other parts of the body. It spread to his brain and spine too. And then he died. It was in 2009. He was 17 years old.

A. Answer the following questions.
1. Why did Ben lose his eyes? 2. What things could Ben do just like a normal child? 3. How did Ben learn to see through sounds? 4. What can you say about Ben’s mother? 5. How did you feel after reading the story of Ben Underwood? What did you learn?

B. Fill in the blanks.
1. Ben was _________ when he was born. 2. When he was two, his right eye started to look like a _____. 3. Wherever Ben went, he made a ____ sound with his tongue. 4. Ben’s mother was ______ and ______. 5. Ben died of ______.