Toys for Kids

TEN LITTLE FINGERS
Ideas and Activities in Science
Arvind Gupta
Illustrations: Avinash Deshpande

Ten Little Fingers is a collation of innovative toys and science activities which the author has tried and tested in more than one thousand schools over the past twenty years. With detailed illustrations, each activity is clearly depicted. Children do not need fancy laboratories and expensive equipment for doing science activities. There is much, which can be done using throwaway things found at home. Only when children use ordinary things do they realise the relevance of science in everyday life. Arvind Gupta graduated from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1975, has written ten books on science activities, translated more than fifty books and presented seventy films on science activities. He has received several honours, including the first National Award for Science Popularisation amongst Children and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIT, Kanpur for making science interesting for children. Avinash Deshpande graduated from the JJ School of Art, Mumbai, has been deeply involved with grassroots level movement. NATIONAL BOOK TRUST, INDIA A - 5, Green Park, New Delhi 110016, India Price Rs 65 only.

SCIENCE ACTIVITIES & IDEAS
Science without experiments is like learning to swim without getting into water.

If children don’t do science experiments they will never get a feel for science.

There are a lot of expensive test tubes and other fancy science equipment. But the children are afraid to use them in case they break.

Can’t we use simple things found at home for doing science experiments.

There is no scientific apparatus available in my town.

Children learn by doing. In their free moments they are always tinkering, pottering, playing and messing around with whatever they can lay their hands on. It is during play that children learn a lot of important things about science. When they handle

References: 1. Preparation for Science, Richard B Greggs, 1928, Navjeevan Prakashan, Ahmedabad. 2. Samajh Ke Live Taiyari ( Hindi), Keith Warren, UNICEF, Reprinted by National Book Trust, Rs.16/3. Dynamic Folk Toys, Sudaishan Khanna, Published by the Handicraft’s Board & NID, out of print. 4. The Joy of Making Indian Toys, Sudarshan Khanna, National Book Trust, Rs. 40/5. UNESCO Source Book for Science in the Primary School, Wynne Harlen & Jos Elstgeest, N.B.T. Rs. 60/6. Low-cost, No-cost Teaching Aids, Mary Ann Dasgupta, National Book Trust Rs 35 /7. String & Sticky Tape Experiments, R D Edge, American Association of Physics Teachers 8. A Potpourri of Physics Teaching Ideas, Edited by Donny A. Berry, American Association of Physics Teachers. 9. The I Hate Mathematics Book, Marilyn Burns, Cambridge University Press. 10. The Young Scientist Investigates - Teachers Book of Practical Work, Terry Jennings, OUP. 11. Thinking Science, Linda Allison & David Katz, Cambridge University Press. 12. Science Is, Susan V Bosak, Scholastic / Canada 13. VSO - The Science Teacher’s Handbook, Andy Byers, Ann Childs, Chris Lane, Voluntary Services Overseas & Heinemann. 14. Things to make in the Holidays, Steve & Megumi Biddle, Beaver Books 15. Amazing Flying Objects, Steve & Megumi Biddle, Red Fox Books 16. Magical Strings, Steve & Megumi Biddle, Beaver Book 17. The Flying Circus of Physics, Jearl Walker, John Wiley & Sons. 18. Paper Folding Fun, Robert Harbin, Oldbourne, London. 19. Action Toys, Eric Kenneway, Beaver Books. 20. Paper Shapes, Eric Kenneway, Beaver Books. 21. Paper Fun, Eric Kenneway, Beaver Books. 22. Amusing Experiments, Martin Gardner, 1986, Russian Edition. 23. Mr. Wizards 400 Experiments in Science, Don Herbert & Hy Ruchlis, Book-Lab 24. Physics Experiments for Children, Muriel Mandell, 1968, Dover. 25. Matchstick Models & Other Science Experiments, Arvind Gupta, 26. Little Science, Arvind Gupta, Eklavya, E7 - 453, Arera Colony, Bhopal 462016, Rs 20/27. The Toy Bag, Arvind Gupta, Eklavya, E7 - 453,, Arera Colony, Bhopal 462016, Rs 20/28. Toy Treasures, Arvind Gupta, Eklavya, E7 - 453,, Arera Colony, Bhopal462016, Rs 20/29. Little Toys, Arvind Gupta, National Book Trust, A-5, Green Park, New Delhi 110016, Rs. 20/30. The Leaf Zoo, Arvind Gupta, Vigyan Prasar, C-24, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi 110016, Rs 20/31. Toy Joy, Arvind Gupta & Ramesh Kothari, Vigyan Prasar, Rs 20/32. Pumps from the Dump, Suresh Vaidyarajan & Arvind Gupta, Vigyan Prasar, Rs 20/33. Reader’s Club Bulletin, National Centre for Children’s Literature, National Book Trust 110016. 34. Making Things, Ann Sayre Wiseman, Little Brown and Company, Boston. Suggested Books on Education, Science & Maths: 1. Divasvapna, Gijubhai Badheka (English, Hindi & other Indian Languages), National Book Trust 2 Totto chan, Tetsuko Kuroyangi (Hindi & other Indian Languages), National Book Trust 3 Chai Ki Pyali Mein Paheli (Hindi), Partho Ghosh & Dipankar Home, National Book Trust 4 The Child’s Language & the Teacher, Krishna Kumar (Hindi & English) National Book Trust 5 Raj Samaj Aur Shiksha (Hindi), Krishna Kumar, Rajkamal Prakashan, Daryaganj, New Delhi 6 The Blackboard Book, Eleanor Watts (English & Hindi), Onent Longman, 3-5-820, Hyderguda, Hyderabad 500029. 7 Soap Bubbles, C. V. Boys, Vigyan Prasar, C-24, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi 110016. 8 The Chemical History of a Candle, Michael Faraday, Vigyan Prasar, New Delhi 110016. 9 My Friend Mr. Leakey, J. B. S. Haldane, Vigyan Prasar, New Delhi 110016. 10 Every Thing has a History, J. B. S. Haldane, Vigyan Prasar, New Delhi 110016. 11 Khulte Akshar, Khilte Ank, Vishnu Chmchaikar (Hindi), National Book Trust, New Delhi 110016. 12. How Children Fail, John Holt ( Hindi), Eklavya, E7 - 453,, Arera Colony, Bhopal (M.P.) 462016. 13 The Absorbent Mind, Mana Montessori, Onent Longman, 3 - 5 - 820, Hyderguda, Hyderabad (A.P.) 500029. 14 Lives of Children, George Dennison (Hindi), Granth Shilpi, G - 82, Vijay Chowk, Laxrm Nagar, Delhi 110092. 15 Bahuroop Gandhi, Anu Bandopadhyay (Hindi & English), N.C.E.R.T. Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi 110016. 16 Manual for Mathematics Teaching Aids for Primary Schools, P.K.Srinivasan, C.I.E.T., N.C.E.R.T., New Delhi 110016. 17. Resource Material for Mathematics Club, P.K.Srinivasan, C.I.E.T., N.C.E.R.T., New Delhi 18. Teacher, Sylvia Ashton Warner, available from Arvind Gupta, IUCAA, Poona University, Pune 7