Project: be mobile and creative with the sun
Our project ‘Be mobile and creative with the sun‘ is very hands-on.
In this project, children learn about solar energy and its applications in a playful and sensory way.
Children build their own solar cars or boats from wood and solar modules, and finally, they customize them according to their own ideas.
Their imaginations have no limits.
The vehicles should only be able to move using solar energy or light (if it’s too dark).
Our project is interdisciplinary and addresses not only STEM subjects but also the field of visual arts.
During implementation, we place great importance on the participation and decision-making of the children. Our playful approach gives children the opportunity to engage with technical and craftsmanship topics in a child-friendly manner.
Workshop Methods:
In our project, we use the following methods:
- Experiments: Children conduct experiments with solar cells and learn about their effectiveness.
- Artistic creation: Children build boats or cars from prefabricated parts. After completion, the vehicles are individually designed by the children. They can be decorated or painted, among other things.
- Co-construction/Exploratory learning: We work based on the educational approach of the ‘House of Little Researchers.’ Children and educators shape the learning process together. They discover and explore while building and designing boats or cars, figuring out how they move best. How heavy can a boat be for it to float well? They try out different materials to solve this question.
- Production of sustainable objects: Children build models powered by solar energy, making them sustainable due to their energy efficiency.”
