SIGNIFICANCE AND ORGANISATION OF SCIENCE

CLUB

Submitted to : Ronald Rose

Submitted by : Aswathy.B.Prakash

Option : Physical Science

Reg No : 182 14 368 006

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INDEX

SL NO CONTENT PAGE NO

1 Introduction 3

2 Objectives of Science Club 5

3 Importance of Organization of Science Club 6

4 Activity of the Science Club-Development of  Psychomotor skills 9

5 Conclusion 12

6 Reference 13

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INTRODUCTION

The scientific and technological advancement of today is a long forward journey from Stone Age. It is essential that the students have a deep insight into the background of science. People seem to posses the seeds of creativeness but climate for germination is absent. It is generally seen that our school programmes are not giving due place to scientific experiences and proper environment. Schools lay too much emphasis on rigidity and traditionalism.

Each individual has his own interest, talents and abilities. Even a progressive syllabus fails to cater to the needs of each. Science educators, now a days are found to exhibit growing interest and means of stimulating group participation and mobilising interest in learning science. Organising science club is one among such activities.

Learning by doing and learning by living are two essentials of learning science. Children are interested in making things, breaking things and handling things. But the curriculum does not satisfy this natural urge. In classroom everything is done in a formal, artificial and controlled atmosphere. This will never give child an opportunity for his free flights in the world of science. Our classroom teaching does not provide opportunity for self-expression, constructive activities and independent enquiry. No time is assigned for practical work. All these lead to the need for an organisation providing an outlet for the pent-up emotions of children and for pooling their energies. An organisation which caters for the inculcation of scientific attitude and a genuine interest in science, and also can supplement the work of the classroom and give the syllabus a practical dimension may be called a science club.

Through the activities of a science club, learning of science becomes joyful. The science club caters to freedom of expression, where as the classroom atmosphere leads to conformity and repression. While activity participating in a science club students organise thought and translate these in to action and thereby develop a zealous enthusiasm to strive for the cause of scientific enterprise.

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The science club help them to think and working together in group. The ideas of boys working with girls , that is a major hurdle which the science club is encouraging. It helps them to become interested in science from early ages. It teaches them that science is all around them and it is happening all the time. It gets them to approach experiments in a more scientific way. Working in group have been great because they have to organise between them what to do, discuss how to solve problems between themselves and how to approach investigation. Sharing their results and obviously discussing their results in their results in their team members and summarising their results. It has given them a lot of confidence in their own thoughts and how to communicate things scientifically to different groups of pupil.

A science club is an out-of-school-hours club that offers children the chance to do science-related activities that extend and enhance the science they experience in the classroom.

Each science club is different, as the club programme reflects the interests of the children, the club organiser and the facilities available. Most clubs use the opportunity to explore areas of science not covered by the curriculum and to give the club members plenty of opportunities to do practical science.

A science club can be run in a lunch break or after school. Some organisations are able to offer special Saturday clubs.A science club session typically lasts for about 45 minutes. In this time, the members might complete a challenge, plan a science project or have a special scientific visitor.

Research shows that 'Out of School Hours Learning' or 'Study Support' is widely recognised to lead to improvements in school performance. This can manifest as improved motivation and a positive impact on attitudes. In addition to this the children were very enthusiastic to become members and there are various ground rules to entitle them.

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OBJECTIVES OF A SCIENCE CLUB

The aims and objectives of a science club may outline as below.

1. To provide proper incentive and inspiration for the pursuit of scientific knowledge in rigorous way by broadening their scientific outlook.

2. To provide opportunities for bringing school close to the society and to acquaint the people with the services and contribution of the science in their life.

3. To help the students in imbibing. The habit of self-reliance, self-dependence and love for manual work.

4. To develop among the student the spirit and attitude of healthy competition for the individual and social cause.

5. To provide opportunity for the development of the constructive, explorative & inventive faculties of the students.

6. To make the students understand the values of time and to help them in the proper utilization to their hours.

7. To grate interest in latest inventions and discoveries of science in various fields and to get acquainted with the life history and contributions of great scientists.

8. To develop students, inters and participation in the practical application of the    knowledge related to different branches of science.

9. To grate interest in scientific facts and events related to one’s surroundings.

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10. To develop training in scientific method of problem solving.

11. To inculcate scientific attitude and provide opportunities for training in scientific method.

12. To develop interest in scientific hobbies.

13. To encourage individual and group activities.

14. To develop in children a sense of healthy competition.

15. To make the students and public science minded.

16. To stimulate active participation and initiative among students in the learning process.

17. To keep the students in touch with the recent advance in science.

18. To provide challenging opportunities to the gifted.

19. To give development of psychomotor skills.

20. To provide training in problem solving.

IMPORTANCE OF ORGANISATION OF SCIENCE CLUB

A properly organized science club will be a valuable aid to teaching science and also a means of motivating the children for learning science. The successful working of the club depends on the persons who organize it and also on the interest and enthusiasm of students. Though science club is run by the students for the students, the science teacher is the pivot of all activities

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To begin with, the science teacher can explain the importance and benefits of organizing science club and can arouse enthusiasm among students. Every science club should have its own constitution. They should be a general body and an executive body. The Principal or Headmaster be the patron and the science teachers should be the sponsors. Executive members such as president, Vice President, Secretary, Treasures, Librarian, Publicity officer, etc are chosen from among the student members. The executive committee has to ….out programmers. These activities of the club should be taken up by the students themselves. There should be regular meetings, discussions, planning, feedback etc.

The responsibility of the taking initiative in the establishment of a science club in the school and then for its effective organization essentially lists. With the science teacher therefore, every science teacher must acquire the necessary ability for performing such responsibility by taking care of the things mentioned below.

1. Functional Organization

Every member of the club should work whole heartedly in a team spirit for the smooth and effective running of the programs and activities of the club. Usually the following types of activities may be undertaken in a science club

1. Publishing science magazine and news bulletin of scientific events.

2. Preparing certain things of common use like soaps, writing ink, tooth powders, shoe polish, pheny1, varnish etc.

3. Organizing school services in the field of health and sanitation.

4. Arranging cleanliness and health weeks in the institution.

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5. Creating in the school healthy environment for carrying out scientific studies and activities.

6. Decorating the walls of the classroom, library and laboratory with scientific and activities.

7. Arranging excursions and short trios for the members to places of scientific interest.

8. Arranging talks and lectures of the distinguished speakers, subject experts and outside guests on the subject of the scientific interest.

2. Structural Organization

Structural organization of the science club usually involves

Duties of the Publicity Officer - To publicize the activities of the club in the school and outside the school through posters and writing in the magazines, newspapers and scientific journals. To keep a record of all important scientific activities, achievements and programmes of the club

Duties of the Treasure- To prepare budged of the club and present the statement of the account when asked. To keep the proper account of the income and expenditure of the club. To collect subscriptions from the members

Duties of the Secretary- To take responsibility of the conducting the programmes and activities of the club. To take charges of all correspondence related with the club activities. To frame the programmes of the meeting and keep proper record or the proceeding of

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the meetings of the club. To invite the outside expert and guest speaker etc., in the club and attend them properly

3.  Preliminary Organization

1. After performing the above mentioned tasks the teacher should call a formal meeting of the science teacher should call a formal meeting of the science students.  In this meeting the proposal and scheme concerning the organization of Science club in the school should be discussed.  The aims and objectives of this club are to be placed before the students and constitution of the club is chalked out and the membership drive is launched.

2. With the active cooperation of the head of the institution, the he should make efforts to arrange for the finances to establish the science club.  While some amount may be taken from the finances of the institution and collected from the students in the form of membership fee etc.  The department of NCERT, State Government or any voluntary agency may also be approached for providing assistance in the project

3. After getting appropriate response or initiative from students he must try to contact the head of the institution and senior colleagues for their consent and advice on the issue of starting a science club

4. The science teacher should try to create a suitable environment and persuade the students to feel a need of establishing science club in their school

ACTIVITIES OF THE SCIENCE CLUB-DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHOMOTOR SKILLS

Through activities of a science club, learning of science becomes joyful.  The science club caters to freedom for expression, where as the

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classroom atmosphere leads to conformity and repression.  While activity participating in a science club students organize thought and translate these in to action and thereby develop a zealous enthusiasm to strive for the cause of scientific enterprise.  Mainly the objectives of the science club activities directed to the development of psychomotor skills

Through the club, it is possible to develop positive attitude towards learning science. A list of club activities are following below

1. Organising lectures, debates, seminars, symposia etc.

2. Holding science exhibition and fairs.

       3. Celebrating birthdays of eminent scientist.      

4. Participating in science fairs.      

5. Conducting visual programmes of scientific interest.      

6. Arranging visits to places of scientific interest.     

7. Preparing of charts, postures, models, etc.    

8. Developing school garden.    

9. Displaying science news.     

10. Planting and growing trees and plants.      

11. Improvising and preparing handmade apparatus.      

12. Collecting specimens and arranging them in the museum.     

13. Managing a first aid squad.       

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14. General reading of scientific literature.      

15. Rendering school services in health and sanitation.     

16. Visiting other science club.      

17. Conducting essay competition on scientific problems.      

18. Maintaining an aquarium.        

19. Participating in scientific hobbies-preparation of soaps, ink, candle, matches, toys, bleaching powder, nail polish, chalk, etc.

       20. Helping the community by way of demonstration on health and

hygiene, improvement of agriculture, eradication of superstitious belief, etc.

       21. Celebrating science days.

    22. Organising science programmes like nature walk and nature

games, eco-club, etc.       

23. Maintaining a bulletin board.       

24. Publishing school science magazine.       

25. Preparing albums and conducting projects.

There are benefits for:Pupils

1. Practice at the process skills needed in science.2. Increased opportunity to develop and practice thinking, speaking and listening skills.

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         3. Opportunities to experience a wider range of science topics, hence broadening their enthusiasm for science.

4. A positive change in attitude to science lessons.

Teachers and Teaching Assistants1. To learn about new topics and try out new ideas, in a less pressured

environment.The school

1. To celebrate science.2. Raising the profile of science within the school.

Science club offer a chance for students to learn more about science than they might have the opportunity to learn in class. Students can suggest their own projects and work with teachers to design projects. This gives a great opportunity to students. Activities can be designed for students and teachers that are not part of the science curriculum. This can help the school or students individual advancement in science knowledge. The science club presents a less formal atmosphere to work than in the usual classroom. In the science club learning is fitted to the abilities and interest of the individual more than in the classroom

CONCLUSIONA properly organised science club will be a valuable aid to

teaching science and also a means of motivating the children for the learning of science. The successful working of the club depends on the person who organise it and also on the interest and enthusiasm of the students. The science club helps them to think working together in groups. Through the activities of science club learning of science becomes joyful. The students learn the lessons of group work and production of many useful products like soap, chalk, candle etc. The club activity helps the student to develop their creative talents and thus evolve a wholesome personality.

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REFERENCEDr. K. Sivarajan, Prof. A. Faziluddin -Science Education-(2009)-

Central co-operative stores-Calicut.

    Dr. K. Sivarajan-Trends and Developments in Modern Educational Practices-(2012)- Central co-operative stores-Calicut.

   S.P. Kulshreshtha-Teaching of Science-(2005)-R.Lall Book Depot-Meerut.

https://twitter.com/BBCScienceClub

http://ml.wikipedia.org/

scienceclub.org

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