FEBRUARY (FIRST) 2020 |`35

FEBRUARY (FIRST) 2020 |`35

FOUNDERVISHWA NATH

1917-2002

Things to do

Comics

ThinkingCover PageValentine's Day celebrates love—love between friends, siblings, parents and grandparents and people of all kinds. We should share our love equally.

Editor, Publisher & Printer: Paresh Nath

www.facebook.com/ChampakMagazine and https://www.youtube.com/user/ChampakSciQ

Storytime

FEbRUARY (FIRST) 2020 NO. 1015

Root Of Every Problem 4

Snake In The House 10

Birthday Party 14

Ranja The Detective 28

Water Bottle Fights Tiffin 33

Golu’s Wisdom 38

Scintillating Sapna 48

Survival Of The Fittest 54

Hidden Picture 8

Colour Me 9

Funtime 18

Maze 19

Who Am I? 26

Dot To Dot 27

Complete The Picture 32

Smart 36

That's Not Right 37

On The Radio 42

Solve It 43

Spot The Difference 51

Damru & Half Plate 13

Cheeku 24

Dadaji And Darwin Day 46

SciQ–Make A Water Xylophone 17

From Young Readers 44

Champak Creative Child Event 52

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Chaitanya

King Shersingh lion loved the sweet chirping of birds very much. He loved listening to the buzzing of

beetles and crickets. He would get lost in the melodious calls of the koel. He enjoyed the rainbow-coloured peacocks dancing with their spread feathers during the rains. The sparkle of the glowworms in the rainy nights carried him to the magic land of fairies. Bees hovering over flowers to collect nectar made him feel alive.

But now, Champakvan lay in silence. Spring and rain came and went and no one noticed. King Shersingh did not know why. He turned to minister Bhira rhino and asked, “Bhira, why is Champakvan so quiet these days?”

“Your majesty, we should ask the mynahs, koels, peacocks, peahens, beetles, glowworms, butterflies and the bees. They are the ones who make Champakvan come alive,” said Bhira.

“Then summon them to court,” said King Shersingh.

At the command of King Shersingh, Minister Bhira sent messages to Miki mynah, Pinky koel, Pogo peahen, Teetu butterfly, Rangila beetle, Bobo bee, and Chunmun glowworm to come before the king in the court.

Next day, when all were in the court, King Shersingh asked, “Miki, I am filled with

joy by your and the call of the other birds. But these days I do not hear you’ll in Champakvan. What is the matter?”

“Your Majesty, there are no trees and branches left in Champakvan for us to make our nests. We are flying to other forests in search of trees to make our nests,” said Miki.

“Your Majesty, Miki is speaking the truth. The thick trees of Champakvan

ROOT OF EVERY PROBLEM

4

have been cut down. For the birds to live and lay eggs, they require nests. And for that, they require tall trees with branches,” Minister Bhira explained.

Teetu butterfly was sitting next to Miki. Seeing her King Shersingh asked, “But what has happened to the butterflies of Champakvan. I don’t even see you.”

“Your Majesty, all greenery has vanished from Champakvan. So, we too, have gone to other forests in search of flowers, plants

and bushes,” she said shyly.

“Your Majesty, Teetu is correct. These days I cannot see any greenery anywhere in Champakvan,” said Cheeku rabbit who the king trusted.

The king turned to Rangila beetle. “Why don’t I hear the sweet humming of beetles these days?”

“Oh King, the lakes and ponds of Champakvan have dried because of no rains. Plants and creepers cannot be seen anywhere in the forest. Colourful flowers don’t bloom. That’s why my friends have gone away in search of flowers.”

Bobo bee, the queen of bees, was next. All her helper bees had gone away to other forests. “Oh King,” she began. “Bees require big, high and thick trees to make hives. For honey, we need nectar from flowers and water. But there is a scarcity of both flowers and water in Champakvan. So we too cannot survive. That’s why we are moving away to other forests.”

Blacky bear knew this was true. Every day, he went looking for honey, but had not found a single honeycomb anywhere in Champakvan. “I too have felt this. In the absence of trees, plants and creepers, it is difficult to find honey these days,” he added.

Seeing Chunmun sitting next to Bobo the King became emotional. He loved watching swarms of glowworms in the cool breeze of the night from the palace terrace. But he had not seen them for a long time. “Chunmun, I don’t see the glowworms around the palace. Where have you all disappeared?” he asked.

5

“Oh King, we like to twinkle in the cool breeze of rainy nights. My companions have gone into the deep forest in search of suitable environment,” said Chunmun.

“Pinky, I don’t hear the koel calls. I cannot even tell whether spring has arrived without your calls,” King Shersingh said sadly.

“Your Majesty, every season can be felt in a balanced environment. But because the big thick trees have been cut down, greenery is scarce, buds are not blooming, plants and creepers are not producing buds and flowers. The whole forest has become a desert. We cannot expect spring season in a desert. My friends and companions too have gone to other forests.”

Pinky’s words upset King Shersingh.

Jumpy monkey listened carefully to Pinky. “Your Majesty, this is true. With no trees, there are no branches. Pinky and her friends sing on the branches of trees. I too love jumping from branch to branch. But these days, I go straight to my room and sit there.”

The king felt a pang on hearing this. He had now realised this problem.

“Pogo, you and peahens would dance with your beautiful feathers spread out. This added splendour to Champakvan. But nothing like that happens these days.”

“Your Majesty, sadly, we too have moved to other forests in search of greenery and rain that make us spread our rainbow-coloured feathers and dance and enjoy,” Pogo said seriously.

6

Bhira had been listening carefully to all. “Your Majesty, to solve the problem we need awareness to protect our trees and plants. We need to protect the forest, its water and life, only then the birds, butterflies, beetles, glowworms and bees will come back to us from other forests.

Only then, we will be able to hear the birds singing and beetles buzzing. The calls of the koel will again fill the forest. Glowworms will sparkle the nights. Flowers will bloom and greenery will cover the earth. Butterflies will colour the forest and bees will start preparing

honey. We will be able to see peacocks and peahens dancing again. Therefore, for the protection of our environment, it is necessary for them to be with us.”

Bhira’s words moved the king deeply. He announced: “It is our duty to protect the trees and plants, the forest, water and life in Champakvan. Now, I promise to work together to bring our forest back to its greenery.”

The animals, birds, beetles and bees were happy that Champakvan would become green once more

7February (First) 2020

son

al

* Answer on the last page.

HiddenPicture

February 14 is Valentine’s Day. Find 10 hearts in the picture below.

Colour and Win Prizes

Inderjeet Kaushik

Snake In The House

The news of a snake being discovered in Abdul’s house spread like fire through the

town. Everybody wanted to know what the snake looked like and how long it was. The children were especially curious. They had no idea how dangerous a snake could be. They all rushed to Abdul’s house to look at the snake.

Abdul had two cows and sold their milk to the dairy. His wife went to deliver milk, and Abdul went to the market to get hay for the cows. The snake was in the verandah of the house. “Look at it!” exclaimed Nikhil standing at a distance. “You can see its fangs.”

“Wow! It looks like the snakes they show in the movies!” said Aarti, clapping her hands.

“If I had a flute, I’m sure I could make this snake dance,” boasted Rahul.

Their friend Sunil who was going past, saw the crowd in front of Abdul’s house and asked, “What’s the matter? Is there a problem with uncle?”

Aarti and Rahul told him about the snake on Abdul’s verandah. Just then, they heard a child crying and realised that Abdul’s children were inside the house. The snake could enter the house any minute, or the kids could come out and be in danger. Sunil realised the danger immediately and his heart began beating fast. He knew the snake had to be captured and left in the forest.

11

As he was thinking, a kitten ran to the verandah and attacked the snake.

The snake tried attacking the kitten, and the two started fighting. He knew they should ask for help when suddenly he saw Ramu kaka with a basket on his head walking towards the market.

“Ramu kaka, wait. What are you carrying in that basket?” Sunil called out.

“These are toys made of clay, dear. I’m going to sell them in the market. Tell me which one you want to have.”

“Right now, I don’t want any toys; I require the basket.” Sunil quickly explained why he wanted the basket and Ramu uncle emptied it quickly.

Sunil ran to the verandah and threw the basket on the snake. Rohan brought a heavy stone and they put that on the basket to prevent the snake from escaping.

Just then, Abdul returned. Seeing the crowd in front of his house, he ran up to the house. The others explained what had happened. “Brave Sunil trapped the snake,” the children said.

Abdul hugged Sunil. “Bravo, my dear. You’ve done a wonderful job! You saved my children’s lives.”

“It was my duty to protect them, uncle,” Sunil replied. Abdul then called the local forest officers so that they could send the snake back to the forest.

Abdul made some tea for everyone and they all waited for the forest officers to come and take the snake away

MA

NIM

ALA

JEEVA

12

Damru & Half Plate

By Shivesh Shrivastava

son

al

Damru WOrKED at tHE CHOlE-KulCHE stall run by sumbul FOx.

WHy DO WE WritE ‘HalF PlatE CHOlE FOr `30’ anD ‘Full PlatE CHOlE FOr `60’ in tHE sHOP?

HalF PlatE mEans a PlatE WHiCH is HalF anD Full PlatE is a PlatE WHiCH is Full.

OH, sO HalF PlatE mEans a PlatE WHiCH is HalF.

OKay, listEn. i am gOing sOmEWHErE anD Will rEturn WitHin an HOur. taKE

CarE OF tHE sHOP anD CustOmErs.

alrigHt, maDam. DOn't WOrry.

aFtEr sOmE timE, WHEn sumbul rEturnED tO tHE sHOP, sHE sCrEamED.

CustOmErs arE Waiting FOr tHEir OrDErs. WHy arE yOu brEaKing PlatEs HErE in tHE KitCHEn?

maDam, all tHE CustOmErs HavE OrDErED HalF PlatEs OF CHOlE. tHErEFOrE, i am

brEaKing tHE PlatEs intO HalvEs.

WHO tOlD yOu tO brEaK tHE PlatEs intO HalvEs?

maDam, yOu saiD tHat ‘HalF PlatE’ mEans HalF anD ‘Full PlatE’ mEans Full.

argHH! i mEant tO say tHat ‘HalF PlatE’ mEans OnE CHOlE-KulCHE anD ‘Full PlatE’ mEans tWO CHOlE-KulCHE. nOW, lEavE!

maDam, yOu sHOulD HavE ExPlainED tHis tO mE EarliEr! gEt Out OF HErE! yOu

ruinED nOt just HalF but my Full businEss!

Parul and Parag’s birthday was celebrated together every year lavishly, because they were twins.

But this year, there was no party. Their parents were going out of town for some work and the twins were upset.

“Does that mean our birthdays will not be celebrated this year?” asked Parul, laying her head on her grandma’s lap.

“You may not have a party this year but you can always celebrate your birthday in some other way,” said grandma.

“How so, grandma?” Parul’s eyes twinkled with excitement.

“Your parents, your uncle and I will all give you money so you can buy anything

on your birthday and celebrate it as you like,” grandma explained.

“Hurray! I can buy a new dress, a doll, and chocolates!” said Parul. But then she looked sad again.

“What happened, Parul?” asked grandma.

“I am just 10 years old. How can I go to the market alone and buy all this?” she asked.

“Don’t worry. I will go with you to the market and help you buy whatever you like,” said grandma lovingly.

A few days before their birthday, uncle, ma, papa, and grandma each gave `500 to both Parul and Parag. They were happy as now they had `2000 each.

On the day of her birthday, Parul went with grandma to the market. She bought a dress she liked, a doll and chocolates. “All these are mine and I can have them for days!” said Parul, joyfully.

Vandana Gupta

Birthday Party

Grandma was happy to see her so excited. Parag, too, had gone to the market with uncle. He returned much later and he also seemed to be very happy.

In the evening, Parag asked Parul to go with him.

“But where?” asked Parul.

“For our birthday party,” said Parag.

“What kind of party is this? There are no balloons, no frills and no friends!” said Parul.

“The party is not at our house. Just come with me,” said Parag.

“But how will we celebrate without ma and papa?” Parul was still curious.

“Come with me and you will understand everything, just help me carry these bags,” said Parag.

Parul took some bags from her brother and went with him. Parag took her to a nearby settlement where there were some labourers’ kids.

Parag placed a cake on a stool and cut it together with Parul and gave it to all the kids there to eat. Then he took out some wafers, biscuits, and toffees and offered them to the kids.

He asked Parul to open the other bag that had notebooks, pencils, erasers, crayons, and colour pencils. They distributed those to the kids too. This brought a twinkle in the eyes of the kids and it made Parul very happy.

Parul and Parag spent some time with them and returned home. Parag wished Parul for her birthday and gifted a pen to her too.

“But brother, I already bought a lot of stuff with the money that I got,” said Parul.

“That money was given by our elders but I want to give something to my dear sister too,” said Parag.

“But I have not got anything for you,” said Parul guiltily.

“It is alright, Parul. I love to give more than I like receiving anything,” Parag said.

“Yes brother, I realised this today. You really made those kids happy. But how did you get this idea?” asked Parul.

“Do you remember once when we were going to school, our maid’s son was playing outside and what he said when I asked him why he had not gone to school?” asked Parag.

15February (First) 2020

“Yes, I remember. He said that the teacher had asked him to bring a new notebook but his mother did not have money to buy one. So, to avoid scolding by the teacher he didn’t go to school,” said Parul.

“That is when I thought that whenever I have money, I would buy stationery for kids like him. So, as soon as I had money, I went with uncle to get it,” Parag told her.

“You are such a wonderful person, brother. Why couldn’t I think of something like this? But how did you manage to get all this for `2,000?” asked Parul.

“We went to the city market instead of the mall. Though it’s a little far, it’s cheaper. Uncle too contributed a little since I was doing something good,” said Parag.

“I was thinking that every year we invite

our friends who can afford to buy all this themselves, but these poor kids do not

get to eat cakes and chocolates on their own.

Why don’t we celebrate our birthday like this every year?”

asked Parul.

“It is an excellent idea and we will convince our friends also to do the same. Next time we will get school bags, pencil-boxes, story books, balls, toy cars, lunch boxes, and things like that,” Parag decided.

Parul was very happy to hear this. She ran inside and got a chocolate for Parag and wished him for his birthday.

“But you got it for yourself !”said Parag.

“I did! But I have understood how good it feels to give and share,” and Parul opened the chocolate and put it in Parag’s mouth

Husain Zamin

Happ y Valentine’s Day!Each year, love is celebrated on February 14 or Valentine’s Day. It’s the day people show their affection to another person by sending cards, flowers or chocolates with messages of love. Here are ways you can share your love:

Y Make a card and give it to your parents, siblings or friends. Check page 36 for instructions on how to make a pixilated card.

Y Tell your teachers what you like about them.

Y Get permission from your parents and go along with them to a nearby pet shelter. Spend time with the pets.

Y Make heart-shaped desserts with the help of an adult. Distribute these desserts to underprivileged kids.

Y Leave a thank you note for the postman or and helpers.

Y Write thank you notes to every member in your family appreciating them for the things they do.

Make a water xylophoneLearn how to make music with water.

How does a drum work?A drum works on the same principles as our experiment. However, there is no water in a drum to dampen the vibrations. Here, the amount of air in the drum creates the tone of the vibration because of its size. A larger size drum has more air in it compared to a smaller-sized drum. When we strike a smaller-sized drum, it vibrates with a higher pitch because there is less air in it to dampen the vibrations. Whereas, when we strike a larger drum it vibrates with a lower pitch because there is a lot more air inside the drum. We combine these different drum vibrations to make music.

comm

ons.wikim

edia.org

1. Place the glasses in a horizontal line. Fill the first glass with water up to the brim and then keep reducing the amount of water in the following glasses, ensuring the last glass has the least amount of water.

All the glasses sound different from each other when tapped. The first glass with the most water has the lowest tone and the last glass with the least water has the highest tone.

Why does sound differ in the glasses?Sound travels in waves, like the ones we see in the ocean. These waves have different properties, one of which is frequency. Frequency is the number of sound waves produced in a unit of time. For example, if a sound makes many waves in 1 second, then it is a high-frequency or high-pitch sound. Similarly, if that sound makes fewer waves in 1 second, then it is a low-frequency or low-pitch sound.In our experiment, when we hit the glass with the least amount of water, a high tone is heard. And as we hit the next few glasses till the first glass, the tone keeps on decreasing as the glass becomes fuller. This is because more water in the glass dampens the vibrations created by striking it with a spoon. The glass with the least water vibrates more and has the highest tone and the glass with the most water vibrates less and has the lowest tone. All the glasses in our experiment make different sounds, just like a regular xylophone.

l 6 glasses l Water l Spoon

2. Take a spoon, tap the first glass and listen to the sound. Tap the other glasses with a spoon and make note of the sound.

SMS us your jokes and riddles to 9619587613, or write to us at writetochampak@delhipress.in

You can also send your jokes riddles to Champak, Delhi Press, A-4, Shri Ram

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ChampakMagazine and https://www.youtube.com/ChampakSciQ

A man was buying oil from a supermarket.Man to Cashier: It is written “Cholesterol Free” on the oil pack.Cashier: Yes, sir.Man: Then give me the free “Cholesterol” with this pack.

Rishit Verma, 9 years, Dehradun

Q: What is 1+1? A: Window Because if you join ‘1’, ‘+’ and ‘1’ together, it forms a window.

Myra Gupta, 8 years, Noida

Q: Why is Cinderella bad at soccer?A: Because she’s always running away from the ball!Q: Why did the picture go to prison?A: Because it was framed!

Jasmine Panchal, 10 years, Chennai

Q: What did one eye say to the other eye?A: Between us, something smells!Q: Why do vampires seem sick all the time?A: Because they’re always coffin!

Sharva N Patil, 8 years, Mumbai

Q: Which hand is it better to write with?A: Neither, it’s better to write with a pencil!Q: What has four wheels and flies?A: A garbage truck!

Aadi Nirav Shah, 9 years, Pune

Alisha: What do you give a sick lemon?Seema: A blanket?Alisha: No, a lemon-aid!

Ananya Thakur, 12 years, New Delhi

Teacher: Why do fish live in saltwater?Shlok: Because pepper will make them sneeze.

Garima Chhabra, 9 years, Lucknow

Teacher: Didn’t I tell you to stand at the end of the line?Student: I tried but there was someone already there!

Sanath Menon, 7 years, Mumbai

Q: What gets wetter the more that it dries?A: A towel!Q: Why can’t a hand be 12 inches long?A: Because then it would be a foot!Q: Why was the math book sad?A: It had too many problems!

Prasanna Patel, 12 years, Ahmedabad

Q: Why did the teacher go to the beach?A: To test the water.

Sanya Wallia, 11 years, Bengaluru

Knock, knock.Who’s there?Nana.Nana who?Nana your business!

Meghna Shah, 6 years, New Delhi

* Answer on the last page.

Maze 2020 is a leap year, which means it has an additional day – 366 instead of 365. This happens once every four years. In

this maze, trace along the leap years to reach the finish line.

*Hint: Add four to every year starting from 2020.

Hello, kids. I am Lalu, the Red Panda. You’ve met my friend Gaga, the

Gayal in the previous issue. He must have told you about our new expedition to Sikkim. I hope you are excited to explore ‘The Land of Mystique’ with me.

You must be wondering why is it called that? It is because Sikkim is dotted with rugged mountains, dense forests, serene monasteries, lush valleys and magical waterfalls, which gives this place a quality of mystery and charming glamour at the same time. The fresh breeze here will rejuvenate one’s body and soul. The captivating beauty of Sikkim’s mysticism is worth exploring. So, let’s get started.

Sikkim is surrounded by pristine mountains and was originally known as ‘Nye-mae-el’ or ‘heaven’.

Here is a fun fact: my state is located at a distance, unlike the other seven states in the north east which share a contiguous or touching border. This results in some kind of interdependence on each other. Therefore, it is called the only brother

among seven sisters.

The Blossoming Charm Of SikkimIf the company of flowers or simply being surrounded by them

The land of MystiqueSikkim

makes you happy then Sikkim is the right place for you. During the summer season from March to May, the International Flower Festival is organised in Sikkim. You can see the most ravishing flowers, orchids, and many such colourful flowers. And if you are an orchid lover, then it will be a true delight for you as my state houses more than 500 types of orchids and many species of trees and ferns.

There is also an orchidarium to protect the species. Along with that coffee, mangoes, oranges, guavas and olives are also grown here. And guess what there is also an ‘Orchid Sanctuary’, near the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, where you will see a wide variety of orchids in one go.

Glide Away With The Birds Sikkim is also a winged paradise with over 500 different types of birds and about 690 species of butterflies.

Did you know? Sikkim has about one-third

of the total angiosperms found in India?

Fact-O-PedialThe state bird of Sikkim is the Blood Pheasant.lRed pandas, the state animal of Sikkim have an

extra thumb for feeding and climbing.lNathula Pass of Sikkim was once part of the

Silk Route. This is also an optional route from India to the Kailash Mansarovar in Tibet.

lThe famous Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP) was declared as India’s first “Mixed World Heritage Site” on UNESCO World Heritage List in 2016. It is also considered as one of the widest altitudinal ranges worldwide.

lSikkim has become India’s first Organic State through the shared and continuous efforts in organic farming by the various communities.

lThe beautiful Rhododendron niveum is the state tree of Sikkim.

So, if you are a passionate birdwatcher; then what are you waiting for? Go explore the clouded horizons with the abundant fauna of Sikkim.

Ever heard a vulture with a beard? I guess not. Well, here you will find a species of the unique bearded vulture who also has extraordinary long wings.

The Never Ending Festive RideI hope you all know that Mt. Kanchenjunga in Sikkim is the third highest mountain in the world. The peak is also regarded as the guarding divine figure by the Lepchas, and it is worshipped annually by all the communities in Sikkim. The prayer offered to the Mount Deity is known as ‘Pang Lhabsol’, which is performed in front of the Tsuklakhang monastery, the former palace compound in Gangtok .

Unlike the other northeastern states, the festive season usually commence in Sikkim during the time of harvesting. These festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm. Dances are performed, portraying an integral part of the Sikkimese life. They symbolise and echo the vibrancy of the culture. Dances are performed on various occasions like harvests and other social events.

But what make Sikkim different from the other states is that a lot of renowned festivals here revolve around Buddhist tradition. One of the prominent Buddhist festivals is Trungkar Tsechu. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm.

Magh Sankranti, is a festival which is celebrated annually in the month of January.

Apart from that ‘Losoong’, which is the New Year festival of the Bhutias, is also celebrated two days before the international new year. So, if you wanted to start your new year in a unique northeastern way then it is the perfect place for you.

Time To Create Your ItineraryMonasteries and Temples Sikkim could be considered as the center of Buddhism. There are various Gompas, temples and monasteries that you would love to explore with your family and friends. In case you are wondering for an ideal souvenir, I suggest that you should buy the ‘Thankas’, religious scrolls that are usually hung on Buddhist houses and temples. They are not only considered sacred but their positive energy drives the negativity away from your home.

Did you know? The Singshore Bridge in Pelling is the second

highest suspension bridge in Asia. It also gives a great view of the beautiful valley, serene

mountains and green hills.

Also, there are many other temples and pilgrimages dedicated for other religions as well.

There is also Siddheswar Dham, which is situated in Solophok hilltop where a gigantic statue of Lord Shiva stands in all its might. The statue is surrounded by the replicas of Chardham Hindu Temples.

The Rumtek Monastery, near the capital Gangtok, is also popular for an interesting artefact—the ‘Black Hat’, which is covered in gold and diamonds.

Yuksom Situated in Western Sikkim, Yuksom is the perfect place for breathtaking treks into the Himalayas. It is also called the ‘Meeting place of Three Lamas’. Here you can also visit the oldest monastery of Sikkim, the Dubdi Monastery.

Pelling If exploring the pristine Himalayan Range is in your bucket list then Pelling is the right place for you! It will give an excellent view of the Himalayas and the Kanchenjunga Peak. The soothing wintry wind will make your stay worth all the trouble.

Temi Tea Garden It is the only tea garden in Sikkim, which produces about 1 lakh kg of tea every year by using organic methods. The estate is located in Ravangla and considered as one of the best places for village tourism.

Nathula Pass It reopened in April 2006, connecting Lhasa in Tibet to India. It has been economically beneficial for the local communities as it attracts a great number of tourists. This mountain pass was an ancient pilgrim centre and also a famous trade route.

Make sure you visit Tsomgo Lake, popularly known as the Changu Lake! It is one of the highest lakes in India with an altitude of 12,400ft. Also, visit Lachung/Yumthang and Valley/Zero Point as all these places are known for their striking beauty and mesmerizing view. Oh...there is Namchi, Ravangla, Zuluk, Uttarey, Rinchenpong and Kaluk and so many more places that I would love to discuss with you. The best time to visit Sikkim is either between March and May or October and mid-December and reaching there is very easy as almost all the modes of transportations are available to visit Sikkim.

Kids, I hope you have learnt a lot about my state and are curious to know more. Visit us soon to explore more.

1) Fill in the blank : “Sikkim is called the only brother

among seven sisters because it does not share a _____________ with other northeastern states.

a) Contiguous border b) Siliguri Corridor c) McMahon Line d) Sino-Indian border

2) Sikkim is originally called the a) Losoong b) Nye-mae-el c) Trungkar d) Pang Lhabsol

3) The Orchid Sanctuary is situated near a) Khangchendzonga National Park b) Trungkar Tsechu c) Namgyal Institute of Tibetology d) Mt. Kanchenjunga

4) The annual prayer offered to the deity at Mt. Kanchenjunga is called

a) Pang Lhabsol b) Thankas c) Nye-mae-el d) Losoong

5) Match the following: a) Pang Lhabsol i) Padma Sambhava b) Losoong ii) Kanchenjunga c) Magh Sankranti iii) New Year festival d) Trungkar Tsechu iv) Hindu festival

Let’s play this fun quiz to revise our knowledge of Sikkim. The first 100 entries, including entries from Hindi, English, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada magazines, together will get an annual

subscription of Champak free. So, hurry up, what are you waiting for?

Mail your answers with your contact info at writetochampak@delhipress.in

Don't worry kids, the journey is not over yet. In the next issue, we will travel to Tripura—The Land of Fables, legends and folklore—with my good

friend Pakhi, the Pigeon and it is going to be a fun ride.

6) Which among the following is the India’s first “Mixed World Heritage Site” on UNESCO World Heritage List?

a) Khangchendzonga National Park b) Nathula Pass c) Rumtek Monastery d) The Deer Park

7) Which among the following is the correct definition of ‘Thankas’?

a) They are religious scrolls hung on temples and houses.

b) They are the replicas of Chardham Hindu Temples.

c) They are handmade Sikkimese paper with motifs.

d) They are the portraits of Lord Buddha meditating.

8) Which among the following is called the ‘Meeting place of Three Lamas’?

a) Yuksom b) Pelling c) Tsomgo Lake d) Kaluk

9) Match the following: a) Baba Harbhajan Singh i) Hot Spring b) Yuksom ii) Highest lakes c) Yumthang iii) Hero of Nathula d) Tsomgo Lake iv) Meeting place of

Three Lamas

10) Among the following places which was once a part of the Silk Route?

a) Pelling b) Zero Point c) Tsomgo Lake d) Nathula Pass

BY DAS

Cheeku and Bittu were playing On the ground.

He’ll come. He must have got stuck somewhere.

Meeku WAS caught by cat.

So, what are you going to do now?

Once you let me go, I’ll show you

what I can do.

another cat walked towards them.

What is taking Meeku so long?

No chance! now, YOU'RE MINE TO FEAST!

There is no one around! who will save me?

Let me hide this mouse in my pocket before this cat snatches it from me.

Did you catch anything?

I THINK It’s coming from that side.

I can smell a mouse here.

No.

While the other Cat walked away, Meeku found a mobile in cat’s pocket.

Both of them swIng on the tree BRANCHES to

reach the BIG banyan tree.

Bittu LANDs right on top of the cat.

Meeku jumps out.

Let me send Cheeku an SMS

from this mobile.

sEE! MEEKU SENT ME A MESSAGE! hE is trapped in cat's pocket near the BIG Banyan tree.

Let’s hurry!

I feel like Tarzan.

There he is! we have to catch cat.

Could you not find another

place to LAND?

He LANDED ON YOU SO THAT WE COULD TRAP YOU. Meeku, we are here, you

can come out now!

do you KNOW what I DID TO GAIN FREEDOM

FROM YOU?

He used your mobile to SMS us your location.

WHAT? wHEN?

Now you will do sit-ups while BITTU

counts to 100.

Your time starts now!

Answers: Who am I?

1. Clock 2. A cold 3. Spider 4. Carpet 5. Coin

Answers: How Much Do You Know? 1. A 2. C 3. B 4. D

1. Food wrapped in newspaper is likely to get contaminated with A) Lead B) Iron C) Aluminum D) Copper

2. Which one of the following produces seedsbutnoflowers? A) Cashew Nut B) Coffee C) Ground Nut D) Pine

3. Which two parts of the body continue togrowforyourentirelife? A) Hair and lips B) Nose and ears C) Hands and legs D) Knees and elbows

4. Which nutrients are most likely to be affected by food processing andstorage? A) Carbohydrate B) Fats C) Proteins D) Vitamins

1. I have hands, But I cannot clap. I have a face, ButIcan’tsee Who am I?

2. You can catch me, Butyoucan’tthrowme. Who am I?

3. I can jump, and I can climb. With my many legs, I swing from tree to tree. I can make a house much bigger than me. Who am I?

4. I’msoftandhairyfromdoortodoor. I’mthepetthatalways staysonthefloor. Who am I?

5. I have a head and a tail, But no arms and legs. Who am I?

Join the dots according to the numbers and complete the picture.

27February (First) 2020

28

S.Varalakshmi

Ranja wolf grinned at his reflection in the mirror. With his long overcoat, hat and magnifying glass,

he looked like a real detective.

His first assignment came when Jola donkey knocked on his door. Excited, Ranja opened the door and ushered a worried Jola in. “My child Gazo is missing. He fought with me and ran off. Could you..?”

Cutting her short, Ranja said, “Say no more. I will find him in no time.”

“Be careful. Gazo is frightened of strangers,” Jola warned.

But Ranja did not listen and dashed outside.

After a while, he came to a narrow lane. He peered through his magnifying glass, just like they did in the movies. Sure enough, there were hoof marks.

Jumping excitedly, he cried aloud, “Yahoo!”

With head bent, he followed it and came near a bush. With his magnifying glass, he saw something dark and hairy at the edge.

Curiously, he pulled it and to his shock,

received the kick of his life.

With a scream, he fell back.

To his surprise, he found Gazo peering from behind the bushes.

He looked scared out of his wits for Ranja had unknowingly pulled at his tail.

Just then, Ranja heard somebody laugh.

It was Chimpy rabbit.

Chimpy said, “Don’t you know the rule, Mr Detective? Never stand..I mean..never bend behind a donkey. Especially a scared one at that.”

Angry and embarrassed, Ranja did not say anything.

Ignoring Chimpy, Ranja reached towards a frightened Gazo who ran away braying loudly.

Worried about losing him, Ranja too ran behind him shouting,

“Gazo, come back.”

More laughter rang out from behind him.

Breathless, Ranja caught up with Gazo and brought him under control.

Ranja the Detective

29February (First) 2020

Then he took him to Jola’s house.

Elated, Jola said, “Thanks to you, my baby is back with me, safe and sound. I was really worried. He is very timid, you know.”

Ranja felt his sore face and thought about the kick. Timid was hardly the word to describe Gazo! But he kept mum.

With agony, he plastered a smile on his face and lied, “Yes, he is the best baby in the whole world.”

Jola then handed over a `20 note and said, “This is all I have. Let all the goodness in the world come to you for what you have done for me.”

Ranja’s smile faded. `20? He was expecting at least `200 for all the trouble he had taken. `20 wouldn’t even cover the medical

expenditure to treat his sore face.

But since this was his first assignment, he decided word of mouth may get him more jobs and hence more money. So he reluctantly accepted.

After few days, Porky porcupine met him. “I heard from Jola that you are a fine detective…”

“My fee is `200,” said Ranja firmly, before Porky could say any more. Surprised, Porky agreed. “My baby

Keera is missing since morning. Please find her for me.”

Now Ranja was worried. Would a baby porcupine be safe to handle? Also, why were children going missing all the time? Oh well, good for business, he thought.

He left the house, and began shouting for Keera. “Keera, Keera, where are you?” He also made use of his magnifying glass.

“I’m sure Keera is big enough to spot without the magnifying glass!” It was Chimpy again, mocking Ranja.

“I don’t need your smart remarks!” Ranja said hotly.

“Mere observation, my dear Ranja,” Chimpy said with a smile.

Ranja stomped off angrily.

Hours later, tired and frustrated, he wondered aloud, “Where is that baby? She can’t really be one if she had run away this far.”

30

Then he caught sight of a tree with a hollow underneath it.

Frowning, he wondered whether Keera was in it. He decided to take a look.

He sat down near the hollow and put his hand into it. The next moment, he got the shock of his life. His hands felt as though they had been pricked by thousands of sharp needles.

“Aahhhhh!” he screamed, pulling his hand out.

A tiny nose poked out from the hollow, and a little squeak could be heard.

“Keera?” exclaimed Ranja, unable to believe his eyes. The baby squealed again. “Well, I should be the one squealing!” exclaimed Ranja angrily.

Hearing the angry tone, Keera raised her quills again.

“That’s definitely not how you speak to a porcupine,” said Chimpy. “And that’s not how you search in a hollow!”

“Why are you following me everywhere?” Ranja was furious.

“Well, you screamed so loudly, I came to see if I could help!”

Ranja glared at Chimpy. “You had better pacify that child,” said the rabbit.

“She’s no child!” began Ranja hotly.

“You’re behaving childishly!” exclaimed Chimpy.

Ranja gave up arguing and bent down. He cooed at Keera, who immediately put her quills down and came to him. Ranja was able to pick her up and spoke lovingly to her. He took the baby back to Porky. When he gave her back, Keera began to cry, not wanting her new friend to leave!

“There is no fee for this,” said Ranja, when Porky tried to pay him.

“Was she well behaved?” asked Porky.

Ranja showed his bandaged hand to Keera and said jokingly, “Finding this naughty child was a dream come true or should I say...a nightmare.”

His smile faded when Chimpy said mischievously, “Before you get too cosy with this job, I heard Gazo is missing again!”

p s babu

February (First) 2020

Parts of this image have been left blank. Look at the picture, complete it and then colour it.

32

As soon as Rohan put his school bag down and went to wash his hands, Water-bottle and Tiffin-

box started arguing.

“Stay away from me, or else…,” said Tiffin-box.

“Or else? What can you do? Tell me,” said Water-bottle, challenging Tiffin.

“Or else I’ll throw you down! Can’t you see how strong I am?”

“I’m not weak either. If I crash into you, you’ll be in a sorry state,” replied Water-bottle.

“Arguing again?” asked Bag. “How many times have I told you these fights serve no purpose. Only you will be harmed!”

Neither Water-bottle nor Tiffin-box paid any attention. They continued fighting. This was nothing new. Bag and Pencil-box had tried explaining that fights were pointless, but they soon gave up. Water-bottle and Tiffin-box simply kept on fighting.

Manoj Roy

Water Bottle Fights tiFFin

One night, when everyone was sleeping, Tiffin-box kicked Water-bottle. “What are you doing?” asked the angry Water-bottle. “I’ll teach you a lesson!” Saying that, Water-bottle kicked Tiffin-box! Poor Tiffin fell to the floor and hurt his back. “Ouch! That hurts!” he exclaimed.

Water-bottle laughed. “How does it feel to be kicked?” he asked.

“You just wait. I will take revenge,” said Tiffin-box. But he was hurt after the fall. His lid had fallen open and the biscuit crumbs inside could be seen.

Smelling the food, a mouse came into the room.

“Help!” Tiffin screamed. He was terrified of mice. But he didn’t know what to do.

The mouse had now come quite close, wanting to gobble up the biscuit crumbs!

Water-bottle, who had been enjoying it all so far, was also taken aback. “The mouse might hurt Tiffin,” he thought.

However, Water-bottle didn’t know what to do. Meanwhile, the cries of “Help, help!” had woken up Bag and Pencil-box.

Water-bottle told them what happened and they were all worried. “We have to do something fast!” said Pencil-box.

34

As they spoke, the mouse picked up a large biscuit crumb that had fallen out of the box. It came up to Tiffin-box and was going to bite it!

“Enough!” cried Pencil-box, rushing towards the mouse. The mouse tried to bite Pencil-box as well! “Please help! I promise I’ll never fight with Tiffin-box again!” Water-bottle pleaded Bag to help.

Bag rushed to the mouse. Seeing such a huge bag rushing towards it, the mouse got frightened. Water-bottle also ran towards the mouse from another direction. The mouse found that it was being attacked from all around! “You are troubling my friend Tiffin-box,” shouted Water-bottle, kicking the mouse.

The mouse squealed and ran out of the window!

“Ha ha! That’s what you get for troubling Tiffin-box!” shouted Water-bottle.

Everyone looked at Water-bottle in amazement. “I’m sorry, dear Water-bottle. I had no idea you loved me so much!” said Tiffin-box.

“We argue and fight, but that doesn’t mean we will allow someone else to threaten us,” said Water-bottle, smiling.

“That’s right. I’m glad you both have realised this. Now sleep, before another mouse arrives!” said Bag, and everyone laughed

February (First) 2020

am

alg

am

atio

n g

ra

phic

s

35

This Valentine’s Day, make a pixilated heart using chart paper. You will need:White and pink chart papers, scissors, tape and pencil

How to make:

Valentine's Day Greeting

3. Horizontally pass pink strips through the slits to

form the shape of the heart.

1. Fold the white chart paper in half. Cut strips

of equal sizes on the fold without cutting the edges.

2. Using pink chart paper, cut long strips

of equal sizes.

Try making this yourself at home! Send your creations to us at writetochampak@delhipress.in or take a photo and send it to us at +91 9619587613

5. Once you get the shape, secure the strips with tape at the back and cut

out excess. 6. Stick this pixilated

heart on a card and give

it to your loved one.

Your Valentine's Day

Greeting is ready!

4. For the widest part of the heart, pass a pink strip from one side to the other

without looping it. For the curves, pass the strips through the right and left

slits except the centre.

Some things in this picture are not right. Find out what they are.

Golu elephant was enjoying his bananas when his friends Zebu zebra and Honey deer arrived and said, “Come

Golu, let’s play.”

“Yes, let’s. What shall we play today?” asked Golu.

“The weather is pleasant and cloudy. Let’s play catch me if you can,” suggested Honey.

Just then, Sona duck and Casty tortoise arrived.

“This is not the time to play! We have just heard on the news that in the next one or two days, heavy rains and thunderstorms are expected in our forest,” said Sona.

“Golu, last year when it rained heavily, remember that the low lying areas of our forest were under water. Trees also fell due to the storms, which led to big losses,” said Casty.

“Yes, you are right. We should do something so that we don’t face such loss again!” said Golu.

Vandana Gupta

Golu’s Wisdom

“Golu, your father is the king of the forest. Tell him and he will take care of everything,” suggested Zebu.

“That’s the problem. He has some work and is not in the forest for a few days,” Golu replied.

“Now what can we do?” asked Honey, worried.

“We will definitely do something,” said Golu. “Let’s go to Prime Minister Gingy Rhino.”

They all went immediately to Gingy. “Gingy uncle,” began Golu. “Heavy rains and thunderstorms are expected in our forest.”

“How do you know?” asked Gingy, looking at the clouds with a worried look.

“It was on the news a while ago,” Sona said.

Before Gingy could think of anything, Golu said, “Uncle, shall we set up relief camps in the upper areas of the forest

and shift the residents of the lower areas there to safeguard them?”

“That’s a very good idea. I will get people working on it immediately,” Gingy said.

“We will also help you,” said the kids and joined Gingy.

In the next two days, the animals living in the lower areas were shifted to the relief camps in the upper areas.

Golu and his friends helped Gingy a lot. By the time the job was done, it had started to drizzle. Soon, the drizzle became a heavy shower. It rained heavily for two days. Right through that, Golu kept visiting the camps to check if the food and other arrangements were in place and that nobody had any troubles.

After two days, the rain stopped and the sky cleared. Golu’s friends were happy. “Come Golu. Let’s play today!”

39February (First) 2020

“It’s still not time to play,” said Golu. “We have some work left.”

“Work? But everyone is safe. The sky is clear. What is left now?” asked Zebu.

“When I visited the relief camps, some of the animals told me that their friends were missing. But because of the rain, I couldn’t do anything. But now that the weather is good, we need to find them. Who knows where and in what condition they are in!” said Golu.

First, Golu asked the crows to help. “Fly in different directions. See if anyone is stuck anywhere and tell us,” he instructed them. Then he and his friends went to hunt for the missing people.

After walking for some distance, Golu came across a place filled with water. In the middle of that was a squirrel sitting on a stone,

shivering. “Sona, in so much water, we don’t know where there could be stones and pits, so I can’t go there. Since you know how to swim, you go and bring the squirrel,” said Golu.

Sona immediately got into the water and reached the squirrel. The little creature was wet and shivering and seemed to have a fever. “Come, sit on my back and I will take you to safety,” said Sona, and the squirrel could barely climb on.

In no time, Sona was back to her friends with the squirrel. Golu picked up the squirrel with his trunk and placed her on his back. They went to Dr Babloo bear who was taking care of people in the relief camp.

Babloo immediately examined the squirrel. “There is no need to worry. She has a fever because she got wet. And because she has had no food or water, she is very weak. By tomorrow, with food, water, and medicine, she will be a lot better.”

Just then, Kaku crow flew in. “There are people stuck on the cliff near the old banyan tree,” he said. “They are wet and scared.”

“How many are stuck there?” asked Golu.

“Maybe 20 or 25,” replied Kaku.

“They may be in the same condition as squirrel. Till the water settles, we will not be able to bring them here. So we will have to take food, water, medicines, and warm clothes to them,” said Golu.

Immediately, the eagles and crows took those items to the people on the cliff. That was a huge relief to those who were

stuck. For the next three or four days, Golu made sure that food items were sent to the cliff regularly. Meanwhile, everyone was taken care of in the relief camp as well.

Finally, the water level went down and all the animals were rescued. Golu got the entire place cleaned. Dr Babloo made sure everyone was vaccinated against diseases spread by infected water. People started moving back to their homes, and were advised to boil water before drinking.

King Gajraj also returned to the forest and heard about the entire incident. “Golu, I have heard about how, in my absence, you and your friends carried out the relief work during the floods. I am proud of you.” Golu smiled and hugged him

41February (First) 2020

Arising pubtech solutions

February (First) 2020

On The Radio RJ Jumpy is celebrating World Radio Day on February 13. He wants to test your knowledge about

the radio. Be his guest and answer his questions.

* Answer on the last page.

Paste your photo here

Write your answer here

Write your answer here

1. Reginald Fessenden, an inventor, transmitted the

world’s first voice message in 1906. He did it on a day before a festival where we share sweets, sing carols and get gifts. Can

you guess the day?

2. At the time of tragedy, when a large ship was

sinking in the ocean, it used radio signals to reach nearby ships and

call for help. Soon after this, as part of the safety rules, it became compulsory

to use the radio on ships. Do you know which ship was

sinking?

Paste your photo here

* Answer on the last page.

Solve It Match the animals with their ancestors.

A

B

D

C

E

BonusGuess the

names of the

ancestors!

1

2

4

3

5

Delisha J Joshi 5 years, Mumbai

Akshiti Dingoeia 12 years, Gujarat

Janak Sharma 7 years, Jaipur

SunThe bright and shining sun

Shines bright in the field of wheat and rye,Colourful flowers dance in joy,

Soft and furry lamps frisk,along with little girls and boys,

and as the night appears;the sun’s rays disappears!

R. Sahana9 years, Chennai

SpaceThe super sciences of space,

Are excitement to the human race!It’s hard to keep note of the asteroids,

planets and stars,Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, and Mars!

Is there water or life, we don’t know,So, we can just consider and bow,To the wonders that lie out there,

And enjoy them, as they are!Imagine whizzing through the starlight and

the blue moon,Keeping rockets in the perfect gear,

it’s the greatest boon!Take a left from Mars and

you’ll be hanging on to rings of Saturn,Next you know you’re taking your second right to Jupiter,

Pluto will teach against vices and anger!Be good residents to the Milky Way,

And one day, the planets will come to you!Anusha Shukla

10 years, Jabalpur

facebook.com/ChampakMagazine

writetochampak@delhipress.in

youtube.com/ChampakSciQ

9619587613

Send us jokes, riddles, drawings or stories with your full name, age and address to:Delhi PressA-4, Shri Ram Industrial EstateWadala, Mumbai-400031

Calendar made by our reader,

Vaishnavi Goyal, 12 years, West

Bengal

We cannot return your

work, so you might want

to keep a copy.

Tarunjit Singh10 years, Punjab

R. Narendra Prasad 14 years, Tamil Nadu

FriendshipOnce a cat was caught in a hunter’s net. The hunter tied it near a tree and went for a walk. A mouse who lived nearby, saw the cat and started playing around it. Soon, he saw a mongoose who wanted to chase him. He got scared and suddenly he saw an owl sitting on a tree who also wanted to catch him. The mongoose was carefully watching the mouse while the mouse was lost in thought. “When the hunter takes away the cat, the mongoose will not spare me and the owl too. What should I do to save my life?” Suddenly, the mouse got an idea. He went to the cat and said, “I can cut the net if you promise to save my life from the mongoose and the owl.” The cat agreed. The mouse started biting the net slowly and freed the cat. Just then the hunter returned. Seeing the hunter, the mongoose and owl fled. The cat and mouse too ran away to safety leaving the hunter very disappointed. A few days later, the cat visited the mouse’s house to thank him for helping him. The mouse replied, “I sought friendship and saved you to save my life.”

Suhas Pratiek.k11 years, Bellampalli

Fish SellerMackerels, Mackerels

Buy one for ten.Clean it and cut it and

Make a good curry.Fry some for supper

Keep some for breakfast.All your sons andAll your daughters

Like the taste of mackerels,Now, buy ten for hundred.

Jose Prasad10 years, Kasargod

By Vivek ChakravartyDadaji and Darwin Day Riya and Rahul were studying. Dadaji was sitting nearby.

The ancestors of humans are apes.

Are you studying or reading jokes?

Why do you think I'm reading jokes?

You just said that the ancestors of humans are apes.

It's written in my textbook. But how's

that possible?

This is a fact, Riya. Humans descended from apes. Charles Darwin, in his book 'Origin of Species,' described the theory of evolution and explained how humans have

descended from their ancestors who were apes.

Dadaji, what else did he explain?

Dadaji AND RIYA BURST OUT LAUGHING.

son

al

Using his theories, Charles Darwin busted the myth that life originated on earth due to GOd Creation, or from extraterrestrial sources or outer space.

Did people believe that life on earth came from other planets?

Yes, but Darwin explained that all species of life on earth have evolved from a single CELL.

That's not all. Darwin also said that the species that continue to survive through time are neither the strongest nor the smartest. THey ARE THOSE

WHO CAN BEST adapt to the changing environments.

Dadaji, LIKE THE dinosaur WHO THOUGH

WERE BIG, COULD NOT ADAPT TO THE CHANGING EARTH.

You're right! And due to Darwin's immense contribution, his birthday, February 12, is observed as Darwin Day.

Yes, WITHOUT HIM WE WOULD NOT KNOW THAT RAHUL IS RELATED TO MONKEYS!

Mallika Sukumara

Sapna was the monitor of class 7A. She was active and chirpy as a parrot. Ever willing to lend a helping

hand to her classmates, she was the joy of her class.

Anyone who had any issue or wanted to solve any problem, came to Sapna for solution. This was because, according to Sapna, “Wherever a problem exists, the solution also exists. You just have to persist.” This earned her the tag of ‘Scintillating Sapna’.

The final exams were just two months away. It was recess time and Krisha, Hrithika, Aisha, Vaibhav, Kiran and Michael were looking tense. Sapna, who

had just finished some work that the class teacher, Ms. Fernandes, had given her, walked into class. “What’s up? Has the sky fallen or is there going to be a tsunami?” she asked, trying to lighten the situation.

“Sapna, Why do we even have exams? It’s so boring to study, and give exams every year,” complained Krisha.

“Yes. Sapna. What are they for? Why can’t they just give us marks for our understanding of the subject?” asked Kiran.

“That would make things so much easier for us. Also, the teachers will not have to correct so many answer papers,” said Hrithika.

Scintillating Sapna

48

Michael, who loved nature, said, “Yes. It would save so much paper. We have to think of nature conservation first, not exams.”

Vaibhav, who was a voracious reader, said, “I would be able to read so many interesting novels, rather than delve deep into the geography of hills and mountains I would never explore.”

Aisha, who loved trekking, glared at him. “I love geography. I would throw a rock at you for saying such things. The hills and mountains are so beautiful. It is interesting to know about the type of rocks, trees and the topography of regions.”

Sapna smiled at them. She said, “Oh...so that’s it. The exam monster has attacked you. That’s why you are all looking tense.”

She then sat down with them. She continued, “Ok, I have an idea. Let’s make our studies interesting.”

To this, Vaibhav said, “Nothing can make me love geography.” Aisha looked at him in anger.

Michael, who loved the subject English and also nature, said poetically,

“Take me to a park,or a playground,

Take me outside in nature,Everything is over there,

All the poetry of English,All the problems of Maths,

All the mysteries of Science,All the forts in History or

All the mountains in Geography.”

Krisha laughed and said, “He plans to

travel the world, when the exams are coming nearer!” The rest of them also started laughing and the atmosphere lightened.

“Okay, Sapna, tell us how we can make our studies interesting,” said Kiran.

“Yes. After all, studies do take up most of our time. It would be good to make it interesting,” said Hrithika.

All of them were all ears for Sapna. She was, after all, ‘Scintillating Sapna’.

Sapna said, “Look, let’s set up weekly goals for our studies. More important, let’s help each other clear doubts. None of us is an expert in all subjects, but each of us does like a particular subject more than the others.”

Krisha said, “That’s true. I like History very much.”

“So you could be the group head for History. Michael could be the head for English. Aisha shall be the group head for geography... and so on. If any of the group heads are not able to clear a particular doubt, then we shall meet and clear the doubt from the respective subject teachers,” said Sapna.

February (First) 2020

Vaibhav said, “That’s a good idea. It’s time I delved deep into my school books rather than my novels.”

Sapna announced in class about the group. She told the whole class to form different study groups, and see that no student was left out.

Each student was now filled with energy and hope. They prepared their own study charts, set up weekly goals, and looked forward to seeing each other’s progress in studies.

The teachers were also told about the study groups and they were very happy about it.

Earlier the students were looking tired, dull and tense. Now, they had got back their zest for life, all sparked by the bubbly Sapna.

Sapna said, “Let us try to understand what we read, then it makes writing the answers easier. Let’s compete with ourselves, so that we can better the marks we got in our previous exam.”

Vaibhav, who almost always got the

highest marks, said in an amused tone, “Sapna, can I get 51 out of 50?”

The rest of them laughed. Sapna also laughed. She said, “By trying to improve our own marks, at least, we won’t be trying to get each other’s throats!”

All the students in the class were very happy. “I think we do require a name for our group. What shall we call them? Any suggestions?” asked Sapna.

A voice came from a girl who usually spoke less, but loved doing Karate... “The Stress Busters.” It was Disha, who packed the last punch.

Exam fever was now lesser and all the students had written their exams with confidence and with much less stress.

The results showed a marked improvement from the previous term. They had all passed in every subject and many more students had come into the merit list. Together, they had helped each other succeed.

All the children in the class were happy. Krisha said to Sapna, “You truly are scintillating. Studies don’t seem to be

boring anymore.”

The teachers praised the class for their whole-hearted group effort in studying. ‘The Stress Busters’ group were a hit. They set an example for the other classes, who were inspired by them to form such groups in their classes too

Navya Bhupathiraju

Us and Them

Circle 10 differences you can findbetween the two pictures.SpOt the Difference

falls out, a new one grows from the layer of teeth.

Sharks can have as many as 3,000 teeth at once. They never run out of teeth even after losing up to 100 per day. In fact, they grow and use over 20,000 teeth in a lifetime.

Children are born without teeth as they eat soft food and don’t need to chew. After they get a full set of 20 milk or baby teeth, these too begin to fall, till permanent teeth take their place. This process usually takes a few years as by the ages of 12 to 14, humans get a set of 32 permanent teeth.

Unlike humans, shark pups are born with a complete set of teeth since they are carnivores (meat-eaters) and require sharp teeth to bite, tear and chew food. But baby shark’s teeth are not very strong and fall out every week. The teeth grow again quickly. Sharks have five rows of teeth in their upper and lower jaws. So, whenever a tooth

Sharks do not suffer

from cavities.

Season

7Champak proudly presents the results of the Champak Creative Child Contest Season 7.

Aliya Asif Shaikh, 9 yearsAnjuman-I-Islam’s Begum Sharifa Kalsekar

Girls English School, Primary Section, Mumbai Central

Shaikh Ayesha Sundus Wasim, 8 yearsAnjuman-I-Islam’s Begum Sharifa Kalsekar

Girls English School, Primary Section, Mumbai Central

Ansari Asiyah Saud Ahmed, 8 yearsAnjuman-I-Islam’s Begum Sharifa Kalsekar

Girls English School, Primary Section, Mumbai Central

An exciting drawing competition!

Champak Creative Child Contest was organised at Anjuman -I- Islam's Begum Sharifa Kalsekar Girls English School, Primary Section Mumbai Central. 170 students participated in the contest and enthusiastically submitted their drawings. Certificates were given to the best entries.

Shaikh Aqsa Mohd Imran, 10 years Tamseel Fatima, 6 years Sara Shahid Khan, 8 years

Joy Chirstmas is coming,The festival of cheer,

Time to celebrate withall near and dear,

It's a happy festival, full of lights and more cheer,

These are the nights celebrated without fear,

These are the nights I will rememberFOREVER AND EVER!

Sameeksha Rajesh, 9 years Bengaluru

Champak congratulates the winners and would love all our readers to participate. So grab your writing and painting material and get those creative ideas flowing. To participate look for the Champak Creative Child Contest advertisement in this issue.

Hurry!

Postal address: Champak, Delhi Press, A-4, Shri Ram Industrial Estate Wadala, Mumbai- 400031E-mail: writetochampak@delhipress.in Visit our Facebook page for updates: www.facebook.com/ChampakMagazine

Topics for next month’s wild card entry are:lLeap yearlNational Science DaylInternational Mother Language DaySend your entries on A4 size paper.

Idrishi Zainab Mohd Kasim, 12 yearsAnjuman-I-Islam’s Begum Sharifa Kalsekar

Girls English School, Secondary Section, Mumbai Central

Ansari Onaiba Mohd Sajid, 13 yearsAnjuman-I-Islam’s Begum Sharifa Kalsekar

Girls English School, Secondary Section, Mumbai Central

Khan Aisha Mohd Tasleem, 12 yearsAnjuman-I-Islam’s Begum Sharifa Kalsekar

Girls English School, Secondary Section, Mumbai Central

Champak Creative Child Contest was organised at Anjuman -I- Islam's Begum Sharifa Kalsekar Girls English School, Secondary Section Mumbai Central. 80 students participated in the contest and enthusiastically submitted their drawings. Certificates were given to the best entries.

Ansari Sulaim Mohd Zahid, 12 years Khol Taiba Arshad, 13 years Ansari Insha Mohd Husain, 11 years

Poonam Mehta

Survival Of The Fittest

It was early morning and the school buzzed with activity. The students were excited as houses were being

allotted today.

Some students were keen on getting into the Red House while others liked the captain of the Blue House. Some liked the Yellow House while others preferred Green House.

All the students of the school from classes 6 to 12 were being allotted a house.

Inter-house competitions were then held for various activities. Being a part of a successful house or being a top member was the first step to winning these competitions.

It was for this reason that the members of each house wanted to have the most

talented students in their house.

54

The students of class 6 shouted with excitement as their class teacher announced the houses.

Each house would have 10 students from a class. Raghav was chosen to become a member of Red House and that made Red House happy as he was the only student in class 6 who excelled in every activity that he participated in.

Apart from houses, the class teacher also announced a school competition. The students had to design working models based on the theories of science that they had studied.

On February 12, there would be an exhibition. The models would be judged

by experts and the winners would be announced. The class was excited to hear that trophy and cash awards would be given to the winners.

The teacher then told the class to choose their topics within two days. The groups fell silent as the students were not very familiar with each other despite being in the same class and wondered how they would go about it. They all shared their addresses and phone numbers as they would have to work on the project after school hours as well.

Raghav was the only one smiling, because he knew what he wanted to make. He suggested the Solar System, and his group agreed.

It was now time for the students to research. The teachers were helping them too.

Throughout the school, students could be seen searching for books in the library and discussing their topics.

In the evenings, they would gather at one of the member’s house and work on their projects.

This helped to encourage a team spirit among the students and they started to know each other better. Gradually, their projects started to take shape.

The month was about to end and most projects only needed the final finishing touches. One student from each group was learning about his or her project and its working in order to be able to answer questions that the examiners could ask.

55

Raghav’s Solar System was very different from all the other projects. All the planets were shown to revolve around the sun in their orbits with the help of magnets and a motor. The students had shown all the details of the planets.

Finally, it was the day of the competition. Most students did not use the buses as they had to carry their projects to school.

The school exhibition hall was decorated and each group had a table and a roll number where they had to display their projects. Each table had a power point for their projects.

As soon as Raghav switched on his project, the other students were awed. The sun and the eight planets revolving around it looked beautiful. Raghav and his friends were confident that their project would win the first prize.

The other students had made projects on topics like wind energy, solar energy and hydro electricity that spoke

about conservation of energy.

The older students had prepared beautiful working projects on gobar gas, robots, rockets, irrigation systems and rainwater harvesting—topics that were common

among the students.

The examiners entered the exhibition hall and the

Principal welcomed them and took them around.

The examiners studied each project and asked questions and moved ahead. When they reached Raghav’s table, he spoke clearly and confidently about the project, impressing the examiners.

Once all the projects were seen, it was time for the final decision.

All the students in the hall were excited and stressed at the same time. They were wondering if the examiners had liked their projects.

Finally, the Chief Guest cleared his throat and addressed the students.

“I am really happy and excited to be among you all today. It has taken me back to my school days. All of you have worked really hard on your projects. The theories of science help us in our search for truth, in expanding our logical abilities and help us make the world a better place.”

56

He continued, “Children, today is International Darwin Day. This day is celebrated to honour the famous scientist Charles Darwin on his birthday. Darwin had mentioned how natural selection was the basis of evolution of life in his book, On the Origin of Species.”

Most of the students were not aware that it was Darwin Day. They were eager to know about Charles Darwin but they were curious to know the results too!

The Chief Guest announced the results and called out the names of the first, second and third prize winners. The project that converted waste into fertiliser was chosen as the winning project. The solar energy project came second while the robot project came third. The group

members congratulated each other on their achievements.

Raghav’s group was quiet. They had been confident of winning the first prize and they thought that Raghav had impressed the examiners with his explanations.

The examiners had walked away happily from their table. Then what went wrong? They did not know how to react.

While, the class teacher was consoling the students who did not win, the Principal went to the microphone. “Children, which theory of Charles Darwin are you familiar with?”

To this all the students replied in a chorus, “Survival of the fittest”.

Ar

ising

pub

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solu

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“All those students whose projects did not get a prize should not get disappointed. Darwin has proved that only the fittest survive. If your project did not win this time, then you should find where it lacks and make it better next time. Would you like a project that is not the best to win?” All the students shook their heads.

“The bond you shared and the time that you spent with each other, the knowledge you gained from each other and the team spirit that developed among you while making the project is the biggest

reward for your efforts.” They all nodded in agreement.

“Good! Then promise that you will give your best to everything that you do. I pay my respects to the great scientist— Charles Darwin.”

The winners were given prizes by the Chief Guest after the Principal’s address.

Raghav was thinking how he should learn from his mistakes and make the best project next time. He now understood Darwin’s ‘Survival of the Fittest’

58 February (First) 2020

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Page 42: On The Radio1. Christmas Eve2. Titanic

BONUSA. Megalodon B. PlesiosuchusC. Giant Ground Sloth (Megatherium)D. Woolly Mammoth E. Doedicurus

Page 43: Solve It1. C 2. A 3. D 4. E 5. B