BALEWADI-PUNE, 7 MAY, 2018 - Children in kindergarten are highly absorbent of the information that flows around them. By the age of 4, they begin to conceptualize all that is taught to them in class or through practical activities. They become more adept in finding a solution to the problem without even thinking about its possible outcome, or the fact that they can even solve it at all. By this age, they are ready to think and offer solutions even without putting their thoughts into action.

To make them more curious about the world around them, activities like Thinking Thursday encourage children to be more involved in nature and reason with the world of science, technology, maths and other disciplines. Thinking Thursday helps them form a strong foundation of process skills which ultimately leads to proficient reasoning, analytical and problem solving skills.

We at GIIS believe that even two hours of mental training and preparation sessions fortnightly, is more than enough to give a child the right amount of mental challenge. Keeping this is mind, we carry out certain experiments and activities planned out on Thursdays, which requires them to think their way through scenarios while adapting to the situations.

Thinking Thursday activities in the month of April comprised of two activities.

Tornado in a bottle / bucket

The teachers explained the students that a tornado forms when cold and hot air combine and spin very quickly. Making tornado was done in two activities with bucket and in the bottle.

First, the teacher showed the students forming of tornado in the bucket. Then they added little hand soap to the water in the bucket which was filled half. Green glitter to this mixture. Using a cloth she swirled the water in the bucket. Every child tried their hands at swirling of water. They enjoyed seeing water go round and round in the bucket.

Then teacher filled a three-fourth of bottle with water. Then she added few drops of hand soap and green glitter to the bottle.  She turned the bottle upside down and held it by the neck. Teacher quickly spun the bottle in a circular motion for a few seconds. Spinning the bottle in a circular motion created a water vortex that looked like a mini tornado. Then each student spun the bottle to see the little glittery tornado in the bottle.

Inside the bucket / bottle, the fluid on the outside starts spinning before the fluid at the centre. The fluid on the outside slows down as the fluid on the inside continues to spin.  That is the formation of a vortex: the water spins rapidly around the vortex due to centripetal force.

Making Lemonade

This activity was conducted to explain students that during summer season water intake should be more in quantity as it benefits health.

The teacher had taken a vessel full of water. Then she cut a lemon and asked the students to squeeze it. She showed how lemon juice was mixed in the water. Then teacher asked other students to add a spoon full of sugar and pinch of salt. She explained how sugar and salt dissolves in water and disappears. In this fun way they made yummy lemonade which was served to all kindergarten students.

 After enjoying the refreshing lemonade students were told about the importance of citrus food which has lots of Vitamin C that helps to keep us healthy. It prevents effects of intensive heat and hydrates our body.