Last year, 120 schoolchildren in Denmark learned more about archaeology in just seven weeks than many adults ever will. In an innovative collaboration between the Centre for Urban Network Evolutions (UrbNet) and the Copenhagen-based NGO Videnskabsklubben (Science Club), 4th and 5th graders across Denmark learned not just what archaeologists do, but how they do it.

Now the program’s overwhelmingly positive impact can already be seen. In its very first evaluation run, the archaeology program received an outstanding average satisfaction score of 4.7/5, making it the most highly rated Science Club program to date. This remarkable evaluation speaks volumes about the passion, enthusiasm, and expertise UrbNet brought to the table in crafting a program that introduces children to archaeological case studies from across the globe—from prehistoric China to Viking Age Ribe in Denmark and across the Mediterranean.

Rather than the traditional classroom lessons, the program transforms students into "mini-researchers," allowing them to get hands-on with archaeological science and method. With guidance from volunteer high school mentors, the mini-researchers explored everything from excavation techniques to advanced lab methods like DNA analysis, all while working on real-world case studies.

Archaeology, as a discipline lies at the intersection between humanities and natural sciences, offers invaluable insight into the history of our planet and its inhabitants, with stories of daily life, change, adaptation, and evolution. Just one example: Through hands-on activities on archaeobotany and zooarchaeology (the study of plants and animals bones), students uncovered details about ancient diets, all while investigating the past societies’ relationship with the environment and resources.

What makes Science Club unique is its emphasis on the scientific process itself—teaching students not just facts, but the way researchers pose questions, form hypotheses, test theories, and draw conclusions. By putting the focus on the process of discovery, the program helps young minds grasp how knowledge is created and how science alongside archaeology contributes to our understanding of our past and the world we live in today.

Thanks to this exciting new initiative, the next generation of archaeologists may already be hard at work. Science Club, which has provided the logistics, expertise, and funding to develop the archaeology program, is now expanding further into the humanities. After focusing on natural sciences, archaeology was the first program to offer children a deep dive into a humanities-based field. Building on the enthusiasm and positive feedback from the archaeology program, Science Club will be launching four new humanities programs. The collaboration with Urbnet, with Dr. Julia Steding as the pivotal player in setting up the programme and seeing the realization of it through, has proven that the humanities are as relevant as ever and sparks inspiration in the next generations.

Engaging children in research fields such as archaeology fosters critical thinking and curiosity, empowering them to ask questions and seek answers—fundamental skills for innovation and problem-solving in any field. By allowing young minds to actively engage in the process of discovery, we cultivate a future generation that values science, and is rooted in evidence. These qualities are essential for tackling the complex challenges that these mini researchers will face in the future.

Funding statement
The archaeology program is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the Beckett Foundation, and the Queen Margrethe’s and Prince Henrik’s Foundation. UrbNet is funded by the Danish National Research Foundation under the grant DNRF119.