Nature Expedition

When the children grow up they prefer more scientific methods. Nature Expedition gives pupils the opportunity to solve special problems themselves in a more scientific way. In contrast to Tales of Nature the Nature Expedition is not based on a story led by Fridolin but treats certain topics and abstract terms. The children get to know special methods of natural sciences mixed up with exciting and adventurous stories, active games, riddles, experiences with all kind of senses (smell, taste, feel…), various experiments (with magnifying glasses, microscopes, chemicals, control strips), worksheets

There are 4 different programs a year depending on the season!

Methods

Problem-based learning

Problem-based learning (PBL) is a pupils-centred instructional strategy in which pupils jointly solve problems and reflect on their experiences.

Characteristics of PBL are:

• Learning is driven by challenging, open-ended problems.
• Pupils work in small groups.
• Teachers take on the role as "facilitators" of learning.

Accordingly, pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their group and organize and direct the learning process with support from a tutor or instructor.

Anchored Instruction

Anchored instruction is a learning strategy that situates or "anchors" instructions in a realistic case-study or problem-solving situation. Anchored Instruction challenges and motivates learners to find the story's embedded data through a realistic, narrative storyline format.

Inquiry based learning

Inquiry-based learning is an instructional method developed during the discovery learning movement of the 1960s. Inquiry learning is a form of active learning, where progress is assessed by how well students develop experimental and analytical skills rather than how much knowledge they possess.

Characteristics of inquiry-learning:

• The teacher does not communicate knowledge, but is rather there to help students to learn for themselves.
• The topic, problem to be studied, and methods used to answer this problem are determined by the student and not the teacher.
• Inquiry learning emphasizes constructivist ideas of learning. Knowledge is acquired in a step-wise fashion. Learning proceeds best in group situations.

We are convinced - not only due to our experiences - that children are far more interested in working on a problem they "have created" themselves than in solving problems other people want them to solve. We have, indeed, found out that certain methodical settings make it easier for every single child to pose their own questions.

Didactic Games

Hands on activities

Goals

The main goal of our institution is to support science education in the local schools by offering various activities. It works in that way, that classes visit the centre and take part in several programs either in the so called "learnscape area" outdoors or indoors. The lessons deal with different topics about biodiversity and ecosystems and contain as much hands-on experience and exploring as possible.

What we want:

Inspiring interest in science

Learning how to apply scientific techniques and ways of thinking

Providing exiting experiences

Arousing positive feelings

Enhancing active and independent learning

Themen & Termine 2010

Letzte Änderung:    August 2010