Hands - On (Ideas and Activites)

HANDS-ON is a collation of some interesting activities - geometry by paper folding, toys, tangrams, pumps, caps" experiments, and simple science models. More than one thousand line drawings illustrate the text. This book shows possibilities of doing science with simple things. The ability to lmprovise experiments with almost zero-cost, holds great promise in this resource-starved country. The message is loud and clear -school kids can do good science with little money and resources. Newspapers make great caps. Origami - paper folding is a wonderful way to learn practical geometry. Film-roll cans, mineral water bottles, rubber slippers, crown caps make lovely action toys. Making patterns out of tangrams, seeds, stones, leaves, and thumbprints, apart from being fun are deeply creative and satisfying activities.

The great pioneers of science did their work with simple equipment: It is possible to follow their footsteps and do scientific thinking without much expensive and elaborate apparatus. After all, the student's mind is the most precious piece of equipment involved.

The book has activities interspersed with inspiring stories on education, peace, environment and mathematics. Stories like The Man Who Planted Trees, The Giving Tree, School of Barbiana, The Man Who Loved Numbers, Danger School! The Bull Who Loved the Smell of Flowers and Dalai Lama's words of wisdom will have their magical effect on you.

ARVIND GUPTA graduated from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1975. He has written eleven books on science activities, translated over eighty books in Hindi and presented eighty-two films on science activities. His first book Matchstick Models & Other Science Experiments got translated in 12 Indian languages and sold over half a million copies. He has received several honours, including the inaugural National Award for Science Popularisation amongst Children (1988) and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIT, Kanpur (2000) for making science .. interesting for children. Presently he is working in Pune at IUCAA's (Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics) Children's Science Centre.

AVINASH DESHPANDE graduated from the JJ School of Art, Mumbai, He has been deeply involved with grassroots level movements.

The Publication Programme of Vigyan Prasar has taken shape in the last few years. Vigyan Prasar has brought out publications on a variety of topics of Science and Technology. Popular Science Classics, India's Scientific Heritage, Natural History, Health and Do-It-Yourself are some of the series that have evolved over the years. Our emphasis has been on bringing out quality publications on various aspects of Science and Technology at affordable prices. Further, Vigyan Prasar is putting in efforts to bring out publications in major Indian languages for various target groups.

The present book, Hands On by Shri Arvind Gupta, an expert on low cost learning/teaching aids and a reputed science communicator, is a collection of interesting activities- toy-making, origami, learning mathematics and making simple science models. The book demonstrates that one can do science with little money and resources. Some of the greatest scientists did their work with simple equipment. The book shows how one can create one's own resource for teaching science with practically zero cost. The activities presented in the book are sprinkled with inspiring stories on education, peace, environment and mathematics. This publication will not only be useful for students and teachers alike but also for anyone with a passion for innovative ideas.