Through her magazine “Les Cogiteurs”, she wants to raise the level of school children

Manipulating to learn science: That’s Valerie Rock’s idea. This resident of Épernay, in Marne, created “les Cogiteurs”, a magazine aimed at children to discover science in a fun way.

How does a volcano erupt? How do magnets work? What are the properties of noble gases? Questions on which theoretical explanations shed little light, because they can be confusing and too abstract.

Under these circumstances, practice is undoubtedly the best way to learn about science. “When we teach students about the water cycle, we can look outside, using rain and streams. But when we talk about volcanoes, it’s still very theoretical“, admits Nathalie Morel, director of the Colemen School in Moselle (Lorraine).

So, with financial help from her city council, the principal got involved To the “accomplices”. Every month the school receives a magazine containing six training sets.

Among the experiments in the December edition is the “foam candy” experiment to explain the reaction of white vinegar with baking soda.

It has now been seven months since Coleman School has received the magazine and accompanying kit each month. “I am more than convinced“The director says excitedly.”We know that they understand the mechanism much better and can draw conclusions on their own!“A more stimulating way of learning that the children also adopted.”Play little chemists pouring products, they love it!“

Even if all the concepts covered are not necessarily present in school curricula, they can be linked every time: “We can do vocabulary, reading and math“The school principal smiles.

The interdisciplinarity that Valérie Rock, creator of Sparnacienne’s “Cogiteurs”, wanted from the beginning. “For example, when we talk about chalk, it allows us to talk about how it was made in France, but also some of the chalk constructions, we also address concepts of geography.”

For Valerie Roques, this method of learning can be a way to treat the problem Bad results for French students, especially in science. “Almost all countries do more science in schools than France“, sighs Valerie Roques, convinced that practice is the key to children’s success: “Through manipulation and touch, understanding complex concepts becomes easier for them.“

The problem for French youth also comes, according to the founder of “Cogiteurs,” from teacher training. “Report from the Academy of Sciences He points out that our teachers mainly come from literary backgrounds. They don’t necessarily have an appetite for science.“

La Sparnacienne, which created its monthly magazine a year ago, now has 1 000 subscribers, mostly individuals, but also many educational institutions. Valerie Rock now hopes to create a domino effect where students’ interest in science, through practice, is reflected in research results. PISA studies.