12, January 2006 – Lunchtime Science Workshops

Vic Grosjean organised “Science & Discovery” Animations Inspired by Les Petits Débrouillards

During the lunch break… curiosity came to life.

For the third consecutive year, the Science & Discovery workshop, organised and led by Vic Grosjean, continued to spark scientific curiosity among primary school students. What began three years earlier as a modest initiative to awaken children’s minds has since grown into a structured and evolving educational program, inspired by the hands-on, inquiry-based approach of Les Petits Débrouillards.

Three Years of Growth and Exploration

Over time, the workshop has steadily expanded, both in scope and ambition. The diversity of activities reflects a clear pedagogical progression, allowing students to develop their skills year after year.

• 2004–2005: Activities focused on intellectual exploration—encouraging questioning, reasoning, and curiosity.

• 2005–2006: Research-based challenges were introduced, strengthening critical thinking and problem-solving.

• 2006–2007: A major evolution—scientific experiments. Children became young researchers, solving puzzles and uncovering the scientific principles behind everyday phenomena.

This progression ensured continuity, follow-up, and real learning outcomes for participating students.

Learning by Doing: Children as Young Scientists

During this school year, every primary student attending the canteen had the opportunity to take part in these lunchtime workshops. The sessions were carefully designed to guide children through a structured learning process:

1. Reasoning – observing, questioning, and interpreting

2. Experimentation – manipulating materials and testing ideas

3. Autonomy – gaining confidence to explore independently

The goal was simple yet powerful: to immerse students in scientific culture, while preserving the joy, simplicity, and playfulness of childhood learning.

Science Beyond the Classroom

A key feature of the program was the deliberate choice of simple, accessible materials, allowing students to recreate experiments at home. For the most curious minds, this opened the door to deeper exploration—learning more, understanding better, and above all, having fun while discovering science.

A Lasting Impact

After nearly one hundred workshop sessions, the Creation & Discovery program has reached its conclusion. The journey has been rich, meaningful, and transformative.

But a word of warning to middle school and high school teachers:
future scientists have been born—and they won’t be long in showing their talent.

Inspired by the educational spirit of Les Petits Débrouillards
Organised and facilitated by Vic Grosjean