Teachers’ corner

  1. Start the class by playing a game which requires some physical activity. Let the students play for 15 mins or so and then ask the students how they feel. Some of the expected responses are: ‘we feel fresh’, ‘we want to play more’. Ask them to show some of the exercises/ asanas they know. Use this opportunity to revise the asanas taught in earlier levels. You can ask them to demonstrate exercises/asanas that help to relieve strain in neck, hands, wrist and eyes. To make it challenging, divide the class into two or three groups, ask one of them to name the asana and the other group demonstrates it. Allocate points to each group and reward students of that group (e.g. they get preference in the next computer lab session or get extra computer time).
  2. You can ask students if any body knows any classical dance or how to play a musical instrument. Give them an opportunity to share their talent with their classmates. Question them on how the fingers, wrist, neck and spine are used in these forms of art. Draw their attention to how computer usage strains these body parts and exercises/asanas can help overcome it.
  3. You can teach students names of different fingers and demonstrate how each is placed on the keyboard. Show them the home row and explain why it is called by that name. You can play a short game to strengthen their memory about names of different fingers. For example, mention the name and ask the students to raise the correct finger. Since students already know the Sanskrit names of these fingers (covered in Level 3), you can ask the names of fingers in both the languages.
  4. Teach the students asanas covered in the chapter that provide an exercise to balance and develop concentration. You can tell them a story that highlights the importance of concentration in every activity they do. Use this opportunity to reach out to students who have an attention problem and teach them asanas such as Pranayam that can help them in relaxing and improving concentration.
  5. Summarize the lesson and emphasize the importance of exercise and asanas to avoid strain due to computer use.

Activity

  1. TuxType: TuxTyping is an educational typing tutorial game. It give letters, alphabets as well as finger exercises to practice typing using the keyboard. Type the alphabets before they reach the ground and help Tux to eat as many fishes as you can. To play this game, follow the following steps:

Applications --->Games ----> TuxType

  1. Ktouch

KTouch is a touch typing tutor. It shows your keyboard and indicates which key to press next and the correct finger to use. The key colors indicate which finger needs to press which key. While you type you may make mistakes and hit the wrong key. In that case the line will change its color (to red) and you have to press Backspace to erase the wrong character (or characters) again. When you have successfully completed a line of text you need to press the Enter key to advance to the next line.

Follow these steps to start Ktouch:

Applications ---> Education ---> KTouch

  1. Pranayama: The steps to follow are:
  1. Sit comfortably.
  2. Close your eyes.
  3. Close the right nostril with the right thumb.
  4. Inhale slowly through the left nostril and fill your lungs with air.
  5. Close your left nostril with the ring and middle fingers of the right hand and open the right nostril.
  6. Exhale slowly and completely with the right nostril.
  7. Again inhale through the right nostril and fill your lungs.
  8. Close the right nostril by pressing it with the right thumb.
  9. Open the left nostril, breathe out slowly. (This process is one round of Anulom Vilom Pranayam.)
  10. Continue for 15 minutes. You may take a minutes rest after every five minutes of exercise.

The above is called the Anulom Vilom Pranayam. Find out what are the other kinds of pranayama and share it with your classmates.

Group Activity

Make hand shadow pictures

What do you need?

1. A screen of white cloth, about 1 metre square, fastened to the wall and pulled tight so there are no creases. A large sheet of white paper will also work.

2. A good torch for casting shadows.

Ask your partner to keep your torch on a level with your hands. Stand to one side of the screen so that your body does not get in the audience's way. Remember that all other lights should be out.

Making the Pictures

A Butterfly.Stretch both of your thumbs, keeping the four fingers of each bunched together. Cross your hands with your thumbs crooked in one another, and the butterfly will be ready to fit on to the screen.

[edit the picture and remove the citation and sign]

Swan: Both your arms must have the sleeves pushed up high. The right one needs to be bent up from your elbow. Stretch your third and fourth fingers horizontally, bend the first and second loosely on themselves and bring your thumb to rest naturally on their tips. Hold your left hand easily at the crook of your elbow as in the picture, and your swan is complete.

Explore:

1. Which fingers to use to type alphabets on rows above and below the home row?

2. How are different alphabets of English language shown using sign language?

[Kaumudi: add an illustration for this]

Further Reading:

1. ftp://opensource.nchc.org.tw/gutenberg/1/2/9/6/12962/12962-h/12962-h.htm

[Project Gutenberg's Hand Shadows To Be Thrown Upon The Wall, by Henry Bursill

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost.]

2.