Description of the space

This space is based at the Viana do Castelo School of Education and consists of two adjoining rooms, one for laboratory work and the other for workshop work. One of the rooms is dedicated to science education, involving both the sciences of the living world and the sciences of the non-living world. The second room is dedicated to science teaching, involving the possibility of approaching various science teaching methodologies.

Objectives

As a space where practical activities are developed within the scope of science teaching, its main objectives are:

• Develop essential technical skills for science teaching (e.g. microscopy, growth of microorganisms, laboratory practices, ...);
• Explore science concepts, relating theory to practice;
• Carrying out experimental and field work, promoting the development of scientific skills such as observation, formulating hypotheses, collecting and analysing data and communicating results;
• Stimulate interest in science and environmental responsibility;
• Support the development of research, training and community outreach in the field of science teaching.

Description of the main equipment

• Materials and instruments commonly used in the laboratory (e.g. volumetric material, test tubes, scalpels, scissors, slides, Petri dishes)
• Compound optical microscopes (MOC)
• Digital optical microscope
• Binocular stereoscopic loupes
• Wi-Fi camera for MOC
• Greenhouse
• Autoclave
• Centrifuge
• Heating plates
• Combined fridge
• Human anatomy models
• Collection of geological samples
• Nutritional anthropometry equipment (body weight scales, stadiometers)
• Chemistry laboratory equipment (general chemistry and analytical chemistry)
• Physics laboratory equipment (optics, mechanics, electricity, thermodynamics, electronics, sensors for data acquisition and processing, fluid dynamics, fluid statics)

Source of funding

Training Programme in Experimental Science Teaching for Primary School Teachers

Internal funding (IPVC)

Eco-schools programme with internal IPVC funding

Contact persons

Ana Peixoto – anapeixoto@ese.ipvc.pt

Luísa Neves – luisaneves@ese.ipvc.pt