Experience Natural Sciences Up Close
The Minett UNESCO Biosphere, in collaboration with IFEN, offers a series of hands-on workshops that enable teachers to make natural sciences tangible and inspiring. The seminars combine theory with outdoor activities and cover topics ranging from bat conservation to geology.
Getting to Know Bats – The Goblins of the Night
Workshop: MiNELL – NaturLAb, Preparing an Awareness Lesson: Bats – Goblins of the Night
Bats fascinate and unsettle in equal measure. In Luxembourg, all 19 bat species are protected. This workshop shows teachers how to present the topic in an exciting and age-appropriate way – including practical tips for designing a successful awareness lesson.
Content: Participants learn about the habitats, characteristics and ecological importance of bats. The first session focuses on theory and educational activities: child-friendly games, using ultrasound detectors or building a bat house. The second session takes place outdoors: in the evening, participants observe live the emergence of one of Luxembourg’s most important bat colonies.
Target group & dates:
- Session A (teachers of cycles 1–3): 12 May & 2 July 2026
- Session B (teachers of cycle 4 & secondary): 19 May & 7 July 2026
- Duration: 5 hours
- Language: Luxembourgish
- Location: Centre nature et forêt Ellergronn & Bech-Kleinmacher
Registration for this training course is via this form.
Discovering the Hidden World Under the Microscope
Workshop: MiNELL – FuDo NaturLAb: The Microscopically Small
What happens when children explore nature with microscopes? This workshop is aimed at teachers from cycle 3 onwards and introduces the principle of inquiry-based learning (FuDo). The central question is: how can pupils observe independently, form hypotheses and gain insights?
Content: The training combines scientific work with childlike curiosity. Using hand-held microscopes and classic microscopes, materials from nature – a cushion of moss, a drop of water, a cross-section of a leaf – become objects of research. Teachers learn techniques for open questioning, documentation and group discussion. The aim is to transform passive observation into active discovery, wonder and understanding.
Target group & date:
- Date: 21 May 2026, 14:00–17:00
- Duration: 3 hours
- Languages: German/Luxembourgish
- Location: Centre nature et forêt Ellergronn
- Places: only 5 of 12 still available
Registration for this training course is via this form.
Geology of Luxembourg and the History of the Minett
Workshop: Geologie vu Lëtzebuerg a speziell vun der Minett um Giele Botter
The Minett iron ore shaped not only the landscape but also the prosperity of Luxembourg. This workshop teaches geological basics and leads to the Giele Botter mining area to apply what has been learned directly in the field.
Content: Participants learn to distinguish rock classes (igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary) and to identify Minett iron ore along with the fossils it contains. The theoretical part covers the composition and formation of the Minett; the field visit makes this knowledge tangible. This workshop is part of a three-part seminar series on the Minett UNESCO Biosphere – further dates on biodiversity and industrial history will follow in the autumn.
Target group & dates:
- Session A (primary school): 2 June 2026
- Session B (secondary school): 4 June 2026
- Duration: 4 hours
- Languages: German/Luxembourgish
- Ort: INRA (Fond-de-Gras) & Giele Botter
Registration for this training course is via this form.
Common Strengths of the Training Series
All three seminars share the same philosophy: natural science is taught through hands-on experience. Teachers receive tools to inspire pupils, encourage them to conduct independent research and use nature as an open learning space. Whether bat monitoring, microscopy or field trips – the workshops show how outdoor activities and scientific thinking can come together in the classroom.