Learning at an early age is sustainable. This is why the kindergarten "Zum guten Hirten" in Varel approached the subject Didactics of Science Teaching in Oldenburg to develop a concept for early science learning. Important components of the concept are

1. The focus on children's motivation and its further development
2. Prioritising children's own learning activity instead of teaching
3. Starting from the child's own language instead of externally imposed technical terms
4. The principle of children learning from children
5. The principle of successful learning through simple, child-friendly and easy-to-follow experiments with everyday materials

Students offer scientific experiments suitable for children in the afternoons. The children have the steps they have learnt certified in test booklets. These learning processes are scientifically monitored by the subject Didactics of Science Teaching. Lower Saxony's Science Minister Lutz Stratmann is the patron of the programme. Sponsors include: OLB-Stiftung, Airbus, Airbus employees' lucky penny campaign, Bürgerstiftung Varel/Ostfriesische Wehde, IPV, Local Agenda in Varel.

Contact: Mrs Sigrid Wessels (head of the kindergarten), address: Oldenburger Straße 44, email: zum.guten.Hirten@kiga.diakonie-varel.de, telephone: 04451 3470

Support from the team of the Sachunterricht working group
Prof. Dr Astrid Kaiser
Dipl. Päd. Julia Lüpkes
Dr Claudia Schomaker