Lessons in science at hobby camps

The Regional Science Centre at Khanapara

July 6: For students whose summer vacations are being spoilt by the rains, the best way to utilise their time would be to join a hobby camp.

The Regional Science Centre, Khanapara, is starting a few hobby camps for the students so that they can spend their summer vacations fruitfully.

“The main purpose of these camps would be to help the students learn how to make projects. The instructors will help the students to make small models on certain scientific topics and also guide them how to think holistically while working on a project,” project co-ordinator at Regional Science Centre, Khanapara, R. S. Jeelani, said.

These camps will be enjoyable, as one has to spend only two-and-a-half-hours, from 11am to 1.30pm, everyday. The camps will start tomorrow.

The official said these camps would also enable the students to learn a lot of things on their own.

“They can collect different types of leaves and study their shapes, texture and arrangement on the branches of a tree. They can also collect different types of insects and study their shapes, feeding habits and feeding organs,” he said.

The camps would be organised in three different groups. The first group will be for the students of Class III to V. Their camp will begin tomorrow and continue till July 11. The second group is for students of Class VI to VIII and their camp will be-gin from July 14 and carry on till July 18. The third group is for students of Class IX and X, and they can participate in the camp from July 21 to July 25.

The Butterfly Park at the centre can be useful for students who are curious to know more on the life cycle of a butterfly. “In the camps, they can see the different stages in the life of a butterfly. They will also be taught how to rear a butterfly larvae,” he said.

Other projects on physical sciences will also be explained in these five days. The students of Class VI to X will be given simple projects, which they will have to complete within the five days allotted to them. “Instructors will be around to help,” he said.

The centre has planned a teacher’s training pro-gramme. “Teachers’ training is a programme where the emphasis will be on developing teaching kits with low-cost materials. This training will help teachers to think of some simple teaching kits,” he said. The time schedule for the programme is from 11am to 2pm.