CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Debating literally means ‘to fight’. Today, debating means a discussion between two parties aimed at forming a conclusion. This is because debating involves two parties (usually) holding different views about the same topic

The ‘winner’ of the debate will be the person who has the most cogent argument based on the subject.

What is the Purpose of Debating?

The purpose of debating is to succinctly express yourself in a way that is clear to those around you, using arguments that are persuasive. It aims to help you refine and hone your arguments so they are acceptable to those listening.

It also aims to pick holes in your theories and point out your inconsistencies so you eventually develop a more well-rounded argument that is persuasive to listeners.

It also helps in :

1. Improved critical thinking skills
2. Acquire better poise, speech delivery, and public speaking skills
3. Increased student retention of information learned
4. Improved listening note-taking skills and increased self-confidence
5. Enhance teamwork skills and collaboration
6. More confidence to stand up for the truth when a discussion is promoting falsehoods or inaccuracies
7. Learning better ways to graciously state one’s point with gentleness
8. Help students identify holes in their theories and concoct more balanced arguments
9. Help students’ better structure their thoughts

A quiz is a game which can also be called a mind sport wherein the players, either as individuals or in teams attempt to answer questions posed to them correctly, in order to win a prize.

The objective of every Indian school quizzing competition is to encourage students to look beyond their textual knowledge and establish a relationship between theory and application of the learnt concepts.

1. Quizzes improve or expanding one’s knowledge of things, either general or in specific area
2. Quizzes are designed to promote, a fun way to study and in the process, help improve one’s general knowledge
3. Quiz competitions enables students to think from different angles or simply ‘to think out of the box’
4. It promotes a healthy debate amongst participants in order to learn from each other
5. Quiz competitions are used in Schools and Universities to aid in language development and in particular subject areas of study
6. Some educational institutes use it as a brief assessment or tool to measure the growth in the knowledge, abilities and / or skills of their pupils either on a general level or restricted to specific fields for instance, science, math etc.
7. Aidng in language development with the questions based in the language alone,
8. Aiding in the team building process,
9. Being fun to participate in but with a competitive element,
10. Provoking discussion and healthy debate amongst participating players / teams,
11. Aiding to relieve the tension of the daily work routine,
12. Promoting group harmony, whether in organizations, schools or just a group of friends,
13. Making new friends, from different cultures at times,
14. Likewise, spelling bees improve the student’s spellings and vocabulary etc.

Quiz competitions even help build the student’s soft skills.

Arts and crafts are fun activities for kids. Be it coloring with crayons or making miniature statues from clay, folding paper to create fine origami or designing a handmade birthday card, there are several arts and crafts activities, which can enhance the interest of the children and exploit their artistic potential.

By introducing arts and crafts to the kids and involving them in such activities in school, you will invest in building their cognitive, physical, and social development.

Physical Benefits:

Development of fine motor skills

Since most arts and crafts activities consist of moving fingers and hands, they help in developing fine motor skills. Simple actions like holding a paintbrush and coloring with pencils help strengthen muscles and improve their control.

Enhances dexterity:

Arts and crafts activities can enhance the children’s dexterity and agility. With the enhancement of fine motor skills and much practice, a child’s manual dexterity, artistic skills, and speed will also increase.

Improvement of hand-eye coordination

Engaging in activities related to arts and crafts from a very young age leads to a tremendous improvement in hand-eye coordination. This will help a child during later primary school years when she or he is spacing out words or forming letters.

Social Benefits:

Learn to appreciate art and culture

Through arts and craft, children learn to value and appreciate artifacts and images across cultures and times. Experience in design, art, and crafts enable them to reflect critically on their own work and those by others. They learn to act and think like designers and artists, working intelligently and creatively. They also learn about the preservation of heritage through art. A lot of the information we have now about people that lived millions of years ago came solely from art.

Enhances self-expression:

By engaging in creative pursuits of music and arts and crafts, children get the opportunity of expressing themselves in a positive, tangible and meaningful way. They also learn to create artwork on their own.

Helps in socializing:

Participating, with other students in art class, gives children a chance to interact with others while sharing common interests. The process of arts and crafts also strengthens parent-child bonding.

Boosts confidence:

Arts and craft activities help instill a sense of achievement and pride in children, boosting their self-confidence.

Cognitive Benefits:

Enhances creativity

The opportunity to create whatever a child desires helps foster creativity.

Sharpens skills of decision making

A child will learn to make correct and effective decisions by facing and solving artistic challenges. This helps to develop a problem-solving attitude, which in turn, will help them in the future.

Enhances memory and visual learning

A child learns about new colors and shapes through arts and crafts as well as gains familiarity with various figures and patterns. Activities like learning guitar, jewelry making, etc. need visualization and memorization of complex designs in mind.

Arts and crafts not only help in the above traits but also in boosting academic performance.

Education does not simply mean the ability to read and write, it is a wide term used to describe the complete process of development. Education in today’s scenario aims at the holistic development of the children. The aim of this holistic development is only achievable with the pragmatic approach to education. The pragmatic approach imparts learning by doing and experiencing things. Exhibitions, seminars, projects, presentations, etc are the mediums of wholesome development of the students in schools.

That’s why APS organizes such exhibitions and seminars to enhance the student’s knowledge and making learning a fun experience where it is comparatively easy on the part of the teacher to teach and light for the students to learn new things very easily in a better way.

Science exhibitions in schools at different levels are one of the easiest ways to enhance students’ interest in science and technology.

Science Exhibition’s main objective is for students to develop interest in science and technology, social skills, enhance creativity, increase scientific approach in students, practical application of science learned in a classroom, boost presentation and public speaking activities of students.

There is a lot of established research about the positive influences from drama, theatre and the performing arts, especially on young people. The benefits are physical, emotional, social, and they help to develop a healthy appreciation of culture and the arts.

The Benefits of Theatre Education

Self-Confidence:

Taking risks in class and performing for an audience teach students to trust their ideas and abilities. This confidence will apply in nearly every aspect of their future.

Imagination:

In a word addicted to technology, theatre provides an outlet for making creative choices, thinking new ideas, and interpreting the material in expressive ways that are the essence of drama.

Empathy & Tolerance:

Acting roles from different situations, time periods, and cultures promotes compassion and tolerance for others.

Cooperation/Collaboration:

Theatre combines the creative ideas and abilities from its participants.

Concentration:

Playing, practicing, and performing develop a sustained focus of mind, body, and voice which helps with other areas of life including school.

Communication Skills:

Drama enhances verbal and nonverbal expression of ideas. It improves voice projection, articulation, fluency of language, and persuasive speech.

Problem Solving:

Students learn to communicate the who, what, where, when, and why to the audience. Improvisation fosters quick-thinking solutions, which leads to greater adaptability in life.

Fun:

Theatre brings play, humor, and laughter to learning; this improves motivation and reduces stress.

Trust:

The social interaction and risk taking in drama develop trust in self, others, and the process.

Memory:

Rehearsing and performing the words, movements, and cues strengthen this skill like a muscle.

Social Awareness:

Legends, myths, poems, stories, and plays used in drama teach students about social issues and conflicts from cultures past, present, all over the world

Dance is more than the exploring of different ways to make a shape or learning a series of steps to music; it is a way of moving that uses the body as an instrument of expression and communication.

Through dance, students learn teamwork, focus, and improvisational skills.

Dance awakens new perceptions in children which help them learn and think in new ways.

Dance also enables students to better understand themselves and the world in which they live.

Through the arts, teachers can often teach children to recognize the contribution of all cultures to the fabric of our society and increase the understanding of diversity and values of all people.

Dance lends itself well to this task through learning traditional dances and creating new ones based on children’s ideas.

Dance also enhances skills of perception, observation, and concentration which will undoubtedly help students in all of their school subjects.

Music is an extremely important subject for all children to learn and can lead to better brain development, increases in human connection, and even stress relief.

• Music stimulates brain development in children
• Music is a way to connect with other people
• Music integrates many different subjects
• Music teaches discipline

Singing brings joy to many people – but did you know that your passion for singing can lead to incredible benefits in your physical, emotional, and social health? Here are 11 reasons why singing is good for you.

Physical Benefits of Singing:

Singing strengthens the immune system

Singing is a workout

For the elderly, disabled, and injured, singing can be an excellent form of exercise. Even if you’re healthy, your lungs will get a workout as you employ proper singing techniques and vocal projections. Other related health benefits of singing include a stronger diaphragm and stimulated overall circulation. Since you pull in a greater amount of oxygen while singing than when doing many other types of exercise, some even believe that singing can increase your aerobic capacity and stamina.

Singing improves your posture

Standing up straight is part of correct technique as you’re singing, so with time, good posture will become a habit! As your chest cavity expands and your shoulders and back align, you’re improving your posture overall.

Singing helps with sleep

According to a health article in Daily Mail Online, experts believe singing can help strengthen throat and palate muscles, which helps stop snoring and sleep apnea. If you’re familiar with these ailments, you know how difficult it can be to get a good night’s sleep!

Psychological & Emotional Benefits of Singing:

Singing is a natural anti-depressant

Singing is known to release endorphins, the feel-good brain chemical that makes you feel uplifted and happy. In addition, scientists have identified a tiny organ in the ear called the sacculus, which responds to the frequencies created by singing. The response creates an immediate sense of pleasure, regardless of what the singing sounds like.

Singing lowers stress levels

Making music in any form is relaxing. Singing releases stored muscle tension and decreases the levels of a stress hormone called cortisol in your blood stream.

Singing improves mental alertness

Improved blood circulation and an oxygenated blood stream allow more oxygen to reach the brain. This improves mental alertness, concentration, and memory.

Social Benefits of Singing:

Singing can widen your circle of friends

Whether you’re in a choir or simply enjoy singing karaoke with your friends, one of the unexpected health benefits of singing is that it can improve your social life. The bonds you form singing with others can be profound, since there’s a level of intimacy naturally involved.

Singing boosts your confidence

Stage fright is a common feeling for new singers. However, performing well and receiving praise from your friends and family may be the key to eventually overcoming your fears and boosting your self-confidence. With time, you may even find it easier to present any type of material in front of a group with poise and good presentation skills.

Singing broadens communication skills

According to an article in The Guardian, singing to babies helps prepare their brains for language. Music is just as important as teaching reading and writing at a young age to prevent language problems later in life. If you enjoy writing your own lyrics, honing this talent can improve your ability to communicate in different ways!