“Discovering Geosciences” laboratory for primary school: an attempt for engaging young people in Earth Sciences

In 2019, one hundred and seventy-nine children of primary school participated in the laboratory “Discovering Geosciences” set up in the historic spaces of the Botanical Garden of the University of Pavia. This educational project, which began in 2018 as part of the “Planet Earth Week”, aimed to accompanying children to discover our planet in a multi-scale reading through hands-on activities ranging from aerial photos to microscopes. The effectiveness of these practical activities in bringing tomorrow’s citizens closer and more enthusiastic about the Earth Sciences was documented through ex-ante and ex-post surveys. The results showed significant improvements in ability to define what geologists study, which tools they use and how to describe rock characteristic. The activities were considered easy and very easy for 92% of the participants, and 86% of them would participate again in the future.