This post is a continuation of 10 Environmental Education Activities for Children. More environmental education activities for children can be found in this Explora Natura blog post, which complements the previous one.
6. Building nest boxes
Age group: Childhood and early adolescence (8-15)
Goals:
- Raising awareness about bird protection
- Provide the opportunity to observe birds
Description:
Construction of nest boxes to encourage the breeding of small bird species in the area.
- Leave parts of the wood unsanded so that the birds can hold on to both the inside and outside of the nest box.
- If we make the roof hinged, we will have easier access to carry out control and cleaning activities.
- Mount with corrosion-resistant screws.
- It is recommended to place the nest boxes in wooded areas and in areas that are not easily accessible to avoid vandalism.
Cooking with tires
Age group: Childhood – early adolescence (8-15)
Aim: Raising awareness about solar energy
Description:
- Non-renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly scarce. However, there are others, like solar energy, that are virtually limitless. But can we use the sun's heat to cook food?
- Take an old inner tube. It needs to be inflated for this activity, so if it's punctured, you'll need to patch it. Inflate the inner tube and place it on a wooden board.
- Use an aluminum cooking container with a lid. Paint the outside black to help retain heat. Put water in the container.
- Place the cooking container inside the chamber. Then, cover the chamber with a piece of smooth glass. After about three hours, check the water temperature.
- How does this happen? The space inside the hollow of the pot is like a sealed cavity. Air can't get in or out. The sun's rays enter the glass and concentrate. Slowly, the temperature of the cooking vessel rises and the rice cooks.
8. Preparing tree cuttings
Age group: Adolescence (12-18)
Aim: Raising awareness about environmental conservation
Description: Trees provide shelter and shade for people, animals, and smaller plants. A single tree can make a garden 5°C cooler. We should all plant at least two trees a year, because they will be used in one way or another, even if they don't produce any fruit. Fruit trees, however, are especially valuable. It's very important to involve young people in growing, planting, and protecting trees. Creating a tree nursery can be an activity that promotes environmental awareness, is great fun, and turns the youngest members of the family into naturalists.
Materials:
- Large plastic bottle (2 liters)
- Scissors
- Heavy-duty tape
- A mixture of soil, compost, humus…
- Seeds
- Water
What needs to be done?
- We take a walk encouraging young people to look for trees growing in the surrounding area.
- Ask the owners for permission to collect their seeds.
- Prepare some old two-liter plastic bottles.
- It's time to prepare the seedbeds:
- Cut a bottle
- Fill the bottom with soil
- Plant the seed
- Add water until the floor is flooded
- Carefully secure the top of the bottle with tape.
- The mini seed tray is ready, put it in a nice, sunny place.
- Water once a week.
- The seed should take approximately four weeks to grow.
- After three weeks of growth, put it in a plastic bag filled with good soil.
- When the tree is 30 cm tall, give it to someone who promises to care for it and plant it in soil with plenty of compost. New trees need to be watered during their first two years of growth.
9. Marking an Educational Nature Trail
Age group: Adolescence (12-18)
Goals:
- Raising awareness about environmental conservation
- Involving young people in environmental conservation actions
Description:
Young people can participate in the design and signage of nature trails.
This can be a fantastic educational activity.
Nature trails are an excellent way to get people to look around, exploring and discovering the natural environment.
Municipal parks, youth centers, campsites, or schools offer opportunities for young people to mark nature trails for the benefit of the community.
- Start by involving young people in an in-depth study of the trail's features.
- Ask an expert to help you identify places, plant specimens, etc., that are of environmental interest; that is, places where groups can meet to observe interesting things such as: trees, wildflowers and interesting plants, signs of animals, streams, soil types, competition between species, habitats within an ecosystem, life cycles, etc.
- Prepare a project and raise funds and technical support to help implement it.
- Post signs to show directions and indicate strategic points of interest (with panels providing the necessary explanations for observation). Indicate potential hazards (poison ivy, wild bees, wasp nests, overhanging branches, etc.). The trail must be safe to walk on even in heavy rain.
- Make a trail guide with a map indicating the different stations and necessary lists of things you shouldn't do and things you should do.
- Promote your nature trail: opening day, documentation in schools and youth centers, etc.
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