Enrichment of

Science Education
at the school level

Atul Kumar Vij

Rishi Valley School

‘Dialogue’ Seminar, IIT Gandhinagar, 16th July 2020

Science enrichment
Science enrichment is a growing, global movement for several reasons:

1. to improve science awareness in a technologically advancing society

2. to meet the growing demand of a technical workforce

3. to address the gender gap in STEM education

This talk has a different approach...

we start from the very nature of science and its purposes

Keen observation is fundamental to science
bending
This is a ray diagram, not a side view! (real/ apparent depth)

eye
A breaking
light stick (lateral shift)
air bends what is actually
water seen
B’ 3/4d
d

B
magnification
(due to curved
tumbler)
Science enrichment for the developing human
connections with the world

Vertical integration
soci om ics
& olog
y econ
Horizontal integration
abstract
history rap hy
geog
mathematical

music observable art & craft

(sensory)

science
connections within
(head, heart and hands)
Vertical integration- sensory to abstract
Class 8 (sensory, math
Class 6 (sensory) Class 7 (sensory & math) & abstract)

18 cm

Sa 1/2 53 cm
Ni 8/15
Dha 3/5
Pa 2/3
Ma 3/4 88 cm
Ga 4/5

Re 8/9
130cm
Sa 1

Source: Bangalore Steiner School

Vertical integration- abstract to sensory
A square plate has many natural
frequencies with which it resonates

576 Hz 652 Hz

a class 11 physics project 701 Hz 876 Hz

Source: Rishi Valley School
Examples of horizontal
integration
Xylophone: music, craft & more physics (Class 11)

Frequency (f)
l

f ∝ 1/l for
flutes
but f ∝ 1/l2 for
xylophones!

1/ l2
Source: Rishi Valley School
Soap: chemistry, geometry & economics (Class 9)

Source: Rishi Valley School

Harmonograph: physics, math & craft (Class 10)

Source: Rishi Valley School

 Gravitation: geography, history & physics (Class 11)

Aristarchus (~250 BC) sensory & math Newton (1687)

sun rays
rearth sensory & math:

rm
earth’s shadow amoo r2earth
oon
g = 2
n r moon
Hyderabad
Eratosthenes (~200 BC)
sensory & math abstract:
mearth x
F=G
sun rays m 2
r
Rishi Valley
Source: Rishi Valley School
Wood-fired clay oven: craft & physics (Class 11)

pizza

Temperature (log scale)

bread

vegetable cooking

heating

Time (minutes)
Source: Rishi Valley School
Summary
- Tremendous possibilities exist to enrich science education.

- The expected outcome is individuals who engage more fully with the
world, with creativity and awareness.

- A rich curriculum requires creative, versatile & collaborative teachers.

- School structures and rhythms need to be designed to make space & time
for enrichment.
Implications beyond school years
- Can (& should) this integrated approach continue into college?

- Can selection processes for Science & Technology colleges include

creative components?
The place for human values
connections with the world

Vertical integration
soci values om ics
& olog
y econ
Horizontal integration
abstract
history rap hy
geog
mathematical

music observable art & craft

(sensory)

science
connections within
(head, heart and hands)
Questions, comments & discussion