Dear All,
Today, the 3rd day morning of IYA 2009, became memorable morning for Tanmaye’s Amazing Space [TAS] and 76 blind children of "Blind People Association" at Ring road, Vastrapur, Ahmedabad.
It was a challenge and a new experience for me to introduce the reason we are celebrating IYA 2009 and give basic information about our solar system and its position in the Universe to the children without the benefit of the colorful and awe-inspiring photographs that I usually use to hook the children’s interest!
Usually, before I start the lecture presentation, I ask the students questions like - how many of you have seen Crescent Moon, who has seen the Polestar, etc. But here I couldn’t! The questions had to be reframed and re-conceptualized It sure gave a great insight into the difficulties of those wonderful teachers who dedicate themselves to this hard task of bringing enlightenment to the children thru touch and sound alone!
However, speaking in Gujarati, we were able to have an interactive 45 minutes that left us breathless at the intelligence, perception and grasp of such an abstract subject as Astronomy without the benefit of sight! The students gave many correct answers to the playful questions posed during the course of the lecture. To our delight, a couple of them were very well informed on the subject.
After the lecture the students were introduced to a ‘Tactile Star Chart’ of the Northern Hemisphere. A learning aid that we’d received courtesy Ms. Jane H Jones, the Saturn Observation Campaign coordinator, NASA. This was an unexpected bonus for the eager students who were ecstatic – running their sensitive fingers over the bas-relief chart that allowed them to experience for the first time, the heavens as we see them!
The success of this program can be gauged from the frequent and warm entreaties by the students to come again with more information, facts and news.
An unforgettable experience for us all!
Having discovered that ‘The Universe can be felt too’ we are excitedly exploring plans to treat the students to another session in the near future.
Summary:
1. Venue: Blind People's Assoc.
2. Date: 3 Jan, 2009
3. Time: 7:45 to 8:35 am
4. Students: 76
5. BMA Teachers: 4
6. TAS Volunteer: Rajesh Nath
We acknowledge the gracious support of the following people in making this program a success: Rajesh Nath – who introduced me to Mr Panini – Director of Blind People Association, who agreed for the program instantly.
Please find attached captioned photographs of the event.
Tanmaye Vyas
Tanmaye's Amazing Space
+91 9327019254
+91 9979861071
It was a challenge and a new experience for me to introduce the reason we are celebrating IYA 2009 and give basic information about our solar system and its position in the Universe to the children without the benefit of the colorful and awe-inspiring photographs that I usually use to hook the children’s interest!
Usually, before I start the lecture presentation, I ask the students questions like - how many of you have seen Crescent Moon, who has seen the Polestar, etc. But here I couldn’t! The questions had to be reframed and re-conceptualized It sure gave a great insight into the difficulties of those wonderful teachers who dedicate themselves to this hard task of bringing enlightenment to the children thru touch and sound alone!
However, speaking in Gujarati, we were able to have an interactive 45 minutes that left us breathless at the intelligence, perception and grasp of such an abstract subject as Astronomy without the benefit of sight! The students gave many correct answers to the playful questions posed during the course of the lecture. To our delight, a couple of them were very well informed on the subject.
After the lecture the students were introduced to a ‘Tactile Star Chart’ of the Northern Hemisphere. A learning aid that we’d received courtesy Ms. Jane H Jones, the Saturn Observation Campaign coordinator, NASA. This was an unexpected bonus for the eager students who were ecstatic – running their sensitive fingers over the bas-relief chart that allowed them to experience for the first time, the heavens as we see them!
The success of this program can be gauged from the frequent and warm entreaties by the students to come again with more information, facts and news.
An unforgettable experience for us all!
Having discovered that ‘The Universe can be felt too’ we are excitedly exploring plans to treat the students to another session in the near future.
Summary:
1. Venue: Blind People's Assoc.
2. Date: 3 Jan, 2009
3. Time: 7:45 to 8:35 am
4. Students: 76
5. BMA Teachers: 4
6. TAS Volunteer: Rajesh Nath
We acknowledge the gracious support of the following people in making this program a success: Rajesh Nath – who introduced me to Mr Panini – Director of Blind People Association, who agreed for the program instantly.
Please find attached captioned photographs of the event.
Tanmaye Vyas
Tanmaye's Amazing Space
+91 9327019254
+91 9979861071
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