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Science Summer Camps for Children - How We Do and How Should We Do?

Publication at Faculty of Science |
2016

Abstract

The science subjects, especially Chemistry and Physics, are not the favourite subjects among Czech pupils and repeatedly, they occupy the bottom levels of many subject rankings. With respect to that, and due to principal importance of science subjects for society, some Czech science oriented schools and institutions hold many promotional activities.

Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, as one of the front Czech science educational institutions, is also organising many promotional activities supporting the science education. Majority of these activities are targeted to secondary school teachers and students, nevertheless, the exception are summer camps which are devoted to primary school pupils 6 - 15 years old.

This contribution deals with organisation and programme aspects of the summer camps. Our camps are held for two weeks plus one week on summer in holiday time and they are attended by more than 160 pupils.

The didactically and scientifically developed programme is focused on all the subjects of science education and it is supplemented by thematic games and activities. The programme contains wide range of activities and themes from biology, chemistry, physics, geology and geography.

The content of the programme is oriented to practical employment of the themes and high ratio of interaction with children (excursions, lab courses, walks, competitions etc.). Pupils also work on variety of projects, the results are presented by pupils at the "scientific" conference at the end of the camp.

The camps are positively evaluated by participants as well as their parents as overlap of the participants every year is about more than 40 %.