EVS Workshop for Primary teachers

An EVS workshop on Activity Based Learning was conducted by Ms. Nita Ganguly at School on 29 June, 2015. It was an interactive workshop, based on many child-friendly classroom activities. The workshop was conducted with the prime objective of acquaint ing teachers with developing teaching aids, strengthening their planning and posing appropriate questions to the children in order to strengthen the learning process. Ms. Ganguly emphasised that an environment needs to be created wherein the children are motivated to logically think and to reason. Teachers need to keep resources organised and ample teaching aids and resources should be used to explain concepts. Teachers need to be deft at using and developing aids. This means teachers need to plan and organise activities before introducing a lesson. Teachers were encouraged to share the challenges faced by them while teaching and possible solutions to these challenges were deliberated. This created a lively discussion amongst the teachers assembled. Various activities such as building a house with waste materials, a wind-swirler, bird feeder, blowing a balloon, pollution check using a paper plate, air pressure using sponge and straw etc. were conducted. Some of the demonstrated activities were: Hot air balloon- The process of expansion of a balloon by gas created by the reaction of vinegar and baking soda was shown with the filling up of hot air in a balloon placed at the mouth of a bottle.

The second experiment was to do with 'hanging crystals. Soda bicarbonate was dissolved in hot water in two beakers until the solution was saturated. A string of wool was then hung over the two beakers. Through the process of evaporation, crystals were left on the wool which appeared as limestone cliffs.

The Pollution Catcher - demonstrated dust particles present in the environment which stick to a paper plate lined with vaseline over a period of time.

Subsequently a power point presentation on experiments was shown. The experiments were based on developing the explorative abilities in children and enhancing their thinking process. Overall, a very interactive and effective workshop specially designed for classroom conditions. The teachers shared their learning experience of the workshop with each other. Compiled by: Mahima, Abha.