Educational activities of various kinds, such as scientific projects, clubs, scientific exhibits
and presentations have great importance; generally, science education can take place also
outside the classroom and goes beyond predefined curricula (Hedim and Esche 2002).
The curriculum defines what should be seen by teachers and their students as the
minimum amount of time for learning, which might have to be extended in order to achieve
its goals effectively and efficiently.
These activities usually enable the student to play a positive and effective role by
implementing the project through reading, looking for books, references and sources,
writing reports, constructing devices and models, performing experiments and cooperating
with others in the project’s preparation and execution.
Scientific projects can enable students to understand scientific facts and principles; they
can also help them to adopt new ways of thinking and could stimulate positive behavioural
patterns.
Thurber and Collette (1959) summarise some of the advantages of scientific projects:
They raise scientific concerns, satisfy curiosity, promote the skills for scientific research
and solving problems, train in critical thinking, encourage independent thinking, develop
appreciation for scientists and their work, help students to internalise scientific principles,