Preface by Prof. Dr. J. Dirckx

In the sixth grade, the biggest boys of primary school, the teacher too out of a cupboard a shiny copper pump. He attached it to a glass stolp in which he put a sloppy tightened balloon. Somebody was asked to handle the pump and, with our mouths opened wide, we all saw the balloon growing larger by itself. The teacher then told us about air pressure and vacuum, and at the end of the period, we all wanted to become a great discoverer…

Many, even enthusiastic teachers don’t realise that nothing can fascinate more for science than a demonstration of an experiment or an experiment which you can perform yourself. In these times however, the real experiments are challenged by multimedia, the almost infinite information on the internet, animations: all these means have to get a place in modern teaching. A lack of money and time and more and more tasks leaves almost no space for experiments. The pump is not shiny any more, there is no money for a new one, the cupboard with all materials for experiments is replace by a computer table, 50 minutes are too short to build up the experiments in a class room where the next period a language lesson will take place…

Nevertheless, the wonder for a natural phenomenon, the challenge to discover things themselves is still present among youngsters, maybe more than ever before. With this experimental kit we want to give the fascination for experiments a place in every lesson again. A small experiment as a demonstration of a formula, the challenge to search for the real explanation behind a daily life phenomenon, to draw the attention for a surprising effect, a scientific gadget: all this in one self-supporting kit, without the need for a special class room and without additional help, with a minimum time needed to set up.
With the support of the University of Antwerp and the department of Innovation and Science of the Flemish Government we have put together this experiment-treasure kit for all of you: teachers and pupils, leaving together for a discovery adventure in the sensational world around us: the world of physics. Have fun with all the experiments!!

Prof. Dr. Joris Dirckx