Nature and Environment
What could be more relaxing and refreshing than a 
walk in a clean and beautiful nature! However, clean nature can’t be taken for granted and the worry about environment is a global issue. Environmental problems must be taken seriously and new solutions must be developed to solve this global problem. Everyone is individually responsible to take action for better future so that also the future generations will have a healthy environment for living.
In this section you can find materials and ideas for teaching through the theme Nature and Environment. Get some inspiration from the materials and go for a walk, study the surroundings of your school and think how your local environmental issues could be solved. The materials are categorized according to the age of the students. On the bottom of the page you can also find some background information and other materials for supporting the projects.
The best nature and environment projects
StarT 2018
- EcoChange, Agrupamento de escolas de Alcanena, Alcanena, Portugal
Project diary
The students created a club to raise awareness of environmental issues, energy sources and energetic efficiency in a town rich in tannery industries. The activities unite the learning community from elementary to high school. International LUMA StarT Award winner 2018.
- Jump to the life at the Stone age: Winter, Päiväkoti Piilometsä, Oulu, Finland
Project diary
A kindergarten project introducing the life of a stone age human in the winter time. The activities included dressing up, arts, writing, movie making, crafts and a visit to the University of Oulu. The project is a part of a three-year project studying a nearby stone age site. International LUMA StarT Award winner 2018.
- Lemna grinder, Waste Busters, Kocaeli, Turkey
Project diary
The main aim was to do something about wetlands pollution. As the plant species Lemna minor absorbs water pollutants, it was used to design a water purifier machine. LUMA StarT Award nominee 2018, the public’s favourite project 2018.
- Lava lamp, Tampereen lyseon lukio, Finland.
- Stone research, Rantavitikka preschoolers, Finland.
StarT 2017
- Nature and environment project, Šiaurės licėjaus, Lina Kiliauskait’s kindergarten group, Lithuania
“The world’s population has tripled in the last 60 years, placing stress on every aspect of the environment. More land is developed every day to accommodate the urban spread. There are many environmental concerns for communities around the world to address. Our StarT project community decided to make some changes and help to solve environmental issues during project week. All four class teams were looking for the best solution to stop current environmental problems. We have learned that our behavior is very important for the survival of our planet. Our class educated the school’s community about the environmental concerns, made research about sorting garbage, presented results of it, made sorting bins for hole school and explained new sights for saving water and electricity at school. The StarT project teams transformed our school into a healthy, vibrant ecosystem.”
- Cave project, Agrupamento de Escolas Cidade do Entroncament, Francisco Gonçalves José Dias Rute Nunes, Portugal
“This was one of the groups that worked best as a team. Since one of the group’s members practices caving, enthusiasm was almost immediately. And the idea also: they explained the sedimentary environments of the caves with … a cave! Exactly, a cave! The group re-created a cave inside a tent with limestone walls, stalactites, stalagmites …. For visitors to better understand the difficulties that cavers spend during a descent to the cave, they recreated narrow passages and, with the Gymnastics teacher, used a wall for climbing and abseiling. It was a success!”
- Mysteries of the multifaceted forest from SZTE Gyakorló Gimnázium és Általános Iskola Szeged, Hungary (the learning diary) is related to sustainable development and environmental education.
“The project entitled ‘Mysteries of the multifaceted forest’ was carried out with the participation of students from the primary schools grades 2-4. Students are 8-10 years of age. Judit Özvegy assembled the project plan. The project was carried using several locations, with the assistance of independent experts. Our institution consists of a primary and secondary school, so the secondary school’s laboratory and staff were both immensely helpful.”
Materials
Kindergarten and preschool (3-7 year olds)
Learn about the water cycle by making rain.
Primary School (7-12 year olds)
Explore nature by studying bees, bugs or water cycle.
Lower Secondary (13-15 year olds)
Study how your own lifestyle contributes the climate change or the greywater could be reutilised.
Upper Secondary level (16-19 year olds)
Study how your own lifestyle or the society contributes the climate change.
WWF-UK, among the other national WWF organisations, provides materials for teachers for education for sustainable development.
Materials are produced by Nature and environment team:
Niina Mykrä (the chairwoman)
Jaana Herranen
Anniina Koliseva
Lassi Pyykkö
Jaani Tuura
Taina Ruuskanen
Jonas Hammarström
