Creative Little Scientists: Enabling Creativity through Science and Mathematics in Preschool and First Years of Primary Education

Objective

Science and mathematics education is important for Europe. Creativity and innovation are equally recognised as important, and their strengthening in and through education as a vital priority. Importantly, also, creativity holds a strong position in early childhood. The Creative Little Scientists project constitutes a timely contribution to a better understanding, at the European level, of the potential available on the common ground that science and mathematics education in pre-school and early primary school can share with creativity. It provides a clear picture of existing and possible practices, as well as their implications and the related opportunities and challenges. Based on this, the project proposes guidelines, curricula and exemplary materials for relevant teacher training in the various European contexts. The research findings and outcomes are carefully disseminated, in easy to use formats, to all stakeholders at the European level. To achieve these, the Creative Little Scientists project brings together a consortium comprising expertise of the highest level and quality in the areas of science and mathematics education in early childhood, creativity in education, cognitive psychology, comparative educational studies, and teacher training. This consortium carries out research in a sample of nine European countries (Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Romania, and the UK) which have been selected to represent a wide spectrum of educational, economic, social and cultural contexts. In this way, the consortium will be able to extrapolate and exploit the findings from the nine sample countries, at the European level.

Field of science

• /social sciences/psychology/cognitive psychology
• /natural sciences/mathematics
• /social sciences/educational sciences/pedagogy/teaching

Programme(s)

• FP7-SIS - Specific Programme "Capacities": Science in society

Topic(s)

• SiS.2011.2.2.3.1 - Science and mathematics related activities carried out in pre-school and in the first years of primary schools: their link to the development of creative skills

Call for proposal

FP7-SCIENCE-IN-SOCIETY-2011-1
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

CP-FP - Small or medium-scale focused research project

Coordinator

ELLINOGERMANIKI AGOGI SCHOLI PANAGEA SAVVA AE

Address

Dimitriou Panagea Sttr
15351 Pallini
Greece

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU contribution

€ 197 400

Administrative Contact

Sofoklis Sotiriou (Dr.)

Participants (12)

INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

Participation ended

United Kingdom

Address

20 Bedford Way
WC1H 0AL London

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Administrative Contact

Jenny Graham (Ms.)

University College London

United Kingdom

EU contribution

€ 153 600

Address

Gower Street
WC1E 6BT London

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Administrative Contact

Jenny Graham (Ms.)

THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

United Kingdom

EU contribution

€ 163 200

Address

Walton Hall
MK7 6AA Milton Keynes

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Administrative Contact

Teresa Davidson (Ms.)

BISHOP GROSSETESTE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LINCOLN

United Kingdom

EU contribution

€ 141 600

Address

Newport
LN1 3DY Lincoln

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Administrative Contact

Jane Johnston (Mrs.)

ITA-SUOMEN YLIOPISTO

Finland

EU contribution

€ 153 600

Address

Yliopistonranta 1 E
70211 Kuopio

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Administrative Contact

Mika Saikkonen (Mr.)

ARTEVELDEHOGESCHOOL

Belgium

EU contribution

€ 141 600

Address

Hoogpoort 15
9000 Gent

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Administrative Contact

Michaela Vanloo (Ms.)

JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE-UNIVERSITAET FRANKFURT AM MAIN

Participation ended

Germany

EU contribution

€ 34 016,35

Address

Theodor W Adorno Platz 1
60323 Frankfurt Am Main

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Administrative Contact

Mareike Schmitt (Ms.)

UNIVERSIDADE DO MINHO

Portugal

EU contribution

€ 93 600

Address

Largo Do Paco
4704 553 Braga

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Administrative Contact

Vasco Teixeira (Prof.)

INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU FIZICA LASERILOR PLASMEI SI RADIATIEI

Romania

EU contribution

€ 83 700

Address

Atomistilor 409
077125 Magurele / Ilfov

Activity type

Research Organisations

Administrative Contact

Mihaela Osman (Ms.)

UNIVERSITE DE PICARDIE JULES VERNE

France

EU contribution

€ 140 400

Address

Chemin Du Thil
80025 Amiens

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Administrative Contact

Veaceslav Grosu (Dr.)

UNIVERSITA TA MALTA

Malta

EU contribution

€ 111 600

Address

University Campus, Tal-qroqq
2080 Msida

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Administrative Contact

Suzanne Gatt (Dr.)

RHEINISCHE FRIEDRICH-WILHELMS-UNIVERSITAT BONN

Germany

EU contribution

€ 77 583,65

Address

Regina Pacis Weg 3
53113 Bonn

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

Administrative Contact

Daniela Hasenpusch (Ms.)