By Nasira Habib | Project Leader
Khoj School not only helps children see and understand the links among various concepts within a subject and between the subjects but facilitates analysis of how and why of the various phenomena. We believe in developing thinking and questioning minds.
Teaching at Khoj School is not only conceptual but also action led. Dealing with the subject of how the soil is formed on our earth, an oral explanation is not enough. They must go through the process to have a real understanding. Several probing questions were asked, and several situations were presented to provoke visualizing how the soil was formed. They refused to believe that erosion of rocks and degradation of dead plants, animals and other forms of life made the formation of soil possible.
They were given crushed stones, sand, fallen leaves and twigs and asked to pound them with hammers. After some time, they started seeing the change in the texture. Children were very excited, and every child wanted to take part in the experiment which they did.
The "soil" thus made was kept in a pot to carry out another experiment after Eid holidays. They will bring some soil from a crop field and fill another pot. Then one seedling each will be planted in the plants to compare the performance of both types of soil.
To detect life in the soil, another experiment will be conducted where children will see the microorganisms through a microscope. This activity will help them understand the importance of microbes in the fertility management of the soil. They will also realize the destruction of this life if chemical pesticides are applied in the fields or gardens.
This understanding will lead to how nutrients are prepared to make the soil healthy and fertile. And the list of topics on how to grow plants goes on!
This hands-on, exploratory and integrative education leads children to the path of developing a scientific attitude.
This education is possible only because you are supporting us generously.
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