Taproot House will host a STEM learning programme that will include activities related to design, physics, astronomy, and scientific observation
RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT KURIOCITY
For many students, mathematics and science are often associated with textbooks, formulas, and examinations. Two upcoming programmes for young learners at Taproot House, a community hub in Benaulim, will focus on hands-on learning through structured activities, experiments and problem-solving.
The centre will host Math Camp: Puzzles, Pattern & Play from May 13 to 15. It will be conducted by Government of India certified trainer for math educators Taral Shah and will cover patterns, logical reasoning, strategy and problem-solving through activities and games.
The first day will begin with simple visual puzzles like matchsticks and patterns followed by guided problem-solving, where they learn to break questions into steps. Later, they will work in teams on logic games like Make 24 and grid puzzles.
Day 2 will be about patterns and connections in maths. Students start with sequences and symmetry and then move from visual patterns to basic algebra ideas. They will also take part in strategy games to build reasoning skills and later apply pattern-based thinking to simple real-life examples.
The last day will focus on applying what has been learned. Students will solve puzzles with more than one solution and work on real-life problems. They will then design their own problems or games in groups. The programme ends with presentations where they explain their work and how they approached it.
The second programme, Science Cafe: Explore, Experiment & Discover will be held from May 27 to 29, conducted by Madhuri Katti, a physics educator, researcher, and writer. She will introduce scientific concepts through experiments and observation-based activities.
The first day will start with a design challenge where participants build a Da Vinci bridge and then apply the same principles to test stable structures. In the afternoon, they explore scale in the universe, looking at how distances are measured from microscopic particles to celestial systems. This will be followed by an activity on patterns in nature using leaf measurements and the golden ratio.
The second day will focus on experiments involving fluids, light, sound and electricity, including topics such as the Marangoni effect, non-Newtonian fluids, density, Pascal’s law, total internal reflection and echoes. The day will also includes sessions on magnets, circuits, power generation and energy efficiency, followed by an evening sky observation activity.
The final day will cover astronomy through discussion and activities, including the history of the field, fundamental forces and the Big Bang theory. Participants will also create storyboards and take part in exercises connected to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Manager, Taproot House, Loretta Rodrigues says the programmes were based on classroom observations of how students engage with science and mathematics.
“Students usually learn mathematics and science as theory and memorised steps but they do not always see how these ideas are applied,” she says. “We wanted to create spaces where they can work with these concepts instead of only reading or hearing about them.”
Explaining the approach, Shah says students develop stronger reasoning when they engage directly with problems. He says, “When students work through activities or games, they focus more on reasoning rather than memorising procedures.”
Katti too says observation and experimentation help students engage with scientific ideas in a direct way. “Experiments and observation allow students to see concepts in action,” she adds.
A different kind of learning space
Taproot House was founded in September last year by Jai Gill and Supriya Sankaran as a venue for learning, recreation, and community activities for all age groups.
Gill has worked in grassroots sports coaching in India with international academies, while Sankaran, a lawyer, runs the non-profit organisation Agami. The founders moved from Bengaluru to Goa five years ago.
According to Sankaran, schools operate within centrally prescribed syllabi which limits scope for experiential learning and makes it difficult to design activity-based programmes. To change this, they began Taproot House.
The facility includes a garden area, pickleball court, gazebo, playground, maker studio for arts and crafts and a library and reading corner.
One of the regular activities organised at Taproot House is Messy Play Day for children between the ages of three and eight. The sessions involve sensory-based play using materials such as mud, water, clay and natural objects.
The venue has also hosted pickleball tournaments and sports events, including Pickleball Mayhem, involving players, families and local residents.
In collaboration with Zeitgeist Goa, Taproot House organises monthly open mic evenings with music, poetry, storytelling and informal discussions, attracting college students, young adults and working professionals.
Other programmes conducted at the venue include MMA sessions, pickleball workshops, art and craft workshops, summer camps and individual creative sessions by facilitators.
Yoga and meditation sessions are also held regularly by instructors and wellness practitioners for parents, young adults and local residents.
The venue operates from 7 a.m. to midnight, with sports facilities open till late evening.
