First International School On Mind, Brain And Education

2005 July 16-20

Université Paris VII Denis Diderot – Observatoire de Paris, Département de Recherche Spatiale. FRANCE

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Curiosity of children and science education across the world
Science is known for its universality, forming a consensus of knowledge which transcends cultural and individual differences. From the experience of La main à la pâte -this undertaking to renovate science education in primary schools, first in France, then in many countries- it clearly appears an other universal invariant, namely the curiosity for nature among children aged of 3 to 12, before the puberty. We shall try to testify of this universality, exploiting the many occasions we have to observe it, and to examine how it conjugates itself with the most desirable cultural diversity of children and pedagogical traditions. We would like to understand how this universal invariant is related with cognitive process and developmental factors.