Transit of Venus 2012

We never know how things or sequences in life sets. It's mid winter days when Ashna got interested in light experiments first and later sun experiments. She has made different kind of pin hole cameras from post card, cardboard box, mount board etc. and found many pin hole effects in real life! She has read some books about Sun and experiments with Sun but she has to wait till summer for some of those experiments. Meanwhile I came to read Vivek Monteiro's small but interesting book 'Measuring the Universe with a string and a stone' and we were about to start experiments from that book, and got invitation to join workshop TOV 2012 (Transit of Venus) from Navnirmiti ! Ashna was more excited than me but she couldn't join me as it was intensive national level workshop. But she was happy that at least I recovered from accident before workshop. Workshop experience was great, lot of learning and meeting some really interesting people whose work always admired by us all.  And most important is the aim of TOV 2012 ... 'Universalizing the Universe' and The sky fascinates everyone! Events in the sky which happen during day time give a special opportunity of taking people from "Wow to Why and How".

 

 Khadaki - a remote village on the border of Gujarat-Maharashtra. It's remote in many sense but Gandhian lady Sujata Shah has created miracle by her strong will. Where life is truly difficult ,she has done great work in the field of education, health and environment. Visiting her school brought Ah ! feeling. Beautiful natural surrounding, clay huts, river nearby and happy children around.   

I have to conduct 2 days workshop, 50 children and this is what I was doing first time. Two teachers were

there to assist and my children also supported me. My kids are always with me, not just to enjoy outing but they help me, explore events, know people around and that all is part of learning. When I talk about such program with my kids I use 'we' rather than 'I' ...so, we have to conduct workshop. They feel responsible ,support me fully..... and my load divided. 

First day mostly I have to explain things to children so Ashna has done photographer's duty perfectly along with exploring river bank with Megh whenever got time and helping children to do some experiments... making ball mirror projector, dark room etc. 

Initially I was bit worried about language as I came to know these children's language difficulties, they speak Konkani (which is mixture of Gujarati-Marathi) at home and study in Gujarati. But surprisingly found Khadaki children quite fluent in Gujarati. Working with them cleared many of my doubts about them. They are really intelligent, open to learn, having good grasping power, happier than any city kid..........but they are bit introvert, can't open up quickly, speak and express less. They are prompt and even ready to work in any condition, th they attended workshop whole day,done all their daily cleaning work and prepared their dinner ...they enthusiastically prepared Angle-Dangle meter under pale bulb light so can measure latitude with help of pole star. 

From observing shadow of a pole Ashna was almost sure to have zero shadow on next day, took readings and  surprisingly children found zero shadow at 12:30! Being experienced in making different kind of pin hole camera she actively taught other children how to make and use it. She mingles with them easily, in fact she loved to be with them since last year she attended 5 days camp with tribal kids at Dharampur.

  

Day Time Astronomy experiments are learning with fun and that too almost everything available at home.... ball, mirror, cardboard box, needle, globe, toothpick, clay etc. then why don't you do yourself with your children and children around you? All the resources books ( book I mentioned above is available under name of TOV booklet) , videos etc you can download from  http://www.daytimeastronomy.com  . Transit of Venus 2012 is on 6th June and it's once in a life time event, don't miss it.