Schoolchildren learn science the fun way at Open Day

Not always does she find it every day when science concepts are taught to her theoretically. However, this weekend, it meant a lot of “experimenting” for 12-year-old Anoushka Chandrashekhar.

The student, accompanied by her grandparents, had a hands-on experience with the concepts that were taught in class.

Anoushka and many others her age participated in an Open Day event organised by the Innovation and Science Promotion Foundation and Thinktac at Panchavati, Nobel laureaute Sir CV Raman’s old home at Malleswaram, on Saturday.

“Theory is boring. It was so fun much doing the experiments. It is different and I got to learn a lot from it,”, said Anoushka, from National Public School, Yeshwantpur.

The event was supported by The Raman Research Institute.

The premises saw children from various schools carry out a variety of Physics, Chemistry and Biology experiments.

Activities were conducted in stalls that could accommodate groups of 15-25 participants giving each activity about 30 minutes. Raghu A P, vice-president, Educator Services - Thinktac, said the event would be taken to various places for over a week conducting 43 experiments which are in line with the curriculum schools have prescribed.

“Science that is taught in schools does not help kids understand it. Unless you do the experiment yourself, from scratch, they will not know the science behind it.

“We combine fun with learning and that is how we help the kids develop problem-solving skills,” he added.

Enthusiastic about doing the experiment on her own, Medha Nagaraj Adiga, a Class VIII student at JSS Public School, said she would prefer learning things in a practical way.

“We do not do experiments in school ourselves. The teacher does it and we are supposed to observe. This is also because some of the experiments are dangerous to do without proper supervision. But I would prefer learning by making objects ourselves than in theory,” she added.

Among the activities was a ‘Ticker Timer’ that taught children about speed and measurements. Made with simple objects such as a tape, this leaves a trail of dots. The trail of dots provides a history of the object’s motion and therefore a representation of the object’s motion.

Vedanth D Shastri, a student at Rashtrotthana Vidya Kendra, said: “We have had science days in school but I would love to come here every day and do the experiments. It is a fun learning environment but this place is a little far away from our house.”