Making Science Experiential for Children

Brief:

During the quarter, the Mobile Science Lab (MSL) program in Nelamangala, Bangalore, Karnataka provided government school students with opportunities to engage in practical and experiential science education. The program combined hands-on school sessions, Summer Camps, Operation Vasantha, community outreach, and special programs to make science concepts more accessible and engaging. Students explored scientific concepts through experiments, demonstrations, low-cost model making, Engineering-Based Learning (EBL), interactive games, and activity-based learning. The program also engaged parents and community members through awareness activities and provided additional learning support through the Operation Vasantha centre.

School Visit Sessions:

School sessions provided students with opportunities to explore science through practical experiments and interactive demonstrations. During the quarter, sessions covered topics including Food and Nutrients, Acids and Bases, Cells and Microscopes, States of Matter, Fun with Magnets, Electricity, Electromagnetism and Heating Effect, and Characteristics of Motion. These activity-based approaches encouraged students to observe, experiment, ask questions, and develop a deeper understanding of scientific concepts.

April

During April, learning activities were supported through Summer Camps, community outreach, and Operation Vasantha sessions. Students participated in experiential activities and received additional academic support through the Operation Vasantha centre. Community awareness visits were also conducted across villages to promote scientific thinking and awareness around health, hygiene, and everyday science.

May

In May, Summer Camps continued alongside Operation Vasantha and community outreach activities. Students participated in hands-on learning, creative activities, low-cost model making, and interactive educational games. Community sessions continued to address scientific temper, health and hygiene, preventive healthcare, and healthy living through demonstrations and discussions.

June

In June, regular school sessions were conducted across Government and Government-Aided Primary and High Schools. 66 school sessions were conducted, reaching 2,337 exposures, including 1,156 boys, 1,140 girls, and 41 teacher exposures. Students engaged with multiple science concepts through experiments and demonstrations, while teachers, students, and parents appreciated the practical approach to science learning.

Student feedback also highlighted the value of hands-on learning. Students shared that activities such as the sublimation experiment helped them understand States of Matter more easily, while EBL activities helped them develop practical engineering skills.

Special Programs and Major Events:

Several special initiatives were conducted during the quarter to complement regular science learning.

The Anjani Program was conducted at Lakshmipura and Madavara Colony to familiarize parents with the We Learn app. Parents were guided on downloading, accessing, and using the application to support their children's learning at home. The sessions saw active participation from parents and created an opportunity for families to become more involved in their children's education.

International Yoga Day was also observed at GMHPS Sondekoppa, where students and teachers participated in awareness activities and demonstrations of yoga asanas and mudras. The session focused on the importance of yoga for health and well-being.

During the quarter, special programs recorded one session with 324 exposures.

Community Visit Outreach:

Community outreach remained an important part of the program, extending scientific learning and awareness beyond schools.

During April–June, community awareness visits were conducted across BK Nagara, Metipalya, Tandiya, Lakshmipura, Soladevanahalli, Hullegowdanahalli, Madavara Colony, Dasanapura, and Devannanapalya in Bangalore North-01 Taluk. The outreach activities focused on promoting scientific temper by addressing superstitions through Pavada Rahasya Bayalu, along with awareness around health, hygiene, preventive healthcare, and healthy living. Interactive demonstrations and discussions encouraged community participation.

A total of 13 community visits were conducted during the quarter, recording 1,962 exposures, including 510 boys, 501 girls, and 951 community member exposures.

Community members also shared positive experiences with the demonstrations. Participants reported that models such as the kaleidoscope and camera helped them understand scientific concepts in a simple manner and supported discussions around superstitions and health.

Camp Activities:

Summer Camps were a major component of the quarter, providing students with extended opportunities for experiential and Engineering-Based Learning.

Science Fairs were organized at Chennakeshawa Swami High School, Sondekoppa, JB Kaval High School, GHS Hullegowdanahalli, and Siddaganga High School. Students designed and demonstrated hands-on models including ramps, pulley systems, gear mechanisms, bridges, wheel-and-axle models, seesaws, trampolines, and locker boxes. These activities enabled students to apply STEM concepts practically and present their models to teachers, peers, and community members.

The Summer Camps recorded five sessions and 4,512 student exposures during the quarter, including 2,205 boys and 2,307 girls.

Students shared that the EBL activities helped them develop new engineering skills and made learning more enjoyable and practical. Teachers also appreciated the use of low-cost models and hands-on activities for developing students' creativity, speaking skills, model-making abilities, and interest in science.

Overall Impact:

During the quarter, the Mobile Science Lab program in Nelamangala strengthened experiential science education through an integrated approach combining school sessions, Summer Camps, Operation Vasantha, community outreach, and special programs.

The program recorded 2,337 exposures through school sessions, 1,962 through community visits, 324 through special programs, 4,512 through Summer Camps, and 2,631 through Operation Vasantha during the quarter.

Hands-on experiments, demonstrations, and low-cost model-making activities helped students explore scientific concepts in practical ways. Summer Camps provided additional opportunities for students to apply STEM concepts through Engineering-Based Learning and present their models with confidence. Operation Vasantha supported continuous learning through after-school sessions, while community visits extended scientific awareness to villages through interactive demonstrations and discussions.

Overall, the quarter provided students, teachers, parents, and community members with varied opportunities to explore, experiment, create, and learn through practical science, while strengthening curiosity, scientific thinking, creativity, confidence, and continued engagement with experiential education.