Geoscientific education in schools: Four workshops to encourage children to learn more about rocks and minerals

The current global pandemic has hit children and young people particularly hard. The online lessons brought a lot of distance and some children lost the fun of school education. In the Museum Mineralogia Munich there are now special workshops so that children and young people can enjoy school again. Among other things, the participants learn why volcanoes erupt, what we can learn from meteorites, how rocks are formed, but also what minerals and rocks have to do with our smartphones. The courses are designed in such a way that children and teenager can do as much practical work as possible. Microscopes are used, rocks and minerals are determined, crystal models are recreated with 3D pens or handicraft sheets and the rock cycle is additionally explained by a gravel card game. A key goal is to create enthusiasm for geosciences and other STEM subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. The courses are designed for two major age groups (8 to 12 years) and (above 13 years). Additionally, courses are adapted to the pre-knowledge and interest of the children. The four described workshops are organized as individual and consecutive courses to ensure a better connection between children and the museum. Additional programs offer longer-term projects where children can design their own exhibitions. The courses are financially supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and take place in the Museum Mineralogia Munich.