Expedition to the South Pole: experience of the laboratory game on polar sciences with primary schools

Abstract

Polar sciences represent a unique opportunity for scientific dissemination, not only for importance, multidisciplinary values and relapse of the polar researches, but, mainly, because it addresses and transmits ethical and social values as example of strong integration between human beings and extreme environments. In this frame, the idea to communicate and to share the experience of the scientific research in Antarctica with general public and with pupils is a challenge that a team of INGV researchers, engaged for many years in scientific missions in Antarctica, carries on with great enthusiasm. The initiative contributes to several outreach activities of the Italian National Program for Antarctic Research (PNRA). The present work reports the experience of the laboratory “Expedition to the South Pole”, realized by INGV and addressed to the pupils of the primary school. The laboratory game “Expedition to the South Pole” is based on the role playing method and experiential activities.