Thursday 22 October 2015

LIVING CORNERS ENHANCING SCIENCE LEARNING : ONLINE ASSIGNMENT









LIVING CORNERS ENHANCING SCIENCE LEARNING


PREPARED BY
ANJANA V.L.
NATURALSCIENCE 
KAVIYATTU COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
















INTRODUCTION


    A Living corner is a valuable part of a science department in school. Through the ideal way to gain knowledge is to observe objects and phenomenon in their natural setting but in the present educational set up there is only a little opportunity for this. A living corner can help in this aspect by way to providing many examples of things which may be kept in such a living corner. Living corners not only provides necessary helps in teaching but also helps in creating the eight type of scientific atmosphere in the school.
           A good living corner should have exhibits  which are natural. A living corner is a biological laboratory specimen held by a biorepository  for research . Such a specimen would be taken by sampling so as to be representative.  Of any other specimen.  when biological specimens are stored , ideally they remain equivalent to freshly collected specimens for the purpose of research .

         Collecting plants and animals is essential for scientific studies and conversation and does not some critics of the practices have suggested play a significant role in species extinction. 


OBJECTIVES OF LIVING CORNER

  • To focus attention on science experience in school
  • To stimulate interest in science by all pupil
  • To arose curiosity in scientific investigation over and above the routine class work
  • To provide stimulation for scientific hobby pursuits
  • To develop the habit of extra study and provide a useful means of occupying their leisure time

 VIVARIUM

                               A vivarium is an area usually enclosed for keeping and rearing animals or plants for observation and research. Often, a portion of ecosystem for a particular species is stimulated on a small scale, with controls on environmental conditions.
                                           A vivarium may be small enough to s it on a desk or table, such as an aquarium or terrarium or maybe a very large structure, possibly outdoors. Large vivaria, particularly those holding organisms capable of light, typically include some sort of dual door mechanism such as sally port for entry and exit, so that the outdoor can be closed to prevent escape before the inner door is opened.

There are various forms of vivaria including

Aquarium

Simulating water habit for instance a river, lake or sea; but only the submerged area of these natural habitats. Plants in the water will use some nitrogen within the system and will provide areas fororganisms to hide and forage .




Insectarium: 

Containing insects and arachoids







Formicarium

With species of ants






Terrarium

 Simulating  a dry habitat for instance desert or savannah. A terrarium can also be formed to create a temperate wood land habitat and even jungle like habitat. This can be created with pebbles leaf litter and soil




Avi culture

 The world wide hobby of keeping and breeding birds in captivity to maintain their numerical status in nature with a view of forestalling their extinction by supplying aviary raised stock

AQUARIUM

An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water dwelling plants or animals are kept.  Fish keepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates and amphibians. The term coined by English naturalist Philip Henry goose, combined the Latin root aqua meaning water, with the suffix atrium “a place for relating to “. The aquarium principle was fully developed in 1850 by the chemists Robert Warrington who explained that plants added to water in a container would give off enough oxygen to support animals so long as their numbers do not grew too large.



MORE THAN JUST SCIENCE

Aquarium and other live displays are of  value to more than biology. These set ups can be inspiring. Think of application a nice aquarium setup and some colorful fishes can inspire kids of any age to create art and creating stories too. They can even be tools for math, applying formulae to find out volume, dosing amounts of supplements or medications and much more. Imagine the classrooms and problem solving  skills that can be developed using such a tool…the possibilities are endless.



HEALTH BENEFITS

Contemptation of fish in an aquarium seem to have a significant effect in reducing Levels of stress and anxiety in students.

AVICULTURE

Aviculture is the practice of keeping birds (Class Aves) in captivity using controlled conditions, normally within the confines of an aviary, for hobby, business, research & conservation purposes.
Some important reasons for aviculture are: breeding birds to preserve the species because many avian species are at risk due to habitat destruction and natural disaster. Aviculture encourages conservation, provides education about avian species, provides companion birds for the public, and includes research on avian behavior.
The truest meaning of aviculture, was described by Dr. Jean Delacous, the most dedicated, influential, and highly respected individual in the modern history of aviculture.
"Aviculture - The worldwide hobby of keeping and breeding numerous species of wild birds in captivity to maintain their numerical status in nature with a view of forestalling their extinction by supplying aviary raised stock".

TERRARIUM

Terrariums are usually sealable glass containers that can be opened for maintenance and to access the plants inside. However, this is not essential; terrariums can also be open to the atmosphere rather than being sealed. Terrariums are often kept as decorative or ornamental items. Closed terrariums create a unique environment for plant growth, as the transparent walls allow for both heat and light to enter the terrarium. The sealed container combined with the heat entering the terrarium allows for the creation of a small scale water cycle. This happens because moisture from both the soil and plants evaporates in the elevated temperatures inside the terrarium. This water vapor then condenses on the walls of the container, and eventually falls back to the plants and soil below. This contributes to creating an ideal environment for growing plants due to the constant supply of water, thereby preventing the plants from becoming over dry. In addition to this, the light that passes through the transparent material of the terrarium allows for the plants within to photosynthesis, an important aspect of plant growth.


CONCLUSION

Living corners are powerful tool for transacting the educational information through direct experience. It will also enhance the love for nature and other organisms. Living corners will enhance the habit of extra study  and it will develop scientific hobby in students. Aquarium and Avi culture are the two major living corners functioned in the school. It is a valuable part of science department in school. These are the different methods for preservation of organisms. It will provide a positive attitude among students towards the habitat of organisms.

**REFERENCES




Sunday 11 October 2015

MITOSIS

https://www.slideshare.net/AnjanaVidhya/mitosis-ppt-53797098/edit?src=slideview

https://www.slideshare.net/secret/kbzkiVD2lDcf2E

MY EARTH MY RESPONSIBILITY : ARTICLE

My Earth; My Responsibility


Despite unavoidable free services provided by earth to humans we are not being able to pay off her kindness to us. Rather we humans are being cruel to our Earth by our selfish activities. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”Every day we produce tons of degradable & non-degradable wastes & throw them anywhere recklessly. Smoke & harmful gases from our homes, vehicles or industries are suffocating her. We are disposing dirty sewages, drainage & even chemicals recklessly although we know that more than 7 billion humans along with all plants & animals in this world rely on water for their lives. If we aren’t concentrated on saving those water resources then in near future water can be as expensive as PETROL or one day people can die due to thirst. Despite huge noise by our jumbo population itself, we use loudspeakers for our entertainment & industries, airplanes or other noisy vehicles for our luxury. We destroy forests for agriculture & settlement. We build huge buildings, roads & factories beyond her carrying capacity. Establishment of nuclear reactors vastly affects environment & human lives.
Harmful gases emitted by ACs, refrigerators , industries & vehicles are depleting ozone layer & increasing our exposure to very harmful UV rays of sun leading us towards various skin diseases, eye cataract & even cancer. Wastes like plastics & other non-degradable wastes like insecticides, pesticides, chemical fertilizers etc. highly degrade soil quality & decrease agricultural products & kills soil microorganisms & decomposers. Water pollution increases risk of water borne diseases like cholera, dysentery etc. and lead & arsenic highly degrade our mental ability & causes extinction of many aquatic animals. Air pollution causes air borne diseases like asthma in humans & animals and disturbs whole metabolism process in plants. Noise pollution causes insomnia & heart diseases in humans. Deforestation is leading to natural calamities like floods, soil erosion etc, temperature increase and changed rainfall distribution, drought, loss of valuable biodiversity, decreased oxygen density etc. The burning issues in the world at present are “Climate Change & Greenhouse Effect”.
Solutions of environmental problems are not impossible to superior creature humans if they are committed. As a youth & global citizen, I too have the responsibilities to my mother earth. My first role towards nature is to reduce my own carbon footprint via eco-friendly activities. Then, I can form a GREEN ORGANIZATION along with some other energetic youths to raise awareness in my peer circle, neighborhood & the community about environment sanitation by changing degradable wastes into compost manure & by 3R principle (reduce, reuse & recycle) of non-degradable wastes. I can create workshops with local people that air pollution can be controlled by replacing household energy sources like coal, firewood etc. by biogas, electricity or solar energy & we can negotiate with factory owners & vehicle owners to use dust & smoke purification systems in industries & vehicles & we can encourage them to use solar-energy based industries & vehicles. 
We can organize environment sanitation programs & afforestation programs in barren lands. We youths can appeal the government to bring eco-friendly development policies & proper planning of cities. We can organize orientation programs about the climate change, its causes, and effects & mitigation measures in schools & colleges to induce other youths towards conservation of nature. Youths can initiate the concept of “Payment of Ecosystem services (PES)” in the society & emphasize home stay tourism in the villages. As a student of forestry sector, I have the responsibility to aware local people about importance of forests & effects of deforestation along with the new concept of carbon trade via REDD++ programs.
Thus, for the sustainability of our planet, I promise to fulfill my responsibilities towards Mother Nature as a global citizen so as to protect my living planet from deterioration & to handover clean & green planet to our future generations. Maybe our single efforts may seem small but if thousands of youths can unite together towards nature conservation then one day our efforts will be a drastic step to protect our motherland Earth from destruction.
Good awareness helps our generations to keep the eyes open of our environment. We, as the young generations are too young to deal with the nature, but we still have right to manage it.
The younger generations inherit the world as we have the responsibility to take care of this planet.
The Earth comes as the most important shelter for us and incoming generations in the future. I am glad to emphasize that selfish is not our general attitude.
The universal should learn by heart that we will not stay longer in this world and it will be inherit to a new generations as the heir of conditioning. It means that we have only one wonderful world and we share it together for years.
We should recognize the value of being kind. Sorrowfully I say, where I come from, people do not generally appreciate nature which is so sad. Although some community never interfere the nature, I still solute the progressive countries.
We should think for some strategies to ensure the nature is in a good condition. For example, we should plant more green plants to give us more oxygen. I always accept as true this idiom, where there is a will, there is way because a burden of one has own choice is not felt. Honestly, I appeal for something make aware of our environment in the future.
Nowadays, the younger generations are the heir s of the modern technology addiction which seems to be doing more harm than good to themselves and the environment. Too much development has lead to pollution and destruction of the nature. As a result, the temperature of the Earth’s surface rises. This effect is called the greenhouse effect. The increase in temperature will result in changes in climate.
For example, certain places may experience droughts. The rate of photosynthesis may decrease. The amounts of agricultural food products will drop. This shows that our community has no respect for nature. In order to keep our environment clean, we must maintain and protect our environment reduce those problems. We should realise that keeping the air clean is our duty. Therefore, we should practise good habits that help to keep the air clean.

My suggestion for scientists or inventor is to create and invent new environmentally-friendly modern technology to overcome this addiction. The new environmentally-friendly modern technology is very useful and important for us and the environment.
It is very good to teach our young generation to love and appreciate the nature. Otherwise, we should take part in any environment campaigns which lead us to be kind to the Earth. It is important to keep the environment clean so that all living things continue to live in comfort and safety.
The Earth sacrifices many things for us. Don’t we realise that? Yes, we never appreciate it. Therefore, today I would like to encourage my friends to be kind to our nature. It will be easy if we want. Lastly, I would like to remind my friends and even myself for always remember that we only have one world that will be inherit by one generation to another. So, be respect nature and live in harmony with it.
„Environmentally responsible behavior is an essential part of our philosophy and we continually recognize that this contributes strongly to our long-term company success”, stated in the introduction of our environmental vision.