Abstract
Abstract. Research projects now rely on an array of different channels to increase impact, including high-level scientific output, tools, and equipment, but also communication, outreach, and educational activities. This paper focuses on education for children aged 5–12 years and presents activities that aim to help them (and their teachers) grasp some of the complex underlying issues in environmental science. More generally, it helps children to become familiarized with science and scientists, with the aim to enhance scientific culture and promote careers in this field. The activities developed are focused on rainfall: (a) designing and using a disdrometer to observe the variety of drop sizes; (b) careful recording of successive dry and rainy days and reproducing patterns using a simple model based on fractal random multiplicative cascades; and (c) collaboratively writing a children's book about rainfall. These activities are discussed in the context of current state-of-the-art pedagogical practices and goals set by project funders, especially in a European Union framework.
Highlights
Research projects rely on an array of different channels to increase impact
This paper focuses on education for young children (5–12 years old) and presents a number of activities and a science book with the aim of assisting them to grasp some of the complex underlying issues in the field of environmental science, with a focus on rainfall
2.1 Historical and scientific background. The idea of this activity is to reproduce in a more “artisanal” way a famous experiment by Marshall and Palmer (1948) who used dyed filter paper to get an estimate of the drop size distribution (DSD)
Summary
Research projects rely on an array of different channels to increase impact. This obviously includes high-level scientific output, tools, and instrumentation, and communication, outreach, and educational activities. This paper focuses on education for young children (5–12 years old) and presents a number of activities and a science book with the aim of assisting them (and their teachers and parents) to grasp some of the complex underlying issues in the field of environmental science, with a focus on rainfall. The following chapters outline a number of hands-on activities and a scientific book that have been developed to support the teaching and learning of complex topics at a young age. This was to make sure to make sure that it is understandable for the whole age range targeted
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
