“In this workshop, we are merging art with physics. Children are given materials and encouraged to use their imagination to cut paper into any shapes they desire, colour them, and create a piece of art. For example, they can make a garden scene. We then use a breadboard, a 3.7V battery, which is safe for children, along with cables and small lights, connecting everything to illuminate their artwork,” explained Mohammed AlHariri, the workshop instructor. Hariri, a software engineer based in France, is passionate about teaching physics to children.
“This is my first time at the SIBF, and I am truly inspired by the enthusiasm and interest of the children attending my workshops,” he shared.
Three Emirati girls—Ghala, Aaliya, and Hamda—collaborated on creating a scenic artwork, with one drawing a bird, another crafting cut-outs of trees and a sun, and the last adding vibrant colours before assembling everything on a single board. “We made this together. Now we’ll add our circuit board to light it up,” said Ghala, who shared her love of physics and interest in learning more about circuitry.
The 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair is bustling with workshops like this one, igniting curiosity and gently introducing children to the wonders of science through simple, hands-on experiments. It’s one of the many ways the book fair broadens its appeal beyond books, engaging younger audiences in new and exciting ways.
“Children can learn the basics of electric circuits and create their own gardens or art pieces too. It’s a win-win,” added Hariri. “Introducing children to scientific thinking is essential, and workshops like this help.”
The book fair, running until November 17, hosts over 2,520 publishers and exhibitors from 112 countries. Over the next 10 days, the Expo Centre Sharjah will welcome 400 prominent authors from the Arab world and beyond, as well as host over 1,357 activities for all ages and interests, including more than 250 speakers from 63 countries.
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