Abstract:

Because of limited activities are designed for early childhood children on geoscience natural hazards we have been exploring playful approaches to let young children to familiarize with them starting with volcanoes. In fact, learning theory suggests the we need to incorporate a wide range of skills and competencies in the learning process, not just cognitive skills, and development is dependent upon such interactions [1].

Here we introduce the recently funded by IUGG (International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics) pilot project which will allow teachers and educators of children of pre-primary and primary education based in developing countries of Eastern Africa to familiarize with Earth Science through engaging object play Paper Volcanoes Laboratory (PVL) program.

Paper Volcanoes Laboratory is an experience based activity created within INGV Educational group, which in the last five years resulted to engage hundreds of children [1, 2]. The activity has been detailed within a paper and organized in a practical Paper Volcano Laboratory toolkit (PVLtoolkit) enriched with pedagogical elements.
The PVLtoolkit has been tested in the last four years, during six INGV open days, three pre-school centers in Italy and three in New Zealand [3]. The activity results in a highly engaging experience for children beyond the Western cultural background such as Italy and New Zealand, which live in volcanically active countries.

The project aims to enhance the educational opportunities and experiences of pre-school children and school-aged children in Africa through connecting them with an understanding of volcanoes and as well as their cultural significance. In addition, the project aims to connect educators with scientific and geological experts to craft rich learning opportunities.

Methods
The project will employ a comparative case-study methodology [4] in order to explore the implementation of the PVL lab in various educational settings (both pre-school and primary school) in both the chosen African and New Zealand.
Phase 1: Research and demo phase:
The research will be conducted on selected educational sites and will engage in observations of the PVL lab being used in action. A range of interviews with teachers will be realized to understand their experiences of engaging with the PVL lab as well as child-sensitive, participatory methodologies in order to capture the experiences and voices of children.
The adaptation of Paper Volcanoes toolkit will be examined in relation to the selected African country early childhood and primary school curriculum.
Phase 2: Validation of the training and of the toolkit: in this trial phase working we will work with local researchers and teachers.
Phase 3: Engagement/usability testing including training and project conference delivery.

Remarks
The project is highly innovative in its contribution to transfer new geoscience education methods from “economically developed to less-developed countries. Thought collaborative work the project aims to enrich the content of the toolkit by linking it to cultural background of the children.

We are working on re-organizing the activities in other to take into account the global disruption that is affecting the travels to make the in-person engagement with academics, teachers and children in Kenya.
Activities that can be carried out virtually have been prioritised such as: bibliography review, communication plan to create a community consistent contact with African and New Zealand countries to adapt the project timeline.

Acknowledgements:
The IUGG (International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics) is thanked for the granting the project titled “Paper volcanoes Lab: a way to engage early childhood and primary school children on Earth Science” We thank IAVCEI (international Association of Volcanology) for endorsing the project.
A special thanks to the Paper Volcanoes Laboratory team at INGV.
Dr. John Teria Ng'asike from Turkana University College

References:
[1] S. Amici and B. Castello, "Paper volcanoes Laboratory", ICERI2018, Seville, Spain, proceeding paper,12-14 November 2018.
[2] B. Castello, S. Amici and G. D'Addezio, "Geoscientists at pre-school in the framework of Testing Volcanoes and Earthquakes" an educational project to engage kids in natural hazards, eLighting poster ID ED12C-04AGU fall meeting 2019.
[3] K. Bone and S. Amici, "The wonderment of volcanoes from a pre-schoolers’ perspective",- eLighting poster ID ED12C-03, AGU fall meeting 2019.
[4] Yin, R. K., “Case Study Research: Design and Methods”, Sage 2014.

Keywords:

Geoscience, pre-scholar, natural hazards, Africa, Paper Volcanoes Laboratory, indigenous knowledge.