Avsnitt
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Stephen Hawking and his daughter Lucy Hawking forayed into writing a science-fiction book series for young kids. This book (George's secret key to the universe) is the first of the series. The plot involves two young children traveling in space involving a mixed bag of adventures. The authors have also incorporated many images from NASA's repository to bring real science into the hands of the young.
In this episode, four primary schoolers joined us to share their opinions of the book as well as creative ideas of how they would explore space if they had a chance.
If you are looking for a new book to pick up for your 7-11 year old, this might be it. Listen to the full episode to find out more.
Co-hosts: Manisha Maheshwari (educator, Mumbai), Devansh (Kolkata), Prakriti (Mumbai), Smyan (California), Nayra (Mumbai)
Additional links / references
1. About Stephen Hawking
2. About Lucy Hawking
Read our newsletter for kids about current affairs
Support our podcast by buying us a cup of coffee
Send us your thoughts and comments via email to [email protected]
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When sixth grader Sophia came home with a sullen face from school, her mother Pilar Schiavo was busy contesting California's State Assembly elections. Sophia was so overwhelmed by the volume of work expected of her that she requested her mum to ban all homework if she got elected.
Pilar did win the election. She also remembered her daughter's trauma. Keeping these in mind, she has formulated a bill for the State to pass - a bill that mandates limiting homework or altogether banning it, in certain cases.
For more details on this homework ban, read our newsletter
Others
To enrol in our writing courses for children aged 7-15, check out the details here
To support this podcast and keep it ad-free, please donate here.
If your child would like to co-host an episode on this podcast channel, please register here.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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Food technologist and communications expert Sarika Singh speaks with Nayra (5th grader) and Shambhavi (10th grader) about foods that help kids gain height, improve their immune system, and whether having junk food is all that bad in childhood.
Resources
1. Book - Eat Right 4 Your type
2. Sarika's website - communications101
3. Listen - why bournvita and complan are unhealthy for kids
4. Indian Academy of Paediatrics - height and weight chart for children
5. National Library of Medicine - nutrition and water requirements for children and adults
Support this show - Donate to keep this podcast free of ads and support the production of this show
Reach out to us with your questions and comments via email at [email protected]
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A food blogger on Instagram raised alarm bells about the so called 'health' claims made by drinks aimed towards the young. Following this, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India directed these companies to remove these claims from their labels.
Joining us in this episode is Sarika Singh, a communications expert to discuss what's wrong with their health claims.
Child guests: Nayra (5th grader, Mumbai) and Shambhavi (10th Grader, Delhi)
Additional references
1) Read: Article in Economic Times on why Bournvita lost its health status
2) Video: How to read nutrition labels on drinks
3) Writing Course for kids - details (for any queries, drop us a note via email at [email protected])
4) More on Sarika Singh - her website and her podcast - Communicate 101 - speaking writing tips
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Exactly one year ago, on this day, India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission landed its Vikram lander and the Pragyan rover on the South pole of the moon. To commemorate this historic event, India declared that it would celebrate National Space Day every year, on Aug 23rd. When the lander and the rover touched down on the moon, India held the distinction of being the ONLY country ever to have achieved landing on the moon’s south pole. This was a far cry from its early days when India's space scientists began work in a fishing hamlet with a bicycle and an old school for their factory. But one man’s vision, one man’s perseverance and one man’s dedication is what started it all. His name was Vikram Sarabhai. Tracing India’s space journey through history, we had earlier put out an 8-part podcast series.
Recommended listens
a) Part 2 of this podcast series on India's space journey
b) SpaceX to destroy the International Space Station in 2030 - Why
Recommended reads
a) Pictures and blog on India's space journey
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On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stepped foot on the moon. 2024 marks 55 years since this achievement. A forgotten astronaut was a part of this mission and we speak about his role and contribution to this mission.
Since the 1970s, there has been a lull in space missions - the kind that sends more people to the moon. However, things have started getting hotter again and NASA is working towards resuming moon-landing missions. We speak about what has prompted this change of heart.
Child co-host: Abhir Ghalke (7th grader, Mumbai)
Recommended listens
a) The story of how India's space missions began
b) Innovations made by Indian school children
c) How Jacky ran 104 marathons in 104 days
Check these out
a) Creative Writing Course for Kids - look up here or drop us a note at [email protected]
b) Support our show to keep this podcast channel ad-free for children
c) Subscribe to our weekly newsletter for free 'The Lighter Side'
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China's taken a giant leap in the world of electric cars, racing far ahead of most countries. More than half of the cars on its roads run on electric batteries, not on petrol or diesel.
US does not want any electric cars from China entering its country. Why?
Cohosts: Primary schoolers Advik (Chennai) and Smyan (USA) try to find the answer to this question.
Recommended listens by Advik and Smyan
1. Wheat and Lemon - why are their prices hard to reckon?
2. Harry Potter book review
3. Queens who ruled India - the story of Keladi Chennamma defying Aurangzeb
More reads on electric cars
1. How China leads the world on electric cars
2. US imposes high taxes on electric cars from China
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Greece leads the parade and the host country is the last to join the parade, every Olympics. In the last two Olympics, a new contingent joined the Olympics' teams. This contingent was the penultimate to join the parade (ahead of the host country). The participants hailed from across the world and were united by a cause and a flag. Who are these participants? What cause unites them? Why do we continue to have this contingent?
Co-hosts: Anindya (9 yrs) and Agastya (11 yrs) figure out who these participants are, and how they come together to represent a common cause.
Recommended listens by Anindya and Agastya
1. How search and rescue dogs save people in earthquakes
2. Why are orcas / killer whales attacking ships
Source information for this episode
1. Trailer of The Swimmers movie on Netflix
2. Read: Why the IOC Refugee team was formed
3. Watch: Video on this year's team for the Paris Olympics
Writing course for kids
To find details about our writing course for kids to become published authors, please click here
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For the first time, a 4-year old dog called Beacon joins the official staff team of the US Gymnastics. He will play an important role in maintaining the health and well-being of the players. Can you guess how?
The co-hosts Anindya (9-yr old) and Agastya (11 yr old) pit their heads and crack this mystery.
To find details about our writing course for kids to become published authors, please click here
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To find details about our writing course for kids to become published authors, please click here
SpaceX has won a bid from NASA for one of the most challenging tasks it has ever undertaken. The whole world will be watching the skies in 2031 as SpaceX attempts to destroy and take apart the ISS. Built over more than a decade and a half, the ISS will near the end of its useful life by 2030 and may begin to disintegrate if left in space for longer than that. SpaceX will begin a careful process of bringing the ISS to rest in a deep sea point on earth, without endangering the rest of life.
Cohosts: Darsh (5th grader, Chennai) and Aadya (9th grader, Jammu)
Recommended episodes
a) India's space journey and how the Ramayan TV series was telecast
b) NASA's dart mission to change the path of an asteroid
To support this podcast, you can buy us a coffee
If you have any comments or suggestions, do write to us at [email protected]
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This month, we reviewed the Harry Potter book series along with a group of primary and middle schoolers. This review is part 6 of a 6 part series. In this episode, we ask our reviewers how different are the movies from the books.
To join our book review club, please click here.
Book review led by Manisha Maheshwari. Young book reviewers who joined us were Prakriti (10 yr), Dhruv (10 yr old), Darsh (10 yr old), Aditi (12 yr old), Viyaa (10 yr old), Rishi (10 yr old), Rusheel (10 yr old), Hrudyaansh (13 yr old), Kiaansh (10 yr old), Pravit (10 yr old), Nayra (10 yr old), Devansh (10 yr old), Smyan (10 yr old)
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This month, we reviewed the Harry Potter book series along with a group of primary and middle schoolers. This review is part 5 of a 6 part series. In this episode, we ask our reviewers what would happen if an owl came their way and dropped them an acceptance letter?
To join our book review club, please click here.
Book review led by Manisha Maheshwari. Young book reviewers who joined us were Prakriti (10 yr), Dhruv (10 yr old), Darsh (10 yr old), Aditi (12 yr old), Viyaa (10 yr old), Rishi (10 yr old), Rusheel (10 yr old), Hrudyaansh (13 yr old), Kiaansh (10 yr old), Pravit (10 yr old), Nayra (10 yr old), Devansh (10 yr old), Smyan (10 yr old)
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This month, we reviewed the Harry Potter book series along with a group of primary and middle schoolers. This review is part 4 of a 6 part series. In this episode, we ask our reviewers how different is the magical world from the real world we live in.
To join our book review club, please click here.
Book review led by Manisha Maheshwari. Young book reviewers who joined us were Prakriti (10 yr), Dhruv (10 yr old), Darsh (10 yr old), Aditi (12 yr old), Viyaa (10 yr old), Rishi (10 yr old), Rusheel (10 yr old), Hrudyaansh (13 yr old), Kiaansh (10 yr old), Pravit (10 yr old), Nayra (10 yr old), Devansh (10 yr old), Smyan (10 yr old)
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This month, we reviewed the Harry Potter book series along with a group of primary and middle schoolers. This review is part 3 of a 6 part series. In this episode, we ask our reviewers who they would rather chat with - Hagrid or Dumbledore?
For the uninitiated, Hagrid is a half-giant and half-human. He is also the Gamekeeper at Hogwarts. He is the one who reveals to Harry that he is a wizard. Dumbledore is the Headmaster at Hogwarts. He is also in many ways - a friend, philosopher and guide to Harry.
To join our book review club, please click here.
Book review led by Manisha Maheshwari. Young book reviewers who joined us were Prakriti (10 yr), Dhruv (10 yr old), Darsh (10 yr old), Aditi (12 yr old), Viyaa (10 yr old), Rishi (10 yr old), Rusheel (10 yr old), Hrudyaansh (13 yr old), Kiaansh (10 yr old), Pravit (10 yr old), Nayra (10 yr old), Devansh (10 yr old), Smyan (10 yr old)
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This month, we reviewed the Harry Potter book series along with a group of primary and middle schoolers. This review is part 2 of a 6 part series. In this episode, we ask our reviewers what they would see if they stood in front of the Mirror of Erised.
For the uninitiated, The Mirror of Erised is a a magical mirror that shows the "deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts." The word Erised is nothing but "desire" spelled backwards, as if reflected in the mirror.
To join our book review club, please click here.
Book review led by Manisha Maheswari. Young book reviewers who joined us were Prakriti (10 yr), Dhruv (10 yr old), Darsh (10 yr old), Aditi (12 yr old), Viyaa (10 yr old), Rishi (10 yr old), Rusheel (10 yr old), Hrudyaansh (13 yr old), Kiaansh (10 yr old), Pravit (10 yr old), Nayra (10 yr old), Devansh (10 yr old), Smyan (10 yr old)
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This month, we reviewed the Harry Potter book series along with a group of primary and middle schoolers. This review is part 1 of a 6 part series. In this episode, we ask our reviewers which house they would like to be sorted into, at Hogwarts.
For the uninitiated, the Hogwarts School was founded by four brilliant witches and wizards in the 10th century. Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin made up this quartet. Each of them created a house in their names and the students in each house often have similar traits or qualities as the original founders.
To join our book review club, please click here.
Young book reviewers who joined us were Prakriti (10 yr), Dhruv (10 yr old), Darsh (10 yr old), Aditi (12 yr old), Viyaa (10 yr old), Rishi (10 yr old), Rusheel (10 yr old), Hrudyaansh (13 yr old), Kiaansh (10 yr old), Pravit (10 yr old), Nayra (10 yr old), Devansh (10 yr old), Smyan (10 yr old)
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Nowhere else in Asia do we have recorded history of a line of Muslim women who governed a kingdom. The four Begums of Bhopal ruled for over 100 years. Their reign was marked by peace, good health and great education facilities. This quartet of queens owe their existence to the charisma and keen intelligence of the very first Begum - Qudsia Begum. On her husband's sudden death, a teenager Qudsia managed to marshal support from all corners, so she could ascend the throne and govern the kingdom. Her path was far from easy - she had to battle both patriarchy and religious sentiments (Islamic women as rulers was unheard of).
Saif Ali Khan is a descendant of this illustrious dynasty. Listen to the full episode for more details.
Co-host: Saatvik Seth (Mumbai)
Reference Material
1. Blog with pictures of the four Begums of Bhopal published on Svasa Life Magazine
2. Book - Women who ruled India by Archana Garodia Gupta (Amazon affiliate link)
3. Book - The Begums of Bhopal by a descendant (Amazon affiliate link)
4. Video - Begums of Bhopal on Youtube
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Rudramadevi, a warrior queen from South India made an astonishing ascent to the throne, thanks to her royal lineage. Nevertheless she faced much patriarchy and her rule was challenged from all quarters - both from inside and outside. During her rule, the Kakatiya kingdom was attacked from the North, West and the South repeatedly. She managed to thwart all invasion attempts. She strengthened the defense forces by adding to the height and thickness of the Warrangal fort. The Kohinoor diamond was mined in her kingdom and adorned the crown of the reigning deity. Much later, it was plundered by Malik Kafur and carried away to Delhi.
This episode is in the form of a game 'Serious of Joking' played by the host Sangeetha and the co-host (12-yr old Trayee). Through the course of this game, we unravel interesting facets of the queen's rule.
References
1. Book - Women who ruled India by Archana Garodia Gupta
2. Video - Indian warrior princess from the South
3. Video - Visit this fabulous fort of Warrangal - built by the Kakatiya Dynasty
4. Book - Rani Rudramadevi, a biography by National Book Trust of India
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Tribhuvana Mahadevi was a queen who ruled one of the mightiest empires in ancient India - also called Kalinga. Today, this kingdom spreads across the eastern state of Orissa in India. Her reign featured in books written in 10th century AD in Persia. She was called a Rayini (a queen) whose rule eclipsed the reigns of her contemporary neighbours (kings in India). Her name is hardly found in any history textbooks today, but her fame had spread far and wide across Asia and Europe amongst her contemporaries.
She came to power as a regent (as the heir to the throne was an infant). Her reign of over 20 years was marked by peace (she successfully fended off invasions); prosperity (she built great trade relations with kingdoms as far as Persia in the west and Indonesia in the east); religious tolerance (she donated liberally to the construction of monasteries of temples of many religious sects), and set an example for the subsequent 5 queens who came to throne from the Bhaumakara dynasty.
Co-hosts: Rusheel (5th grader, Mumbai) and Adya (8th grader, Chennai)
References
1. Book: The women who ruled India by Archana Garodia Gupta
2. Book: Amar Chitra Katha series on Warrior Queens of medieval India
3. Read: Wikipedia page on Tribhuvana Mahadevi
4. Video: On Youtube - Tribhuvana Mahadevi
5. Video: On Youtube - visit the Diamond triangle in Orissa today to see the remnants of the Buddhist monasteries
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At its height, the Mughal empire was the richest in the world. Akbar's son Jahangir ascended the throne after his death. Jahangir was addicted to opium and alcohol, amongst other things. His wife Nur Jahan won his confidence. She was a remarkable woman who managed to keep her husband away from many of his vices. Thanks to her courage and intelligence, she won the loyalty of the nobles in the court and thus wielded much power in the kingdom.
She was the only Mughal empress who issued coins in her name, imperial decrees with her signature, presided the court and took part in administration and foreign policy affairs of the state. Her excellent taste in art has left its indelible mark on Mughal architecture. She inspired one of the seven wonders of the world, in its design and use of materials. The tomb she built for her father is also called the Baby Taj, which you can find in Agra.
Co-host in this episode: Isabelle Abraham (11-yr old, Mumbai).
Reference
1. BBC video - How Nur Jahan ruled the world
2. Blog on Mughal women in maritime trade
3. Book: The Women who ruled India by Archana Garodia Gupta
4. William Dalrymple's Book Anarchy
- Visa fler