Inspiring curiosity: IChF engages children and youth in hands-on science in Q1 2025

Throughout the first quarter of 2025, the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences (IChF) carried out a series of science education and outreach activities for children and teenagers. Designed and delivered by experienced educators and researchers, these events offered young participants an engaging introduction to chemistry and physics through live experiments, demonstrations, and interactive lessons.

For younger children, IChF organized several thematic science shows tailored to their developmental stage and interests. On 27 February, second-grade pupils from Primary School No. 269 in Warsaw visited the Institute. Tomasz Andryszewski, Beata Pleskot, and Konrad Giżyński conducted a dynamic session featuring oscillating reactions, color-changing indicators, explosive foams, and demonstrations of how balloons behave when exposed to liquid nitrogen. Children also observed insect specimens such as ants and fly legs under a microscope, which sparked excitement and a sense of discovery.

Further outreach events took place in two local kindergartens. On 5 March, Beata Pleskot visited Preschool No. 306 "Mali Optymiści" (Little Optimists) on Szegedyńska Street to explore the element of air. Through simple, age-appropriate experiments, children learned how air behaves under sudden temperature changes and even saw that air can be made visible. On 14 March, pupils at Preschool No. 237 "Syrenka Warszawska" (Warsaw Mermaid) on Tyszkiewicza Street experienced demonstrations on how to generate light without electricity, make artificial snow, simulate lava and volcanoes at home, and trigger spontaneous color changes in liquids. These hands-on activities helped preschoolers form their first positive associations with science.

Older students, from grades 7–8 and secondary schools, were introduced to more advanced topics during two interactive lessons developed and led by Dr. Roman Luboradzki. The sessions—titled “Solids, liquids, and gases” and “How a chemist and a physicist see the world?”—were hosted at IChF and included student-participation experiments. Between January and March, six lessons were delivered to pupils from institutions including Primary School No. 293, Zaruski Primary School, LXX Secondary School in Warsaw, and the Wilanów Free School. Each class included approximately 25–30 students and lasted 75 minutes, enabling meaningful engagement and fostering dialogue. The sessions received enthusiastic feedback and sparked many thoughtful questions.

These initiatives are part of IChF’s commitment to science outreach and education. They demonstrate how carefully designed interactions with young audiences can foster scientific literacy, critical thinking, and lasting curiosity. The Institute thanks all contributors for their work and extends its appreciation to the participating children, pupils, and schools for their openness, energy, and thoughtful engagement.

Video (link)

Educational institutions interested in chemical demonstrations for children and teenagers are kindly invited to contact us by e-mail: bpleskot@ichf.edu.pl (younger children) and rluboradzki@ichf.edu.pl (children and teenagers from the 7th grade of primary school).