Learning in early years has a lasting impact. That is why the ‘Zum guten Hirten’ nursery in Varel approached the subject department of General Studies in Oldenburg to develop a programme for early science education. Key components of the programme are:

1. Building on children’s motivation and fostering its development
2. Prioritising children’s active engagement in learning rather than simply being taught
3. Using children’s own language rather than externally imposed technical terms
4. The principle that children learn from children
5. The principle of successful learning through simple, child-friendly and easily understandable experiments using everyday materials

In the afternoons, students offer science experiments suitable for children. The children receive certificates for the steps they have learnt in their workbooks. These learning processes are scientifically supported by the subject of Didactics of General Studies. The project is under the patronage of Lutz Stratmann, Lower Saxony’s Minister for Science. Sponsors include: the OLB Foundation, Airbus, the ‘Glückspfennig’ campaign by Airbus employees, the Varel/Ostfriesische Wehde Community Foundation, IPV, and the Local Agenda in Varel.

Contact: Ms Sigrid Wessels (Head of the nursery), Address: Oldenburger Straße 44, email: zum.guten.Hirten@kiga.diakonie-varel.de, Telephone: 04451 3470

Support provided by the General Studies Working Group team:
Prof. Dr Astrid Kaiser
Dipl. Päd. Julia Lüpkes
Dr Claudia Schomaker