How could hand laboratory games will improve acknowledgement to the correct volcanic risk perception?

Napoli 2-7 settembre 2018

Earth Science study has been considered marginal especially in Italy in which environmental calamities
occurred frequently. The purpose of this work is to improve the acknowledgement of the Earth in order to
achieve the correct risk perception in the children aged between 3 and 5 years old. The experience has been
conducted on 15 classes for a number of more than 300 children in schools of Rome. Theoretical-practical
laboratories on volcanoes have been carried out in order to diffuse the bases of the Earth Science. To
improve the comprehension of this young age children the new strategies included readjustment of
techniques already used for 6 years old children. The laboratories have been achieved using food and natural
stuff. Volcanoes laboratories are made by building two volcanoes modeling sand around plastic bottles. The
effusive eruption is made by inserting flour and bicarbonate powder in the bottle and the vinegar as reactant.
The explosive is made by only inserting bicarbonate and vinegar and using a cork to plug the bottle.
Before and after the laboratory, questionnaire skills were administered to the children, while only after
laboratories different questionnaire were administered to teachers. Results obtained from children
questionnaires show how volcanic laboratory improve the acknowledgement to the correct volcanic risk
perception especially during the explosive simulation. The teachers questionnaire took over the importance
of an expert doing these laboratories.
S03.10