“Hexabox”, a new educational tool

In February 2027, the Canton of Valais will host the Alpine World Ski Championships in Crans-Montana. As part of the event's Legacy Projects, the Valais University of Teacher Education has developed Hexabox, an educational tool that will enable pupils to discover and explore the many facets of the mountains. Created in partnership with the Crans-Montana 2027 Organising Committee and the Education Department of the Canton of Valais, Hexabox is designed for all classes in compulsory education.

The tool takes the form of a hexagonal box made from local wood, produced by Ateliers Saint-Hubert and FOVAHM. It contains around 100 illustrated cards covering physical education, nutrition education, history and geography. Pupils are encouraged to select cards, ask questions about them and share their discoveries. By creating a collective visual display, pupils explore the connections between winter sports, professions, local communities, tourism, infrastructure, natural resources and the mountain environment.

Behind the simplicity of the tool lies an interdisciplinary approach rooted in the Plan d'études romand and Lehrplan 21, the curricula used in French-speaking and German-speaking Switzerland. A single image can lead to a geography lesson on resort development, a history lesson on the origins of skiing, or an exploration of physical preparation and nutrition for a day on the slopes or a sporting performance. Learning can therefore continue in the classroom, in the gym and even on the slopes.

In addition to Hexabox, a lesson focusing specifically on the history of skiing in Valais has been developed for pupils from 1H to 11CO. By exploring the evolution of skiing practices, resorts and tourism, it encourages pupils to reflect on how the mountains have changed and the challenges they face in the future.