Harshini Devi, Dean, The Future Kids School, Rajamahendravaram speaks to Anny Sarkar on the efforts the school is taking to foster scientific temper among students and promote space studies
1. How is your school fostering space science education in students?
The space lab is equipped with the best of facilities that fills any child with curiosity! Students get ample knowledge using basic telescopes and rockets. They are also shown educational videos about space. Even classes are scheduled and planned in such a manner that students get relevant knowledge about space while studying various related subjects.
2. What are the recent activities in space science?
In the space lab, students get to work on several hands-on activities. They work on practical models of rockets. Earlier, we had shown students the live broadcast of the Chandrayaan 3 and Aditya launches. Teachers also discussed every detail about the launch with them. Using this knowledge, students are trying to build their own aerodynamic models. The space lab is helping students to learn subjects like Physics, Maths, Chemistry, etc very well due to opportunities of real-life applications.
3. How did the school start its journey with space science education?
Our Founder and Director, Shri Ravi Babu was interested to provide something unique to students. It was then that we came across the space lab activity. Space is a huge realm that is yet to be explored in its totality. Hence, we did our research and finally came up with the science lab. The large campus gives The Future Kids School an edge to launch its own rockets that go up to a certain height.
4. How is space education integrated into the school’s curriculum?
Space education is afterall an integration of subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Maths. Whenever students enter the space lab, they are actually made to apply all the concepts they have learnt in classrooms. They now know how to apply the subjects to build impressive space models.
We are planning to form a space club in a few months. As of now, we have talked to scientists who will come and guide our students in their journey of learning about the space and its different aspects.
5. Are there any success stories or notable achievements of your students in space-related competitions or projects?
Recently, we participated in the ISRO online test conducted on behalf of the Aditya launch. We have earlier gone to ISRO thrice. We were introduced to NASO very recently. We have plans to take our students to ISRO this year. Next year, we are planning to take children abroad, if that is feasible. Till now 400 of our students have visited ISRO. They got to sit in that control room where all the action really takes place. By December, we will be taking our students to the space station.
Space education in The Future Kids School has provided students with a platform to do creative projects based on space. The nature of the subject allows students to explore a wide range of career opportunities, which is the need of the country. Providing such a platform at an early age will create the best future astronauts, scientists, designers, pilots, etc.
Syda Banu, Vice Principal, Fks
I think the fact our school allots sessions for space lab is just amazing. These sessions really piqued my interest in satellites and astronomy in general. I loved constructing rockets together with my friends. Universe is endless world of possibilities. I find this really mystifying.
Ahana
The space lab at The Future Kids School has brought immense fun and knowledge to our creative minds. We get opportunities to learn different scientific technologies, methods and techniques in space subjects. It taught us how a glider works that is, it glides through the atmosphere. This brought fun in our school life!
Shashank
I believe that adding this program into our school curriculum had surely been beneficial to our academics. The addition of space lab captivities student’s imagination and serves as a powerful motivator for us to pursue careers in STEM fields. Additionally, the lab class encompasses Physics, Astronomy, Geology, Biology, Chemistry and Engineering.
Pravallika
