Author: Roger Isingoma

Briefly on Children’s Books

Briefly on Children’s Books


Class
Brief Description
Unit Price (UGX)
1.
The Things my Body Needs
Middle and Top Class, P.1
This is a simple and playful way of introducing the pupils to sciences and social studies, for example, by teaching them about the basic needs in life, how and where we get them from. With the help of a teacher or a parent, the children learn about these facts by pointing out the different items in the pictures that correspond with these needs.
1,500
2.
I Love to Play with Clay
Top Class, P.1, P. 2
It is a book for children aged between 5 and 7 years, depending on whether the emphasis is put on the words, the pictures, or the activity. The story is told through pictures and words. Suggestions for grammar, comprehension, religious, cross learning and cross-cultural exercises have been made to guide the teachers or parents as they read with the child. The excises in the book also promote team work and encourage the pupils to work with their hands. The exercises will also stimulate creativity, speech and cognitive ability.
2,500
3.
The Animals at Home
P.1,P.2
A book for children aged 6-7 years with beautiful colourful illustrations. It is a story about domestic animals common in people’s homes in Uganda. The story aims to introduce children to what these animals are, what they look like, the English words for each animal in a family, and how useful the animals are to us. Once the children learn the music, it will be easy for them to remember the facts about the animals. Produced in colour the book has eight pages of activities for grammar, word picture relations, reading and writing, sentence construction and comprehension exercises.
5,000
4.
Jonah, The Prophet
P.2,P.3
The book is based on the biblical story of the prophet Jonah. It is re-told in order to remind the child about the importance of obedience and that God is alive. The questions at the end of the story aim to enable the teachers and parents explain God’s relationship with us.
2,500
5.
The Stars in Uncle Jed’s House
P.4,P.5
This is a story about poverty. It aims to encourage the reader to work hard and never accept poverty as a condition of their lives. The story is accompanied by music for the ear, mind, and soul. The music can also be learnt as part of the message. Wide ranging exercises have been given: in grammar, comprehension, reading and writing, speaking and listening, debate, play performance and singing.
5,000
6.
Home and Away from the TV
P4-P7
It is a collection stories, poems, and play-lets by the 2018 MEBO Holiday Makers (8-28 January 2018). The collection showcases the contributions of such programme s to the children’s learning and holistic development. The work was also published to inspire children to love to read and write in and away from school. It is hoped that by seeing their work or that of their friends in print, the children will be encouraged to read or write always. The same service can be extended to pupils in your school upon request.
10,000
7.
Sarah’s Dream
P.5,P.6
The story unveils anxieties of a girl on the onset of adolescence presented as dreams and an informative journey story and some key features of Uganda studied at that level.
5,000
8.
Tip Your Way to the Prize
All classes
A practical guide in the production of music, dance, drama, poetry and performances of such a nature, especially for festivals and competitions.


THE Man who laid the Golden Egg

THE Man who Laid the Golden Egg

Man slept and dreamt he had died and gone to heaven. He was taken to a very big feast where there was a lot of singing, dancing and rumming. Thereafter he was taken to his room and shown a big, golden bed. Al the while he keeps asking is keeper if he could return to earth and fetch his wife.
The Play
Man:               (To his keeper) You mean to say I’ve just died? Oh no! Idon’t want to die.
Keeper:          Why? Everybody must die. It’s just a matter of time. Remember (Quote Bible)? A thousand years in God’s sight is like one day – one full journey of the clock or less.
Man:              No. I want to go back. I must go back. (He bolts, and starts to run back. The Keeper shouts and whitstles. Three Guards spring up, chase and grab him by the colar. They’re swearing at him “Common thief!” He’s sobbing, and pleadeding for his freedom, “No. Please, let me go.”
Keeper:          Yes. You’re dead. You’ve been dead for ages now. You died and came to heaven.
Man:               Mmn! Is that so? Am I actualy in heaven?
Keeper:          Of course you’re. The Bibilical and fantastic heaven.
Man:               Strange. How come I don’t see all those bishops and priests of the Church we used to pray with?
Keeper:          This side of heaven is for other kinds of priests. People’s priests and priestesses. Are you one of them?
Man:              Who are those?
Keeper:          Business people, street preachers, politicians …
Man:              No. I am none of those. I’ve never had the remotest thought of becoming a politician.
Keeper:          The past doesn’t matter. Think of your fe now and in the future.
Man:              Can one have a future without a past?
Keeper:          Look! You’re asking too many questions. We’re getting laste for the banquet.
Man:              A banquet? What for?
Keeper:          So, you’ve never heard of that saying?
Man:              What saying?
Keeper:          Curiosity killed the cat.
Man:              I am not a cat, and I shall never wear spots for a dress.
Keeper:          Shut up! Never trouble trouble before it troubles you. Come on! Let’s go.
Man:              I am innocent. You’re beating me for nothing.
Keeper:          Ssshh – sh! (He leads him to another gate. It’s guarded by mean-looking guards, looking like shephers, mounting winged horses. He shwos them a golden card, and they let him in)
Man:              Ha ha ha! Why? I thought everyone in heaven was happy!
Keeper:          Ssshh!
Man:              But listen. Isn’t it strange?
Keeper:          What is?
Man:              Phew! I swear those guards are fit for the gates of hell. That’s where people yell and protest to come out. The devil take them! And why do the horses have wings?
Keeper:          Ssshh – ssh! I shall not take the blame. Do you eat bees?
Man:              Why?
Keeper:          You’re talking like a chatterbox. Clattering and clucking like a hen about to lay eggs. Are you a chronicker?
Man:              A chronicher? What’s that?
Keeper:          Shut up!
Man:              I am now confused. Tell me. Are you actually a servant of God?
Keeper:          In this part of the owrld there are no maids or servants. We’re all masters of or own destiny. I expect you to do the same. Now get ready. We’re about to fly.
Man:              Oh! How I hate flying! You see them. The dragon fly. It flies and dnaces around itself like a wizard. Be fore it knows what, it drops down dead. The same applies to white ants. Grasshoppers are no better. Alive one minute and dead the next, all to please men’s stomachs. It’s to sad. (slight pause) At least for the mosquitoes. They live for 21 days. Three full weeks of singing and dancing to the best of tunes.
Keeper:          Rules are rules. No more talking.
Man:              Wait a moment! See! (The mosquito dance follows) Keeper shows golden card. The gates swing open. They enter. It’s a big banquet hall. It’s as if a competition is taking palce. There are many choirs and dancing troupes. They perform many items in succession. Guard leads him to a huge table, ste up high and filled up with many different dishes, local and exotic. It’s the mosquito dance he enjoys most)
Guard:           Enjoy yourself.
Man:              No. You can’t leave me here alone.
Guard:           Don’t forget you’re now dead. Jesus said, “I’ll give you a beffting helper”. Quote verse. Bye. (Just then, his wife re-enters, and lies beside him)
Man:              (To the waiters) Excuse me. Can I ask a small favour of you? … Please! I left my wife behind. You know she likes to be busy around the house. Can I fecth her?
Guard:           Does she have an invitation card?
Man:              I don’t know. Who invites them? Ask your friend.
Guard:           We have one duty here; to serve the guests brought to us. Enjoy your feast.
Man:              Suddenly money notes fall around him. He darts his eyes around greedily. Waiters bring in more plates of food and place them before him. Waiter comes up to him
Waiter:          Excuse me, Sir! I can volunteer to bring in your wife if you want.
Man:              My wife? What for? No way.
Waiter:         

Mebo Holiday programme 2020 4 Email

Mebo Holiday programme 2020 4 Email

When we decided to enroll 13 year olds plus into the regular MEBO Children’s Holiday Makers Programme for 2020 we hoped to separate them from the 21/2 – 12 year olds. Our assumption was that their interests and expectations as teenagers were different. In some cases they indeed were. But the approach was meant to introduce the children to a real life setting and help them to integrate better. We live and work in homes and society as people of different ages, gender, heights, religions, potentialities, likes and dislikes. Hence the situation gave us new opportunities to appreciate our differences and to realize this year’s theme: “To BE, To DO, and to learn to Live with Others.” I am happy that we integrated with one another very well and learned to give and take without denying the children the chance to be who they are. We prayed and played together every day. We ate the same food and took our meals at the same time. We came together to tell stories, play musical instruments, mold clay, sing and dance. We made connections to our cultural roots through riddling, games, and the different folk songs, dances and musical instruments. Some of the children discovered and learned more about their relatives and family relationships. The children’s drawings and creative items blended well with debates, acting and speeches by the toddlers and young adults. Together, we made new friends and connections. Everybody was happy and positively engaged. We designed and conducted our counselling sessions in the same light and hope that they added some value to the children. Above all, we aimed to give memorable experiences that would bring the children new opportunities.

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Purposeful Holiday Making

Purposeful Holiday Making

MEBO t R ·� C NCERT 26/01/2019, 2.00-5.00 P. M. ALPHA Kindergarten and Day care
Ente amment, Ex cted Outcomes: The programme aimed •
1. The children will explore new or re-affirn:, old or traditional ways of engaging and utilizing their time during school holidays
2. The children will make new friends which is a positive step towards independence, personal accountability, and responsible decision making.
MCs: 1. Abaho Edwin
1. Cotrid Nayiga
Line Up of Items
I�:;�
TIME(P.M.)
ITEM
RESPONSIBILITY
2. Queen Ainemugisha (for the storytelling session) 2. Joshua Akampurira (for the Drama session)
I ParentsandGuestarrive
!National Anthem; East African Anthem
I
Prayer
TeacherRobert
2.50 3.00
3.20
3-40
4.00
4.20
4-40
s.oo
Fashion Parade & Modeling Speech, Debate, Storytelling i.e. Speech:1. Princeton M. (UGANDA)
r Teacher Robert
Teacher)jingo
TeacherJjingo

Warm Up Exercises & Games
/ EmotionalZones
The Telephone Line One Man went to Mow
2. Precious M. (LIONS)
3.Joshua A. (My First day at MEBO) Debate:Godwin (Moderator): Nayiga (Secretary); Angelo (Time Keeper)
Proposers:Joshua & Princeton
Opposers: Queen & Precious
Storytelling: Queen, Daniella, Michelle, Godwin
“Save the environment from Kaveera”
Exhibition and”Shops” -for”sales” of Individual Arts/Handcrafts
Craft making themed,
Piano
Teacher Emma
1. Morning Prayer
Namanda D., Ela T., Namata M., Nabunje C.
Nayiga Cotrid AkampuriraJoshua
12.Sunshine
3. Christopher Columbus 4. My Favourite Day s.Jingle Bells
Aruho G., Abaho E.
Drama Skits
Precious M., Princeton M., Queen C.
• The Man and the Rabbit
• Easter Saturday
… –
Traditional Dances
• Akogo
• Nankasa-Bakisimba-Muwogola • Ekitaguriro / Ekizino
Award of Certificates Afterwards, departure at leisure

Happy and Away from TV

.

Happy and Away from TV

When we decided to organize 12 days of children’s creative and performance arts training in the December-January school vacation, we aimed to compliment the education the children get at school, which is increasingly becoming academic with dwindling options for creativity and healing fun, and to expose the ‘holiday-makers’ to less television and social media. These last two realities stifle creativity and innovation and transmit not-so good habits to the children. Today, technology is part and parcel of our daily life experience. But we all need to engage purposefully with it in such a way that the devices will not turn us into their slaves and prisoners but rather optimize.our earthly lives. �he children living in big towns and cities are also fast getting out of touch with their cultural identities and heritage, something that might leave them rootless, valueless, and lost in a global setting. Just like Americans, Europeans, Chinese, Indians, and so on become their nationalities first and then go on to integrate internationally, we believe that there are innumerable and immeasurable treasures in being Ugandan first. From our interactions with the children we affirm that it is possible to enhance our lifestyles creatively and that the world around still carries lots of lessons and meaning for humanity in the present and the future. We hope you’ll enjoy reading the submissions in this collection. Please, do not hesitate to give us any kind of feedback. We will be grateful.

Purposeful Holiday Making

Purposeful Holiday Making

The MEBO Monthly TIP has stayed in draft form for over a year now, each new month seeing the existing drafts updated or discarded, unfortunately, when the news grows old! This first issue to come out formally in print is therefore a landmark step in the newsletter’s life as it is special. It is dedicated to the Book Harvest Week in Kampala planned as an annual event. The Kampala Annual Book Harvest Week has been on since Monday 29 June 2015, and it is special in many ways. First, it’s a premier in Kampala. There have been book days and fairs certainly but not a book harvest that, in our view, has climaxed as a literary explosion. Secondly, the Book Harvest Week is literal in every sense. Most book launches are organized in the evenings over a cocktail, and feature one book or two as anthologies or by a prominent figure. The Book Harvest is special. It has featured different activities over several days, including a three-day theatre arts and books exhibition; public and media interviews with the different authors and film directors; the Annual MEBO Essay Awards for secondary schools; and a stimulating talk by senior physician and surgeon, Dr. Rockie Kisekka, from Mulago Hospital, on “How the Human Brain Works under intense Pressure and Excitement”