Showing posts with label Bar-charts. Show all posts

Friday, July 24, 2026

Positive Vibes Channel | Sajendra Kumara

Short motivational speeches with Sajendra

The innate qualities of certain people cannot be changed. | A donkey carrying a load of books is still a donkey.

IDIOMS AND ACTIVITIES FOR G.C.E. O / L

ENGLISH IDIOMS WITH ACTIVITIES

Idioms are expressions peculiar to any language. It is interesting to learn them and use them appropriately in language. There are hundreds and thousands of idioms in the English language. As a learner of English you should have a collection of idioms in your vocabulary. The correct idiom at the correct place can decorate your language ;and at the exam , if you could use a few of them in your writings it could make a positive impression on the teacher who marks your paper. It demonstrates your enthusiasm for learning language.

Sajendra Kumara
0777597875

ACTIVITY 01: Match the following idioms with their meanings. Write the correct letter of the meanings given below against the suitable idiom.
1. A wolf in sheep's clothing.
2. To put the cart before the horse.
3. To let the cat out of the bag.
4. To get all your ducks in a row.
5. The lion's share

      A. to do something in the wrong order.
    B. the best or the largest part of something.
    C. seems to be harmless but really an enemy.
    D. to tell a secret by mistake
    E. to be well organized.

DESCRIBING GRAPHS

GRAPH DESCRIPTIONS FOR GRADE 10 AND 11

Recommended for General English

The test on graphs carries 10 marks at the OL exam ( Sri Lanka). Describing graphs has also been included in the General English paper.

My objective here is not to teach you how to write descriptions of graphs ; yet to help you form an idea as to how a description is written. By going through the following descriptions, you will probably be able to form an idea as to how a description on a graph is written. However, you need constant practice as a student, so find some more activities and keep on writing. It will enable you to produce a sound description.

Sajendra Kumara

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It may take several hours or sometimes even a few days for granting access to the papers you request to download. I kindly request you to bear with the delay. Don't give up hopes. Check your e-mails for permission.

මෙම blog page එකේ ඔබට ලබාදෙන papers , download කරන්න access ලබාගැනීමට ඇතැම් විට පැය කීපයක් හෝ දින කීපයක් උවද ප්‍රමාද වියහැකි බව සලකන්න . ❤ Sajendra Kumara whatsApp/call:0777597875

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ENGLISH ACTIVITIES FOR GRADE 6

ENGLISH ACTIVITIES AND ESSAYS FOR GRADE 6

The Blogger's Note: (Updated)

The lessons and materials which appear on this blog page from December 2025 onwards will focus on the curriculum reforms to be implemented from January 2026. I have planned to publish activities related to the module based English language learning which would probably help both teacher and the learner.

Sajendra Kumara

OL English Activities Videos (OL and Other College Videos)

The SK Video (Sajendra Kumara) Channel contains short video clips which I hope would be useful for both teachers and students. They could be used in your classroom teachings. Probably your students may like a break from the stereotype classroom teaching for a few minutes.

The Channel also contains other video clips related to history , nature , college life and people. The blog page here brings all the clips to one platform.

Channel
SK Videos Sajendra Kumara Please Subscribe💔💔

Panchathanthra Stories For Children| Fables

Panchathanthra is a collection of Sanskrit fables written by the Indian scholar , teacher and writer Vishnu Sharma.

The stories published below have been selected and adapted to suit the young reader.

You can watch the Videos on SK Videos channel .

SK Videos Channel

Vishnu Sharma

Story 1

The Educated Fools

👴 Moral: [Pride goes before a fall: If you are too confident about your abilities something bad could happen. It shows that you are not as good as you think. ]

Once upon a time there lived four Brahmin friends. Three among them were well educated in Vedic scriptures and other fields. However, they lacked intelligence. The fourth friend was uneducated but he excelled in intelligence.

One day, the four friends were engaged in a serious conversation with regard to their future. They said they couldn't make proper use of their educatedness by staying in their home country. So, they decided to serve some other king in the East and make their future better.

Thus, as discussed, the four friends left home early in the morning the very next day. They walked in the direction of the east.

On the way, the first Brahmin friend stopped and expressed his concern over the fourth Brahmin friend who was uneducated.

The second Brahmin friend added, " Yes, we cannot share our hard earned wealth with someone who is uneducated."

The third Brahmin who felt sympathetic for their good old friend said, "We've been friends since our childhood. We've always been together. Therefore, it's my opinion that a part of our wealth should go to him as well."

The four friends resumed the journey. On the way, they had to walk through a dense jungle infested with most ferocious wild animals. The four friends being tired after walking a long distance, decided to rest a while under a huge shady tree.

The friends who observed the surrounding noted some skeletal remains. Upon closer examination, they realized that they were those of a lion died a few years ago.

The educated friends thought that it was an opportunity to show how educated they were by putting together the bones and bringing the dead beast back to life.

Thus they set about working. The first Brahmin friend fixed the bones. The second Brahmin friend fed the skeleton with flesh and blood. Finally, when the third Brahmin friend got ready to blow life into the lion the fourth friend, the uneducated one , who was watching all this drama with horror and surprise , intervened and said , " Stop! Stop! What do you think you are going to do? You are going to bring a ferocious beast back to life. The moment it is alive, it'll definitely kill the four of us. If you love your life, don't do this."

The third friend who was furious to hear this said , "Go away uneducated fool and let me show everyone the power of my knowledge."

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👉Read in English while listening to the story in Sinhala. Watch the Video below . Please Subscribe the Channel for more.

The fourth friend said, "Well, then , wait just one minute until I climb up this tree. "

The fourth friend climbed up the tree in a flash. The third friend blew life into the dead lion. The lion sprang up with a loud roar, killed the three friends and disappeared into the jungle."

The fourth friend watched all this in agony. He was shocked to see the three good friends lying dead under the tree torn into pieces. He walked back home mourning the death of his three friends.

The Red Rose: A Short Story ( Based on a True College Incident)

The Red Rose: A (True) Short Story

(Based on a true incident)

Daily News: August 3, 2011

"Sir, I found this rose on my desk", the little girl chirped as I took my eyes off the Grade 9 attendance register.

Susima was the prettiest in my class. Her gleaming eyes could easily steal the young heart. Her jet black hair which she wore in one plait was often decorated with a red ribbon put into a butterfly knot.

It was about 7.20 a.m. As it was Monday, I had to take the children to the playground for the morning assembly.

"Put it in the vase, dear. Go, hurry up, help them arrange the class before the bell goes.", I said. The girl deposited the little red rose among the bunches of marigolds and joined the girls busy arranging the desks and chairs.

The little red rose did not catch anyone's attention. It remained in the vase even when I returned in the last period.

The following morning a sudden rain delayed me to school than usual. As I was walking towards the class I saw Susima standing at the entrance with her hands behind. It appeared that she was waiting for my arrival.

Good morning Susima," I greeted the girl as I walked straight to my table since my bag was too heavy with books and files. I felt Susima following me. No sooner than I sat down at the table, I found Susima standing in front of me with a red rose in her hand.

"You've found another red rose on your desk Susie. This is interesting", I said.

"Yes, sir. I came a little early, and I found this on my desk", replied Susima placing it in my hand and walked away.

I turned the red rose round holding it with the stem and gently ran my fingertips on its soft petals which were still afresh.

Apparently some hand had picked it early that morning. It was not difficult for my fingertips to catch its raw wetness.

Roses! I do love them, too, as much as the hand that picked it for Susie or perhaps even more. Several varieties of them decorate my home garden under the good care and attention of my wife. They need proper attention for healthy growth. The velvet bunch of petals huddled together has a mesmerizing effect on anyone. It is as soft as the budding love deep in the heart of a lover. The scarlet hue at the bosom of the rose rightly mingles with the innocent romantic feelings of a lover.

The morning bell woke me up from the reverie. There was the usual din in the class until the second bell went for the religious observances. I kept the rose next to the vase as it was already stuffed with an assortment of flowers, and rose from the chair.

A brief pin drop silence reigned the college followed by the recital of the five precepts. Quite unknowingly my eyes were cast on little Susima who was engrossed in reciting the gathas devdevotedly with her palms nicely pressed together akin to a rose bud hanging from a twig.

Susima's mysterious rose started haunting my mind. However much I tried to supress it and get about my work it surfaced like a rubber ball pressed into the water.

I am a teacher with twenty years of teaching experience. I have spent nearly half of my life with children. I have faced a multitude of experiences involving children throughout my career. Susima was just one among the hundreds of pretty little damsels in the long list of pupils I have taught so far.

Yet for the first time this apparently petty incident was encroaching my heart and mind. If it was really Susima or the mysterious red roses which found their way on to her desk that attracted me so much, I couldn't understand.

The following morning , I left home to school a little early. There was Susima again at the entrance to the class. My eyes first fell on her hands and then on her face. I was correct ; the stranger had kept the third too on her desk. She silently kept the rose in my hand.

Yet this time it was not the Susima who brought me the first and the second rose. She was on the verge of tears. Her lips were quivering as if to supress a loud cry.

I walked to my table and kept the flower on my books. Susima followed and stood in front of me. By then, tears were trickling down her cheeks.

"Sir, the girls are laughing at me. They are calling me 'Rosy Susie'. Please! Stop it sir!". She emptied her heart sobbing. I almost heard her palpitations as she was breathing so fast. Her hanky was wet with tears.

There were some girls in the class on this occasion. They were giggling , pushing each other , looking slyly at Susima while sweeping the class. The boys were out in the playground. Girls envied Susima because of her attractive appearence. Hene this incident was more than what they needed to tease the girl. They were all out to derive some wild pleasure out of this small incident.

With just a frown I showed them my disapproval and the giggling came to an abrupt end. The girls were seen engaged in their classroom duties as if nothing happened. I nodded to Susima to go back to her desk. Susima ran to her desk and burried her head in her arms. However , later she was seen chatting with some girls in front of the class. Yet there was a shroud of gloom hanging over her face.

The term tests being over , I spent most part of the day marking papers in my class. My presence in the class would probably have served in guarding her from any unwanted remarks from girls.

That day I thoroughly determined to find the architect of this whole drama. I also was twitching with curiosity till I found the culprit.

After much thoughts, I determined not to reveal this incident to any of my collegues. I did not want to make this matter a cause for amusement and embarrass little Susima and her secret , yet unkown , admirer.

I hate to see elders deriving pleasure by getting hold of innocent teenage romantic expressions.

When such incidents fall into their ears, especially the ladies , they cling to them , perhaps , for couple of weeks or even more. They have a knack for making mountains out of molehills and modify small incidents to suit their desired tastes.

I did not talk with my family on that day. I avoided company as much as possible. Though I sat in front of the TV as uusual to watch news, I did not really remember what she read so loud and clear.

That night I saw Susima in my dream. She was standing at her desk with a red rose pressed to her bosom. On seeing me entering the class she flicked it under the desk. When I demanded her what she hid under the desk she broke down and cried aloud. Just then I woke up to hear the alarm hammering into my ears.

I left home earlier than usual on that day. I wanted to be in the class before anyone of my students turned up. First, I made sure that there was no one in the class. Then I walked up to Susima's desk and observed every inch of it.

Thus after completing the initial step of my operation I left for the staff room, as planned , which was located well within the sight of my classroom. I moved a chair and sat down focusing my eyes on the entrance to the classroom.

A few nail biting moments ticked away. I heard some footsteps falling on the gravel. That was my class monitor Bevan.

Bevan was an obedient boy from a well-to-do family. He was tall for age and usually came to class smartly dressed. He performed his duties to the letter. He had never been in the bad books of teachers.

After a few minutes, I dashed into the classroom. The little thief was caught red handed.

Bevan my class monitor was sitting at Susima's desk. A red rose with a leaf on its stem was already lying on the Susima's desk. He was taken aback by my surprise appearance. He stood transfixed gazing at me for a while. Then, slowly, he picked up the rose with shivering fingers.

"Bevan! Then you are the one, Susie's secret lover", I said. The boy proceeded a few steps towards me with the red rose in his hand. He reminded me of little Oliver Twist who walked up to the official with his empty bowl to ask for more.

Bevan's eyes pleaded guilty. He was standing in front me with his eyes glued to the ground.

"What's the meaning of this, my boy?", I asked.

"Sorry sir!, That's all because I LOVE Susima. Please, don't let her know it. It'll not happen again," muttered the little boy in one breath and dropped the flower at my feet. Then, he looked guiltily at me with tears in eyes and bolted out of the class.

I picked up the rose, kept it in my vase and waited for Susima to come to class. But Susima did not come to school on that day.

I took that 'precious red rose' home and placed it on my reading table.

Sajendra Kumara

(Published in The Daily News (Sri Lanka ) ARTSCOPE magazine on Wednesday, the 3rd August, 2011)

The names of the two children in the subject incident are imaginary.

👦👧Note:

There are many young boys and girls like Bevan and Susima in our colleges. You need to handle their feelings quite gently and with much maturity.

I faced this experience when I was serving at a school in Gampaha Education Zone. The incident left an indelible impression on me. The girl is a teacher today. I do not know anything about the boy. Later, I decided to turn this beautiful incident into a story and a poem. The poem was also carried in the Daily News.

The above 👆 module contains all types of test activities for Question - 6 of the OL English paper. It can easily be used as a handbook for classroom teaching or as a self-study guide.

Friday, July 15, 2022

Describing a Picture

PICTURE READING ACTIVITIES

Dear readers,

Picture reading is an interesting way to improve your knowledge of English. It involves your knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and even good thinking. It is the 3rd Test item on the OL English paper, Sri Lanka. It carries 5 marks. The question format has been changed from time to time. Well, this is a small attempt at helping with you some extra activities.

More similar activities are available in the two model activity books I have compiled for OL. If you are interested you can contact me and get down the books to your home.

Sajendra Kumara

A trained teacher of English

👇👇👇

Learn English With Videos (OL AND OTHER)

The two books contains more picture reading activities. Call Sajendra.

ACTIVITY 1:

Fill in the blanks with the help of the picture. USE only one word in each blank.

This is a picture of a kitchen. There are 1)................children in the kitchen. Their mother is 2)....................something at the sink. Jim is 3).................at the table. It seems that he is 4)..................something. Sheila is talking with 5).................. . There are some clothes in a basket on the 6)................... . There is an 7)................ board beside the table.

[1.three 2. washing 3. sitting 4. writing/reading 5.Bobby 6. table 7. iron ]

Sajendra Kumara
SBEC, Nittambuwa ,Sri Lanka

OL 2021 NEW SYLLABUS ENGLISH PAPER

Free Download Paper 1 Here 👇

OL 2021 (2022) Paper 1

Free Download Paper 2 here 👇

OL 2021 (2022) Paper 2

Sajendra Video Channel

👉SK VIDEO (pls, subscribe)

Request for complete marking scheme on WhatsApp (0777597875).

👉 Watch OL Essay

Challenges in Life

👩👨 For more free activities

Click here 👉 General English support activities

Click here 👉 English with newspapers

Click here 👉https://jjsaje.blogspot.com/2017/02/grammar-lessons.html

MODEL ENGLISH ESSAYS

Click here 👉Model English Paragraphs for OL

Click here 👉Best Activity Books for OL

Click here 👉Free 100 plus Activities for OL

Click here 👉Describing Graphs

Click here 👉OL PAST PAPERS ACTIVITIES

Click here 👉Describing a Picture

Click here 👉General English Prototype Paper

Click here 👉Notices and personal notes

👲👲👲 Watch Video Presentation by Sajendra

RPORTED QUESTIONS

English Through Newspapers

Dear readers,

This blog, like the 30 plus other blogs , I have published on this site jjsaje.blogspot.com will be of immense use to both learners of English and English language teachers. It will also be an eye-opener for some of you.

Short English news articles are one of the best sources available freely for one to either learn or teach English. If you are a teacher you have to be a bit innovative and creative to design your lesson with the news article. They improve one's day-today vocabulary and keep one abreast of the developments of the world.

My small attempt here will guide you how to use news articles in the classroom or personally to improve your knowledge.

I also have compiled a booklet (Learn English Through Newspapers: Book-1) carrying different news items from Sri Lankan newspapers with interesting activities. The book has been designed in such a way that a teacher can use it as a supplementary activity book for students. It also can effectively be used with AL General English Learners.

You can reserve your copy by contacting me on 0777597875.

I am looking forward to your feedback.

Good Luck

Sajendra Kumara

(A trained Teacher of English / Blogger / Material Writer )

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For OL Marking Schemes request on WhatsApp (0777597875)

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Sajendra's Video Channel

👦👉SK VIDEO (watch & pls. subscribe)

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OL 2021 (2022) English Paper free Download pdf

OL 2021 (2022) English Paper

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Paper Cutting -1 ( Sports News - Local )

Underline the correct answer

1) Kusal's a) son b) daughter was born on the June 19th.

2) a) Father's Day b) Mother's Day falls on the June 19th.

3) Kusal Mendis received the best news of his life on the

a) 20th June b) 19th June.

4) Kusal saw his baby a) on the day it was born b) a day after the it was born.

5) Underline the correct statement.

a) Kusal retired from cricket.

b) Kusal was injured in the third ODI with Australia.

c) Kusal will not be able to play cricket again.

6) According to the article the word 'duo' in the last paragraph referred to

a) Kusal and Nishell

b) Nishell and her baby daughter

c) Kusal and Pethum Nissanka

Paper Cutting -2 ( Local News)

Read the above article and answer the questions.

What does CAA stand for?
Where was the fuel stock hidden?
What is the total amount of the hidden stock?
What was done to the fuel stock?
Who will be charged in the case?

Paper Cutting :3 ( Local News)

Read the news item given above and do the activity.

1. The number of artificial limbs offered: ......

2. The artificial limbs were offered to: ......

3. The value of an artificial limb: ......

4. The total number of recipients of limbs this year (2022): ...

5. The number of soldiers lost their lives in the war.: .......

6. The number of soldiers injured or lost their limbs: ....

Paper Cutting 4: (Local News- Health)

Read the above news item and complete the sentences.

1. Laggala is situated in the ..............................................

2. Laggala and Wilgamuwa records the highest number of .............................

3. Over ................................. have been found from Laggala and Wilgamuwa areas.

4. Some people are addicted to smoking .......................... instead of cigarettes.

5. .................................is a cause of the wide spreading kidney disease.

Paper Cutting 5:

Paper Cutting 6: Business News (Economy)

Paper Cutting 7:

Learn to describe a graph for OL and AL

THE KEY TO OL MODEL QUESTIONS

Dear friends and students,

On request of most of my students and users of this blog I decided to publish the answers for the model questions on this page. I will publish the answers as and when time permits me. My focus is more on preparing study materials for you.

Two hundred similar activities created for OL with answers appear in the two books which I have advertised below. If you are interested simply leave me a message on WhatsApp with your address and you can get down the books to your home on Cash On Delivery mode.

Use this website for teaching and learning. It contains activities for lower grades as well.

Good luck!

Sajendra Kumara
A trained teacher of English
TP: 0777597875

Activity: 1
1) sheaf 2) bouquet 3)chain 4)gang 5) range

Activity: 2
1) natural 2) tourism 3) located 4)interested 5) historic 6) vandalistic 7) polluted 8) friendship 9) purify 10) honesty

O L 2017 NEW SYLLABUS ENGLISH PAPER

English Puzzles For Kids

The Best English Puzzles For Kids

Blogger's note:

The puzzles published on this page are created by Thareen Jayaratne (Ruchith ), my elder son who is an advanced level (English Medium) student of Bandaranayake Central College (Boys') Gampaha, Sri Lanka. He is also a past pupil of Negombo South International School, Nittambuwa, Sri Lanka. He is engaged in creating puzzles as a pastime.

I found that his simple puzzles could be useful to anyone: for the student as well as the teacher. It is an interesting way to put one's knowledge of vocabulary on to test. To the English language learner, an attempt at a puzzle once a week could be a challenge which brings in happiness at the end. It is an aged old pastime of some educated people.

Thareen creates them under my supervision to suit all age levels. I invite all the teachers to let their students try out a puzzle at least once a week.

Sajendra Kumara