Solar energy is the most renewable form of energy. Wouldn't it be amazing to teach kids about the renewable nature of solar power, harnessing energy, and sustainability all in one activity, by majorly using the heat from the sun and some simple materials? The solar cooker activity does exactly that! This cooker directly uses the heat energy from the sun to heat or cook simple food items. Now, let's see how this cooker is made! Jump to Instructions Time Needed: 45 mins Materials Required: Shoe box with a lid Scissors Pen/Pencil & ruler Cello tape Hot glue gun Black chart/paper Aluminium foil Plastic cover(transparent) Concept(s) Taught: Renewable Energy | Conservation of Energy Skill(s) Focussed: Critical Thinking | Creativity | Teamwork Aligned Profession(s): Environmental Engineer | Environmental Educators Instruction Video: Special Instructions for Teachers: Renewable Energy & Environment Discuss the different sources of clean energy such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. Also, teach them the environmental impact of using renewable energy vs. non-renewable energy. Working of Solar Cooker/Oven Explain the principle (conversion of light energy to heat energy) and the working of the solar cooker/oven. Let the students list down the function/use of each material used in the making of the solar cooker. Example questions: Why do we use black paper? What is the purpose of transparent film? What does the aluminium/tin foil do? How can we maximise the conversion of sunlight to heat energy? Points to Remember Some important points to have in mind before making this cooker/oven: This cooker/oven can get really hot at times. It is important to be careful about that We cannot make use of this cooker/oven to cook anything complex Have fun making and share the works of your students with the hashtag #projectprayogshala to get featured! #science #STEMactivity #physics #environment #solarcooker

Do you know how we can move something without even touching it? It is the force that can be felt but not seen. Such an important property is exhibited by a magnet, a material that produces a magnetic field. Magnetic field is the force (around magnets) that attracts some materials and repels others. From radio to refrigerator to mag-lev trains, magnets are used for abundant applications in our life. In this activity, we will creatively use magnets to make a swing that is set to an almost perpetual motion without any push. Jump to Instructions Time Needed: 45 mins Materials Required: Cardboard Newspaper Ferrite magnets Hot glue gun Pencil & Ruler Scissors Bamboo Skewers Straw Concept(s) Taught: Magnetism Skill(s) Focussed: Creativity | Frugal Innovation | Tool Savviness Aligned Profession(s): Material Scientist & Engineer | Physicist | Toymaker Instruction Video: Special Instructions for Teachers: Magnets and their properties Educate the children about different types of magnets, magnetic and non-magnetic materials, magnetic properties - attraction, repulsion, electromagnetism and so on. Follow-on activities We can also have an additional mini activity by providing a list of materials to be tagged/identified as magnetic and non-magnetic materials by the students. This will help them clearly remember the concepts/properties when they are actually put to use in the identification process. Students can be asked to make a list of at least 5 items around them/used by them that contain magnet(s). This could be an easy way to understand the application of magnets in daily life. Safety prerequisites Safety and caution instructions should be given to the students before the start of this activity. Some of the important points to remember while using magnets are: If heated, hammered or roughly handled, magnets can lose their properties. Magnets should be stored in a safe place away from sensitive electronic and storage devices such as computer, CDs, etc. Do not bring magnets near a person fitted with an electronic device such as a hearing aid, pacemaker, etc. Ensure that magnets are not swallowed. Immediately seek medical help, if otherwise. Have fun making and share the works of your students with the hashtag #projectprayogshala to get featured! #funwithmagnets #magnetism #STEMactivity #science #physics

All of us enjoy the abundant beauty of nature around us. Sometimes curiosity gets the better of us and we may love to capture it perfectly in our mind. Unfortunately, we might not always get the clarity we hope for. A pinhole camera makes it possible for us to not just see things, but also adjust the sharpness of the image with the change in the size of the hole. Light rays from the top and bottom of the object intersect at the pinhole and converge to pass through the hole. This results in the formation of the inverted image because of the rectilinear propagation of light. As fancy as it may sound, it is surprisingly easy to make one. Let's start making! Jump to Instructions Time Needed: 45 mins Materials Required: 2 cardboard boxes Black Paper Transparent sheet Glue Scissors Pencil/Pen & Ruler White paper Oil Concept(s) Taught: Linear propagation of light | Light & different objects(Transparent, Opaque and Translucent) Skill(s) Focussed: Frugal innovation | Creativity Aligned Profession(s): Photography | Physicist | Material Scientist & Engineer Instruction Video: Special Instructions for Teachers: Optics Educate the students about the behaviour and different properties of light and also the interaction of light with matter. Help the students recall the difference between opaque, transparent and translucent objects. Working of Pinhole Camera vs. Functioning of Human Eyes Talk about how the functioning of a pinhole camera is very similar to that of human eyes. The light passes through the pinhole of the camera and projects the image upside-down. Similarly, the lens produces an inverted image on the retina of the human eye. This image is then flipped by the brain. Also, discuss the principle of a pinhole camera (light travels in a straight line) and why it forms an inverted image. Applications & Real Life Examples Point out the uses of a pinhole camera in observing a solar eclipse, movement of the sun, etc. Push students to find out other examples (Virupaksha Temple, Hampi is known to have a pinhole camera system) in real life. Resource Efficiency Encourage students to try ways to make the camera more optimal with fewer resources. Have fun making and share the works of your students with the hashtag #projectprayogshala to get featured! #STEM #optics #light #science #camera

Written by Haritha Sridhar How many of us get excited looking at the mirror & making sure we look good before we step out of our homes? Almost all of us right? But did you know mirrors can actually help us win wars as well? Oh yes! For a very long time sailors, pilots & the military used the simple mirrors to win wars😄 Can you guess how this could be possible? We are talking about the amazing periscope today. A periscope is an optical instrument that uses a system of prisms, lenses or mirrors to reflect images through a tube. We are not just going to talk about it, but also make one ourselves - it's that simple! Jump to Instructions Time Needed: 45 mins Materials Required: Cardboard Scissors Glue Old & used CDs Sketch pens Pencil & ruler Concept(s) Taught: Principle of Reflection | Light Skill(s) Focussed: Teamwork | Problem Solving | Critical Thinking | Frugal Innovation Aligned Profession(s): Sailors | Helmsman (submarine driver) | Co-pilots (warplanes) | Engineering Technician Instruction Video: Special Instructions for Teachers: Principle of Periscope Explain the working of a periscope to the students. A periscope works on the Laws of Reflection where the light from an object you are focussing falls on one mirror at a 45-degree angle from the object and is reflected. This reflected light then falls on another mirror and is again reflected until it reaches your eyes. What is the actual use of a Periscope? Generally, periscopes help us see & observe things that are not exactly in our line of sight. It makes it possible for us to not just see things that are right in front of us but also helps us get a complete view of things above, below & sideways, all this without having to keep moving our sight 😇 For example, periscopes allow a submarine at war, when submerged at a relatively shallow depth, to search visually for nearby targets, enemies and threats on the surface of the water and in the air. Oh, and yes... you can also use it to see the birds flying above you when you take a walk in the park or playground nearby & dodge any bird droppings 😆 Safety pre-requisites This activity will involve: Cutting a used CD with scissors. This could be a little hard for children to handle if not instructed well. Make sure you have a lookout during this step & let them know that a CD's edges are relatively sharp after it is cut. Ensure the children dispose of the remaining cut out CD bits properly into waste bins since these might be sharp enough to hurt & cause cuts if careless. Have fun making and share the works of your students with the hashtag #projectprayogshala to get featured! #periscope #light #reflection #problemsolving #stemactivity

Don't we use measurements for just about everything in life? Measurement, in science, is a process of finding quantitative or numerical data that describes the property of an object or event. The science of measurement (metrology) and its application is useful right from measuring the ingredients required to bake a cake in your kitchen to industries, like automotive, aerospace and more. So, let's start by creating this simple measuring scale to apply our theoretical knowledge and sharpen our instrumentation skills. Jump to Instructions Time Needed: 45 mins Materials Required: Cardboard Scissors Hot glue / Fevicol Nut - bolt Paper cups Thread / Yarn / Rope Pencil / Pen Concept(s) Taught: Weights & Measurement Skill(s) Focussed: Frugal innovation | Problem solving Aligned Profession(s): Engineering Technician | Legal Metrology Officer (Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution) Instruction Video: Special Instructions for Teachers: Explain metrology Establish an understanding among the students about some basic standard units of measurement. Explain the importance of metrology in industries where precision is important for the quality and eventually in our daily life as consumers of products. Encourage creativity Let the students come up with alternatives for the materials used in this activity. Also, ask them to list down the different ways to measure and compare weights. Balance puzzle Students can be given the famous balance puzzles both to use the weighing scale they made and apply the concept of measurement in a fun way. Have fun making and share the works of your students with the hashtag #projectprayogshala to get featured! #weights #measurement #physics #stem

Clothing is a well-organised industry where science plays a major role right from fibre to fabric. Plant or synthetic fibres are first converted to yarns and then fabrics. Weaving and knitting are two main ways to make fabrics from yarns. Weaving is the process of producing a fabric/cloth that involves at least two distinct sets of yarns or threads, interlaced at right angles. So, let's take the first step. Happy Weaving! Jump to Instructions Time Needed: 60 mins Materials Required: Cardboard Scissors Yarn Sellotape Needle Concept(s) Taught: Weaving | Material Science Skill(s) Focussed: Creativity Aligned Profession(s): Weaver | Textile Designer | Textile Engineer Instruction Video: Special Instructions for Teachers: Different Patterns and Utility Show some of the different types of knots or weaving techniques (as shown in the picture below) to the students. Weaving can be used to create both utility and fashion cloths. So, let each group of students come up with different patterns and the purpose of their desired outcomes. Examples: Bracelet( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoBxBbsLEaU), Coaster(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RI82SPIW2o), Wall hanging(https://in.pinterest.com/pin/408490628698396070/), etc. Efficient Resource Utilization With the desired outcome in mind, the students should be instructed to efficiently utilize the available resources. For example, a smaller size cardboard is sufficient for weaving a bracelet. Have fun making and share the works of your students with the hashtag #projectprayogshala to get featured! #materials #science #weaving #clothing #creativity

In recent times, water, sanitation and hygiene are the words that are mostly mentioned together. Have you wondered why? Yes, it's the water pollution which hasn't spared any water body. Lucky are those who do not have to worry about the cleanliness of water supplied to their homes. But even now hundreds of millions of Indians don’t have access to clean water. This daunting fact has made the knowledge of filtering water a survival skill. With this in mind, let's get to our activity where our understanding of the filtration process (physical, biological or chemical operation that separates solid matter and fluid from a mixture with a filter medium) is put to good use. Jump to Instructions Time Needed: 45 mins Materials Required: Plastic bottle Plastic cup Scissors Cotton Sand Gravel / Pebbles (small and big size) Soil (Garden) Concept(s) Taught: Separation of substances | Petrology | Water & Sanitation Skill(s) Focussed: Frugal Innovation Aligned Profession(s): Environmental Engineer | Water Technology Engineer | Water Quality Scientist Instruction Video: Instruct the students to have some dirty water ready to test out the water filter. Special Instructions for Teachers: Materials & Methods of Separation Teach the different methods of separation of substances such as sedimentation, decantation, filtration, hand picking, threshing, and so on. Ask the students to figure out the function of each material used in the activity. Importance of Clean Water Discuss the ill-effects of dirty water like waterborne diseases, sources and impact. It is important for students to understand that safe water is essential for a healthy economy. Clean water keeps the population and environment healthy, resulting in economic growth. Clean Water Initiatives Enlighten the students on government initiatives towards providing safe water to every household in India. Further, the pros and cons of the schemes can also be discussed. Example: Jal Jeevan Mission Word of Caution Caution the students that the filtered water is still not safe for drinking or consumption. Have fun making and share the works of your students with the hashtag #projectprayogshala to get featured! #science #stem #filtration #separationofsubstances #cleanwater #materials

Video games, if moderately used, can be good for a child’s psychological well-being along with improvement in hand-eye coordination, attention span, and game-planning. Let’s add more benefits to this list by asking the children to make their favorite games with the resources available at home or school. With this fun activity, we hope to bring out the creativity in every child and enhance the team spirit in them. We can even expect the children to come up with their own games soon! Resources needed per student Cardboard Chart Paper (any color) Scissors Pencil & Ruler Paper straws / Pencils Paint and brush Hot Glue Fevicol Toothpick Sketch pens Thread Double side tape Time Needed 1 hour (additional time for drying) Instructions for students Step 0: Pick up your favorite Mario game location or ideate your own location/backdrop for a character of your choice. Step 1: Cut the chart paper as per the following measurements- Breadth - 10 cm Length - 60 cm OR Use any other plain paper and join papers to get the length. Step 2: Draw and paint the sheet using watercolors(for quick dry) as per the planned scenario for Mario. Let it dry. Step 3: Stick the left and right end of the sheet to the paper straws/pencils using hot glue. Roll the right end of the sheet in the clockwise direction. Step 4: Cut a cardboard for 20 cm X 20 cm (length X breadth). Also cut 7 small square pieces of 3 cm sides each, and cut out two round pieces of 2 cm diameter. Step 5: Make holes in 4 of the small square pieces using a divider to insert the straws/pencils. Step 6: Stick those four pieces vertically to hold the straws/pencils on the big cardboard using hot glue. Step 7: Stick the 2 round pieces together. Make holes in 2 more small square pieces and the round pieces using a divider, to insert a toothpick. Step 8: Stick the squares on the big cardboard. Fix the two squares on each side of the round piece in the toothpick. Do not stick the round piece to the toothpick using the adhesive. Step 9: Make a 'U' cut (as shown in the image below) on two opposite sides of the last square piece. Step 10: Stick that piece on the upper side of the big cardboard, in line with the square pieces holding the straws/pencils. Pass a thread over the 'U' piece, the game sheet, and the circular pieces. Pass the other end of the thread under the game sheet through the 'U' piece and tie the ends near the circular pieces. Step 11: Draw and color your favorite character, Mario on a paper and cut it in that shape. Stick Mario on the thread using a double-sided tape. Step 12: Use the round pieces in the bottom-center to move Mario up and down. Rotate the left-hand side straw/pencil in the anti-clockwise direction to roll the sheet. This will show Mario moving forward to reach the final pole. Enjoy your game! Instructions for Teachers Ideation Allow the students to design their own game scenarios and characters. Encourage the students to create their own games and plan out it's making with easily available resources. Resources utilization Ensure the equitable distribution and efficient usage of the available resources. Let the students add new elements to the game such as a motor to roll the paper at a fixed speed. Ask them to think of alternatives to the used resources. Such alternatives should mainly be in the direction of reusing or recycling material. Teamwork and sharing The ideation and making process can also be done as a group activity. That way, children can learn to work as a team and share the end result. This can enhance their knowledge & resource sharing attitude. Teachers should make sure everyone in the group participates actively and there is effective communication among the students. Have fun making and share the works of your students with the hashtag #projectprayogshala to get featured! #cardboard #teambuilding #gaming #icebreaker #art