The Copernicus Science Centre inspires you to observe, experience, ask questions and look for answers. Learning at the Copernicus is supported by various educational spaces, and cooperation with the educational environment is our priority. We create our offer for our visitors. We encourage you to take advantage of it, visit the Copernicus and the planetarium, and subscribe to our newsletter.
With students in Copernicus
Educational programs and projects
Cooperation with the educational community is our priority. We invite you to get to know the programs and projects which we partake in.
E-Copernicus for teachers
Are you out of ideas for how to teach online classes? Check out our digital resources and get inspired! The materials are only available in Polish.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced new challenges upon us. In order to help, we publish our educational materials, which promote engaging forms of teaching and work with testing methods.
Copernicus in the field
Invite Copernicus to your school! As part of the Science for You project, carried out by the Copernicus Science Centre together with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, we reach places where one does not often learn the laws of science through independent experimentation.
E-Copernicus for teachers
Are you out of ideas for how to teach online classes? Check out our digital resources and get inspired! The materials are only available in Polish.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced new challenges upon us. In order to help, we publish our educational materials, which promote engaging forms of teaching and work with testing methods.
Copernicus for preschoolers
Visiting a science centre is an opportunity to learn in an environment different to the usual classroom. Before coming, it's good to tell the children what to expect in Copernicus: that there are no laid out routes and that interacting with the exhibits is encouraged, whether by touching, rearranging, or unscrewing. Let's allow the little ones to decide by themselves what they want to play with and for how long.
Buzzz!
We invite you to start your visit from the Buzzz! exhibition. It's a closed area dedicated for the youngest kids (3 to 5 y/o). Designed in a way that channels the children's natural curiosity and their need to move into unassisted exploration. Within the space, there are also free mini workshops that develop many competencies: manual skills, focus and observation abilities, recognising cause and effect relationships, or understanding of natural phenomena.
Exhibitions
Older preschoolers can visit the 1st floor Exhibitions when supervised by adults. The ideal group consists of a few children with one adult guardian. It's good to give the kids reflective vests, so that they don't get lost among other Visitors. We don't forbid free exploring, loud expressions of emotions, or vocal comments on what the children observe in the Experimental Zone or in the area of the temporary exhibition about bicycles.
Planetarium
The Copernicus Science Centre Planetarium has films and live shows prepared for this age group. They are run by experienced explainers who skilfully focus the attention of children and arouse their curiosity about space topics. We particularly recommend the following: the film Under One Roof, before which there is a live show Hare Franek and a Star Adventure, and the film Secrets of the Cardboard Rocket, preceded by a live show familiarising the profession of astronomer and astronaut, Space Picnic.
Copernicus for grades 1st to 3rd
According to the curriculum, one of the main tasks of early years education is to support multi-directional development of the child's activity – through organising educational situations, allowing for scientific experiments, conducting research, problem solving, and acquiring experience. At the Copernicus Science Centre exhibitions, you can create situations that would be unattainable in everyday school practice.
Temporary exhibition: Bicycles
Starting Autumn, there will be a new temporary exhibition in Copernicus – about bicycles. Visitors will take a closer look at these machines, learn about their construction, history, and the scientific and social context. We will show both the most modern two-wheelers and a collection of historical models. We plan workshops and thematic classes for school groups.
Experimental Zone
We also invite the students of early years education to the Experimental Zone – the permanent exhibition area on the 1st floor. In the eastern part of the Zone (by the orange pavilion), there are exhibits devoted to the human. They help to find out how our senses influence the way we perceive, interpret, and describe the world. In the western part (by the blue pavilion), there are interactive research stations that facilitate the understanding of physical phenomena – thanks to them you can learn how waves, vibrations or currents arise, or how a magnet works and how liquids behave. Some of the exhibits in the Experimental Zone concern the Solar System – experimenting with students at these sites can foster talking about the seasons of the year or natural elements. Elsewhere, children will find opportunities to practice their writing and drawing, or develop fine motor skills.
Thinkatorium
Our Thinkatorium is a workshopping space with incredible educational value. Everyday objects (straws, paper, paperclips, balls, rubbers etc.) become parts of engineering or logical challenges. In an atmosphere of great fun, children build various constructions, at the same time learning about natural laws and exercising patience, mindfulness, and unconventional thinking.
Hight Voltage Theatre and Robotic Theatre
High Voltage Theatre offers the youngest students an exciting and safe way to learn about electrical phenomena. On the other hand, the Robotic Theatre invites you to performances in which the actors are Robothespians – technologically advanced humanoids, moving with the use of compressed air. Children will be happy to watch the performance Prince Ferrix and Princess Crystal – a story based on one of Stanisław Lem's Fables for Robots, which tells about human values and relationships.
Planetarium
In the Planetarium, we especially recommend two films for this age group: Polaris - the story of a penguin and a polar bear, who build a space ship together and set out to explore the mysteries of the Cosmos, and Under One Sky – an exciting journey to the stars, allowing you to observe the Big and the Little Dipper up close. Students in grades 1-3 can also watch interesting interactive shows in the Planetarium, e.g. Solar Journey – with the movement of the Earth and the resulting astronomical and natural phenomena (days and nights, seasons, polar nights, etc.) as the leitmotif, and the exhibition Look: There's the Earth – where they will take part in a virtual rocket launch and see a live image broadcast from a space station.
Copernicus for grades 4th to 6th
According to the curriculum for grades 4th to 6th of primary school, the general education on this stage should contribute to, among others, awakening an interest in phenomena occurring in the world, shaping a cognitive curiosity, and developing an ability to work in a group. While visiting a science centre with pupils, you can achieve these objectives. A visit at our exhibitions in a great opportunity to conduct classes using the test method. Students won't find any ready answers in Copernicus, but rather a path to their own discoveries or verifying their knowledge.
Temporary exhibition: Bicycles
At the temporary exhibition, students will be able to take a closer look at the machines, learn about their construction, history, and the scientific and social context. We will show them both the most modern two-wheelers and a collection of historical bicycles. Students will try out many exhibits on their own, and feel like real cyclists inside our aerodynamic tunnel! We also plan several dozen interactive exhibits, thematic workshops, and an external zone where anyone can test their cycling skills.
Experimental Zone
In the Experimental Zone, which is our permanent exhibition space on the 1st floor, students can freely explore and discover. They will observe many phenomena occurring in nature, and learn about the impact of human activity on the environment. A large part of the exhibition is devoted to the structure and functioning of the human body. Some of the exhibits inspire to ask mathematical questions and make it easier to understand the principles of geometry. Others encourage to study the laws of physics and chemical processes, while others – the Solar System and related topics.
Thinkatorium
We invite students of grades 4-6 to Thinkatorium, i.e. the Copernicus workshopping space, where, in an atmosphere of great fun, they will be able to face engineering, construction, and logical challenges. Only simple materials and everyday objects are used to carry out the tasks. Analysing the problem presented in front of the student, looking for solutions, and learning from mistakes – all this develops the ability to think critically, gives a chance to get to know one's fortes, and strengthens the feeling of having an impact on reality.
Hight Voltage Theatre
The shows in High Voltage Theatre facilitate the understanding of electricity related topics. To this age group we particularly recommend Electrons in Action, The Master's Duel, and Musical Currents.
Robotic Theatre
In the Robotic Theatre, you can watch shows in which the actors are Robothespians – technologically advanced humanoids, moving with the use of compressed air. To students of grades 4-6, we recommend the performance Prince Ferrix and Princess Crystal – a story based on one of Stanisław Lem's Fables for Robots, as well as The Empty Closet Mystery, or Ghosts from the 4th Dimension – a tale of multidimensional worlds, requiring some knowledge of geometry.
Planetarium
The films and shows presented in the Planetarium are connected to the issues covered by the core curriculum, but above all, they arouse curiosity and inspire students to develop their interests and passions related to the exploration and study of the Universe.
Copernicus for grade 7th and above
A visit to the Copernicus Science Centre creates ideal conditions for improving the key competences of the 21st century, e.g. logical and critical thinking, formulating problems, questions and hypotheses, analysing information, inference, distinguishing facts from opinions, and the extremely important ability to cooperate. It also supports the development of students' personal interests and supports the processes of integrating subject knowledge from various disciplines – both STEM and humanities. By experimenting at exhibitions, young people can not only relate their observations on the presented phenomena to knowledge from everyday life, but also verify their correctness.
RE: generation
(for Visitors above 14 y/o)
We encourage you to start your visit at the Re: generation exhibition. Research stations within this exhibition approach issues related to a person's character, the place of an individual within society, the functioning of social groups, or economic and political models. They show the changes taking place in the world within the context of global warming. They talk about verbal and non-verbal communication, the influence of advertising, and mass media. In December 2020, we plan to launch the first module of the Future Under Construction exhibition, which will eventually replace Re: generation.
Future Under Construction - A Civilisation of Algorithms (module I)
The first of the three parts of the exhibition will show the challenges we face, that are related to the development of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning, and their increasing impact on our personal and social life. The aim of the exhibition is to explore and understand the complexities of the contemporary world, and to stimulate reflection on issues such as civilisation development or the relationship between individual and community values. Above all, we want young people to face the question of what kind of tomorrow they want. To consider which solutions are actually innovative for humanity – and therefore develop our individual and collective potential, bring scientific progress and social benefits – and which raise legal or ethical doubts? As part of this exhibition, we will also ask questions about the limits of our trust, privacy, intimacy, sense of security, and comfort. We will also look at the definitions of art and creativity. The next two parts of the Future Under Construction exhibition will be available in the coming years.
Temporary exhibition: Bicycles
At the temporary exhibition, we will show both the state-of-the-art two-wheelers and a collection of historical bicycles, Young people will be able to take a closer look at their construction and history, as well as the scientific and social context of the invention. Students will try out many exhibits on their own, and feel like real cyclists inside our aerodynamic tunnel! We also plan thematic workshops for school groups, and an external zone where anyone can freely test their cycling skills.
Laboratories
(for Visitors above 13 y/o)
The great value of our lab classes is the combination of group work and personal experimentation. Here, students take the role of scientists, applying elements of the research method, and developing the ability to think scientifically, as well as logical reasoning and inference. From Tuesday to Friday, we conduct 3 classes every day in all laboratories – 90 minutes each. We talk about ecology, energy, and technologies of the future.
Planetarium
To the students of grades 7-8 and secondary schools, we recommend the Planetarium shows devoted to the knowledge of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics). Films and live shows, such as Other Earths, Hello Earth, Dream To Fly, Invisible Universe, We Are Aliens or Faster Than Light, not only shape an image of the size and complexity of the visible Universe, or about the laws governing the cosmos, but also encourage reflection on the development of advanced technologies and their responsible use. As part of a school visit to the Planetarium, teachers can also conduct thematic activities within the space of our free Look: There's the Earth! exhibition. (download a Space Lesson script)
O uczeniu się w Koperniku
Pewien nauczyciel, podczas zwiedzania Kopernika, zadał animatorowi trudne pytanie: „Przepraszam pana bardzo, kiedy tu się kończy przerwa?”. Pytanie, choć zaskakujące, jest jednak całkiem naturalne i domaga się odpowiedzi, która z szacunkiem i powagą potraktuje wątpliwość wyrażaną przez wielu zwiedzających, nie tylko nauczycieli, ale również rodziców i wychowawców.
Przyzwyczajeni do uporządkowanej i zorganizowanej hierarchicznie przestrzeni szkolnej nie potrafimy bowiem dostrzec w zgiełku i bieganinie, wypełniającej Centrum Nauki Kopernik, okazji do takich form uczenia się, do jakich jesteśmy przyzwyczajeni… A więc? Kiedy w Koperniku kończy się „przerwa”? Właściwa odpowiedź brzmi… nigdy! A jest ona — jak każdy paradoks — wstępem do głębszego przemyślenia celu istnienia centrów nauki w ogóle.
Uczenie na różne sposoby
Paradoks ten bierze się z przyzwyczajenia do tradycyjnych metod dydaktycznych, które znamy ze szkoły. Tymczasem w Koperniku uczenie się przebiega w zupełnie inny sposób. Za przykład niech posłuży eksponat Kosmiczny śmietnik z galerii Świat w ruchu. Z pozoru wygląda na grę zręcznościową dla młodszych zwiedzających, atrakcyjną ze względu na oprawę graficzną i zaawansowane techniczne sterowanie. Tymczasem eksponat ten skutecznie uczy zasad dynamiki Newtona i robi to w sposób bardzo głęboki i trwały.
Wprawdzie nigdzie wokół eksponatu nie ma tablic z formułami lub definicjami, ale prawa fizyki wprowadzone zostały do komputera sterującego grą. Zwiedzający w trakcie gry muszą bardzo szybko wyrobić sobie odpowiednią intuicję, dotyczącą ruchu postępowego, relacji pomiędzy siłą, a przyspieszeniem oraz zasady akcji i reakcji, inaczej nie są w stanie osiągnąć nawet drobnego sukcesu w grze!
Gdzie przechowywana jest wiedza?
Gdzie podziewa się ta wiedza, którą pozyskują zwiedzający? Zapytani, zapewne nie będą w stanie wyrecytować podręcznikowej formuły… Jednak ich pamięć ruchowa zapisała zestaw intuicji i odruchów, które zostaną natychmiast przywołane, jeśli zajdzie taka potrzeba — często nawet z pominięciem świadomości!
Nie ma bowiem trwalszego sposobu uczenia, aniżeli powiązanie faktów z odruchami naszego ciała. Podobnie działają inne eksponaty w Centrum — wiążą wiedzę naukową (na przykład prawa fizyki) z głębokimi odczuciami ruchowymi, wykorzystując tak zwaną fachowo pamięć kinestetyczną (czyli motoryczną).
Z myślą o najmłodszych…
Zwłaszcza dzieci uczą się postrzegania świata poprzez ruch całego ciała i odtwarzanie sytuacji, w której zapoznały się z jakimś zjawiskiem. Rzadko można to wykorzystać w szkole, gdzie na ogół siedzi się nieruchomo w ławce. Wizyta w Centrum jest więc znakomitym rozszerzeniem i uzupełnieniem normalnej praktyki szkolnej.
A przecież pamięć motoryczna to dopiero początek fascynującej przygody z Centrum! Świadome zaprojektowanie przestrzeni, rozstawienie eksponatów, użycie dźwięków, kolorów, faktur — wszystko to środki, które mają za zadanie powiązać obserwację, czy zjawisko przyrodnicze z jakimś silnym skojarzeniem zmysłowym, dzięki któremu treść edukacyjna zapisze się w umyśle trwalej niż gdyby została tylko opowiedziana.
… oraz całkiem dorosłych!
Myliłby się jednak, kto by twierdził, że Centrum jest tylko jednym wielkim placem zabaw dla dzieci. Przestrzeń edukacyjna dla młodzieży i dorosłych jest w Koperniku bardzo rozległa. Wiele eksponatów zbudowanych jest warstwowo — w pierwszym, powierzchownym odbiorze są prostymi narzędziami zabawy, nawiązującymi do edukacji szkolnej, jednak umiejscowione w odpowiednim kontekście natychmiast nabierają walorów poznawczych dla dojrzalszego odbiorcy.
Mowa tu nie tylko o RE: generacji, galerii, dla której obowiązuje wręcz limit wiekowy wejścia, ale też o szerokim wyborze eksponatów z wystaw Korzenie cywilizacji, Strefa światła oraz Człowiek i środowisko. Dzięki artykułom zgromadzonym w Kopernikopedii także starsi zwiedzający mogą poszerzyć swoją wiedzę w różnych obszarach tematycznych. Zysk odniesie więc nie tylko uczeń, czy dziecko, ale także nauczyciel lub rodzic.