On Researchers' Night the PlusKids centre was full of energy and curiosity. We ran a series of interactive activities through which the children discovered the world of science and technology in an enjoyable way.
Dry ice experiments. The children were fascinated by the cold vapours and the spectacular reactions produced by dry ice. We learned how these reactions work and why dry ice is so special — including the fact that it does not melt but goes straight into a gaseous state, which contradicts everything they know about ordinary ice and is exactly why it sticks in the memory.
Microbes on our hands and handwashing rules. Together we discovered what microbes look like and why washing your hands properly matters so much. With the help of a microscope, the little ones saw what remains on the skin if we do not clean it well. A rule stated by an adult is forgotten; an image seen under a microscope is not.
Painting plaster figurines. Creativity took the place of research when the children chose the figurines they would paint. Vivid colours and ingenious ideas turned each figurine into a small work of art.
Robotics. We explored robots and how they can be programmed to carry out simple tasks. The children learned the basics of programming and discovered how much technology surrounds us. A robot has an enormous teaching advantage: it does exactly what you told it, not what you meant to say — and that teaches children to give precise instructions, in the right order.
Smart games. We put our minds to work with clever games designed to develop logical thinking and creativity.
We set out to turn learning into an adventure, and on Researchers' Night we managed to show that science can be fascinating.