Dots and Dashes
Spend these holidays decking up your study table. What’s more it’s a collector’s edition!
Archives: Articles
Finding frenzy
Are you a regular reader of the Young World? Think you know the tabloid, like the back of your hand? Then find the names of its columns in this puzzle.
The Young World 30th anniversary special issue is out, and it’s a hoot! We’ve added a little mystery to it by hiding the names of 8 columns that appear in the print edition of the Young World, in the picture below. Can you find them all?
When you click on a column name, information about it will pop up below the picture.
(Illustration: Sonal Goyal)
Oldest ball games
Find out what some of the oldest ball sports are with this activity.
Sports can be divided into various categories based on the kind of equipment they use, such rackets, bats, balls, sticks.
Many of these sports have been around, for not just hundreds of years, but centuries. So much so, that it’s hard to even pinpoint when a particular sport was invented as they’ve gone through many transformations.
However, many sports have major tournaments and championships that have also been around for many years, and these give a rough idea as to which were some of the oldest sports and which were more newer. Here is a list of some of the oldest and famous tournaments from different ‘ball sports’.
Tennis – Wimbledon (officially known as The Championships, Wimbledon)
Basketball – NBA
Cricket – The Ashes
Golf – The Open Championship (commonly known as the British Open)
Field Hockey – Beighton Cup
Baseball – Major League Baseball
Volleyball – FIVB World Championships
Table Tennis – World Table Tennis Championships
Football – The FA Cup
Atlas altered
Did you know that Sri Lanka wasn’t always called Sri Lanka? Find out more about countries and cities that have changed their names.
Your name defines you. Can you imagine changing it suddenly? Well, throughout history, several cities and countries in the world have done just that.
Countries (and cities) change their names for various reasons — independence, war, change in government, and so on. When this happens, it takes some time for people to get used to the new name. Sometimes, people still think of the old name when they refer to the country. In other cases, places have always been known informally by another name which was later adopted officially.
It’s useful for you to know what some of these countries/cities used to be called in the past.
Fun and frolic, safely
Happy Deepavali, everyone! Stay safe even as you enjoy the festival. Watch this vide for a few do’s and don’ts.
Dual festivities
With November 14 being both Children’s Day and Diwali, take a look at some art by children showcasing both events.
November 14 is not just one special day, but two! It’s Children’s Day, where we get to celebrate you, and it’s also Diwali – the festival of lights.
Scroll through the slides below to see some of the creative artworks sent in by children for the special dual occasion.
Quiz Whizz – Deepavali Special
This Deepavali, instead of bursting firecrackers, take a crack at this special quiz instead!
The festive season is not over yet; in fact, it’s one of the busiest and most favourite time of year for many. Usually one gorges on sweets and other delicacies and also indulges in some crackers, but how about being a little eco-friendly this year. Say no to the firecrackers this time around. Instead, try cracking this Deepavali-based quiz.
Escapades galore
How can you celebrate Children’s Day differently? For starters, you could either read a book or watch a movie. And, hey look at this! Exactly what you need — a great selection of books and movies just for you.
With the COVID-19-led lockdown and social distancing norms, you cannot get out of the house and celebrate Children’s Day with your friends. But, that doesn’t mean you cannot celebrate this fun day at all. All you need is a couple of tweaks. This year, you can binge read and binge watch on your special day. Here are some options for both. Take your pick.
It’s bedtime, sleepyheads!
You aren’t the only one who loves a good, sound, long nap in winter. These members of the animal kingdom do too!
What do you do when it gets cold? Wear warm clothes, and bury yourselves under blankets and take a good long nap, right? Well, that’s what animals do too. This is called hibernation. Hibernation is a way for many creatures — from bears to bats — to survive the bitingly cold, dark winters without having to hunt for food or migrate to warmer places. What they do, instead, is bring down their metabolism to save energy.
It is a lot more than merely sleeping, though. Depending on the species, it can range from long, deep unconsciousness to light spells of inactivity. Bears, for instance, are the most common species that go into hibernation. Get to know some more animals that love a cosy nap.
Fat-tailed dwarf lemur
Found in the dry forest areas of western and southern Madagascar, these nocturnal creatures love a long nap — they hibernate for about six months, during which they live off the fat from everything they ate in the warmer months and stored in their tails. It is not uncommon to find them curled up in groups, in the comfort of shelters such as a hollow tree.
Hedgehogs
Much like bears, wild hedgehogs spend their waking months focused on getting plump for the winter. This spiny creature goes into a kind of hibernation known as torpor, during which it lowers its body temperature to match the surrounding temperature. While in this state, the hedgehogs’ movement is limited for the six of seven months that it spends hibernating. It prefers hibernating by burrowing into dry, sheltered areas or beneath sheds, in old rabbit holes, or even in piles of compost.
Ground squirrels
These furry creatures prefer to hide underground rather than on trees. Not all ground squirrels hibernate, but the ones that do like to stay in their underground homes for their winter rest. When they are asleep, their body temperature, heart rate, and breathing decreases drastically, thereby slowing down their metabolism. They wake up occasionally when the weather is warm and may scurry out of their tunnel for a short time.
Prairie dogs
Did you know that these creatures aren’t really dogs, but rodents that are the size of a rabbit? While they curl up with their families in their underground tunnels throughout the year, they stay “home” even more during winter. Like the ground squirrel, they don’t fully hibernate but slow down during winter. They come out during the day to gather food and go into a state of torpor at night, when their heart rate and metabolism become lower.
Tag, you’re it!
Fun and fitness meet when you go outside and play. But, first, can you spot all the outdoor games hidden in the grid?
Beating boredom is easy if you enjoy playing outside with your siblings and friends. Moving around outside keeps you engaged, entertained and helps build your physical fitness as well. Many of these outdoor games are time-tested favourites. Chances are, your parents grew up playing them as well. Can you look for them in the grid?