Sandarbh - Issue 78 (November-December 2011)
Respiration in Cells by Sushil Joshi [Hindi, pdf, 205 kb]
An account of how eukaryotic cells typically oxidize glucose to produce ATP, the universal currency of energy. In a conversational style, the author explains glycolysis in the cytosol as well as the Krebs cycle and electron transport chains in the mitochondria.- Testing for the Presence of Starch in Plants by Kalu Ram Sharma
[Hindi, pdf, 141 kb]
Taking a cue from a query raised by a middle school teacher, the author teams up with teachers to attempt an experiment on photosynthesis. To their dismay, they find that the instructions given in the sixth-standard textbook do not give the expected results, because probably the authors never tried out what they wrote. Their struggle to rectify the problems and develop a method that students can successfully use in class is described here for other teachers who encounter similar problems. - The British Raj in the Central Provinces by Madhav Kelkar [Hindi, pdf, 179 kb]
The Central Provinces of the British Raj encompassed parts of present Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. A visit to a cemetery in Hoshangabad and graves of Britishers from that era prompted the writer to delve into local history. In this article he attempts to understand the world of the Britishers who made their homes in this region. An interesting take on local history. - Why do wasps in a colony cooperate? Insights from studies of Ropalidia marginata by Raghavendra Gadagkar [English Pdf][Hindi, pdf, 157 kb]Translated by Sushil Joshi
This is the second part of an article by evolutionary biologist Raghavedra Gadagkar published as a series over three issues of Sandarbh.
An apparent paradox of insect societies has been the female workers who stay on in colonies and assist in rearing young that do not belong to them. Read in this section details of research that resolves this question in the Indian primitively eusocial wasp Ropaladia marginata. Also read how workers in such colonies choose their queen. - One Ones are Eleven, One and Ten is Eleven, Ten Ones are Eleven by Sunil Verma [Hindi, pdf, 79kb]
A trainee teacher asked which is the best method to teach children counting. Based on three months spent teaching children number sense and whole numbers, the author shares a method in which children are introduced to number symbols, number words and quantitative sense of the number altogether to create a holistic image that is much more meaningful. He compares this system with traditional methods of teaching numbers. He finally comments on how number words in some other languages in the country differ from Hindi, especially in conveying the quantitative sense of a number. - Student’s beliefs about mathematics: Lessons learned from teaching note-taking by Rob Weimen Translated by Deepak Verma [Hindi, pdf,90 kb]
As a high school teacher of mathematics, Wiemann taught his students how to take notes in class only to discover their reluctance in using this and other learning tools. He realized that to effectively teach students, their traditional beliefs about mathematics and learning need to be understood and overcome. - Sabari Ke Rang: A story by Rinchin Translated by Sushil Joshi [Hindi, pdf, 502 kb]
Sabari loves drawing and is eager to colour her pictures. She uses spices from her mother’s kitchen for the reds and yellows but can find no way of filling in her sketches with shades of the different colours she sees all around her. The little girl dreams of the day she can use the colour pencils locked away in the school cupboard. - Index from Issues 73-78 [Hindi, pdf, 76 kb]
- Spiders and Spider Flowers of Melghat by Kishore Powar [Hindi,pdf, 107 kb]
On an impromptu visit to the deciduous forests of Melghat Reserve, a professor of botany has the pleasure of a few rare sightings – the white-flowered spider plant and a golden orb-web spider on its shimmering, large web. In this report he details some anatomical features of the flowering shoots of this herb and also some facts about the giant arachnid.