A star is born
It’s Anjum Chopra’s birthday tomorrow. Watch this video to know more about this multi-faceted woman cricketer.
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The Chinese Zodiac
There are 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. Find out which one you are.
Did you know that there are 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac? The Chinese believe that a person takes on certain characteristics based on the year he/she is born in. Do you know what your Chinese zodiac is? You can find out your zodiac, as well as that of someone you know, here!
Remember, if your birthday falls in January or February, check when the Chinese New Year for that year was. Your zodiac sign might vary depending on that.
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People born in the years 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 2004
The year of the rat is normally a leap year. People born in the year of the rat are said to be ambitious, intelligent, persuasive, sociable, charming, charismatic, shrewd, industrious, meticulous, tenacious, artistic and eloquent. Famous rats are Cristiano Ronaldo and Prince Charles.
People born in the years 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
People born in the year of the ox are known for diligence, dependability, strength and determination. Having an honest nature, they have a strong patriotism for their country, they have ideals and ambitions for life, and attach importance to family and work. Famous oxes are Vincent Van Gogh, Walt Disney, Margaret Thatcher and Barack Obama.
People born in the years 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
People born in the year of the tiger are brave, competitive, unpredictable and self-confident. They are very charming and liked by others. Famous people born in the year of the tiger include Usain Bolt, Ludwig van Beethoven and Dalai Lama.
People born in the years 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Rabbits tend to be gentle, quiet, elegant, alert, quick, skillful, kind, patient and particularly responsible. Famous people born in the year of the rabbit are Queen Victoria, Albert Einstein, David Beckham and Lionel Messi.
People born in the years 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
The dragon is the only imaginary animal in the Chinese calendar. People born in the year of the dragon are said to be gifted with innate courage, tenacity and intelligence. Dragons are enthusiastic and confident. They are not afraid of challenges, and are willing to take risks. Famous people who were born in the year of the dragon include Abraham Lincoln, Pele, Martin Luther King and Charles Darwin.
People born in the years 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
The snake represents wisdom. They are intelligent and wise. They are good at communication but say little. Snakes are usually regarded as great thinkers. Famous personalities in this zodiac year are Mahatma Gandhi, Pablo Picasso, J.K. Rowling and Muhammed Ali.
People born in the years 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
People born in the year of the horse are extremely animated, active and energetic. They love to be in a crowd, and they can usually be seen on such occasions as concerts, theater performances, meetings, sporting events, and parties. Famous people with this zodiac are Isaac Newton, Nelson Mandela, Neil Armstrong and Stephen Hawking.
People born in the years 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
People born in the year of the goat are generally believed to be gentle, mild-mannered, shy, stable, sympathetic, amicable, and brimming with a strong sense of kindheartedness and justice. Famous people born in the year of the goat are Christopher Columbus, Thomas Alva Edison, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.
People born in the years 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
People born in the year of the monkey have traits like mischievousness, curiosity and cleverness, making them very naughty. They are masters of practical jokes, because they like playing most of the time. Famous personalities are Leonardo Da Vinci and Will Smith.
People born in the years 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
People born in the year of the rooster are usually responsive, distinctive, smart and earnest. They are also extremely confident and intelligent. Famous roosters are Jennifer Lopez and Bob Marley.
People born in the years 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
People born in the year of the dog are loyal and honest, amiable and kind, cautious and prudent. Owing to a strong sense of loyalty and sincerity, dogs will do everything for the person whom they think is most important. Famous dog personalities are Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and Mother Teresa.
People born in the years 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
People born in the year of the pig are diligent, compassionate and generous. They have great concentration: once they set a goal, they will devote all their energy to achieving it. They do not hesitate to give others a helping hand. Henry Ford, Ronald Reagan and Hillary Clinton are famous personalities in this Zodiac sign.
Fancy yourself a sailor?
Fancy yourself a sailor when you grow up? Well then, you need to be able to recognise these terms
Fancy yourself a sailor when you grow up? Well then, you need to be able to recognise these terms!
1. Do you know this word? Drag the slider to your left to reveal the answer!
2. What about this word? Drag the slider to your left to reveal the answer!
3. Have you come across this word? Drag the slider to your left to reveal the answer.
4. Let’s get technical! Drag the slider to your left to reveal the answer.
5. Let’s finish with this word! Drag the slider to your left to reveal the answer.
Click here to download an activity sheet and get started with the word search puzzle!
All my friends are Wild!
How much do you know about the conservation status of wildlife around you – those that are vulnerable and threatened?
With deforestation, illegal construction on protected areas, and climate change, quite a few species have gone extinct in the last century. We can’t do anything about those, but we can do something about the ones endangered or critical. Take a look at this video for some of the species that you can connect with, and do something about…
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species is the best known worldwide conservation status listing and ranking system. It has the following classification:
It would be great to know which animals belong to which category when you go to meet them in the wild!
The world on your plate!
World cuisines have crossed cultures and we find ourselves loving our pizza and pasta more often! Here’s a taste of what’s popular.
Every country and culture has its own set of delectable dishes that people relish. Can you identify some of these signature dishes?
Scroll right to read.
Story of civilization
It’s important to understand civilisations in order to study the evolution of society. Let’s take a look at the past
The English word “civilisation” comes from the 16th-century French civilisé (“civilised”), from Latin civilis (“civil”), related to civis (“citizen”) and civitas (“city”). A civilisation is any complex society characterised by urban development, social structures and symbolic communication forms. How much do you know about the story of civilisation?
Life aboard a Space Station
Are you an aspiring astronaut or a space enthusiast? Then this article is for you!
From Tintin’s Explorers on the Moon to Star Trek, we have always been intrigued and influenced by space. Watch this short clip and explore the activity below to know a bit more!
There are a lot of terms used in connection with sky and space. We know that UFO stands for Unidentified Flying Object. Can you guess what these abbreviations/acronyms stand for? Click on the words to expand them!
If you want to become an astronomer or an astronaut, try to remember interesting terms and facts whenever possible.
Aloha!
Comment allez-vous? Get ready to meet some foreign friends.
Cómo estás? That’s ‘How are you?’ in Spanish! Did you know that there are about 6,500 spoken languages in the world?
Let’s learn some phrases from languages around the world!
Make your own music
Let’s make some music! Learn how to make your very own hand drum with simple materials
In this DIY activity, learn how to make your very own hand drum with very simple materials!
Things you will need:
Step 1:
Using a cutter and a pair of scissors, carefully cut the cylindrical container such that the cut piece is approximately 6 to 7 cm in height.
Step 2 (Optional):
Using colour paper, cover the cut piece to give it a vibrant look.
Step 3:
Poke a hole through the centre* of any side of the cylindrical cut piece. Insert a pencil in the hole, in such a way that it looks like this.
*It is very important that the hole be made in the centre of the cut piece because it will ensure proper rotation of the hand drum.
Step 4:
Poke two holes on the cut piece in such a way that an imaginary line joining the holes is perpendicular to the pencil. Refer to the image to understand where to poke the holes.
The holes must be poked through the centre of the cut piece like this.
Step 5:
Insert a ribbon through one hole, and knot the end that is on the inside of the cylinder. Repeat the same for the other hole.
Refer to the following image to understand how to knot the ribbons.
Step 6:
Slip a few beads on to one of the ribbons. When you stretch the ribbon across the open side of the cylinder, make sure that the beads can reach the centre. Knot the open end of the ribbon to ensure that the beads do not slip out.
Step 7:
Take a pair of scissors and cut off the neck of a balloon. Refer to the image to understand how to cut the balloon. Do the same for the second balloon.
Step 8:
Now, take the top part of the balloon and stretch it over the open side of the cylinder, such that it looks like this.
Step 9:
Now secure the balloons with tape.
Step 10:
Your hand drum is ready!
Now turn the pencil to make music with your new hand drum!
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Try this out at home! Make sure to use the equipment, especially the cutter and scissors, in the presence of an adult.
People of the Past
Let’s learn a little bit about civilisations of the world with this interactive memory game
A civilisation is when a group of people live as a community for a period of time. Civilisations are the building blocks of current nations.
Here is a memory game featuring some of the many ancient civilisations the world has seen over many centuries. Can you quickly match the images? Don’t forget to read more about these ancient civilisations below!
Good work!
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- Card turns
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Know more!
Greek civilisation: It is believed that the first Ancient Greek civilisations were formed nearly 4,000 years ago. Did you know that the Olympics was invented by the Ancient Greeks? They were held in honour of Zeus, King of the Gods, and were staged every four years at Olympia. The Ancient Greeks also invented the theatre. They loved watching plays, and most cities had a theatre.
Roman civilisation: Rome was founded in 753 BC by its first king, Romulus. It grew into a rich and powerful city during the next few hundred years. The Romans built a huge empire and conquered new lands, thanks to their strong army. The Roman army could march up to 40 km a day! One of the most famous buildings left by the Ancient Romans is the Colosseum – a huge amphitheatre in the centre of Rome. This is where members of the public would come to watch sporting events and games, including battles between Roman gladiators!
Mayan civilisation: The Mayans flourished from around 2600 BC. They settled in what is now modern-day Mexico. They came first before the Olmecs, the Incas and the Aztecs. No one really knows what caused the collapse of the Mayan civilisation.
Indus Valley civilisation: This civilisation belonged to the Bronze Age, dating from about 2500 BC to 1500 BC. It is one of the largest known ancient civilisations, spread across present day India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Egyptian civilisation: Ancient Egyptian civilisation existed from 3200 BC to about 500 BC. Ancient Egyptians kings were called Pharaohs and were buried in pyramids. The Egyptians saw animals as incarnations of the gods and were one of the first civilisations to keep household pets. Did you know that both Egyptian men and women wore make-up? They believed that make-up had magical healing powers.
Chinese civilisation: The Chinese civilisation is one of the longest lasting civilisations, existing from around 2000 BC. They were ruled by powerful families called dynasties. The first dynasty was Xia and the last one was Qing. The Great Wall of China was built in the Qin dynasty to protect China from its enemies and invaders from the North, especially the Mongols.
Time to move on to the next article!