<p>A bunch of excited school children were treated to a story-telling session on Teacher’s Day. <br /><br /></p>.<p> The event, organised by Target India, also included an entertaining puppet <br />show. <br /><br /> The celebration involved teachers and children from Jeevodaya and Yuvalok Foundation. <br />Roopa Pai, a children’s author, narrated a story from her book ‘Taranauts’. <br /><br /> The interactive session saw children eagerly participating. They were then taught to solve English and Math puzzles while reading a story from her first book ‘Shyn Emeralds’. <br /><br /> “I was a little doubtful as to how the children would react to a science-fiction story. But I was surprised and amazed that they responded very well. What’s important is to make any story exciting,” said Roopa, adding that the challenge in story-telling is holding a person’s attention, particularly that of children. <br /><br />“Children don’t mask their boredom. So we have to keep coming up with ideas to keep them entertained. While a writer can be reclusive, a story-teller has to engage with a live audience,” she explained. She added that many of <br />her stories are based on science. <br /><br />“The stories have shown that science can be made fun. It should be taught to them in an interactive way rather than in a text-bookish manner,” she added. <br />The children trooped in for a puppet show by Rangaputhali Puppeteers soon <br />after. <br /><br /> The troupe brought to life tales of Tenali Raman, which had the children laughing at the emotions of the puppets. <br /><br /> Children and teachers were all praises for the entertaining session. The kids said they enjoyed the change from the routine. “The story was thrilling and I enjoyed listening to it. After the session, it was fun solving the puzzles,” said Rebecca from Yuvalok Community School.<br /><br />Srikanth S, another student from the same school, said that he usually reads comics and this story was a different one. <br /><br /> “Even though I usually prefer reading comics, I liked this story too. My favourite character was Zwala,” he said. <br /><br />Angel Prithika from Divine Mercy Learning Centre School said that what caught her attention were the characters in the story. <br /><br />“It was interesting to hear such a story. Although I have seen puppet shows on television, it is the first time that I am seeing it live,” said the class three student. <br />Teachers too felt that the simple session was a good effort to entertain the children. <br /><br /> “We ourselves haven’t been to a session of this sort. For these children who come from a less privileged background, it was a good chance to meet many others. The story was narrated in simple English and we had a lot of fun,” said Mary Grace, a teacher from Divine Mercy School. <br /></p>
<p>A bunch of excited school children were treated to a story-telling session on Teacher’s Day. <br /><br /></p>.<p> The event, organised by Target India, also included an entertaining puppet <br />show. <br /><br /> The celebration involved teachers and children from Jeevodaya and Yuvalok Foundation. <br />Roopa Pai, a children’s author, narrated a story from her book ‘Taranauts’. <br /><br /> The interactive session saw children eagerly participating. They were then taught to solve English and Math puzzles while reading a story from her first book ‘Shyn Emeralds’. <br /><br /> “I was a little doubtful as to how the children would react to a science-fiction story. But I was surprised and amazed that they responded very well. What’s important is to make any story exciting,” said Roopa, adding that the challenge in story-telling is holding a person’s attention, particularly that of children. <br /><br />“Children don’t mask their boredom. So we have to keep coming up with ideas to keep them entertained. While a writer can be reclusive, a story-teller has to engage with a live audience,” she explained. She added that many of <br />her stories are based on science. <br /><br />“The stories have shown that science can be made fun. It should be taught to them in an interactive way rather than in a text-bookish manner,” she added. <br />The children trooped in for a puppet show by Rangaputhali Puppeteers soon <br />after. <br /><br /> The troupe brought to life tales of Tenali Raman, which had the children laughing at the emotions of the puppets. <br /><br /> Children and teachers were all praises for the entertaining session. The kids said they enjoyed the change from the routine. “The story was thrilling and I enjoyed listening to it. After the session, it was fun solving the puzzles,” said Rebecca from Yuvalok Community School.<br /><br />Srikanth S, another student from the same school, said that he usually reads comics and this story was a different one. <br /><br /> “Even though I usually prefer reading comics, I liked this story too. My favourite character was Zwala,” he said. <br /><br />Angel Prithika from Divine Mercy Learning Centre School said that what caught her attention were the characters in the story. <br /><br />“It was interesting to hear such a story. Although I have seen puppet shows on television, it is the first time that I am seeing it live,” said the class three student. <br />Teachers too felt that the simple session was a good effort to entertain the children. <br /><br /> “We ourselves haven’t been to a session of this sort. For these children who come from a less privileged background, it was a good chance to meet many others. The story was narrated in simple English and we had a lot of fun,” said Mary Grace, a teacher from Divine Mercy School. <br /></p>
