Kitchen, Chemistry and the Classroom: “Mad About Science”
Priyanka Sharda was once scared of spiders, today she breeds
them around her home. Debeshi carefully extracts DNA strands in her kitchen,
using shampoo and common salt. Rashmi Chopra is magnetizing her sewing needle,
to create a compass. Anna Godura is emptying her favourite jam jar-in the hope
of creating a mini tornado within its confines.
Priyanka, Debeshi, Rashmi and Annai are “Mad About Science”.
No, they are not your average school students. They are mothers who are
practicing innovative science experiments to perform in front of discerning
students, including their own at The Shri Ram School, Aravalli.
“Mad About Science” is a unique initiative of The Shri Ram
School to strengthen the bond between the school, its children and
parents. Over 200 parents have spent
over 3 hours every day along with the school to conceptualize the project.
“We believe that education is a parent-teacher partnership”
says, Manika Sharma, the Junior School Principal at The Shri Ram School,
Aravali.
Understanding science using commonly available stuff from
home is the objective of “Mad About Science”.
The month long project will have parents performing experiments inside
the classroom.
“ The idea is to
demystify science by linking it to everyday life. We want children to learn science the fun
way” says Mark Parkinson, Director, The Shri Ram School Aravali.
The thought of having parents in the classroom performing
experiments along with their teachers has created a buzz of excitement among
the students. “I thought my mother was scared of spiders”, says Aryaman Sharda, a student of class 3, “ but now she
is collecting and breeding them all over our house in order to bring them to
the classroom.”
For parents, the event is a revelation. “I always wanted an
insight into how my children behaved in school” says, Parul Ohri, who is
participating in Mad About Science.
“Parents will now continue to experiment with their children
at home, thus building on their curiosity to learn more about things around
them,” says Ms Manju Bharat Ram, Chairperson TSRS.
Media is invited on the following days of the month long
programme:
November 21st,
2011: Time 10:00am to 12:30pm
Parents introduce different concepts of science the school
has chosen for each class through fun and innovative ways. For example Class II
parents whose topic is Body Part and Senses will introduce the topic to the
kids through a skit dressed up as the brain, eyes, nose etc. and reinforce the
same with experiments like Measuring the Capacity of your lungs with the help
of Balloons.
December 5th,
2011:
Parents will perform in classes once again but this time
they will reinforce their topics further through hands on learning.
December 18th,
2011:
The Grand Finale: A day-long event where each class gets to
exhibit their best experiments or learning to the whole school community in a
Carnival Atmosphere.
Science Exhibits by Students and Parents from PV to Form VII
Special Invitees – Robotics, Science Films, IIT Delhi, Met
Department, etc.
Fun Stuff – Painting Competition, Segaways, Planetarium,
Hands on Activities, etc.
Contact persons:
Neelima Gurpreet Singh
0124-4784300, 9811244555
Vimala Rajkumari
9650012959
vimalarajkumari@gmail.com
