In order to attract the children’s attention and interest them in the theme of our presentation, we will start with a few “key” experiments. We will use experiments with unexpected results to intrigue the children, leading them to ask questions. In this way we hope to open up space for dialogue, in order to help the children make hypotheses about the observed phenomena and come to satisfying explanations.
We really want this project to be a genuine exchange with the children. We will therefore develop it according to their expectations and reactions. Throughout the week, we will help the children build on their ideas by encouraging debate, taking their points of view seriously and helping them to formulate their questions in a scientific way. We will be choosing between a series of experiments we have already devised, taking into consideration the children’s interests and the means available in different places. We should emphasise that most of the experiments do not require any specific apparatus, and can therefore easily be done anywhere, and that all the experiments are completely safe.
To help the children understand what they observe, we will as far as possible propose “phenomenological” explanations: explanations that can be understood any prior knowledge of the subject. This vivid and concrete approach to science will broaden our target audience, and aims to capture their imaginations.
In a school setting, we would be able to offer demonstrations of key points dealt with in the classroom, in close dialogue with the teacher. In such cases we could offer more precise explanations, relying on the children’s previous experience...
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