Weekend Special
National Science Day on Feb 28: Robot, balancing egg, peas & pasta recipe
Pleasant weather, blossoming flowers and closing of academic session... form our highlights for months. This weekend, we host pre-celebrations of National Science Day. National Science Day is celebrated in India on February 28 each year to mark the discovery of the Raman effect by Indian physicist CV Raman.
As we celebrate science, we make a cute and fun robot by recycling boxes and tin foil. What else is science useful for, if it cannot help Mother Earth!
Next, let’s learn a simple principle and magic trick by balancing an egg on a flat surface. Finally, Maths plays an important role in science, specifically Physics, so let’s play a Maths crossword.
National Science Day on Feb 28: Robot, balancing egg, peas & pasta recipe
Pleasant weather, blossoming flowers and closing of academic session... form our highlights for months. This weekend, we host pre-celebrations of National Science Day. National Science Day is celebrated in India on February 28 each year to mark the discovery of the Raman effect by Indian physicist CV Raman.
As we celebrate science, we make a cute and fun robot by recycling boxes and tin foil. What else is science useful for, if it cannot help Mother Earth!
Next, let’s learn a simple principle and magic trick by balancing an egg on a flat surface. Finally, Maths plays an important role in science, specifically Physics, so let’s play a Maths crossword.
Shiny Robot
What you will need:
• Coloured pens
• White paper
• Scissors
• Glue/tape
• 2 Boxes
Let’s get to work:
What you will need:
• Coloured pens
• White paper
• Scissors
• Glue/tape
• 2 Boxes
Let’s get to work:
Step 1
Use the scissors to carefully punch some holes in the sides of the boxes. Make one hole in the bottom of the smaller box. One hole in the top of the larger box, and a hole on either side of the larger box (these will be used to attach the head and arms to the robot).
Step 2
Cover the boxes, straws and toilet roll tube in tin foil, gluing and taping where necessary. Once you have covered the boxes, carefully push through the foil where the holes are as you can see in the small box in the photo above.
Step 3
Push one straw through the two side holes in the big box to make the robot's arms. Then push the other straw into the hole on the top of the box, and put the top of that straw into the hole in the smaller box to attach the robot's head.
Glue all of the pieces together. Then, on some white paper, draw some buttons and a screen to put on the body of the robot.
Step 4
To make the tin foil robot stand up right, push a couple of drawing pins into the bottom of the toilet roll tube.
Use the scissors to carefully punch some holes in the sides of the boxes. Make one hole in the bottom of the smaller box. One hole in the top of the larger box, and a hole on either side of the larger box (these will be used to attach the head and arms to the robot).
Step 2
Cover the boxes, straws and toilet roll tube in tin foil, gluing and taping where necessary. Once you have covered the boxes, carefully push through the foil where the holes are as you can see in the small box in the photo above.
Step 3
Push one straw through the two side holes in the big box to make the robot's arms. Then push the other straw into the hole on the top of the box, and put the top of that straw into the hole in the smaller box to attach the robot's head.
Glue all of the pieces together. Then, on some white paper, draw some buttons and a screen to put on the body of the robot.
Step 4
To make the tin foil robot stand up right, push a couple of drawing pins into the bottom of the toilet roll tube.
Science Corner: Balance
YOU WILL NEED
• One raw egg
• Salt
WHAT TO DO
1. Try to balance the raw egg on a hard surface. (You'll have a difficult time keeping the egg balanced!)
2. Make a tiny mound of salt on a hard, smooth surface.
3. Very carefully, balance the egg on top of the salt, then gently blow the excess salt away. With patience and a steady hand, you should succeed.
WHAT'S GOING ON
• Salt crystals are almost perfect cubes. That helps form a pedestal, which supports the egg.
YOU WILL NEED
• One raw egg
• Salt
WHAT TO DO
1. Try to balance the raw egg on a hard surface. (You'll have a difficult time keeping the egg balanced!)
2. Make a tiny mound of salt on a hard, smooth surface.
3. Very carefully, balance the egg on top of the salt, then gently blow the excess salt away. With patience and a steady hand, you should succeed.
WHAT'S GOING ON
• Salt crystals are almost perfect cubes. That helps form a pedestal, which supports the egg.
Peas & Pasta
Ingredients
• 1 lb (450 grams) Peas, fresh or frozen
• 1/2 lb (220 grams Short shaped pasta
• 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated parmesan cheese, plus more to serve
• 2 cups (500 ml) vegetable broth or water, plus more if needed
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 Tbsp olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until the onion has softened and is turning translucent, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the peas and cook stirring frequently about 1 minute.
3. Then add vegetable broth (or water), raise the heat, bring to a boil and stir in pasta and salt (I use 1 tsp of salt and then I adjust the seasoning at the end).
4. Reduce the heat, cover with a lid, and cook your pasta in the starchy water. During the cooking time, you need to stir often until the water is absorbed, otherwise, it will stick to the bottom. The water should barely cover the pasta, but it's fine, add extra water gradually only if needed.
5. Cook until ready but firm to the bite. Turn off the heat and stir in freshly grated parmesan cheese until melted. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
6. Serve immediately with a drizzle of olive oil, black pepper, and extra parmesan cheese if you like. Enjoy!
Ingredients
• 1 lb (450 grams) Peas, fresh or frozen
• 1/2 lb (220 grams Short shaped pasta
• 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated parmesan cheese, plus more to serve
• 2 cups (500 ml) vegetable broth or water, plus more if needed
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 Tbsp olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until the onion has softened and is turning translucent, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the peas and cook stirring frequently about 1 minute.
3. Then add vegetable broth (or water), raise the heat, bring to a boil and stir in pasta and salt (I use 1 tsp of salt and then I adjust the seasoning at the end).
4. Reduce the heat, cover with a lid, and cook your pasta in the starchy water. During the cooking time, you need to stir often until the water is absorbed, otherwise, it will stick to the bottom. The water should barely cover the pasta, but it's fine, add extra water gradually only if needed.
5. Cook until ready but firm to the bite. Turn off the heat and stir in freshly grated parmesan cheese until melted. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
6. Serve immediately with a drizzle of olive oil, black pepper, and extra parmesan cheese if you like. Enjoy!