(formerly Aura Auro Design) – LEARN, GROW, WORK, TEACH
~ R.Sivaraman
On the day 2rd Dec ’19, I made three presentations for RAMA, HANUMAN, and RAVANA . The presentations were mainly focused on the DO, THINK, VALUES of the three characters in the Ramayana epic. Pointing outs were done with our inspiration team.
~ Ranjith, Pratap, Abilash
In Stem Land, we were doing Electrolysis experiment with water in order to explain the children how the electrolysis process works. The Materials that are we used to do this experiments are the following. Salt water, aluminium foil, copper wire, voltage source and two plastic glass. In this experiments water is the best method of producing high purity hydrogen gas. The most important element of the generator is the electrolysis cell where the electrolysis reaction takes place.
The cell consists of two electrodes (an anode and a cathode), which are separated by the ion exchange membrane (salt water). When a continuous 12 voltage is applied to the electrodes on the electrolyser cell, the following reaction happens:
Anode 2H2O – 4e = O2 + 4 H+
Cathode 4H+ + 4e = 2H2
But in-order to produce the highest purity of hydrogen up to up to 99.9995% purity, a platinum catalyst is used at the electrodes.
The students were very focused and eager doing the experiment and were coming up with different concepts.
~Ranjith and sivaraman
Responsive web page development (HTML, CSS, and jQuery).
This week we got an assignment from our mentor (umang) to write HTML and CSS code to create a drop-down menu for the weekly update page that we are currently working on.
We also explore jQuery to create a drop-down effect on the menu.
~Poovizhi, Saranya
There were around 20 kids from 6th std above. Thamarai facilitators said that they wanted to teach mathematics using materials. To start with basics we used Dienes block to visualize the arithmetic operations. Children learnt about cube, rod and plate and recalled place values . I wrote the numbers and the operator on the board and asked children to find the answer for it using Dienes block. Children were split into four teams and worked as a team. Facilitators also learnt along with the children. Through this, children got clarity of how carry over works and why do we carry over , borrow and whether we carry over ones, tens or hundreds based on the place value.
A new Intern (Shivaram) has joined the team, he will be working on Responsive web page development (HTML and CSS), school software and learning to program the mindstorm.
Initially he built a small bot with wheels and learned powering and controlling the motors through the user interface. The batteries were discharging way too quick than expected and caused a halt in the learning. Then I checked the back of the battery case there were 6 AA batteries connected in series resulting to 9V. I decided to use a power supply and showed him how to connect 🙂 . Now he was all set with uninterrupted power supply. By the end of the third day he had programmed a line follower.
~ Sundar.K, Abilash.S
Abilash who is taking up scaling of STEM Land in Auroville schools wanted to introduce Lego Mindstorms to children from TLC ( Theivan, Meet, and Daniel) who were interested in robotics. I (Sundar) took this opportunity to create a mixed group environment. I knew some children (Murali, Yuvan and Jeeva) who had already built robots using Mindstorms in Udavi and knew how things work. Murail came in early and set up the laptops with the instruction and PDF for building various robots. He initially was very reluctant in working with children with other background. Once all the children arrived in STEM Land we started with a few moments of silence and refreshed the ground rules. Initially they were a bit shy to speak and mingle, but as they started to work it became normal and the goal became important on building the robot. Both of the students were enjoying the session and were working very eagerly to complete (snake bot and humanoid) it within the day, due to lack of time they had to store the work in progress to be continued later next week.
~ Arun, Murali
In STEMland we take up one topic in math for a week (sometimes a couple of weeks) and children are asked to explore more about the topic. We started with integers for the first two weeks and children presented many projects to demonstrate what they know about integers. (more info on our previous blog)
Followed by that we had Abalone week in STEMland. Abalone is a strategy game (more info..) and is one of the popular games in STEMland. Children of all schools were encouraged to play abalone and compete with each other. Children practiced playing for a week with their pals.
On September 25th we had the final event. 42 children from Isaiambalam (which included ex-students) and Udavi school participated. We had a knock out round to start with and children were asked to compete with each other. Many of the children were knocked off and only four children were left to play the final round. The following four children competed with each other in a league fashion. The one who won maximum number of games was considered winner.
Ayush won against all the contestants and was declared winner.
~Pratap , Murali, Poovizhi
On 2019/10/11 we had the third meet with the Scaling group. More information on the second meet can be found at : Link to previous session
This time Abilash started by sharing what he did in Auroville schools .We did the Siphon experiment which involves air and water pressure between two containers of water connected through a pipe.When the water levels are equal in the both containers,it attains equilibrium state.For more information refer the link below: Siphon experiments
Saravanan from Aikiyam has made maths materials like 1)integer game using number chart and 2 dice.It contains numbers starting from 0 to 89 (both positive and negative side).A target has to be set before starting the game i.e 25 (both positive and negative side). One die contains numbers from 4 to 9.Another die contains three (+) symbols and (-) symbols.Both dice should be rolled simultaneously.The number indicates number of boxes to move while the symbol indicates the direction to move.
2)A tool for Quadrilateral shapes with different angles using scales and pro-circles.
Sanjeev suggested Ganit mala and ganit rack to do integer calculations which should be easy for children to visualize and do calculations faster.
Sandhiya, Prabha, Thamizhselvi.
The children of Isaiambalam are undergoing a project called Inspiration. The purpose of the project is to understand the spiritual values. There are 6 teams under it. Real personality is one of them.
The development of 5 aspects i.e. being physically strong, mentally balanced, morally sound, intellectually sharp and spiritually advanced is real personality. It also gives positive thinking that repeated good thoughts, speaking good words and doing good actions will help us developing good imprints and good character in us. The proverb” As you saw, you shall reap ” is a good example of it. The environment you choose is will decide which kind of personality you will become.
If we have thoughts, it will lead us to bad actions and bad thoughts. The same way around, If we have good thoughts, in any situation angels will protect us. These thoughts encourage children to do good activities and they develop their personality with compassionate love.
Learning about this project makes the children build their inner capacities. The children understand that truth is strength, purity, and knowledge. It also helps them to practice that any unwanted thoughts that weaken them should be rejected in life.
While learning the project through songs, scripts, memorizing sayings of Swami Vivekanandha made the children understand that they are the creators of their destiny. They believed that they are glorious and immortal, hence they can achieve anything in the world if they have good thoughts and will power to achieve it.
Through learning this project they understood the importance and the essence of real personality.
Here is the real personality Links and Projects:https://isaiambalamschool.wordpress.com/2019/08/13/real-personality-part-1/
~Poovizhi, Prabha, Arun
STEM land is being scaled to different schools in and around Auroville. We had a meeting with all the STEM land coordinators from Isai ambalam school, Udavi school, Thamarai night school, Auroville ITI, TLC and Aikiyam school.
We shared what we did in each STEM land. We discussed about algebraic identities, powers and how children can understand visually. One of the STEM coordinator solved it blindfolded. When we blindfold the cube size feels like it’s the same but when we compare it with the other cube it is a bit easier to figure it out. It was fun to learn.
Next meet : Link