Eklavya - The Science Course
Learn sciences the curiosity way...
Eklavya, is a unique and revolutionary science course that focuses on a simple thing which every parent wants to do and i.e. satisfy the bubbling curiosity of their children. However, unlike typical teachers, we are in no hurry to satisfy the curiosities... we believe in letting them evolve so that they can become what we call as meaningful curiosities. This objective is achieved by telling children one single story that starts with mankind's quest to make sense of this world (from the time they came on this planet) and how it evolved over a period of 2,500 years or so. In the process we make Sciences a curiosity driven exploration and imagination for children rather than a formula and definition driven lifeless subject. As the course unfolds all the major theories of all the science subjects (i.e. Physics, Chemistry, Biology & Geology) are covered in an integrated manner.
- Coverage: All the major theories of Physics/Chemistry/Biology/Geology
- Batch Size: One class will typically have around 5-7 kids.
- Delivery mode: Instructor led (Online)
- Session Duration & Frequency: Around 1.5 hours once a week only.
- Course Duration: Approx. 2.5 years
- Total No. of Sessions: Around 90-100.
- Age: Kids aged (typically) 10 years and above
- Approach: No HW, No assignments, No exams/evaluations, etc.
Contact us for enrolling in the course: [email protected]
What is Eklavya all about?
Curiosity and more curiosity: Every kid in the class has the right to ask as many questions as he or she wants to ask. Children's curiosity is encouraged and enhanced by making it a priority.
Curiosity is handled…not answered: As questions tumble out, we work on them with the children in a way that helps them own their questions, thereby developing an inherent interest in Sciences. This works wonders for their curiosity for Science becomes accessible rather than a complicated subject.
How is that done?
Interconnections between subjects/concepts is the tool: Questions require scientific concepts to get answered. However, if concepts are presented in an isolated manner then they make no sense to imagination of children. This is the key strength of Eklavya. All the concepts across the subjects, and within subjects, are presented in an interconnected fashion thereby creating deep imaginations. In Eklavya all the previous classes drive the future class. Towards the end of the course we draw a single chart that integrates all the classes/theories across all the subjects into a single visual framework. This not only helps kids make sense of this world in totality (and not in bits and pieces) but also triggers their curiosity in a way that they learn to use it to create solutions.
How does that help?
Independent Thinking & Empathy: Since all scientific concepts in this course take birth in an interconnected fashion in the context of children’s curiosity, it helps them grasp the scientific concepts from the first principles thereby developing an independent thinking mind. Also, as children through their own independent thinking participate in natural creation of answers, they naturally develop an empathetic mindset to various viewpoints. An empathetic independent thinker is what the future demands.
In short, the Eklavya course, uses Science as a tool to get children ready to face the fast paced technology led world that's developing. While doing so it ensures that children learn the basic scientific theories in a way that they develop a natural inclination for Sciences.
The following topics are covered through an enquiry route whereby the children understand as to why we believe in what we believe in, why what we believe in are not final answers, and why children are in possession of the best faculties to take this journey of Science forward.
- Physics - Mechanics, Gravity, Heat/Thermodynamics, Wave Motion, Sound, Light, Electricity and Magnetism, Astronomy
- Chemistry - Atomic Structure, Chemical Reactions, Nuclear Reactions, Radioactivity, Periodic Table, Organic Chemistry, Electrochemistry
- Biology - Taxonomy, Working of Human Body, Cell Theory, Genetics, Evolution, Origin of Life
- Geology - Size/Weight/Age of Earth, Internal Structure of Earth, Fossils, Plate Tectonics, Impact Theory
Are you by any chance feeling as to how a 10+ year old child understand a lot of above topics?
If yes, then the only thing we can say is that you are thinking exactly how we used to think few years back and then realized that we could not have been more wrong.
"This course is not only for children who want to be scientists when they grow up. This course is for anybody who has questions about the natural world. Anybody who wants to go on a wild ride that exists in the innocent white space between the lines in science textbooks. Sharad sir is a great storyteller. I personally loved the caricatures of famous and not-so-famous scientists and their backstories. There’s so much schools don’t teach us about the history of science. Sharad sir's eyes glint with pride every time I ask a question. He is flexible and lets our questions lead the class. I can tell his aim is to keep the flame of curiosity burning in the learner. This journey of science taught me that textbooks state our discoveries as facts, but they are not facts - theories are fragile, and every theory is bound to be replaced eventually (atleast that's what the history of science tells us). This course humanizes science and gives me the faith to say that every child will become a scientist if they learn to respect their own questions."
- Saanvi Mundra
(Saanvi did the "Eklavya" Science course during the years 2019-2022)
I spent about 15 years across corporates in IT and financial services industry. I quit my corporate career to focus on my twin passions – teaching and science. I have done B.Tech (IIT) and MBA (IIM).