An outdoor lab park for studying sky and earth in Capitignano

A park equipped as an outdoor lab for studying sky and earth is now working at Capitignano State Preschool, thanks to the "Fare Scuola" project implemented by Fondazione Reggio Children and supported by Enel Cuore Onlus.

Capitignano (AQ) Oct. 19, 2022 - This is one of ten projects planned and implemented in the earthquake zone. From the small geodesic sphere for observing the vault of heaven to the vegetable garden-garden. Micro-labs designed ad hoc have been installed in the outdoor space of the upgranded kindergarten to enable children to approach natural elements with empathy and curiosity.

The inauguration of the new space took place just a few weeks before the restart of school activities in the presence of Capitignano Mayor Franco Pucci, municipal administrators, school principal Paola Verini, Vicar Don Ever and Enel Cuore Onlus Secretary General Angelica Carnelos.

"I thank Enel Cuore Onlus and Fondazione Reggio Children for the opportunity offered to our community and our children. A project that represents an important achievement for our community and improves the incentives in the study places," said Mayor Franco Pucci.

“Con questa nuova iniziativa abbiamo voluto dare un contributo concreto per favorire il ritorno alla normalità realizzando un ambiente stimolante per i più piccoli in una località duramente provata dai terremoti che hanno colpito il centro Italia. Un segnale di speranza che fa della scuola, non solo un luogo di apprendimento, ma anche uno spazio in cui favorire relazioni inclusive”, ha affermato Angelica Carnelos, Segretario Generale di Enel Cuore Onlus. 

"With this new initiative, we wanted to make a concrete contribution for returning to normal life by creating a stimulating environment for the youngest children in a place that has been hard hit by the earthquakes that struck central Italy. A sign of hope that makes the school, not only a place of learning, but also a space in which to promote inclusive relationships," said Angelica Carnelos, Secretary General of Enel Cuore Onlus.

"Wonder and amazement, which childhood has, are the first levers for learning and knowledge. This is what the educational spaces created with the "Fare Scuola" project look at," says Carla Rinaldi, President of Fondazione Reggio Children. "This environment, particularly rich in opportunities, is designed outdoors for the Capitignano preschool, where children, as little scientists, with their educators and with scientific tools within their reach will be able to enter into a dialogue of continuous discovery."

The project, curated by landscape architecture Chiara Caberletti, born to enhance the outdoor space near the building. The space was rethought in dialogue with the land characteristics, allowing explorations protected from the weather, to which children can approach the climate and the environment as if on a trip to discover the world in which they are immersed.

Here then is that a pluviometer become a small rainwater tank useful for watering plants, a wind gauge marks the wind but through its leaves, a blackboard thermometer-barometer gathers food for thought. Mirrored surfaces and telescopes to explore the sky, a small geodesic sphere, as well as a greenhouse, a long boardwalk to observe the landscape, a vegetable garden with workbench for experiments and preparations, a sundial, solar clock, to learn about the passage of time, light and shadows

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“FARE SCUOLA” is a project promoted by Enel Cuore Onlus and Fondazione Reggio Children with the intention of improving the quality of school environments – as learning contexts and places for relationships – by intervening in preschools and elementary school throughout the country. The project brings into dialogue the educational quality experience of Fondazione Reggio Children with Enel Cuore Onlus’knowledge of social distress contexts.

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