Bhishma Hunt program

• Ilakiya Arasi, Angeline Praisy, Auroshree, Vaishnavi K, Preethi P, Abinaya, Ajai D, Sivasankar, , and Nithya Sandhosh

The Bhishma Hunt program, organized by Sanvi Educational and Charitable Trust at Sanvi International School, invited STEM Land to lead robotics and critical thinking events, alongside three other engaging activities. The purpose of Bhishma Hunt is to uncover and nurture children’s potential, to use their abilities for the betterment of the world. The name draws inspiration from the Mahabharata—the character Bhishma, who was blessed with great knowledge and offered it in the service of his community. This program aims to ensure that, unlike Bhishma, today’s children recognize and fully utilize their talents to make a positive impact.

To make this happen, not only those who are at STEM Land and C3STREAM Land designs volunteered, but also the Shifuians and the B.Voc interns from AIAT.

While we had independently prepared we spent the entire Friday, working together on all the robots and critical thinking puzzles. For robotics, we had two finch robots, prepared two Mindstorms, two CLB bots, one robotic arm. To make it simple for the children, we assembled all the parts for Mindstroms and robotic arm. We used a software, that is similar to scratch, to control the robots that used blocks that can be stuck together. All the robots had sensors that interact with the world to make it more interesting for the children.

For Critical Thinking, we used kenken puzzle, tangrams, match stick puzzles, draw a shape without lifting the hand and math puzzle. To make this available for all the children, we used foam sheets to prepare the tangram sets, prepared matchsticks and made an assessment. We helped each other to complete our preparation.

In robotics, every one hour we had different set of students, they explored different robots. Children were thrilled to work with the robots, as they can’t wait. As we explained how it can be controlled with blocks, they seemed very confident and eager to do something. But, when we asked them to write the blocks to do a particular task, without looking that’s when the real challenge started. As they struggled to write, it opened their mind and felt something to think and listen deeply. After writing part, they engaged with the robot themselves, to complete the task with trial and error.

In the critical thinking, we focused on building critical thinking skills through fun and challenging activities. First, we explained each puzzle clearly and showed them how to solve it step by step. We made sure they understood the ideas and tricks behind the puzzles. The children got time to practice and ask questions if they had doubts. After they felt confident, we gave them an assessment sheet with similar puzzles to solve on their own. This helped them think carefully, find different ways to solve problems, and build confidence in their thinking skills. The children enjoyed solving the puzzles and stayed focused throughout the session.

Reflections from the team:

My name is Angeline Praisy. I stand for love for myself and others.
While volunteering at Bishma Hunt, I realised that engaging with the students was a learning in itself. Their curiosity, courage, and perseverance inspired me deeply. It reminded me that true leadership is not just about guiding but also about being open to learn.

My name is Ilakya Arasi. I stand for kindness for myself and others.
I learned to maintain a positive environment that supports both learning and fun for myself and others, even though it was challenging due to various factors.

My name is Auroshree.
When we heard about the event, I found it intimidating especially because there was an expectation of 500 students. As we started preparing for the event, we realized that there was a lot of work to be done. Over all the event was physically exhausting, as a group and within students I could see the energy dissipating towards the end. I also felt the need to learn child psychology and how students learn, to give appropriate tasks and assessments especially for Robotics. However, I did see some people engaging really well with the students. I myself focused on helping at the backend and did have to interact with students much and that I need to learn much more about robotics.

My name is Vaishnavi.K. I stand for Kindness and Unity for myself and others.
During the Bhishma Hunt, I experienced the true value of teamwork and shared effort, which brought both satisfaction and joy in completing our preparations and volunteer tasks. While conducting the program (Critical thinking), I saw how engaged and happy the children were each one participating with interest and curiosity. Their thoughtful questions like “Why this way?” or “How does it work?” pushed me to think from their perspective and respond in ways they could understand. This deepened my own learning and involvement. Managing a large group in a small space was challenging, but seeing the children leave with smiles and new learning made it all worthwhile. I also felt fulfilled learning through the experience with them.

My name is Preethi P. I stand for courage and happiness for myself and others. This is my first time to handle the large number of children at a time from that I learnt how to handle the children, also I felt calm during the session. There were children with different mind sets and some students were quick to answer and some students didn’t understand the questions at that time, I noticed how can I help them to understand better. This experience helped me to grow myself and also for children’s growth. I felt happy to be part of the Bhishma hunt.

My name is Abinaya, I Stand for Kindness and happiness for myself and others.
I supported students with Finch Robot. It was a very enjoyable experience for me, as I actively engaged with the students and saw their excitement and curiosity about the robot. I felt happy to share my knowledge and guide them through the activity. Through this event, I learned that I enjoy teaching and interacting with students, especially when it involves hands-on, fun learning tools like the Finch Robot. I also discovered that I have the confident to lead and explain technical concepts in a simple way that others can understand. This experience motivated me to explore more such opportunities in the future where I can combine learning, creativity, and teamwork.

My name is Ajai D. I stand for equality both for myself and for others.
The students interacted well with one another, and I genuinely found joy in teaching them. I also gained valuable knowledge by observing their hands-on approach watching them learn through trial and error served as a powerful reminder of how much we can discover by simply paying attention to how children think and solve problems.

My name is SivaSankar.
In the robotic arm workshop, children learned how machines can move like our own hands. They explored how motors and sensors work together to pick up objects. By building and testing their own robotic arms, they became more curious about how robots help in real life. This hands-on activity made learning fun and helped them think like young engineers.

My name is Nithyasandhosh. I stand for kindness and equality for myself and others.
I volunteered in the Bhishma Hunt event, where many children participated with great enthusiasm. Engaging with the children made me feel happy and grateful. There were various events conducted during the program, and I specifically volunteered for the Critical Thinking event. I noticed that the children were curious and eager to solve the challenges. It was inspiring to see their enthusiasm and problem-solving abilities. The entire experience was joyful, meaningful, and deeply fulfilling for me.

My name is ATCHUDHAN, and I stand for love and peace for myself and others. In a recent robotics workshop, children engaged in building mechanical arms using simple components. They discovered how machines respond to commands and work through coordination. This practical approach boosted their curiosity, creativity, and confidence. It encouraged them to think critically, explore real-world applications of robotics, and imagine future possibilities. The experience was both educational and inspiring, nurturing young minds with excitement and purpose.