Cirkus Naturligvis is a communication programme that actively contributes to teaching the natural sciences to student in grades 4 to 10 at primary and lower-secondary schools in Sjælland, Lolland, and Falster. The aim is to create a sense of wonder and fascination for pupils and thereby heighten their interest in the natural sciences.
Cirkus Naturligvis carries out activities such as fun science experiments at schools. Incorporating the learning objectives for primary and lower-secondary schools, it develops both preparatory and evaluation material such as articles, quizzes, films, games, questionnaires, and assignments for the individual activities.
Cirkus Naturligvis often brings along special equipment and material for the activities that the individual schools do not normally have or know how to use.
A special characteristic of Cirkus Naturligvis is that it uses university students as teachers and role models for the school pupils, giving these students experience in teaching.
A Cirkus Naturligvis visit supplements the regular classes by heavily reinforcing the natural science elements of the selected topic. An important goal for Cirkus Naturligvis is building bridges between primary and lower-secondary schools, upper-secondary schools and universities. An encounter with Cirkus Naturligvis can lay the foundations for interest in the natural sciences when pupils choose an educational programme in the future.
In 2016, the Novo Nordisk Foundation awarded DKK 3.7 million to Cirkus Naturligvis to expand the programme’s activities, including visiting schools and developing web-based material to be used in schools across Denmark.
A further DKK 3 million was awarded in 2022. The project Cirkus Naturligvis – the next Generation (CN2) works to create learning modules and dissemination activities that combine practical science studies, computational thinking, and innovation to strengthen the interest of primary and lower-secondary students in science and technology subjects.
Cirkus Naturligvis is part of the SCIENCE educational services division of the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen.
Photo: Jens Andersen
