REPORT OF ACTIVITIES UNDER SCHOOL ADOPTION PROGRAMME BY VIVEKANANDA FOUNDATION. Sept 2002 Since the schools reopened during the June 2002, several activities are under taken to improve the adopted schools. Two major activities have shown remarkable results. We have already reported to you about the protest march against the use of plastic carry bags. The protest itself was a great success. Recently few days back District Commissioner of Chamarajanagar has sent a circular banning the use of plastic carry bags. This is because of the continued vigorous public opinion generated among the public because of the awareness generated by school children. A local news paper has given nearly a month long free advertisement soliciting people to discontinue the use of plastic carry bags. Thus the protest march has met with a great success. Further to this success, our social workers are planing a significant and wider awareness generating program. We intend to involve as many NGO’s as possible in south Karnataka and we are suggesting them to print a poster to be displayed in front of all shops. The poster contain the message that plastic carry bags are harmful and urges people to bring cloth bags from their home to carry provision, vegetables, etc. We are also suggesting to number of environment friendly people to sponsor the printing of these posters. Some of the business people can as well advertise about their enterprise at the bottom. We will keep you abreast of the progress in this regard. SCIENCE TRAING AND SCIENCE EXHIBITION; During the previous years science workshops were conducted so that the teachers are trained to conduct experiments in science classes. There was some improvement and few teachers have conducted science experiments after these workshops. In addition to this we planned a science exhibition where simple science experiments that are required to be conducted in a regular class will be shown to the teachers and children as an exhibit. For this purpose about 25 science teachers from different schools were called for workshop on 26th of July 2002 and Mr. G.S.Jayadev showed them the experiments. A week before the workshop social workers and Mr. G.S.Jayadev elaborately prepared and demonstrated to the teachers as how experiments can be conducted with available indigenous materials. In the workshops we also proposed the idea of science exhibition and requested that teachers from different schools can bring simple experiments as exhibit. By consent of all the teachers the exhibition was organized on 17th and 18th of September at Government primary school, Venkataiahna chatra. Prof. Balugri also came with his models of corridor experiments. All schools participated with great enthusiasm and 72 exhibits were displayed. Some interesting experiments were done by social workers of Vivekananda Foundation and about 19 exhibits were prepared. More than about 2000 children observed the exhibition. Teachers from different schools also went round the exhibition and were able to learn a great deal of experimental science. The exhibition was arranged for two days. Number of teachers (from the schools not yet adopted) from this area requested that exhibition may be extended for one more day. But it could not be extended as the host school had to resume functioning. _________________________________________________________________- REPORT ABOUT THE WORKSHOP FOR CLUSTER RESOURCE CENTER MEMBERS AND PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS: Date: 7th to 11th oct 2002 We conducted two workshops, one for the members of CRC of Chamarajanagar District. This is second workshop that we conducted for CRC members. In the second workshop conducted by Prof. D.R. Balurgi, the CRC members whole heartily expressed the possibility of conducting experiments at primary level. If you remember the out come of the 1st workshop, the CRC members were not endorsing the idea of teaching science with classroom experiments, but now they have changed and are expressing ample possibilities of conducting experiments in the class. During this workshop which was held for two days, Prof. D.R. Balurgi demonstrated a lot of activity based mathematical teaching for standards 1st to 4th. Prof. D.R. Balurgi is one of the trustees of “ Suvidhya” of Dr. Gananath and he is also an important resource person for Suvidhya. Prof D.R. Balurgi also conducted one more workshop directly for primary school teachers. The teachers attended the workshop although we held it during short winter vacation. They were not directed by the educational authorities, but they came on their own. Though the number was less, it was encouraging for us that the government primary school teachers of our adopted schools actually like our training programs. Prof. D.R. Balurgi worked with them for two days and helped them to understand basic concepts of mathematics and physics required for teaching at primary level. Models of corridor experiments which are prepared by prof Baaluragi was also shown to them. At the end of the workshop Prof. D.R.Balurgi also conducted a workshop for 10th standard boys of Deena Bandhu and few others studying in chamarajanagar Schools. About 50 boys and girls attended the workshop and they made racket and launched them with the help of special launching pad. He also took theory class for the students and explained them about the principles and theory of rackets. Several posters printed by ISRO were displayed and Prof. D. R. Balurgi explained to the children as what is meant by satellite imaginary, remote sensing and different PSLV and other satellites launched by ISRO. In total the whole workshop was very useful and revealing.