Scientists helping schoolchildren to learn about trees (Creil, France)

Abstract

Children start to develop representations of science and scientists from their very first years of primary school. Pupils taking part in experimental activities under the supervision of teachers and scientists at this stage in their schooling are able to benefit from a different view of research and tend to project themselves more readily into scientific practice. With support from the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and the Creil Education Centre and the involvement of a wood science researcher, several primary school classes in the priority education network in Creil worked on a project about tree growth, developed by the “Savanturiers” (Knowledge Adventurers) initiative. Keeping to the classic scientific sequence adapted to classroom learning - observation, questions, bibliographies, development of research protocols, research proper, analysis and interpretation, conclusions and reporting - to work on tree growth, the teachers and pupils focused on the role of sap and resin in trees, but also on the ways in which humans and other living beings transform and use these natural substances produced by trees during their growth. By combining documentary research with the educational input of the teachers, a researcher and a nature guide while encouraging exchanges between all of the latter and the pupils, this innovative educational project helped these young pupils to become active rather than passive learners about nature: besides the scientific aspect of tree growth, it helped them to develop their sense of curiosity, intellectual discipline and creative and critical faculties, especially during a day-long immersive experience in a forest environment and when monitoring young saplings in the classroom. Finally, they were able to link what they had learned during this project about research practice with topical environmental subjects of general interest, such as photosynthesis, how plants capture CO2 and the roles of trees and forests in biodiversity, human lives and the environment.