Realising that there is still lack of scientific tool kits which would be useful to study both living and nonliving components of environment, their physico-chemical and biological characteristics, functions & interactions, Science Centre has recently developed the Eco Eureka Kit as a humble attempt to help the young generation as well as interested people to study and examine the nature and its living & nonliving components with easy tools and techniques in stress free playful manner. The kit has assembly of more than 70 tools that are easily available as well as can be assembled easily using local material. The kit is useful to study and examine nature and its components that include Water, Soil, Biodiversity, Earth & Atmosphere and Astronomy.
The Eco Eureka Kit is another addition to Science Centres peoples science movement and child centric approach and would add into Indias contribution in achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-4 (SDG-4) which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
The activity manual of the Eco Eureka Kit has descriptions of 34 activities under 5 thematic sections namely Water, Soil, Biodiversity, Earth & Atmosphere and Astronomy and instructions of performing the activities. The given instructions include procedure of the activity in step-by-step manner (i.e. Concept of the activity, diagram, kit material, method, data collection and analysis, results, key points learned and open-ended questions). The first theme Water contains 5 activities, second theme Soil contains 7 activities, third theme Biodiversity contains 14 activities, fourth theme Earth & Atmosphere contains 5 activities and fifth theme Astronomy contains 3 activities, all activities are described with method of investigating their physical/chemical/biological/ properties accordingly. To help children explore and know more facts about the thematic activities and the science behind them open-ended questions have been given at the end of each activity. Apart from this, lists of suggested activities have also been given to help the users explore more ideas of study & experiments using the kit material and add into the activities.
Apart from its utility in classroom, this kit is even more helpful for children in extra-classroom experimental and exploratory activities without much supervision. They can use this kit as per convenience of time and place. This kit can be used by different aged children as well as elders including teachers and parents. It will also be of interest to amateurs, science clubs, eco-clubs, science based voluntary and non-governmental organizations thinking of child centric nature study activities.
To spread the message of zero waste and recycle of waste the kit box has been made of handmade sheets of recycled paper and clothes. Production of handmade sheets and design and manufacturing of kit box has been done by SADEV Creations, recycled paper manufacturing unit of the Science Centre.