Little Onshangla returns home from school feeling very quiet. She tells her mother, whom she calls Ava, about a new boy in her class who wears black glasses and cannot see. To help Onshangla understand how the boy experiences the world, Ava plays a sensory game. She blindfolds Onshangla with a scarf and asks her to identify various objects using her other senses: touching and smelling a rose, listening to a ringing bell, and touching and tasting orange juice. Through this game, Onshangla learns that there are other ways of finding out things when one cannot see, and she resolves to be friends with the new boy.
The story highlights the importance of empathy, inclusivity, and understanding the challenges faced by differently-abled individuals. It teaches children that our other senses (touch, smell, hearing, taste) help us perceive the world when one sense is missing.
is | from | what | on | how | and | it | me | our | some | other
Good Habits for Eyes: Sit straight while reading/drawing, read in good light, eat carrots and vegetables, close eyes and splash water on eyelids.
Bad Habits for Eyes: Sitting very close to the TV, staring at the sun, playing for a long time on the mobile.
Eye Exercises: Look up, look down, look right, look left without moving your face or body.
This section introduces the short vowel sound 'o' as in top:
Notice that the article an occurs before words beginning with the vowel sound 'o' (e.g., an ox, an otter, an orange), while a is used before consonant sounds.