Kids learn best when they are having fun. I have found that my toddler is most excited to learn Gujarati when I associate the letters with fun activities or stories. That’s why each week we feature a Gujarati letter of the week, where we share activities and stories that are based on that letter. This week’s letter is દ!
Creating Corner: First up is દ for દાદા (dada, grandfather) or દાડી (dadi, grandmother)
Cut out 2 circles. You can use a small bowl or glass as a stencil. These will be the heads for your દાદા and દાડી, so use colored paper that matches their skin tone.
Draw some eyes onto the circles. You can also draw some chandlos.
Cut out two semi circles. These will be the mouths, so glue them onto your heads as well.
For the hair for the દાદા, cut out 2 small circles (around 1 inch in diameter), 2 medium circles (around 1.5 inches in diameter) and 2 large circles (around 1.8 inches in diameter). Use colored paper that matches the hair color of your own દાદા. Fold the large circles in half and glue those circles on the top of the head (see photo for more details). Fold the medium circles in half and glue those onto either edge of the large circles. Fold the small circles in half and glue them over the mouth. This will be the mustache for your દાદા.
For the hair for the દાડી, cut out 1 small circle (around 1 inch in diameter), 2 medium circles (around 1.5 inches in diameter) and 2 large circles (around 1.8 inches in diameter). Use colored paper that matches the hair color of your own દાડી. Glue the small circle at the top of the head of the દાડી. This will be her bun. Then, fold the large circles in half and glue those onto either edge of the small circle. Fold the medium circles in half and glue those onto either edge of the large circles. (Alternatively you can make your own hair styles!)
Now cut out a large oval from construction paper. Cut the oval in half. Glue each half-oval onto the bottom of your heads. These will be the clothes for your દાદા and દાડી! Don't be afraid to jazz up the clothes with some decorations.
**Check out a visual depiction of this with the following YouTube video: https://youtu.be/b9F3tN_tfFs
Next up is દ for દીવો (divo, earthen lamp)!
Light up your day ( and life) by making a homemade divo. You can take this time to teach your kid about Diwali (one of my favorite Indian holidays) too!
Check out this awesome blog with instructions on how to make your own divo: https://www.homeschooling-ideas.com/how-to-make-clay.html
Once you make the divo, don't forget to paint and decorate it.
Next up is દ for દેડકો (dedko, frog)!
Cut a 3 inch strip of paper out of green construction paper. This will be the body of your frog. Roll it up and tape/glue the ends so you form a hollow cylinder.
Cut a 2 inch strip of paper out of that same construction paper. This will be the frog's head. Roll it up and tape/glue the ends so you form another hollow cylinder. Glue this cylinder on top of the larger cylinder that was your frog's body.
Cut another 2 inch strip of paper. Trim one end of the paper into an "M" shape to represent the frog's eyes (see photo for visual depiction). Fold the paper under the eyes. Trim excess paper. Glue this onto the frog's head.
Draw some eyes, a nose, and a mouth onto the frog.
Cut out a thin and long piece of red paper. Glue this onto the mouth. This will be your frog's tongue.
Now grab your green construction paper again. Cut out two thin strips and two thicker strips. The thin strips will be your arms, so glue them onto the middle of the body of the frog. The thicker strips will be the legs, so glue them onto the bottom of the body of the frog.
If you want, you can cut out a lily-pad for your frog to sit on as well!
**Check out this great blog that breaks down all of the above instructions in a really easy way:
Character and Quality Corner:
While learning letters is super important, learning character is even more important. So why not do both simultaneously? Associating letters with characters and qualities helps pique my kid’s interest in great historical figures while also allowing her to practice saying the letter out loud. Here are a few of my favorite characters and qualities that start with દ.
Characters:
દેવકી (Devki). Devki was Lord Krishna's mother.
દુર્યોધન (Duryodhana). Duryodhana was the son of King Dhritarashtra and Queen Gandhari. He was the cousin of the Pandavas.
દુર્ગા (Durga). Durga is a female goddess.
** If you want us to go into more detail about these characters, let us know in the "comments" section of this blog!
Qualities:
દક્ષતા (dakshataa, dexterity)
દયા (daya, kindness)
દૈવી પ્રયત્નવાદ (daivi prayathanavaad, divine effort)
Festival:
Last but on least, is દ foદિવાળી (Diwali). Diwali is one of my favorite Indian festivals. Check out the main website for some worksheets and books based on Diwali!
Storytime: My kid LOVES stories. I have found that relating Gujarati letters to specific stories helps her associate the letter with more words and helps her practice saying the letter out loud. For the letter દ, share the story of Krishna and the ball!
You can check out a bhajan/song based on this story at the following YouTube link:
You can also read this stories (and more) under the “Gujarati stories” tab on our website.
Activity Time: First, it's time for a scavenger hunt! We have run our minds enough. Now its time to literally run during this scavenger hunt for words that start with દ! Word List:
દડો (dado, ball)
દર્પણ (darpan, mirror)
દફતર (daftar, backpack)
દિવાલ (divaal, wall)
દાડમ (dadum, pomegranate)
દૂધી (dudhi, water gourd )
દૂધ (dudh, milk)
દહીં (dahi, yogurt)
દરવાજો (darvaajo, door)
દાદરો (daadaro, stair )
દોરડું (dordum, rope)
દોરી (dori, thread)
Scavenger Hunt instructions:
Write down the above words on a piece of paper.
Read the first word on the list and have your kid search the house for that item. Once he/she brings you that item, repeat the same process with the next word.
Once your kid has found all of the words, re-read the words on the list one more time. This round, each time you read a word, have your kid put that item back in its rightful place.
Next up, let's learn about opposites!
Use the following words to help teach your kid about opposites. You can say one of the words and ask your kid what the opposite would be. Alternatively, you could write all the words down, and have your kid match the opposites to each other!
દૂર / નજીક (duur/ najik, far/ near)
દુઃખ / સુખ (dukh/ sukh, sadness / happiness )
દક્ષિણ / ઉત્તર (dakshin/ uttar, south / north)
Last up, let's have a race!
The best way to teach your kid about દ for દોડ (doda, race) , is to have one! Grab your whole family for this one, and race to different parts of your house. If you want, you can even use some of the scavenger hunt words and race to those for some extra practice with words that start with દ!
Sing-A-Long: Let's run our mouths for a bit! One of the best ways to learn new words and practice old ones is by singing. Here is a nursery rhyme that you can sing that centers on the letter દ! Dada no dangoro દાદા નો ડંગોરો
Dada no dangoro lidho
Eno to me ghodo kidho
Ghodo chale rhum zhum
Ghoogari vaage ghum ghum
Dhum dhum dharti jaay
Maaro ghodo kudato jaay
(This essentially means "I took my Dada's walking stick and turned it into a horse. The horse walks making a 'rhum zhum' noise. The bell chimes making a 'ghum ghum' noise. As my horse jumps, the dirt trembles.")
** Here is a youtube video to help you with sing this if you haven't heard it before: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-fxA2vyvGGo
Word Salad: The best way to learn another language is to hear as many words as possible. Here are just a few extra words to practice during the week that start with દ!
દ for દાદા (dada, grandfather)
દ for દાડી (dadi, grandmother)
દ for દેડકો (dedko, frog)
દ for દાંત (daant, teeth)
દ for દાઢી (dadhi, beard)
દ for દીવો (divo, earthen lamp)
દ for દવા (dava, medicine)
દ for દરજી (darji, tailor)
દ for દરિયો (dariyo, sea)
દ for દસ (das, ten )
દ for દીકરી (dikari, daughter)
દ for દીકરો (dikaro, son)
દ for દુનિયા (duniyaa, world)
દ for દિશા (dishaa, direction)
દ for દિવસ (divas, days)
દ for દૂધીયા (dudhiyaa, light blue color )
Question of the Week:
Take a break from learning about દ and stretch your mind with the question of the week!
Q: How do we make yogurt?
A: The short answer is that you heat up milk. Once it has cooled down a little, you mix it with a little bit of ready made yogurt. After you let this mixture sit for a while, the whole mixture will turn into yogurt! This happens because the ready made yogurt contains bacteria. When this bacteria is combined with the milk, it causes the milk to ferment.
**There is this awesome blog that provides step by step instructions on how to make yogurt (or you can just call your mom!): https://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/make-homemade-yogurt.html