Newsletter 53 - Science for learning from life and nature

Most children in rural areas live in close contact with nature. This is especially true for children from Adivasi communities, for whom the natural environment is an integral part of their daily lives and their way of understanding the world.

However, formal education does not always build upon these experiences. It often focuses on conveying information that is far removed from the children's own reality, failing to provide sufficient opportunities to connect what is learned in the classroom with their everyday lives.

Against this backdrop, Jan Seva Mandal has spent over fifty years developing curricula and educational materials tailored to the experiences and needs of rural and Adivasi communities in Maharashtra. Their materials, currently used across various districts in the state, cover subjects such as language learning (Marathi and English), mathematics, health, and social studies.

Now, they are taking a new step: bringing science closer to children by rooting it in their own reality.

The new project involves creating a collection of educational resources—comprising seven video programs and a teacher’s manual—that focus on various science-related topics.

Through audiovisual media, these videos aim to spark curiosity and foster the ability to observe, discover, and ask questions. By drawing on everyday natural phenomena, they help students better understand the world around them, presenting science as something accessible, vibrant, and fascinating. The goal is to foster three fundamental capacities: curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking—three “Cs” that we consider essential to any educational process.

A project designed for teachers

The Teacher’s Manual, spanning approximately 32 pages, will accompany the videos and provide teachers with tools and suggestions for implementing the learning activities featured in the programs within the classroom. Plans are in place to digitally print 200 copies of the manual.

Alfonso Herrera