On this page:
Encouraging scientific competence involves above all - practical work. Trials and experiments should be fun for children and teenagers and at the same time educative; they should have the feeling that they are doing something meaningful and - depending on their age - the experiments should help them to understand possible connections. We are now able to offer around 70 experiments on various themes which are supplemented by detailed documentation. An overview is provided at What we offer: Topics & Experiments.
Kit rental is in conjunction with the experiments we have devised and can support junior school lessons in particular. Certain chemicals are required for most of the experiments, in some cases special equipment as well. We have made up handy kits containing the materials needed for some themes which can be rented from us as class sets. For example, there are 6 different kits on the project 'Tracing the culprit' which contain all that is needed for a workshop covering 9 double periods. The telephone number and email address for arranging a date for kit rental can be found at Contact.
Experiment kits can be rented in Braunschweig as well as in Göttingen and Hamburg.
Since the summer of 2003 we have our own pupils' laboratory in a side wing of the main university building in Braunschweig (near the banks of the Oker river). Although many of the experiments offered can also be performed at your nursery or school, our laboratory does make it easier for staging an experimenting day. In addition, university-level science is approached, experience which we very much welcome: for younger children an adventure; older children can get to know a studying environment. Information and arranging a date at Contact.
In the summer term of 2007 we started offering chemistry workshops for pupils in year six and above. Children who are particularly interested should have the opportunity of experimenting by themselves under the guidance of scientists. By doing this they learn to investigate their own questions on everyday phenomena according to scientific principles. "Why does blancmange go thick?" or "How does a rocket work?" are some of the questions which are investigated with great enthusiasm. The children are chosen for the workshop on recommendation by junior schools in Braunschweig. Go to Examples for an initial impression.
Access to our topic, Chemistry for Kids, is naturally easier if the teaching staff has already had some practical experience with the experiments on offer. Tips and useful information, practical methods and deeper background knowledge are taught in a compact form. We work in close cooperation with our partner institution, the centre for teaching training in chemistry at the Technical University of Braunschweig (TU) in hosting further training courses.
We can give you advice on all the subjects to do with the chemical experiments we offer. Most matters can be clarified quickly and easily. For a basic introduction we usually organise participation in an experiment day or further training at our laboratory or at one of our partner institutions. Current information or new practical experience can then be exchanged when experiment kits are rented. Our team is introduced on the page The team.