On 29 April, the ‘Haus der kleinen Forscher’ (Little Scientists’ Centre) will launch its activities for primary schools at the Kleve campus of the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. Primary school teachers, nursery teachers, students on the ‘Early Childhood Education’ degree programme, parents and any interested members of the public are invited to the launch event in the lecture theatre centre.
Kleve/Kamp-Lintfort, 23 April 2015: Education begins at nursery. For the past nine years, the ‘Haus der kleinen Forscher’ educational initiative has been promoting early childhood education in the fields of science and technology. Since 2009, a local network has been in place in the district of Kleve, offering various workshops on topics such as water, air, light, colour and acoustics to nursery teachers in the district’s nurseries. Primary schools are now also being included in the programme.
As part of the launch event on 29 April, the ‘Haus der kleinen Forscher’ will present an exhibition from 2.00 pm in the lecture theatre centre of the Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Kleve, showcasing the ‘Miniphänomenta’ from the Arnold-Janssen-Schule in Goch, which features interactive exhibits on mathematical and physical concepts. A ‘Miniphänomenta’ consists of a range of simple experiments set up, for example, in the corridors, break-time halls and classrooms of primary schools. The children discover scientific phenomena through play and explore them independently, such as friction, the water cycle or gravity.
In addition, experts from the ‘Haus der kleinen Forscher’ will offer advice on how to make encounters with science and technology a regular part of children’s everyday lives. From 3.00 pm onwards, a panel discussion and a series of talks in Lecture Theatre 2 will focus on experiences with primary school children and nationwide findings in primary education regarding co-constructive inquiry in the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, natural sciences and technology). Co-constructive research refers, amongst other things, to the joint learning process between children and adults. The focus here is more on exploring meaning than on acquiring knowledge. In engaging presentations from the district of Kleve, nursery schools and schools will provide insights into the children’s research activities in the classroom and in extracurricular clubs.
Programme for the launch event:
Welcome
address by Professor Dr Peter Scholz, Vice-President for Research and Development at Rhine-Waal
University of Applied Sciences
Presentations
Dr Jutta Moschner, Haus der kleinen Forscher Berlin:
The foundation’s objectives and experiences in primary education
Barbara Maué, network coordinator for the Kleve district:
The network’s activities in the Kleve district and their implementation
Bianca Kempkes and Resi Stockmann, Zauberfarben Nursery, Kleve:
Research in the nursery
Christine Baran, ‘Arche Noah’ nursery, and Anne Bahr, Albert Schweitzer Primary School, Geldern:
Experiences from two years of joint research by pre-school and primary school children.
Headteacher Kirsten Wamers and Konstanze Ermet-Schmitter, Arnold Janssen Primary School, Goch:
Using the interactive exhibits from ‘Miniphänomenta’ in the classroom; the approximately 20 exhibits can be tried out from 2.00 pm in the foyer on the first floor of the lecture theatre centre!
Thomas Schlüter, Headteacher of St Sebastian Primary School, Raesfeld:
Practical experiences with the programmes offered by the ‘Haus der kleinen Forscher’ in lessons and after-school care
The Haus der kleinen Forscher will also be presenting its various workshop programmes as part of the launch event. The ‘Wasser marsch!’ workshop will take place on 20 May 2015 in Kleve. Interested nursery and primary schools can contact the Haus der kleinen Forscher at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences at any time. The dates for the first workshops in 2015 and further information can be found at www.haus-der-kleinen-forscher.de.
