Dear Principal,

Greetings for the day!

GEMS Education schools in Gurgaon and North India, take pride in announcing the

“GEMS All India Literature Festival, 2020”

The theme of the festival is, ‘Living in the Age of Misinformation.’

While there is information overload, media has also bound everyone in echo-chambers. As lines
between fact, fiction and opinions blur increasingly, news itself propels polarisation as the
social media algorithms ensure that each one gets to know what they would like to know… each
one living in a bubble within the world-wide-web… perhaps the social media boom is one of the
most potent invisible pandemics of our times!

More than ever before, our children need the ability to think critically, analyse, connect the
dots, identify real challenges, decipher, question, empathise with a wide array of cross-cultural
perspectives, collaborate and make sense of texts, subtexts and contexts.

In the spirit of collaboration rather than competition, the GEMS literature festival is a forum for
children to discuss, debate, rethink, listen and enunciate their own thoughts, emotions and ideas
through creative slam poetry, limericks, enactments, blurbs, story-telling, dramatics and other
art-integrated textual expressions.

We are glad to share that various prominent authors, educators and veteran writers like the
honourable, Mr. Shashi Tharoor have benignly agreed to spare some of their valuable time to
engage with children during this festival of reading, thinking, discussion and articulation.

An array of events during the festival have been designed to help students from different age-
groups build confidence, creativity, communication and critical thinking while exploring nuances
of literature and language. We look forward to witness a panorama of sheer innocent creativity,
as children freely express themselves…

The festival will commence with an Inaugural Ceremony on 19th December, 2020 and the
awards will be announced during the Valedictory on 30th December, 2020. Please find details
enclosed in Guidelines.

We hope to make each day special as we collaborate during the last days of 2020, a year that
will go down in the annals of history for a multitude of radical disruptions, both painful as well
as opportune.

It is an honour to invite vibrant entries from your esteemed institution and dynamic students.
Looking forward to your whole-hearted participation.

Warm regards

Dr Amrita Vohra
Director Education – GEMS India
Executive Principal, GEMS International School, Gurgaon
 EVENTS AT A GLANCE

Name of the Event Grade Participants

Voice over Artists (Non-competitive) Kindergarten 1 & 2 Individual

Read Aloud (Non - competitive) I-II Individual

Storytelling (Non - competitive) I-II Individual

Character/author – role play III-V Individual

Limerick poetry III-V Individual

Elocution V-VI Individual

Compare and Contrast Essay writing VII-X Individual

Puppetry V-VII Pair

Blurb Writing VI-VIII Individual

Slam Poetry VIII-XII Individual

Group. 6-8
Virtual Nukkad Nattak VIII-XII
participants

General Instructions-
1. The registration should be completed on or before 15th December, 2020. The form will close
after this date.

2. GEMS students, as a host school will participate, but will not compete.

3. To be eligible to win the overall Trophy, a school should register in all events. The overall
trophy will be awarded to the school with maximum winners across events.

4. A student can participate in multiple events.

5. There can be multiple registrations for an event from a school.

6. The decision of the judges will be final and binding.

7. All competitions will need submission of pre-recorded entries except for the Essay Writing
Competition and Blurb Writing.

8. The recorded entries submitted should be in MP4 format. The entries for Essay Writing and
Blurb Writing should be submitted in PDF format, typed in Times New Roman 12.

9. The Inaugural ceremony will take place on 19th December, 2020 at 10:00 am.

10. The Valedictory along with announcement of the result will be held on 30th December, 2020
at 4:00 pm.
11. The Inaugural and Valedictory ceremony will be held virtually through webinar mode. The
links will be shared with all participating schools.

12. Rendezvous Sessions with various Authors will be held virtually on days between the
Inaugural and Valedictory. The links and details shall be shared with all participating schools.

13. The registration (individual / group) must happen only through the school.

14. All Early Childhood and Early Primary events are non-competitive. All participating students
will be appreciated for their effort and adorable performance. Let’s encourage young minds
together.

15. For any query regarding the event, please contact

Ms Shipra Singh (9810851946) – shipra.singh@gemsedu.in

Ms Pooja Rajput (8860818123) - pooja.rajput@gemsedu.in

Registration Process
Registration will happen through Google Form. Click here to register
Last date for registration is 15th December, 2020.
Last date to submit the entries is 24th December, 2020
 Voice-over Artists ( Non-competitive)
(Grades KG1 – KG2)

A movie is all about sound, action, drama, attention catching dialogues, music and
entertainment. It’s always a joy to watch movies. They are a great source of
entertainment and impart life lessons too. Here is one of them- A short animated movie.
But guess what? It does not have any dialogues! So, this is where your role comes in, you
now have a chance to give your voice to this amazing movie.

Learning Outcome- By giving children a voice through choice, opinion, feelings and emotions
children can develop and learn that they are important and valued. Feeling valued plays, a large
role in how a child learns.

Guidelines-
1. Number of participants- Individual Participation

2. Download the given video Click here

3. Think of some amazing dialogues.

4. Record those dialogues in your voice along with the video with the help of voiceover apps.

5. Mail the video to the teacher in charge and reveal the hidden voiceover artist in you.

6. Participants will be marked on-

• Voice projection (volume and clarity)
• Voice Inflection (Dramatic aspect)
• Pacing
• Confidence

7. Teacher In charge – Ms. Pooja Chauhan (Phone No. 7982552800)

Mail id- pooja.chauhan@gemsedu.in

8. Calling Time – Morning : 8:00 am – 9 :00 am Evening – 5: 00 pm – 6 :00pm

 Read Aloud ( Non-competitive)
(Grade I-II)

Reading isn’t just about literacy; it’s far more than that. Reading changes the way our brains
work, how we relate to and communicate with other people, and how we understand the
world. Reading improves concentration.

Learning Outcome- Through exposure to read and rhyme in books, students learn to segment
words into phonemes, improving their decoding and comprehension abilities.

Guidelines-

1. Number of participants- Individual Participation.

2. Select a book or reading material of your choice. It can be from fiction or non-fiction genres.

3. Time Duration- 2-3 minutes.

4. The participant should read with expressions and intonations.

5. Record and mail to the teacher in charge.

6. Participants will be marked on-

• Voice modulation
• Pronunciation
• Clarity
• Overall presentation

7. Teacher In charge – Ms. Neeraj Kumari( Phone No. 8700880030)

Mail id- neeraj.kumari@gemsedu.in

8. Calling Time – Morning : 8:00 am – 9 :00 am Evening – 5: 00 pm – 6 :00pm

 Story-telling ( Non-competitive)
(Grades I-II)

Storytelling is the process of using fiction, fact and narrative to communicate something to
your audience. Some stories are factual, and some are embellished or improvised in order to
better explain the core message.

Learning Outcome- It boosts listening skills, fosters imagination and enhances communication
skills.

Guidelines-
1. Number of participants- Individual Participation

2. Time Duration- 2 – 2.5 minutes

3. Select or create any story

4. The story must be memorised and not read.

5. Hand movements and facial expressions will add emphasis and clarity.

6. Record and mail to the teacher in charge

7. Participants will be marked on-

• Confidence
• Voice modulation
• Gestures
• Projection
• Story Structure
• Eye Contact
• Overall presentation
8. Teacher In charge – Ms. Pooja Kirthwan (Phone No. 7532857631)
Mail id- Pooja.kirthwan@gemsedu.in
9. Calling Time – Morning : 8:00 am – 9 :00 am Evening – 5: 00 pm – 6 :00pm
 Characters/Author Role-play
(Grades III-V)

If you've ever wanted to live inside the exciting world of a novel or experience life from the
lens of one of your favourite literary characters, then here is your chance to get dressed up
and show your love for your favourite character/author.

Learning Outcome- Dress-up play builds vocabulary, imagination, motor skills and overall
personality.

Guidelines-

1. Number of participants- Individual Participation

2. Time Duration- 2 – 3 minutes

3. Dress up like your favourite character/author

4. While introducing the character the participant must act as the character and speak in first
person. (e.g. I am Amelia Jane)

5. Talk about your favourite book/scene/episode or chapter

6. Give the reasons for choosing this character/author

7. You may change the language (e.g. If you choose a character from Hamlet, you can modify the
dialect to vernacular. In that case don’t forget to add English sub titles)

8. Record and mail to the teacher in charge

9. Participants will be marked on-

• Content/ideas
• Acts and talks like the character
• Word choice
• Costume/prop
• Overall presentation

10.Teacher In charge – Ms. Shreya Dixit ( Phone No. 97182887171)

Mail id- Shreya.dixit@gemsedu.in

11. Calling Time – Morning : 8:00 am – 9 :00 am Evening – 5: 00 pm – 6 :00pm

 Limerick Poetry
(Grades III- V)

A limerick is a form of verse, usually humorous and frequently rude, in five-line,

predominantly anapaestic meter with a strict rhyme scheme of AABBA, in which the first,
second- and fifth-line rhyme, while the third and fourth lines are shorter and share a
different rhyme.

Learning Outcome- It improves creative, emotional and intellectual intelligence

Guidelines-

1. Number of participants- Individual Participation

2. Topic -‘Living in the Misinformation Age’

3. Capitalise the first letter of each line

4. The first line usually names a person or a place and has eight syllables

5. The second line must rhyme with the first line and have eight syllables

6. The third line does not have to rhyme with the second line, but it only has five syllables

7. The fourth line must rhyme with the third line, and it also has five syllables

8. The fifth line must rhyme with the first and second lines

9. The last line is usually funny

10. It’s OK if the syllables aren’t exactly right, but the poem must follow the rhythm.

11. Record and mail to the teacher in charge.

12. Participants will be marked on-

• Title of the poem
• Creativity
• Connection with the theme
• Following poetry directions
• Pausing and pacing
• Memorisation
• Clarity and Expression

13. Teacher In charge – Ms. Manjit Kaur ( Phone No. 9811920924)

Mail id- Manjit.kaur@gemsedu.in

14. Calling Time – Morning : 8:00 am – 9 :00 am Evening – 5: 00 pm – 6 :00pm

 Elocution
(Grades V-VI)

Elocution is the study of formal speaking in pronunciation, grammar, style, and tone as well as
the idea and practice of effective speech and its forms. It stems from the idea that while
communication is symbolic, sounds are final and compelling.

Learning Outcome- The goal of the Elocution competition is to encourage the skills and talents
related to the art of speaking in public.

Guidelines-

1. Number of participants- Individual Participation

2. Time Duration- 2-3 minutes

3. Language- English/ Hindi

4. Participant is expected to memorise the speech/poem of their choice and is not allowed to
read any part.

5. Record a video and mail to the teacher in charge.

6. Participants will be marked on-

• Pronunciation
• Expression
• Confidence/Posture
• Clarity
• Effectiveness of Delivery

7. Teacher In charge – Ms. Puja Brahmi (Phone No. 9971386462)

Mail id- puja.brahmi@gemsedu.in

8. Calling Time – Morning : 8:00 am – 9 :00 am Evening – 5: 00 pm – 6 :00pm

 Compare and Contrast Essay
(Grades VII-X)

A compare and contrast essay examines two or more topics (objects, people, or ideas, for
example), comparing their similarities and contrasting their differences. You may choose to
focus exclusively on comparing, exclusively on contrasting, or on both.

Learning Outcome- The purpose of conducting the comparison or contrast is not to state the
obvious but rather to illuminate subtle differences or unexpected similarities and draw critically
evaluated conclusions.

Guidelines-

1. Number of participants- Individual Participation

2. Word limit- 200 words

3. Choose the topic

4. Brainstorm similarities and differences with your friends and family

5. Organise your thoughts and pen down the same

6. Use transition words

7. Proofread and edit

8. Write in Times New Roman ‘12’ font size and mail the document in PDF format to the teacher
in charge.

Topic Question:
Compare and contrast how the writer and the filmmaker use their characters to present the
power of motivation in Text 1 and Text 2.

Make detailed references to both texts in your answer.

For Text 2, you should focus on what is said, the use of body language, facial expressions and
intonation.

Text-1: (extract from Frankenstein by Mary Shelly)

When I found so astonishing a power placed within my hands, I hesitated a long time concerning
the manner in which I should employ it. Although I possessed the capacity of bestowing animation,
yet to prepare a frame for the reception of it, with all its intricacies of fibres, muscles, and veins,
still remained a work of inconceivable difficulty and labour.
I doubted at first whether I should attempt the creation of a being like myself, or one of simpler
organisation; but my imagination was too much exalted by my first success to permit me to doubt
of my ability to give life to an animal as complex and wonderful as man. The materials at present
within my command hardly appeared adequate to so arduous an undertaking; but I doubted not
that I should ultimately succeed. I prepared myself for a multitude of reverses; my operations
might be incessantly baffled, and at last my work be imperfect: yet, when I considered the
improvement which every day takes place in science and mechanics, I was encouraged to hope my
present attempts would at least lay the foundations of future success.

Nor could I consider the magnitude and complexity of my plan as any argument of its
impracticability. It was with these feelings that I began the creation of a human being. As the
minuteness of the parts formed a great hindrance to my speed, I resolved, contrary to my first
intention, to make the being of a gigantic stature; that is to say, about eight feet in height, and
proportionably large. After having formed this determination and having spent some months in
successfully collecting and arranging my materials, I began.

No one can conceive the variety of feelings which bore me onwards, like a hurricane, in the first
enthusiasm of success. Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break
through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world. A new species would bless me as its
creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. No father
could claim the gratitude of his child so completely as I should deserve theirs. Pursuing these
reflections, I thought, that if I could bestow animation upon lifeless matter, I might in process of
time (although I now found it impossible) renew life where death had apparently devoted the body
to corruption.

Text-2: (Extract from the movie Pursuit of Happiness) Youtube Link

Participants will be marked on-

• Introduction / Thesis Statement
• Paragraphs - topic sentences and supporting details
• Conclusion
• Transition, unity and coherence
• Style and mechanics – sentence, flow and tone
• Grammar & Spelling Conventions

9. Teacher In charge – Ms. Anjali Mehrotra (Phone No. 8052867742)

Mail id- Anjali.mehrotra@gemsedu.in
10. Calling Time – Morning : 8:00 am – 9 :00 am Evening – 5: 00 pm – 6 :00pm
 Puppetry
(Grades V-VII)

Puppet shows stimulate imagination and help improve a child’s creativity. It is a traditional
way for skilled practitioners to use characters to bring a story alive. Puppetry has the
ability to transmit messages and bring about social change.

Learning Outcome- Puppetry and storytelling can motivate and support children with difficulties
in communication and interaction. They can help to develop their social and motor skills, and can
meet the visual, tactile and emotional needs of the individual child.

Guidelines-

1. Number of participants- Pair Participation

2. Time Duration- 2-3 minutes

3. Theme- ‘Living in the Misinformation Age’

4. Create your own story

5. Use puppets to showcase the same

6. Have the appropriate background and voice over

7. Any form of puppet can be used - finger, hand, stick or figures

8. Record a video and mail to the teacher in charge

9. Participants will be marked on-

• Puppets
• Puppet manipulation
• Story structure
• Expression
• Voice Projection

10.Teacher In charge – Ms. Pooja Rajput (Phone No. 8860818123)

Mail id- pooja.rajput@gemsedu.in

11. Calling Time – Morning : 8:00 am – 9 :00 am Evening – 5: 00 pm – 6 :00pm

 Blurb Writing
(Grades VI-VIII)

Blurb is also referred to as a book description. It is a short piece, around 100 words,
to promote a novel / book. Blurbs are found on the back cover of paperbacks, the inside back
cover of a hardback, and on book description pages in online stores.
A good blurb elevates the pitch of a book. A blurb does not outline every major plot point of
the story, and it doesn’t give spoilers but it ignites the urge to read the book. Blurbs are
extremely important to market a book.

Learning Outcome- Blurb writing improves creativity, imagination and teaches concise use of
words. It enhances the presentation skills and persuasion power of students. It also encourages
students to read books and motivate others to read.

Guidelines-

1. Number of participants- Individual Participation

2. Create your own blurb of a book you have read by an Indian author writing in English.

3. Mention the title of the book and the name of the author.

4. Word Limit- 200 words

5. Type the Blurb and mail to the teacher in charge

6. Participants will be marked on-

• Originality
• Brevity
• Presentation
• Inclusion of all elements of blurb writing (title/author sentence, characters, plot, conflict)

7. Teacher In charge – Ms. Guneet Kaur ( Phone No. 9811834318)

Mail id- guneet.kaur@gemsedu.in

8. Calling Time – Morning : 8:00 am – 9 :00 am Evening – 5: 00 pm – 6 :00pm

 Slam Poetry
(Grades VIII-XII)

Slam poetry, a form of performance poetry that combines the elements of performance,
writing, competition, and audience participation.
To know more about Slam Poetry, refer to the link :Youtube Link

Learning Outcome- It helps to recognise poetry from a variety of cultures, languages and historic
periods. One also understands and appreciates poetry as a literary art form. Students develop
their own creativity and enhance their writing skills.

Topic : Living in the Age of Misinformation

Guidelines-

1. Number of participants- Individual Participation

2. Time Duration- 3 minutes

3. Language - Hindi /English

4. Make your poetry slam original.

5. Keep it simple and relatable.

6. Your poem should be able to reach your audience the first time it's heard.
• Perform with rhythm and passion. ...
• Practice with Power Poetry

7. Record a video and mail to the teacher in charge

8. Participants will be marked on-

• Content/Idea/theme
• Poetic language
• Voice modulation

9. Teacher In charge – Ms. Simi Sawhney (Phone No. 9811742472)

Mail id- simi.sawhney@gemsedu.in

10.Calling Time – Morning : 8:00 am – 9 :00 am Evening – 5: 00 pm – 6 :00pm

 Virtual Nukkad Nattak
(Grades VIII-XII)

Street theatre is a form of theatrical performance and presentation in outdoor public spaces
without a specific paying audience. Nowadays, street play is used to convey a message to the
crowd watching it. Street play is considered to be the rawest form of acting, because one
does not have a microphone or loudspeakers.

Learning Outcome- These plays can really stir up emotions, create awareness and lead the way
towards positive change. It not only enlightens people but also gives us, the citizens, an
opportunity to voice our opinions.

Guidelines-

1. Number of participants- Group Participation (6-8 members)

2. Time Duration- 6-8 minutes

3. Language - Hindi /English (Regional touch can be given)

4. Theme - ‘Living in the Misinformation Age’

5. The play must be related to the given theme

6. Record a video and mail to the teacher in charge

7. Participants will be marked on-

• Structure
• Dialogue
• Development
• Facial Expression
• Projection
• Stage Coverage
• Successful depiction of theme

8. Teacher In charge – Mr. Karan Arora ( Phone No. 9711108659)

Mail id- karan.arora@gemsedu.in

9. Calling Time – Morning : 8:00 am – 9 :00 am Evening – 5: 00 pm – 6 :00pm