Monthly V SHINE International March 2014 with interesting stuff for kids

MARCH 2014

International

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Assalam-o-AlaikumHope you are doing well. Allah has created all human beings and He blessed them with different skills and qualities. The Almighty never judges us on our cast, creed or colour of skin. He judges us only by our actions and deeds.Hating people on the basis of race, language and colour of their skin can simply be termed as racism and it has existed throughout human history. Racists believe that other people are less than human because of skin colour, language, customs, place of birth or any factor that supposedly reveals the basic nature of that person. The most notorious example of racism that we can find in history is enslavement of African people.Racism is deeply flawed because it is fundamentally irrational. Human beings are not groups; they are individuals blessed with different skills and qualities.Allah says in Qur’an: “O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has taqwa (piety).”Allah does not like those who see other human beings inferior to them due to their language, cast or creed.We should never forget that superiority is not by birth or colour or blood, but by God-fearing and righteousness.

With LoveEditor

Editor-In-ChiefNajeeb Ahmed Hanfi

Director MarketingSaad Shah

EditorNazim Hussain

Sub-EditorUmair Safdar

DesignerSufyan Nasir

IllustratorFurkan Wahab

Educational ConsultantsDr. Iftikhar AhmedDr. Shagufta Naqvi

Training ConsultantM. Farid Hanfi

WebsiteSyed Fahad ShahabM. Abdus Samad KhanM. Wajahat Khan

Administration/CirculationImad Islam

Advertisement & SalesSyed Talal AliUsama Sheikh

Pakistan Office A-1, Shamoonabad, Block-13, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, Pakistan.Phone: +92.21.34810875 Cell: +92.333.3440293

UK Office 202 North Gower StreetLondon, NW1 2LYTel: 0207 387 2157

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E-mail [email protected]

Website www.vshineworld.com

MARCH 2014Volume 4, Issue 3www.vshineworld.com

05 The Patience Of Ayyub

06 Dear Editor

07 Poems

08 Ask Uncle Shine

09 Robbery In The Museum

10 Exam Genie In A Bottle

12 V SHINE Kitchen

13 Hidden In Sight

13 Jokes

14 Belgium

16 The Wise Adviser

17 History At A Glance

18 Clownfish

20 V SHINE Lab

21 Rafting: An Exciting Sport

22 Stay Fit, Not Fat

24 Mixed Bag

26 Nine Practical Jokes

28 Young Writers

30 Mind Game

31 Word Search

32 The Sacrifice

33 Maze

34 Word Box

“O My Lord!

Satan has afflicted me with great toil and torment.

I have been suffering with this disease for long time. And You are

the Most Merciful,” the man suffering from leprosy prayed as tears rolled

down his cheeks. The disease had plagued all his body except his heart and tongue.All the people of his family deserted him due to this disease. Only his wife, Layya stayed with him. She loved her husband a lot. The couple was confined and secluded into a corner of the town. He had become too weak, unable to even move. Layya started working in a nearby town. She remained loyal and looked after her husband.One day Satan appeared and stopped her. “Who are you and why have you stopped me?” she asked.“I am your well-wisher. Don’t you wish that your husband get healthy and prosperous once again?” Satan asked.“Why should not I? Surely I do want my husband to become healthy again,” she replied.“Then you will have to ask your husband to kill a fly in the name of god of our tribe. He will be healthy soon,” Satan said.“But he won’t do that. Our God won’t like it,” she explained clearly.“This is not an issue. When he becomes healthy, repent to your God,” Satan played a trick.She was perplexed. Layya wanted to see her husband healthy at all costs. After all she loved him a lot. But her husband got

angry after listening that, “How could you say that? We believe only in one God. All their gods are false,” her husband Ayyub (peace be upon him) said.He was too furious that he took an oath. “I don’t believe that you could say that. I will whip you 100 stripes when I get health.”Some days later, his tribesmen visited him. They saw his body was full of wounds. “He would have done some bad deeds, so Allah has punished him,” said one of the visitors. These words pierced into Ayyub’s heart. He was hurt and prayed to Allah.Allah answered his prayer: “Stamp your feet on the ground. This cool water is for drinking and washing.”After getting well, he was worried how to fulfill his oath of 100 whips. Allah helped him in this difficult situation. “Take 100 straws and strike her only once. Don’t break your oath.” Ayyub (peace be upon him) fulfilled his promise.Ayyub (Job) (peace be upon him) was an obedient prophet of Allah. He had been blessed with health, wealth, abundance of cattle, green fields, and gardens full of fruits. Thus Allah had blessed him with everything. He always remained thankful to Allah for all His bounties. Ayyub (peace be upon him) was put to test by Allah and his wealth, property, children, everything was taken back. He remained patient for 18 years with the disease and losses and never uttered a word of complaint.

He took a bath with that water and drank

it. He, at once, became healthy. All the disease was gone. Allah blessed him with health and all what he had before this disease.

By Humaira Khatoon

MARCH 2014 | V SHINE 5

STORY

I am a regular reader of V SHINE. I love

each and everything in this magazine specially the stories. Please include more pages in the magazine because it comes after

a month. (Moljan, Nasirabad, Pakistan)

I’m writing to V SHINE for the first time.

I like your magazine very much. I liked the story “The Evil

Fairy and I”. I love the jokes and Mixed Bag. (Najia tul Muntaha, Karachi, Pakistan)

Article on siblings was awesome. We enjoyed it a lot.

Hope you will keep publishing quality stuff. (Maria Ahmed,

Sydney, Australia)

V SHINE is the best magazine I have ever read.

You are doing a great job. Keep it up! (Ayesha Adnan, Islamabad,

Pakistan)

V SHINE is a marvelous magazine. It’s

just like a treasure chest full of knowledge. Mixed Bag and Mind Game are just awesome. Add more

things in Mind Game. (Yusra Gul, Karachi, Pakistan)

The article about how to prepare for 2014 was

fantastic. I also liked the cover story. V SHINE Lab is my favourite

segment in the magazine. I have done every experiment of V SHINE Lab. I wish I could write for V SHINE.

(Merwa Zahid, Sadiqabad, Pakistan)

Whenever any of my friends

ask from where I get such new and interesting information,

I proudly present V SHINE and Alhamdulillah all of them read it

now regularly. (Abrish Nayyar, Islamabad, Pakistan)

Please publish my poem. I know there

are many others who write poems and are better than

mine but this poem is just a crazy one.

(Sara Khan, Doha, Qatar)

The SurahasOne hundred and fourteen in the Qur’an,Read them and trust in Al-Rahman,Do you know of them that you can say?Knowing them will help you pray.

Selected by Ammar Ahmed

A Visit To A

Chinese RestaurantOnce my family was in a very good moodWe decided to visit a restaurant of Chinese foodThe name of the restaurant was Chow-MinWe all prepared ourselves to go inWe ordered Chow-Min, soup and noodles to eatThe waiter served us all the dishes very neatMacaroni salad we were eating at lastWe had wasted much time so we were fast.

By Huda Mohsin

The Crystal RiverI still remember the crystal riverWhen I went there I felt a shiverThe water there looked like glassWhen I touched it I felt no massThere were no fishes over thereBut still I had to stareI still remember this placeHow it gave a smile on my faceHere I saw my first doveThis is the place I still love.

By Bushra Idrees

A Plant’s LifeIf you poke a seed in the sandWater it daily with a watering canWith sunlight and little patienceYou will get a good relation Of a tiny sapling that will grow Wind will blow to move it to and froBy the time it will be a big plantMany leaves will be on the plantThen it will turn into a strong tree With many leaves on it free.

By Ayesha Kamran


LETTER BOX


POEMS

Late for schoolI am always late for school and the teacher always punishes me. What can I do? (Asfand Naeem, Islamabad, Pakistan)Dear Asfand,Think about the reasons which cause you delay from school. If you sleep late at night, you will wake up late. Go to bed early so that you could get up early in the morning. How would you be able to compete in life with laziness? Offer Fajer prayer and you will find everything easy. Try to reach school early rather than at the last moments.

Computer studiesI love the real computer but I hate the computer subject at school because my teacher does not explain, only making us work. It’s very hard for me to study. Please help! (Syed Muhammad Ishaq, Karachi, Pakistan)Dear Ishaq,It would be better if you talk to your teacher regarding your difficulties and tell him that you need more time to understand the subject. Also talk to your parents about the problem. They will go to the teacher and ask him for help. Your parents can arrange someone to help you understand the subject at home. You can also search and watch video tutorials on Internet and discuss with other class fellows.

No age fellow cousinsMy brothers and sisters have their age fellow cousins but I don’t have anyone. I feel very lonely and unhappy. Help! (Talha Siddiqui, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)Dear Talha,Don’t you have friends? You can befriend anyone including cousins because friendship is all about understanding and respecting the views of each other. You can make new friends at your school and locality. Moreover, family members especially sisters can be very good friends. Your family loves you. Do not get depressed, Insha’Allah everything will be okay.

Ahmed and Danial were waiting at the Islamabad airport. These holidays Uncle Ali, Aunt Hina,

Rabab and Amna were coming to Pakistan. Pakistan is the only Muslim country with nuclear power. Uncle Ali, Aunt Hina, Rabab and Amna came through the terminal. Danial and Ali greeted them. They were all going to stay with Ahmed and Danial. That afternoon they went on a tour of Islamabad. They visited Islamabad museum and Faisal Mosque. Faisal Mosque is the largest mosque in the country.The next day Uncle Ali’s friend, Mr Hassan who was in police, invited them to his house for dinner. Uncle Ali and Uncle Hassan were both discussing about the recent thefts of Gandhara artifacts. Uncle Ali’s friend was telling him about how the police had already caught some culprits and recovered artifacts; although they had been unsuccessful in catching the ringleaders. The children were also listening with interest.Rabab suddenly said: “I want to see Taxila as I have heard that it contains many Gandhara artifacts and has many Buddhist sites.” Hearing this Uncle Hassan offered to take them all on a tour of Taxila. The next day they all sat off for Taxila.They visited Taxila Museum which was founded in 1918 by Lord Chemsford and contains 4,000 objects including stone, stucco, terracotta, silver,

gold, iron and semiprecious stones. The display mainly consists of objects from the period 600 BC to 500 AD. As they walked through Taxila, Ahmed filmed all the sites they visited in his camera. Back home, Ahmed connected the camera to the TV and played the movie. Everyone was watching with interest. The film was showing a stupa when Amna suddenly asked Ahmed to pause the video and zoom in. Upon zooming, they saw that there was a crevice in the wall that contained some Buddhist statues.“How come we missed those statues?” asked Danial.“I think that these statues are part of the collection of Gandhara artifacts that were stolen,” Uncle Hassan was frowning. He then called the officer concerned and told him about the crevice and his suspicions. As it was getting late they all went back to Danial and Ahmed’s house.The challengers were reluctant to go because they wanted to hear whether the criminals were found or not so Uncle Hassan promised to come over and tell them as soon as he got news. The next day Uncle Hassan told them that the police had found the gang who consisted of some museum staff and foreign smugglers. The gang was smuggling the Gandhara artifacts to Korea where there was a lot of demand for them because Koreans trace the roots of their Buddhist heritage to Taxila, Pakistan.

By Shafaq Mansoor Nami

MARCH 2014 | V SHINE 8 MARCH 2014 | V SHINE 9

STORY

E xams are a part of a student’s life. That’s what we all know but actually, in real life, everyone

face a test all the time. We put ourselves on test of intelligence and skills while playing and courage while supporting the needy. These tests help us to learn and discover something new in ourselves.Unfortunately school exams are the most feared of all: a genie hovering over us all year round. But this genie can be put in a bottle, if we look at the other side of the picture.

Study smarter, not harderSticking at your study table with books piled high around you and head buried in your notes all day long is considered the best study schedule for the exams but actually it doesn’t help much. Studying needs a balanced timetable. Sleep and eat well even play or exercise outdoor along with your studies.Balanced study schedule keeps your body energetic and mind fresh and improves your learning ability.

Take lectures seriouslyExam preparations don’t start the moment you get your hand on the date sheet. It starts right from the beginning of the term or school session.Take classroom lectures seriously. Concentrate and participate in class discussions. Ask questions from teachers to understand the concepts.

Get all your things readyA night before your exam, make sure you have all things ready in a proper place, so no hassle in the morning.Keep spare pens, pencils, a stapler and a clipboard of your own.

Quick TipsYou have question paper in your hand. Hold your pencil and think how to work well.

In first 5-10 minutes, read your question paper and given instructions carefully. Now

Tick off the questions you know perfectly. Next, mark the questions that you know not

quite well, with a star or any other sign. Lastly, circle the questions that are unseen

or difficult. Allocate specific time for answering every

question according to their lengths or difficulty level. Follow the time strictly.

First answer the questions that you know well. This gives a good first impression and raises your confidence. Do unseen or difficult questions in the middle, and end with an average prepared question. A good ending would also leave a good impression.

Read what has been asked in the question. Then answer it accordingly. Avoid irrelevant

details. Keep 10 minutes for revision. It helps you to identify and correct your

mistakes. Keep your answer sheet neat. Write in eligiblehandwriting.

Refresh yourselfWater has healing powers. So taking a bath before exam or school day really refreshes you.Reciting Qur’an or any Surah or Dua also helps you through your exam. But remember nothing can help you with unprepared or half prepared syllabus. Sincere efforts are important.

Unseen/unexpected questionsWe all get some unexpected questions in the exams. Instead of panicking, take a deep breath and think what has been asked and which topic from your syllabus could be of help. Answer the question anyhow. It might earn you a few marks, if not full. Never leave any question undone. Do try it.

Stay focusedDo your own paper. Focus on your own words and calculations to avoid careless mistakes. Peering over other’s answer sheets never helps, just muddle you more. And might get you caught which can turn out to paper cancelling plus embarrassment. Whatever, you do stay confident.

Regular homework and revisionsRegular study timetable is important. Doing your homework allows you to practice new concepts. Revise lessons regularly at home. If you don’t understand any point, note it down and seek the help of your teacher.Regular revisions make learning easier rather than combined syllabus at the eleventh hour, saving you from stress.

Complete your notesMake sure all your notes are complete well before your exam. If not, it will only earn you a bad repute among friends and teachers. And you might not be able to complete them at the eleventh hour resulting in tension or scowling and scolding from elders.

Stress-free examsTick-tock, tick-tock… the cunning clock is striking every minute more loudly than ever before, in the examination hall. Or is it just telling us to use time wisely, to value every minute of our life?In fact it’s all a matter of perception. The more you fear the exams, the more monstrous and hideous they turn out. All the same, exams cannot be avoided. So why not take them as a new experience and take the challenge.School exams not only let your teacher judge your comprehension but also allow you to discover something new and good in you like how do you behave under stress.Exams accentuate our personality strengths or weaknesses which, again, help us to groom ourselves.

By Lead Pencil


Find these items in the big picture

By Tabassum Khalid

Ingredients. Butter: 1/2 cup. Heavy cream: 1/14 cup. Sugar: 1 cup. Bananas: Four peeled and halved lengthwise.

Method1. Melt butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Stir in sugar and cook, until sugar is melted and light brown. Slowly stir in the cream (mixture will bubble up).2. Let the mixture boil for 1 minute, then reduce heat to low. Place the bananas in the pan and cook until heated through for about 2 minutes.

Serve hot.

Here is the recipe of a delicious and fast dessert. It tastes great when the sauce is still bubbling.Serve with coconut ice-cream if desired.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and a healthy breakfast provides you energy for the whole day. Here is the recipe of a quick and easy breakfast with peas and cottage cheese omelet.

Ingredients. Eggs: 2 large. Mint leaves: 1 table spoon, chopped fresh . Peas: 1/2 cup. Cottage cheese: 1/3 cup (65 grams). Salt and pepper: to taste. Butter: 1 tablespoon oil or 1 table spoon for frying

Method1. Beat eggs in a bowl add salt and pepper.2. Cook peas in a sauce pan of boiling water for 2 minutes then drain.3. Sprinkle peas over omelets and dollop cottage cheese over it. Place pan on low heat and cook until omelet is set.

Serve with toasted butter.

By Saleha Perwez

Little monster: Mom I’ve finished. Can I leave the table?Mommy monster: Yes, I’ll save it for your tea.

What do monsters like eating most in restaurants?The waiters!

What do they have for lunch at Monster School?Human beans, boiled legs, pickled bunions and eyes-cream.

Mummy, mummy all the kids call me a werewolf!Never mind dear, now just go and comb your face!

Teacher: In the exam you will be allowed 30 minutes for each question.Pupil: How long for the answer sir?

Teacher: Do you want to borrow a pocket calculator?Pupil: No thanks I know how many pockets I have!

What did the monster eat after its teeth were pulled out?The dentist.

Little Samia stood in a department store near the escalator, watching the moving handrail.“Something wrong little girl?” inquired the security guard. “Nope,” replied Susie, “just waiting for my chewing gum to come back.”


V SHINE KITCHEN


There are more castles per square mile in Belgium than anywhere else in the world.

Brussels waffles, one of many popular varieties of waffle in Belgium.

Belgium is the world’s largest producer of azaleas.

The Meuse is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea. The Meuse is the oldest river in the world.

Islamic Center in Brussels. Islam is the largest minority religion in Belgium. About 6% of the Belgian population is Muslim.

Fast FactsOfficial name: Kingdom of BelgiumCapital and largest city: BrusselsOfficial languages: Dutch, French and GermanPopulation: About 11 millionMajor religion: Roman CatholicNatural resources: Construction materials and carbonates

The nameThe name ‘Belgium’ is derived from Gallia Belgica, a Roman province in the northernmost part of Gaul that before Roman invasion in 100 BC, was inhabited by the Belgae, a mix of Celtic and Germanic peoples.

Essence of EuropeOften called the Essence of Europe, Belgium is both multicultural and multilingual. Flanders in the north, a flatland crisscrossed by canals, is proud of its medieval art cities, Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent. To the south in Wallonia, you will find the rolling hills of the Ardennes, countless castles, and the cities of Liege, Namur, and Tournai.

CuisineFrench fries are claimed to have originated in Belgium, although their exact place of origin is uncertain. The national dishes are “steak and fries with salad”, and “mussels with fries”.

Belgian chocolateThe high-quality cocoa beans used to make Belgian chocolate normally come from Africa. The best Belgian chocolate pralines and truffles are still made by hand in rural villages in Belgium.

IndustriesEngineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum.

Interesting Facts Brussels’ Royal Place is bigger than

Buckingham Palace. The world’s biggest chocolate selling point

is Brussels National Airport. Belgium produces the greatest variety of

bricks in the world. It takes about two hours by bullet-train

from Brussels to London. In Belgium, fries are eaten with

mayonnaise, not ketchup.

Natural featuresBelgium, a small country in Western Europe is generally flat except for the hilly and forested southeast (Ardennes) region. Belgium has a seacoast on the North Sea, at the Strait of Dover. The Meuse and the Schelde, Belgium’s principal rivers, are important commercial arteries.

B elgium has prospered in the past half century as a modern and

technologically advanced European state. Brussels, country’s capital, is the headquarters of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

By Umair Safdar


COUNTRY PROFILE


Did Columbus prove that the Earth was round?

Ancient people studied stars to prove the Earth was round. People like the Greek gathered much scientific knowledge. The Phoenicians and the Carthaginians may have sailed around Africa and other seas. Many people believed the Earth was round. Columbus never proved that the earth was round.

Non-Islamic practices in Mughal ruleAurangzeb was the greatest king among the Mughals and ruled over a large territory. He abolished all non-Islamic practices at his court; abolished Ilahi calendar introduced by Akbar and reinstated Islamic lunar calendar. He enforced laws against gambling and drinking. He abolished taxes on commodities and inland transport duties. He forbade the practice of Emperor being weighed in gold and silver on birthdays.

Picking pepper in IndiaPeople in South India were already gathering black pepper to spice their food in the Stone Age. Farmers in South India began to grow pepper by around 3000 BC. By about 2000 BC, traders were bringing Indian pepper to other places. At first people were surprised by the spicy taste. Muslim traders brought pepper to Europe, but still for very high prices. It was partly because Europeans wanted to get pepper cheaper that they began in the 1400s CE to figure out how to sail south around Africa to India.

Rise of Islam in CaliphateProphet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had left a great number of trained companions. Within half a century after Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), three continents had come under the Muslim rule and both super powers of the time, the Persian and the Roman, had been defeated. The Muslims knew they were fighting for the sake of Allah and so they did not plunder the lands that they acquired. No person became a Muslim under compulsion.

A family of brown bear migrated to one of the North American forests from Africa. As the

bear family was new to this jungle they had a little difficulty in adapting to the new weather. The home sickness and mourning continued for several days.The bull gathered the animals of the forest and said: “We have had enough! I am sick of these new arrivals. We must not let these screaming and noisy creatures settle here in this forest.”“I have an idea to kidnap the bear’s favourite cub and hide him inside a cave far in the jungle,” he said thoughtfully.The animals agreed and one fine morning they kidnapped the bear’s cub and hid him in a cave. Later, the animals summoned the bear to come and hear the last words of his cub as they were going kill the cub. They allowed the bear to go inside the cave and meet his favourite cub while they surrounded the cave.“What do you want me to do in order to get my cub released?” the bear asked. The animals asked him to leave the forest for good and return to Africa. The bear requested all the animals to release his cub; however, leaving the forest was not an option for him. None of the animals agreed to this.Next the bear attempted by snarling and growling

at the top of his voice but in vain, as his growl was not enough to shake the animals even by an inch.In his desperate moments, the bear threatened the animals and planned returning to seek help from lions. On his way home, he met a fox. “Why do you look so sad?” the fox asked. The bear explained the whole situation to the fox.“Some animals have abducted my dearest cub and will soon kill him. I have tried my best but failed to convince or scare the animals. I was unable to do much alone, therefore, now I will seek help from lions.”“Let me advise you. Why don’t you leave it to me? Just remain silent and wait for couple of hours and see what happens,” the fox said to the bear. “Later, I will request the lion to teach a lesson to these rowdy animals who want to expel you from the jungle.”The fox invited all the animals to a party to celebrate capturing the cub and above all forcing the African bear to runaway from the forest. All the animals went to the house of the fox for party, while secretly a message was sent to the bear by the fox asking him to go and free his cub from the cave as all the animals were busy partying.The bear ran to the cave, got his cub released and thanked the fox for the smart advice.As they say: “When the roaring fails hundreds of times, smart thinking works the first time.”

By Nauman Ahmad (S)


STORY


C lownfish is one of the most beautiful creatures living in the depths of seas.

The fish has very bright colours and remain hidden in deep waters with sea horses and other very tiny creatures. An aquarium looks beautiful with these colourful fishes.

How did it get its name?The name of clownfish comes from its bright and cheerful colours. It seems that these small colourful fish are wearing clown costumes. Clown fish are different in colours and shape.

Living in warm waterThese little creatures live on the ocean floor. They are usually found in warm water of the Pacific Ocean, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

When the moon is full...Clownfish lays thousands of eggs at once when the moon is full. Most of the eggs survive. They lay eggs on a coral or a rock adjacent to the anemone. The male protects the eggs.

ColoursAllah has created clownfish with different bright colours. Along with orange, clownfish can have some other colours on their bands like black and white, blue and white, yellow and white.

Let’s make Nemo plate for kitchen

Things you need:* Paper plate* Paint brush* Pencil* Glue* Black marker* Oil paints (orange)* Orange hard board sheet for fins and tail.

Method: Take a paper plate. Make a sketch of clownfish with the

help of pencil on plate. Now outline this sketch with black

marker. Fill the colour with the help of paint

brush in bands. Make sure one band is white and

other is coloured. With the help of pencil draw fin and

tail on hard board and cut down. Join fins and tail with plate with the

help of glue. Draw black colour circle in place of

eye.

Clownfish are all born maleClownfish are all born male. They develop female reproductive organs when needed, if the female of school dies, the dominant male in the group changes into a female and breed with other dominant males.

Sea Anemones and ClownfishWhen a fish swims by the sea anemone, its tentacles will shoot out a long poisonous thread. The toxins in this thread paralyse the prey. However, anemones do not harm a clownfish.

They protecteach otherClownfish are one of the only species that can survive the deadly sting of anemone. These fish will gently touch every part of their bodies to the anemone’s tentacles until it no longer affects them. Allah has blessed clownfish with a layer of mucus its body to prevent it from getting stung again.

By Javeria Ashraf


COVER STORY


Is it possible to stick a needle through a balloon without popping it?

Let’s do it!Blow up a balloon – not too full – and tie the opening shut. Dip the tip of a skewer in Vaseline and spread the Vaseline along the entire length of the skewer. Insert the skewer with a gentle twisting motion into the end of the balloon opposite the knot. Why doesn’t the balloon pop? Now try to stick the skewer into the side of the balloon. What happens?How does it happen?The rubber at the ends of the balloon is stretched out less than in the middle of the balloon. Therefore, there is less force pulling on it. This allows the tip of the skewer to break some polymer cross-links, push aside the molecules of rubber, and slide into the balloon. However, enough cross-links remain so that the balloon holds together. When you push the tip of the skewer through the rubber in the side of the balloon, there are fewer polymer molecules, the tension on the remaining cross-links is too great, and the balloon pops.

More to doIs there any way to stick a sharp pin through the side of a balloon without popping it? Put a small piece of cellophane tape on the side of the balloon and press it down well. Now take the pin and press it through the tape and into the balloon. Does the balloon pop? The tape sticks to the rubber in the balloon and will not allow the rubber to stretch to the breaking point when the pin pierces the balloon.

HistoryFrom prehistoric times to the 19th century, rafting was an important means of transportation. Originally, several logs, bound together by vines, strips of animal skin, and later rope, formed a flat surface upon which goods and people could move across bodies of water. The development of this activity as a leisure and sport has become popular since the mid-1970s.

Whitewater raftsWhitewater is formed in a rapid, when a river’s gradient increases enough to disturb its laminar flow and create turbulence, ie the frothy water appears white. The term is also used as an adjective describing boating on such rivers, such as whitewater canoeing or whitewater kayaking. The modern raft is an inflatable boat, consisting of very durable, multi-layered rubberized or vinyl fabrics with several independent air chambers.

Rafting in Colorado RiverModern rafting equipment has made the impossible possible. Years ago, the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon would obliterate expeditions, leaving boats in smithereens. Today, hundreds of tourists safely raft down the river each year.

Rafting facts Anything you bring on the raft will get wet on

whitewater rafting trips. The rubber river raft was invented in the 1840s

by U.S. soldiers. The person who is the most experienced rafter

should be in the back of the boat, steering and shouting orders.

To add a little excitement to the trip, one can go on a dam release day. Dam releases only happen on certain rivers.

To avoid injury while out of a raft is to swim to an eddy to avoid being taken downstream.

Wetsuits are recommended to combat the cold during the spring months and it can be cold even in the summer months on whitewater rafting trips.

Rafts almost always flip side over side. If the left tube rises over the right tube, the raft is said to have flipped left over right.

Troying is a move done by only expert white water rafters, and is the action of popping the back of the boat for a sudden burst of speed.

Find out how you can hold a balloon directly in a flame without breaking it.Let’s do it!Place ¼ cup of water in a balloon, and then inflate it and tie it shut. Light a match and hold it under the balloon. Allow the flame to touch the balloon. The balloon doesn’t break. You may even see a black patch of soot form on the outside of the balloon above the flame.How does it happen? When water inside the balloon is placed in the flame, the water absorbs most of the heat from the flame. Then, the rubber of the balloon does not become very hot. Because the rubber does not become hot, it does not weaken, and the balloon does not break. Water is a particularly good absorber of heat. It takes a lot of heat to change the temperature of water.CAUTION: Adult supervision is required.

Rafting or whitewater rafting is the challenging recreational outdoor activity of using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water.

By Usama Sheikh


V SHINE LAB


SPORTS

Tough to resist

a frequent chocolate craving and a usual French-fries bout

–but what to do about being left out on games and teams or being

called a couch-potato?“But I am just cute” is what we think when flabby layers of fat sur-round our body. Putting on a few extra kilos is no big concern, but a high caloric imbalance can really make us pay in the long

run. So, is your chubbiness merely baby fat or way

more than that?

Why am I fat?

Being fat is neither by fate, nor is inborn; so you cannot entirely

blame it on God or others. Your poor eating patterns and sedentary lifestyle are the main culprits. You surrender to technology and indulge in fat-laden fast foods and sugar-laden soft drinks.

You don’t even walk to school or market, or squeeze out time

for exercise.

You can Do it!

Let’s move: Involve in various activities at home/

school and play active indoor/outdoor sports regularly.

Limit screen-time: Reduce passive pastimes by saying no to technology and gadgets. Also, discourage watching TV while eating.Schedule meal times: Develop an eating routine and eat at regular intervals. Avoid munching on food all the time.Eat the rainbow: Encourage consumption of fruits and veggies as they are low in calories but full of nutrients.Limit dining out: Eat out less, but whenever you do, avoid fast food and calorie-packed, deep-fried delicacies.Never miss breakfast: Children who skip break-fast are more likely to gain weight by chewing up food all day. Have an energizing breakfast daily with cereals, oatmeal, low-fat milk and fruits.Control snacking: Keep away those evil food cravings, such as fries, soda and cookies. Do not turn light snacking into complete meals.Portion down your meal: Use smaller dishes and eat balanced diet that includes right amounts of proteins, carbs, vitamins, minerals and fiber.Get smart with food: Opt for alterna-tives when hit by a hunger pang – make yourself a yummy fruit juice with lime instead of having that no-torious instant-energy soda can.

Why is my obesity bad?

Obesity brings medical com-plications with it. Obesity can

cause future heart diseases, bone/joint problems, sleep apnea, diabetes,

etc. Fatness is not just aesthetically inappropriate but also a poison for good

quality of life.Obesity takes a psychological toll and causes emotional disaster. Sadly, overweight kids get

teased/bullied with funny names and end up with a negative body image.I am fat, now what?First things first: stop feeling bad about yourself! Try to forge a healthy relationship with food and make it a family affair by adapting to smart living – go to intel-ligent grocery shopping, cook healthy snacks and play a favourite sport together. Never opt for crash dieting, but you can always see a doctor/nutritionist and assess your eating/activity habits.Let’s quit teasing them!We all have different body types and so, we need to stop pointing fingers at heavily-bodied people. A fat sibling/classmate needs our cooperation instead of being the lonely target of our jokes. Our fun-making can seriously damage someone’s self-esteem. Let’s be responsible about our acts.Calculate your BMIBMI (Body Mass Index) can indicate overall health status by comparing height and weight. Follow these steps to get a rough idea of your health but remember - it is not the sole method of evaluating obesity.Please collect……a measuring tape, a weighing scale, calculator, pencil and paper.Start by……weighing yourself in kilograms and measuring your height in meters. Now calculate your BMI using the following formula:BMI = Weight (kg) / (Height (m) x Height (m))

Compare your obtained BMI with this estimation chart.

Underweight <18.5Normal weight 18.5–24.9

Overweight 25–29.9 Obesity 30 or greater

Freaky Facts Fast food industry spends about

$4.2 billion on advertisements aimed at children. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in the

past 30 years. Obese children are 10 times more likely to be

obese adults than children who are not obese. 75% of 7th - 12th graders consume fast food

almost every week globally. Kids who use electronic devices 3 hours a day have 17-44% increased risk of

being overweight.

What is obesity?

Fatness, or obesity, is abnor-mally excessive fat accumulation

that can pose a risk to one’s health. You are obese when your bodyweight is at least 20% higher than it should be. If you are one such kiddo, you are not alone. By 2015, approximately 2.3

billion people will be overweight and more than 700 million

obese!

By Anum Khan


In the name of Allah, the Most Kind, the Most MercifulYou are now the best people brought forth for (the guidance and reform of) mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. If the People of the Book were to believe, it would be better for them. Some of them are believers but most of them are transgressors. (Surah Al-i-Imran, Ayah 110)

Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace

be upon him)The dearest and the nearest to me among you on the Resurrection Day shall be the best of you

in morals. (Baihaqi)

Quotes Do not criticise too much, too much

criticism leads to hate and bad behaviour. (Ali Ibn Abi Talib)

Whoever relates tales to you will tell tales about you. (Shafi‘i)

In this world, man finds remembrance of Allah, praising Him and worshipping him, a delight that is incomparable to anything else. (Ibn Taymiyyah)

Hope is a waking dream. (Aristotle) A gentleman is one who never hurts

anyone’s feelings unintentionally. (Oscar Wilde)

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. (Helen Keller)

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power. (Abraham

Lincoln)

Did you know? If you blend a sea sponge, it will

re-form back into a sea sponge. The very first food eaten by a US

astronaut in outer space was applesauce. The cigarette lighter was invented

before the match. A group of flamingos is called

flamboyance. Otters hold hands when sleeping so

they don’t drift away from each other. A company in Taiwan makes

dinnerware out of wheat, so you can eat your plate.

The “save” icon on Microsoft Word shows a floppy disk, with the shutter on backwards.

So you think you know cities of

the world?Ankara Formerly known as Angora, capital of Turkey.Cairo Located on the banks and islands of the Nile River and the capital of Egypt.Damascus One of the oldest cities in the world and capital of Syria. Havana Capital of Cuba and the largest city in the Caribbean.Istanbul The only city located on two continents, largest city and seaport in Turkey.Reykjavík The capital city of Iceland. Vikings named the place Reykjavík means “smoky bay” because of the hot steam rising from the abundant geothermal springs. Shanghai: Harbour city at the mouth of the Yangtze River.

Best-Ever Excuses

I didn’t do it because… I was too busy growing. I’m a kid. What do you

expect? Why aren’t you paying attention? ...

Because I did once, and it didn’t pay me back.

I didn’t do it… My clone did.

Why didn’t you tidy your room? ... I didn’t want to disturb the rare wildlife.

Why don’t you make your bed? … I’m not a carpenter.

Tongue Twisters Cows graze in groves on grass which

grows in grooves in groves. The sinking steamer sank. A fat thrush flies through thick fog. The thirty-three thieves thought that

they thrilled the throne throughout Thursday.

A big black bug bit a big black dog on his big

black nose!

Challenging Riddles1. I have two arms, but fingers none. I have two feet, but cannot run. What am I?2. Rearrange the letters in the word, “new door”, to make one word.3. I can be cracked, I can be made. I can be told, I can be played. What am I?4. What is very fragile and more useful when it is broken?5. What flies when it’s born, lies when it alive, and runs when it’s dead?Answers upside down

A wheelbarrow, How about... one word, I am a joke, an egg, a snow flake


Play these pranks on your friends and have a riot of fun!

Black Face SoapJust leave the bar of black soap in the bathroom and wait for the action. The more a person washes with this special soap, the blacker they get! The joke soap contains harmless dye that can be easily washed off with ordinary soap and water.

Double-Sided SuckerDouble-sided sticks nearly anything to nearly anything! Be careful not to use the sucker on skin or on an item that contains hot liquid. Stick – a cup to a saucer – a book to the desk – a coin to the pavement – a telephone to its cradle.

The Apple Pie BedThis joke you can play on your brother or sister at bedtime. Sometime during the day you take the opportunity to secretly remake the bed. Now when he tries to get into it – he can’t. The drawing makes it clear what you must do. The top sheet is taken away and hidden. The bottom sheet is folded back up on itself.

InflationDo it on a neighbour’s car. You need a balloon and sticky tape. Secretly stretch the balloon over the end of the exhaust pipe (make sure it’s not hot) and then blind the neck with tape. Now, when you neighbour starts his car, the exhaust fumes will fill the balloon and it will burst.

Bridge That GapNext time you visit the dentist, try taking a small piece of black paper with you. Lick it and then press it onto your front tooth. It will stick to the tooth and make it look as if your front tooth is missing when you smile.

The Melting SpoonGet a very light spoon and keep bending it backwards and forwards until it snaps in two. Now stick the two halves using a small piece of chewing gum. You should be able to pick the spoon up without it falling apart, once the chewing gum is hardened. When a friend comes to visit you, you offer him tea. Put sugar and leave the spoon in the cup. The hot liquid will soften the gum and, when your friend stirs, he comes away with only the spoon handle.

Water Pistol FunYou could also pretend that your pistol is bunged up and ask your friend if he can see anything stuck in the nozzle. Give him a good soaking as soon as he looks up the barrel.

Tearing Off a StripTake a sheet of white or cream plain paper – any size will do. Fold it in half. Tear out a pointed segment about 6 cm long. Open it up and accordion-pleat the left hand half as shown. Lick the underside of the unfolded half to moisten it – then press it onto a nice bold piece of wallpaper in a smart restaurant or the living room of a friend’s house! The illusion of ripped wallpaper is complete!

Clutching at StrawsIf you get the chance to “doctor” everyone’s drinking straws before a party – the resulting chaos can be very funny. Make a pinhole about 3 cm from each end of all the straws; push the pin right through so that holes are made on both sides. Enjoy the fun as everyone struggles to drink! You will be the only one who will be able to drink normally because you slyly cover the holes with your finger and thumb!

By Maha Nasir


Allah the CreatorBy Behroz Farooqi, 6th, Beaconlight Academy, Karachi, PakistanHow this earth came to beAnd everything that we seeAllah is the first oneHe was there before the time beganWhat about the plants that growAnd reason for the wind to blow.

BeesBy Eimaan Zahid, 5th, Silver Oaks School, Rawalpindi, PakistanUp these flyEven in the skyOver the seas And those are beesThese are hairyWhich makes us scary.

Magic Pills!By Zahaab Rehman, 7th, PakistanAli was not very good at studies. One day his friend told him about a man who had magic pills. He went and asked for the pills which could make him clever. The old man gave him a pill. He gulped that pill and gave his school test brilliantly. He asked him what was the secret of the magic pills was. The man took out a pill and asked him to open it. The boy opened the pill and it was empty. The man said that when you passed the test with full marks it was not the magic of the pill but it was your own talent. The reason you were unable to use it before is that you weren’t confident enough. Remember, all you have to do is to be confident in yourself and you will succeed.

I WonderBy Hadia Ather, 3rd, Beaconhouse School System, Sadiqabad, PakistanI wonder why the grass is green,And why the wind is never seen,Who taught the birds to build a nest?And told the trees to take a rest,Who paints the rainbow in the sky?And let the fluffy white clouds fly.

Our Beloved Prophet (peace be upon him)By Syeda Urooj Imran, 10th, Bright Future Pakistan International School, Doha, QatarWhose armor was his honest thoughtAnd simple truth his utmost skill!Who guided people from wrong to rightWho showed them the correct bright lightWho defeated deceit and shun,Whose life was full of mercy,Who followed the Almighty.

My RecipeBy Sumiya Fahim, 2E, Hala International School, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaPrawn, flowers and saltI put them in a large potThen I mixed it for longUntil it is was thick and strongMy cousin took a bite but she gave a loud shoutI was nearly outI indeed was sadAs I wanted to become a chef.

Mirror and IBy Abdul Haseeb, 3rd, New Middle East International School, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaI look in the mirror and who did I seeSomeone else looking just like meI waved my hand and someone waved tooMommy mommy what shall I do?Mommy came quickly and what did I seeThere were two of us, Mommy and me.

My PetBy Sameeha Nayyar, 2nd, Roots Ivy International school, Chaklala, Rawalpindi, Pakistan I have two pairs of parrots. A female parrot laid an egg. I was really excited about the day when it would hatch. But unfortunately, when I came home from school today I found out that the yellow female parrot had thrown the egg from the clay-pot and all the yolk was on the floor of the cage. I was so disappointed that I wanted to cry, but I stopped, thinking that whatever happened, took place by the will of Allah Almighty. But still, I love my pets.

A Brave DeerBy Umar Farooq Kamlani, 3rd, Usman Public School Campus 8, Karachi, PakistanOne day a deer wanted to visit his grandpa but he was afraid that the lion will surely eat him up. When the deer came to the jungle, the lion came but the deer was not afraid this time. “Look a mosquito is biting you,” the deer said. When the lion turned his face the deer ran and said: “You’re the most foolish lion I have ever seen.”. When he went to his grandpa he hugged him warmly.


R P E E A H D E F H Y U X R A N N T O F Y E E E S B E E E L I J E J I M I I A O E P M M J V H S H D U B G G K E H A J J M E E S S G M O B O H W R I G T R F X R F O E N O O B K N T E F D O Z C Z C D C L F H G V H E C A S T L A W R C F I R H C N A J Z E S N O E K N O E I T E Y J R A E J H E R N E T D I I V I T O I L A E R E A S G W L E S L I R S O T P I W N O G A R D O R E L M A J T P O Q J P R H R E A E F T T R A M L T S P F I K C S L A M J V P A F M F E E V Z E F C M M L C T V T W T F P D I D L E Y U A N A

Find here some creatures you

won’t see in real!

AlienDragonDwarfHobbitMonsterWitchVampireWerewolfYetiZombie

K ids! Here is your chance to win lots of prizes. Just answer the following questions and mail us at our postal address or email at [email protected] with your complete name and address by March 31, 2014. All entries with correct answers will be picked for draw to select five winners. Answers mailed twice with the same name and address will not be accepted.

1. Complete the series95 70 50 35 25 ?

2. Odd one out

4. Write three differences. (Differences are required only in written form so don’t tear out the page)

5. Hidden among the words of this sentence below are two countries. Find them.The king and queen eat breakfast and lunch in a

fine palace.

3. Unscramble the anagram to discover a word relating education.

A S C S P H O R I H L

Winners January 2014Prizes would be delivered March 31, 20141. Khizar Muneer (Boston, USA)2. Maha Nasir (Dubai, UAE)3. Faizan Ashar (Karachi, Pakistan)4. Misha Rashid (Lahore, Pakistan)5. Samya Muneer (Islamabad, Pakistan)

Answers January 20141. 262. a3. Macaroni4. Missing leaf, flower and bud 5. Green

(a) (b) (c)


WORD SEARCH

Start colouring the path with one crayon. Fill in the whole path from side to side. When you come to a dot, switch colours. Do this all the way to the centre.

Let’s see if you can reach the end circle.

I t was a pleasant summer morning as Sarah sat outside with a book in hand, basking in

the sun.“Hi, Sarah!” a voice in her ear startled her. She looked around and there they were, her cousins; Simab and Sharoze.Sharoze flopped down into a chair beside her.“Quit the reading, loser! We are going camping!” exclaimed Simab.“What? Where?” Sarah asked perplexed.“Well it’s the middle of the summer and we do love adventure so we’re going to spend the night in the nearby forest. Oooh.”She waved her hands for a spooky effect.Sarah was a bit reluctant at first, scared at the prospect of spending an entire night in a forest where not many people preferred to venture, but her buddies could be very persuasive.So around midday, weighed down by their camping equipment, they entered the thicket of trees. As soon as they entered, it was like a whole new world altogether. Calm and beautiful, just the occasional sound of a harmless creature. That part of the forest didn’t have any dangerous animals so they were relaxed. But a part of Sarah didn’t feel right; there was a reason people avoided this place.By sundown, they had found a clearing to set up the tents and were having a great time, even toasting marshmallows on the campfire.“This place is so peaceful and quiet!” gushed Sharoze just as an owl hooted somewhere.“Okay, so usually quiet,” he amended his sentence as the others laughed.“I think they just make up the stories about people going missing so others would leave the wildlife

alone,” Sarah said.“Yeah, I guess,” Simab replied, stretching her legs.They lay awake in the tent for a very long time, the excitement keeping them alert. After quite a while, they drifted off.Sarah awoke to the sound of a scream. Simab’s scream. The last thing, or rather, person she saw before being knocked out by a club-like thing was a man with a grimy, painted face, who was naked from the torso up…She later woke up in some deep part of the forest. Beside her, Sharoze was lying on the ground, slump. Simab was nowhere in sight and she didn’t want to think about that. She fought against a gag on her mouth as the taste of blood became more pronounced. Writhing and squirming against the ropes binding her hands and feet together was not doing any good. Disheveled hair was stuck to her sweaty forehead and tears obscured her vision. The sound of beating drums blocked out everything else.There were tribesmen a few feet away. They were dancing around a huge fire, chanting in a language of their own. From what she had picked up from their broken English; they were going to be thrown into the flames - some kind of sacrifice. They were making the fire hotter by the minute, throwing in more logs.And then three or four men proceeded towards them. A shudder ran through her as they were roughly brought to their feet and carried towards their death.In her final moments before death, she asked herself just this: “What have I done?”

By Kanza Naeem


STORY


MAZE

Words Page No. Type Meanings

Sapling 7 Noun A young tree

Scowl 10 Verb To look at someone or something with a very annoyed expression

Essence 14 Noun The basic meaning or importance of something

Plunder 17 Verb To steal goods forcefully from a place, esp. during a war

Vine 21 NounA type of plant that climbs or grows along the ground and has a twisting stem

Laminar flow 21 NounSmooth, orderly movement of a fluid, in which there is no turbulence, and any given sub-current moves more or less in parallel with any other nearby sub-current

Turbulence 21 Noun A state of confusion and lack of order

Obliterate 21 VerbTo remove all signs of something, either by destroying it or by covering it so that it cannot be seen

Smithereens 21Noun (plural)

A lot of very small broken pieces

Combat 21 VerbTo try to stop something unpleasant or harmful from happening or increasing

Freaky 22 Adjective Very unusual or unexpected

Geothermal 24 Adjective Of or connected with the heat inside the Earth

Grove 25 Noun A group of trees planted close together

Groove 25 Noun A long narrow channel

Thrush 25 Noun A brown bird with a pale breast with spots on it

Fragile 25 Adjective Easily damaged, broken, or harmed

Riot 26 Noun A very funny or entertaining occasion

Prank 26 NounA trick that is intended to be funny but not to cause harm or damage

Werewolf 31 NounSomeone who, in stories, changes into a wolf at the time of the full moon (= when the moon is a complete circle)

Yeti 31 NounA big creature like a human covered in hair that is believed by some people to live in the Himalayas


Monthly V SHINE International March 2014 with interesting stuff for kids

Education

Transcript of Monthly V SHINE International March 2014 with interesting stuff for kids