DPS Gurugram Students Spark Scientific Curiosity Among Underprivileged Children Through Hands-On Workshops
Delhi Public School (DPS), Sector 45, Gurugram, continues to strengthen its commitment to inclusive education and community engagement through a meaningful science outreach initiative at its Shiksha Kendra. As part of this effort, students from the school’s Redshift (Physics) Club conducted a series of interactive science workshops for underprivileged children from neighbouring communities, offering them a rare opportunity to experience hands-on, experiment-based learning.
Shiksha Kendra is DPS Sector 45’s dedicated social initiative that provides free, non-formal education to children who have limited access to structured schooling. Beyond academic support, the initiative focuses on building confidence, curiosity, and essential life skills. The recently conducted science workshops added a new dimension to this mission by introducing young learners to fundamental physics concepts in an engaging and approachable manner.
Learning Science Through Exploration
The Redshift Club organised two specially curated sessions titled ‘The Wonders of Light’ and ‘The Invisible Forces.’ These workshops were designed to simplify complex scientific ideas and present them through live demonstrations that encouraged observation, questioning, and participation.
During The Wonders of Light, students explored concepts such as reflection and refraction. Simple yet effective experiments demonstrated how light behaves when it strikes mirrors, passes through water, or bends through transparent materials. Using everyday objects, the student facilitators showed how images are formed, how angles affect reflection, and why objects appear bent in water—turning abstract textbook concepts into visible, understandable phenomena.
The second session, The Invisible Forces, introduced participants to electrostatics and magnetic levitation. Children watched with fascination as balloons demonstrated static electricity and magnets appeared to defy gravity. These demonstrations helped explain forces that cannot be seen but play a vital role in everyday life, from how magnets stick to surfaces to how electricity works.
Breaking Barriers Through Hands-On Education
According to school officials, the primary aim of the workshops was to break socio-economic barriers in learning by providing underprivileged children access to interactive science education—an opportunity many of them encounter for the first time. Rather than relying on rote methods, the sessions emphasised experiential learning, enabling students to learn by seeing, touching, and questioning.
Teachers associated with the programme noted that this approach not only made science enjoyable but also helped demystify the subject. For many participants, physics had previously seemed distant or difficult. The workshops transformed it into something relatable, exciting, and achievable, encouraging children to view learning as an enjoyable journey rather than a challenge.
Students Teaching Students
A unique aspect of the initiative was that the workshops were entirely led by DPS students themselves. Members of the Redshift Club planned the sessions, prepared the experiments, and interacted directly with the children at Shiksha Kendra. This peer-led approach created a comfortable learning environment, allowing participants to ask questions freely and engage without hesitation.
For the student volunteers, the experience was equally enriching. By teaching scientific concepts to younger learners, they deepened their own understanding while developing communication, leadership, and empathy. The initiative reflected the school’s belief that education is most powerful when it flows both ways—benefiting the learner and the teacher alike.
Building Confidence and Curiosity
Teachers overseeing the sessions observed a visible change in the children as the workshops progressed. Initial hesitation gave way to enthusiasm as participants eagerly volunteered to assist with demonstrations, predict outcomes, and share observations. Many children expressed amazement at seeing scientific principles unfold before their eyes, sparking curiosity and a desire to learn more.
For several participants, this was their first exposure to structured science experiments. The experience not only introduced them to new concepts but also instilled confidence in their ability to understand and engage with science. Educators noted that such early positive interactions with learning can play a crucial role in shaping long-term academic interest and self-belief.
Shiksha Kendra: Learning With Purpose
The Shiksha Kendra initiative at DPS Sector 45 supports children from nearby communities by offering academic assistance, foundational learning, and skill-based opportunities in a nurturing environment. The programme reflects the school’s broader vision of education as a tool for social transformation.
By integrating co-curricular outreach activities such as science workshops, the school ensures that learning at Shiksha Kendra goes beyond basic literacy and numeracy. Exposure to subjects like science encourages critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving—skills essential for personal and academic growth.
Service Before Self in Action
The science outreach programme aligns closely with DPS Sector 45’s motto, “Service Before Self.” Through initiatives like these, the school encourages students to apply their knowledge in meaningful ways that positively impact society. Rather than viewing community service as a separate activity, DPS integrates it into the learning process, reinforcing values of responsibility, compassion, and social awareness.
School leaders highlighted that inquiry-driven learning, when combined with service, helps students understand the real-world relevance of education. By sharing knowledge with those who have fewer opportunities, students learn the importance of inclusivity and the role education plays in bridging social gaps.
Inspiring a Love for Learning
The success of the workshops has reinforced the importance of experiential learning in outreach education. By making science accessible and engaging, DPS Sector 45 has taken a significant step toward nurturing curiosity and aspiration among underprivileged children.
The initiative also sets an example of how schools can extend learning beyond their campuses and contribute meaningfully to their communities. As the Redshift Club continues its efforts, the school aims to organise more such sessions across different subjects, ensuring that children at Shiksha Kendra are exposed to a wide range of learning experiences.
Through these science workshops, DPS Sector 45 has demonstrated that education, when shared with empathy and purpose, has the power to inspire, empower, and transform lives—one experiment at a time.
