Chapter 3.7 - At the Science Fair
Meanings:
- basic – necessary
- volunteered – to do or offer to do something
- allotted – to distribute, to assign
- themes – an idea
- graphic – a drawing or a picture
- inaugurated – marking the beginning of a venture
- adulteration – mixing other matter of inferior quality with food or drink which is to be sold
Pointers
1. Answer the following questions :
(a) What two basic rules were followed in the Science Fair ?
Ans: The two basic rules to be followed in the science fair were:
(i) Everything should be handled by students.
(ii) The entertainment booths and refreshment stalls had to have a scientific basis.
(b) How early did the preparations for the Science Fair begin ?
Ans: The preparations for the Science Fair began a couple of months in advance.
(c) How was the committee formed ?
Ans: A committee of parents and teachers was set up to look after all the work of the fair. Some student representatives were also taken on the committee to give them a firsthand experience of managing big programmes.
(d) What themes did the committee identify ?
Ans: The themes identified by the committee were: plants, animals, properties of substances, energy, science in our everyday lives, latest news from the world of science, and food and nutrition.
(e) How did the students prepare for their stalls/presentations ?
Ans: Stalls were allotted to many groups of children. Each group selected a topic or idea from the chosen themes. The young scientists began collecting a lot of information about their topic using their science textbook, their school library, and the internet. They shared and discussed this information in their groups and decided the exact activity for their stall, deciding whether they would build and display a model, give a demonstration, present their project through posters, or simply exhibit a collection.
(f) What did Mr Gizare appreciate the most ?
Ans: Mr. Gizare appreciated the fact that at most of the stalls, visitors could try out the various science experiments and models.
(g) What did the Clean Brigade do ?
Ans: The members of the Clean Brigade made rounds of the fair spreading the message of cleanliness, and they had vowed to keep the school premises spick and span during the fair.
2. Make charts to show the important points to remember while making –
(a) A graphic presentation
Ans:
(b) An oral presentation
Ans:
3. Relate the themes of the Fair to your science textbook by writing the relevant chapter numbers under each theme.
Ans: Students must do this on their own.
4. Find, in your science textbook, the topics of the stalls handled by students of VI A. (Write the page number.)
Ans: Students must do this on their own.
5. What themes would you like to add to the themes given in this passage ?
Ans:
(a) Why does honey crystallize?
(b) How to make a lemon battery?
(c) Build your own telescope.
6. Imagine you are visiting the Science Fair. What other stalls (apart from the ones mentioned here) are you likely to find there ? Try to list at least five more stalls.
Ans:
(a) Use of empty aerated bottles as life belts to save from drowning.
(b) Manually rotating a wheel to generate electric energy.
(c) Replantation of a tree instead of cutting it down.
(d) Saving water at home.
(e) Alternative sources of energy.
7. Using your imagination, and information from other sources, describe any one stall in detail.
Ans: I visited a stall at the science fair. The theme of the stall was “Energy.” The experiments shown were to produce electricity at home, and the method was very simple. But the part of the experiment that was so simple that anyone could try it out themselves at the stall.
The prize-winning project was how to make lemon batteries.
The aim of the experiment was to make lemon batteries.
The materials used were two lemons, copper wires, two large paper chips, two coins, a digital clock, scissors, and a knife.
Besides the Lemon Battery Projects, there were other projects that focused on the use of kinetic energy, uses of potential energy, electrostatic energy, sound, food adulteration, mechanical energy, and fun with magnets. Also Charts were put up best with bold writing.
8. Choose a ‘question’ through your own observation. Try to follow the scientific method to find the answer to that question. Take the help of your teacher/parents to set up the experiment.
Ans: Students must do this on their own.
9. Visit a library : Find and read the biography of your favourite scientist.
Ans: Students must do this on their own.