Discover the world of adventure – sustainably!
Would you like to actively support nursery children on their journey of ‘discovering the world’? Are you looking for practical ideas to help children have positive early experiences in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology (STEM), with a view to sustainable development?
Technological advancement and digitalisation, as well as the consequences of climate change and social inequality, are increasingly shaping our everyday lives. We help people to find their bearings in our rapidly changing world and remain open to new ideas.
The nationwide non-profit educational initiative Kinder forschen has been committed since 2006 to high-quality early education in STEM subjects and education for sustainable development. At the heart of our work is a comprehensive, Germany-wide training programme within regional networks, which equips educators from nursery and primary schools to competently support children as they discover and explore everyday phenomena. The associated promotion of language, creativity, participation and self-efficacy contributes to our goal: children who actively and sustainably shape their own future!
Through the regional network ‘Kinder forschen’ for nursery and primary schools in the district, the university has been committed for more than 15 years – right from the start – to providing a holistic education for all children in the Kleve district across the entire educational continuum, thereby also helping to ensure a new generation of STEM professionals – a generation that approaches the world with an open mind and creative ideas, whilst keeping sustainability in mind!
Based on the educational concept of co-construction and inquiry-based learning, all the network’s programmes aim to foster basic skills for a reflective approach to technological and societal changes in the interests of sustainable development.
A diverse range of more than 20 different STEM topics, complemented by those relating to education for sustainable development (such as sounds and noises, technology: forces and effects, carbonated gases, light, colours, vision, mathematics in space and form, bits, bytes and pixels, future-oriented skills, sustainable consumption…) forms the core of the network’s work. These are explored in practical, face-to-face ‘hands-on’ training sessions for nursery and primary school teachers – whether from class-based or open all-day programmes – with the aim of putting their own research experience to good use in supporting learning in everyday life.
If you are interested in a specific topic or an in-house training course, please feel free to contact the network coordinator!
In cooperation with the district’s three adult education centres (VHS), around eight different topics from the full training catalogue (see below) are offered each year on a rotating basis in open, full-day face-to-face seminars, including supplementary materials. If required, closed in-house team training sessions are also available on all topics.
In addition, the portfolio includes ‘best practice exchange meetings’ between the network’s member institutions.
You can find the current training courses in the programmes of the three adult education centres (VHS) – search term: ‘Kinder forschen’ (www.vhs-kleve.de; www.vhs-goch.de; www.vhs-gelderland.de) or here in the contact person’s profile under ‘Research Interests’.
Full catalogue of training courses offered by the ‘Kinder forschen’ network in the Kleve district at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences
STEM is everywhere
Phenomena in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology surround us at all times: this training course helps you to recognise and capitalise on the potential of STEM learning opportunities in your own everyday teaching practice. Discover how you can support children as they explore and investigate in everyday situations.
Good question! Exploring the world through research with children! – In-house team training only
If you want to rediscover the magic of children’s questions and encourage children’s curiosity, take this journey together with your nursery team.
Strengthen your role as learning facilitators in STEM education for sustainable development. Discover the potential of questions, dialogue and the link to language development. Reflect on your educational practice and plan concrete ideas for everyday life. The training course offers you methods for successful practical application.
Discovering mathematics through space and shape
You will explore mathematical phenomena in the form of patterns and structures, geometric shapes and three-dimensional solids. In addition, you will reflect on your role as a learning facilitator in supporting the development of children’s mathematical skills.
Numbers, counting, arithmetic – discovering mathematics
In the themed workshop ‘Numbers, counting, arithmetic’, you will receive practical ideas on how to help children aged three to ten discover number ranges and mathematical operations and make them understandable.
Playing, building and sorting – maths in everyday nursery life
In the sandpit, in picture books, at the lunch table – maths is everywhere! In this training session, you’ll put on your ‘maths glasses’ and discover how you can use many everyday situations in children’s lives for mathematical education. You’ll gain practical ideas for developing basic skills such as counting, recognising shapes and continuing patterns. Suitable for working with 1- to 4-year-olds, but also for older children.
Colourful pixels, secret messages: computer science made easy
How does the internet work? What is an algorithm? And what do robots do? Discover the exciting world of computer science! You don’t necessarily need a computer to gain a basic understanding of how computer science works – everyday materials and a healthy dose of curiosity are all you need.
Sounds and noises
Discovering and exploring sounds and noises offers children a learning experience closely linked to their everyday lives. Listening is a vital part of language acquisition, and children take great delight in making these discoveries!
What moves me? – Exploring the body, understanding feelings
What physical characteristics make us special? At 12 stations, you’ll find ideas on how to help children learn about and explore the various aspects of the human body, its structure and its functions, using simple, homemade models.
Light, colours and sight – discovering optics
Explore colourful disco lights, mirrored worlds, dark realms of shadow and the colours of nature! Come up with and work on your own research question and experience first-hand how research can be carried out in a project with children.
Researching with air
You’ll bring the wind into the room, capture air bubbles and realise that air is not ‘nothing’. You’ll work using the ‘research circle’ method, share experiences and practise asking questions that stimulate metacognitive thinking.
Magnetism – Discovering invisible forces
The invisible forces of magnets have a fascinating effect on children. In this training session, you’ll find yourself in a mini scrapyard, move cars without touching them, and make magnets levitate.
Exploring carbon dioxide
What is chemistry and where do we encounter it in everyday life? The practical ideas suggested in the training course encourage exploration of the carbon dioxide gas and provide basic experience in handling chemical substances. Here you will learn how to promote language development through discovery and exploration.
City, countryside, forest – exploring and helping to shape habitats
As we grow older, we want to play an active role in shaping our living environments. How can educational specialists and teachers support children in their discovery and exploration? Learn about influencing factors and opportunities for participation. Gain inspiration for participatory processes with children. Together, ideas for positive change can be developed and implemented.
Exploring electricity and energy
Find out how you can explore the energy in the sun, heat, wind and muscle power together with the children. Get practical suggestions for simple electrical circuits: what does a switch actually do? What conducts electricity and what doesn’t? We’ll also look at how families can be involved as educational partners.
Let the water flow! Exploring water
You will discover water with all your senses, explore its different states of matter and test the solubility of substances. In doing so, you will get to know the Foundation’s educational approach and receive ideas for your role as a learning facilitator.
Discovering and exploring the soil: teeming worlds. Small creatures – making a big impact
This training course focuses on the soil as the basis of life and an exciting subject for research. We will examine its structure, get creative and explore the small creatures living in the soil. We will raise our awareness of the diversity of these tiny creatures and their importance within the ecosystem. You can look forward to a varied mix of theoretical input, stimulating practical sessions, opportunities for reflection and peer discussion.
Excavators, swings, seesaws – understanding forces in everyday life
Whether on a seesaw, a slide or a roundabout – physical forces are at work everywhere and all the time. In this training course, you will explore fundamental forces and their effects and learn about methods of teaching technology.
From here to there: how things get moving
How does a letter get from the sender to the recipient? In this training course, you will gain fundamental knowledge on the topics of ‘mobility and transport’, ‘division of labour’ and ‘supply and disposal’. You will also learn how to encourage technical ways of thinking and acting.
Rethinking consumption – discovering, playing, making things yourself
What do we need, what do we want, and what makes us happy? You can already explore these questions with the children at nursery and primary school – in other words: rethinking consumption. The best way to do this is through play!
OPEN THE DOOR! My introduction to Education for Sustainable Development (Part 1/2)
Our society needs to rethink its approach and, to do so, needs people who act responsibly. With ESD, you can empower even young children to explore topics related to sustainability, understand them better and help shape their everyday lives. Get to know the concept and suitable methods in more detail.
JOIN IN! Education for Sustainable Development in Practice (Part 2/2)
In ESD, aspects such as participation and justice play an important role. Delve deeper into the application of the ESD concept, gather new ideas for your educational work and benefit from the practical experiences of others.
Snow bunnies without snow? Understanding climate change, acting together
Climate change affects us all. Its consequences are also felt in nurseries, after-school clubs and primary schools. The effects of the climate crisis can cause anxiety and uncertainty – particularly among children. In this training course, learn how you can support educational professionals and teachers in addressing the climate crisis in an age-appropriate way and taking action together with the children.
All nurseries and schools/after-school clubs are eligible for certification as a “House where children explore”, thereby raising their profile both internally and externally. Such “Houses where children explore” lay the foundations for the development of key skills that equip children for the future. Engaging with nature and technology on a daily basis fosters curiosity and a love of learning and thinking in both girls and boys. In our vision, children learn to think independently and act responsibly – and help shape a future in which everyone is happy to live. If you are interested, please feel free to contact the network coordinator.
Joint projects are also regularly carried out with several institutions and, in some cases, university departments. For example, there was the experimental construction of a large table made from old schoolbooks with primary school children, a project on computer science and Beebots, a project centred on the chicken-and-egg dilemma, and, in 2025, a project on soil and potatoes, where children from several nurseries planted potatoes themselves and then used both the potatoes and the soil as subjects for various discoveries and investigations. For the past three years, the network has also produced the ‘Children’s Advent Research Calendar’, featuring Advent-themed discovery prompts.
The annual ‘MintmachTage’ take place in June, always based on the theme of the Year of Science.
Good networking with other stakeholders in the educational landscape for nurseries and primary schools is achieved through collaboration with the Education Office, the Local Education Authority, providers and specialist advisory services within the nursery sector.
