Kidzlab
www.kidzlab.nl
At the University of Amsterdam about ten students work
together in Kidzlab, an informal project where students translate their
knowledge into potterings, stories and little experiments for primary school
children. Kidzlab is initiated by Robbert Dijkgraaf, mathematic physician and
winner of the Spinoza award (2003). Dijkgraaf is an inspired scientist who
recognizes children’s curiosity, creativity and astonishment about natural
phenomena, laws and insights. Isn’t it much more exciting to hold a prism in the
sunlight and see all colours of the rainbow than to make yet another beautiful
work of clay? Or to rebuild the solar system in class? With the help of Digitale
Pioniers the project has been further developed to reach more teachers and
parents, and to create more dynamics between them and the children. In the years
to come each time a new group of students will add new potterings and
stories
Final products
On the Kidzlab website children can place photos of their
potterings. They can find funny and exciting stories about small facts and
scientists. Teachers can ask questions to each other and tell about their
experiences with the way they incorporate the lessons in their schedules and
about what worked for them and what didn’t. There are photo reports of lessons
already taught at schools, tips for further surfing and small trips in the
Netherlands to scientifically interesting places for children. Kidzlab.nl also
offers access to a website full with experiments. On proefjes.nl (“small
experiments”) primary school teachers can find ready-made experiments they can
execute with the children in class. The initial plan was to integrate this
website completely into the new Kidzlab site, but the students who built
proefjes.nl didn’t agree with that. That’s why this compromise was made. All new
students just work within Kidzlab.nl.
Contact
Stichting Kidzlab Amsterdam
Nina Meilof
www.kidzlab.nl
