Raman Awards Bootcamp

Bootcamp Schedule

Innovation Week

Innovation Week Junior Intermediate Senior
Monday, June 13: Session link https://bit.ly/3mDjVW7 https://bit.ly/3Qgv0Kx https://bit.ly/3xkeSPz
Assignment link https://bit.ly/3zwlVam https://bit.ly/3xn3q5I https://bit.ly/3xkoutD
Tuesday, June 14: Session link https://bit.ly/3MDmH8F https://bit.ly/3tuTzK6 https://bit.ly/39pmsjV
Assignment link https://bit.ly/3zxE5Zj https://bit.ly/39oAaDE https://bit.ly/3O7nZK6
Wednesday, June 15: Session link https://bit.ly/3QrJwPs https://bit.ly/3O8K3E3 https://bit.ly/3xpU896
Assignment link https://bit.ly/3Oemytv https://bit.ly/3HeD3mS https://bit.ly/3xqEt9h
Thursday, June 16: Session link https://bit.ly/3NMUzBb https://bit.ly/3OaFw45 https://bit.ly/3Ode2ej
Assignment link https://bit.ly/3NOyEJW https://bit.ly/3OfcvV7 https://bit.ly/3mG34Co
Friday, June 17: Live recap session link https://bit.ly/3O4HHGi
Meeting ID: 829 1806 6849
Passcode: 922213

Time: 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm

https://bit.ly/3O9ZGLD
Meeting ID: 899 1174 6487
Passcode: 456120

Time: 10:30AM to 12:00PM

https://bit.ly/3zFIsl4
Meeting ID: 827 6706 9433
Passcode: 407290

Time: 1:00PM to 2:30PM

Science Literacy Week

Scientific Literacy Week Junior Intermediate Senior
Monday, June 20: Session link https://bit.ly/3MLf8wq https://bit.ly/3zDlZFD https://bit.ly/3mF2xQZ
Assignment link https://bit.ly/3QfN47u https://bit.ly/3mDz6i3 https://bit.ly/3zypRaA
Tuesday, June 21: Session link https://bit.ly/3NJzJCF https://bit.ly/3mCQmUX https://bit.ly/3zyCjHF
Assignment link https://bit.ly/3Hd3Obv https://bit.ly/3zuwmve https://bit.ly/3zwnHZ4
Wednesday, June 22: Session link https://bit.ly/3MJauPC https://bit.ly/3NRre8Y https://bit.ly/3zxDAOY
Assignment link No assignment https://bit.ly/39ebXjd https://bit.ly/3zyk7xU
Thursday, June 23: Session link https://bit.ly/3HfObzW https://bit.ly/3zxZfqb https://bit.ly/3zyfm7q
Assignment link No assignment No assignment No assignment
Friday, June 24: Live recap session link https://bit.ly/3O4HHGi

Meeting ID: 829 1806 6849
Passcode: 922213

Time: 3:00PM to 4:30PM

https://bit.ly/3O9ZGLD
Meeting ID: 899 1174 6487
Passcode: 456120

Time: 10:30AM to 12:00PM

https://bit.ly/3zFIsl4

Meeting ID: 827 6706 9433
Passcode: 407290

Time: 1:00PM to 2:30PM

Bootcamp registrations are now closed, you may watch the recordings of sessions above.

Introduction

Mankind has witnessed 6 technological revolutions during the last ~700 years, out of which the latest two occurred during the last ~80 years. Most technological revolutions have ripple effects on societal setups, economic processes as well as political relations between countries. The information technology revolution (sometimes referred to as the Digital Revolution) has had some significant socio-economic impacts. Along with the products of the industrial revolution, it also provides a perfect platform for future technological revolutions. These clubbed with the changes to nature’s ecological balance, promise uniquely challenging times for the coming generation. It will not be sufficient to equip children with the same knowledge and competencies, which the current education system (especially in India and some other countries) has been providing. The knowledge and competencies required to lead life during this century are often referred to as the 21st century skills. The literacies required in the 21st century include not only the traditional literacy skills like reading, writing and arithmetic but also include new literacy skills such as critical thinking, creative thinking and scientific literacy.

ThinkTac and Innovation and Science Promotion Foundation are offering two free programmes to introduce children to two critical 21st Century skills, which also help them get started on an exploration path:

  1. Scientific Literacy and
  2. Creativity and Innovation

Programme Overview

Each of the above programmes can be delivered at School or to children in their homes, with online support. Due to the fun and engaging nature of the programme, it is best delivered during the summer holidays. This can also be seen as a great bootcamp for the Raman Awards, which has launched its 2022 edition, starting with Science Challenge nominations till 30th April and Stage 1 from 1st May.

A summary of the programmes are below:

  1. 3 age groups (III & IV, V – VII, VIII – X).
  2. Activities, using simple, household materials (cost < ₹ 100 per programme).
  3. 12 Hours (6 hours for each programme) Live at school, community centre or online.
  4. 6 hours homework, observing & exploring.
  5. Teacher empowerment, training & resources to conduct programme.
  6. Continuous engagement and participation in Raman Awards.

Programme Activities

The two programmes would provide an exposure to a process for innovation and scientific approach. The processes will also be applied during the live sessions and as assignments at home, as part of the programme. The children are expected to develop the relevant skills if these processes are practiced on a sustained basis after the programme. The table below summaries the activities involved in the programme and the approximate time needed by children for each:

Sl. No Level Location Time (in minutes)
1 Preparation

  • Organise materials
  • Answer baseline quiz
Home /
School
60 minutes
2 Make together Online / School 60 minutes
3 Observe / Hypothesise

  • Observation Worksheet
  • Formative Quiz / Game
Online / School

80 minutes
4 Scientific Literacy OR Innovation OR exploration process Online / School

40 minutes
5 Exploration / Assignment

  • Endline quiz
  • Participate in contest
Online / School

80 minutes
6 Consolidation / Wrap-up

  • Scientific Literacy / Innovation in real life
  • How to continue the practice – RYSI, Experiential science as tools
  • Raman clubs
  • Programme Feedback
Online 40 minutes

Activity Summary

A summary of the activities that are selected for the programmes with the materials needed:

Group Programme Activity & Description Materials
III & IV Innovation Water Spray
The flow of any fluid occurs from a region of higher pressure to that of a lower pressure. In this TACtivity, we use a couple of pieces of straw to make a “pump” that not only draws water up but sprays it out in thrilling fashion as you blow through one of the straws!
Plastic Straw OR Paper & transparent tape
Catapult Model
The catapult is a simple machine used to hurl The catapult is a simple machine used to hurl things through the air. It was used in war during the ancient times to hurl stones, darts, arrows, etc., with great force.

In this TACtivity, you will create a catapult, closely resembling a trebuchet, using ice cream sticks and a binder clip, to model the possible defences at a fort.

Binder clip & Ice cream sticks
Scientific Literacy Chromatography
There are various methods to separate all kinds of mixtures. One of the most interesting and “colourful” methods of separation is one known as Chromatography, where different pigments interact with a specific material in different ways and so the pigments separate. Here, we use a few different coloured sketch pens to colour a small area on a filter paper. Water is then drawn up using a wick and the colours separate at different radii as they interact on the wet filter paper.
Sketch pens and Filter paper OR Tissue paper
Anaerobic Respiration
Yeast can respire even in the absence of oxygen – breaking down sugar, releasing carbon dioxide and other by products. Here, yeast is allowed to act on sugar water in a bottle, the mouth of which is sealed with a balloon. Over time, as the yeast starts to digest the sugar, the balloon starts to inflate! This process is called anaerobic respiration and is also used to make alcohol commercially.
Yeast and Sugar
V – VII Innovation Digestion – Starch
The process of digestion begins in our mouth when we chew our food to reduce them to smaller food particles. The amylase enzyme present in our saliva helps in breaking down complex carbohydrates – such as starch present in wheat, potatoes, corn, rice and other grains – into simple sugars. Our body utilises these simple sugars to obtain the energy needed to do our daily activities.

In this TACtivity, we will perform a test to demonstrate the breakdown of starch by Saliva.

Cooked rice, potato, Iodine/Betadine and Saliva
Roly Poly
A roly poly toy has a round bottom and aligns itself to the upright position when pushed. It explores the concept of how gravitational potential energy works on the centre of mass of an object. In this TACtivity, we make a roly poly toy using a plastic ball and wet sand.
Plastic ball and Sand
Scientific Literacy Motion – Periodic
In this splendidly simple and iconic TACtivity, you will make a classic pendulum, with a string and weight, used to measure time for centuries and the very basis of our “grandfather” clocks! Moreover, the constant to-and-fro motion, also known as Oscillatory Motion or Simple Harmonic Motion, is a wonderful phenomenon to experience and make measurements on.
Thread, Stopwatch and Protractor
Respirometer
Chemical reactions often create a change in colour. Here, we use turmeric as an acid-base indicator to make a simple “respirometer”, which can be used to estimate your metabolic rate as you blow into a solution of slaked lime.
Turmeric, Lime powder (Chuna) and Plastic straw
VIII – X Innovation Water Spray
Refer to the description above.
Pencil Spinner
Vibrations of a material have many wonderful effects: vibrating membranes make a sound, vibrating strings make a wave and vibrating stars create gravitational waves! In this age-old TACtivity (called gee-haw whammy diddle by the Native Americans who invented it 200 years ago), we see the simple (yet not fully understood!) phenomenon of vibrations in a pencil causing perfect circular motion of a spinner! Can you change the direction of the spinner by saying “gee” or “haw”??
Pencil, Board pin and Paper cutter
Scientific Literacy DIY Electrolysis
Electrolysis is a chemical process, which uses electric current to separate chemical compounds. Electric current is passed through electrodes immersed in an aqueous solution, known as an electrolyte. Electrolysis has many applications, such as in the separation of metals from their ores.

In this TACtivity, we will perform electrolysis of water using table salt (NaCl), connecting wires, an AA cell, iron nails and a waste plastic bottle. Do you see any bubbles? Does the solution change colour?

AA cell, Iron nails, Wire and Common salt
Nervous System – Reaction Time
Reaction time is the time taken for a person to respond to a given stimulus. Sensory neurons of the nervous system detect a stimulus and the motor neurons convey commands/reactions, corresponding to the stimulus, to the muscles, organs and glands. In this TACtivity, we perform a simple experiment to find the reaction time taken by our body, involuntarily, for a visual, auditory and touch stimulus. We drop and catch a ruler and the point on the ruler where we catch it would help us calculate the reaction time.
Meter ruler

MOLE Pedagogy

The broad pedagogical approach used in the programmes is summarised below:

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