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Forests toolkit #7 – Providing a multitude of forest ecosystem services for society – a balancing act

This activity aims to sensitise students to the multitude of ecosystem services that forests provide to society as well as the challenges of meeting the needs of many different interest groups. The activity uses outdoor learning sites known as “marteloscopes”. Marteloscopes are delineated forest areas where data has been recorded for all standing trees. The data is made available to students via an innovative, easy-to-use, educational software (“I+ Trainer” software) running on mobile devices (tablets/mobile phones).

Given guidance, pupils can experience not only forests hands-on and observe trees closely. They can also gain an understanding of how and why forests are managed, why biodiversity in forest ecosystems is important, and how to come to solutions if forests should meet multiple demands such as providing wood for valuable wood products, be a place for recreation, and serve as a home for plants and animals.

Biodiversity #3 – People and nature

We are very pleased to present PEOPLE AND NATURE, a booklet created by the team of the Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana, in the framework of the Multipliers project (Horizon 2020). As educators, we know that learning goes far beyond the walls of the classroom. It thrives in the fresh air, outdoors and surrounded by the wonders of nature. The aim of this activity is to present biodiversity and ecosystem services as an important socio scientific issue (SSI) both relevant in their everyday life but also, for science. This activity is facilitated by providing students different activities and tools to explore biodiversity in forest, water and wind erosion, sounds, landscape changes etc.

Forests toolkit #5 – Design of sustainable products from forests

This teaching and learning sequence are suitable for students ages 10 -14, concern education for sustainability and integrate several school subjects, e.g., science, technology, entrepreneurship and social science. The open schooling project is performed in collaborations with a science center (Exploratoriet), a cooperative of forest industries (Mera Skog), and Sweden’s research institute and innovation partner (RISE) to involve students in sustainable forest product design. The teaching learning activity contribute to teaching for sustainable development by focussing on creativity processes, as living today requires new strategies to handle the future. The project was named “Skogssnilleblixten”, which roughly translates as a combination of the terms forest and stroke of genius.

Forests toolkit #4 – Different perspectives on forest use

This teaching-learning sequence consists of two activities that can be used as an introduction for students’ work with the theme Forest us vs. Forest protection. It particularly familiarizes students with some different perspectives on and relationships with the forest. The two activities are especially suitable for use in topics such as Forest use vs. Forest protection, where several subjects (e.g. science, cívics, Language, technology) can be combined.

Biodiversity and Agriculture #2 – Potato Tasting

The goal of the activity is to pass on the students’ knowledge they have gained from meeting the experts at the farm. They can set up a potato tasting stand which allows the students to sustainably convey knowledge to visitors through hands-on experiences and learning with all senses (taste, smell, appearance, feel).

Biodiversity and Agriculture #1 – Research Diary

The aim of the activity is to secure the experiences and deepen the knowledge that the students gain during their visit to a farm. The material can be adapted to the respective circumstances as needed and serves as a memory aid for the lessons that build upon the farm visit.

Biodiversity #1 – Natural Science Backpack

The materials presented here are designed primarily for primary school students between the ages of 6 and 14. They were created through collaboration with researchers from various fields, including early childhood education and forest pedagogy, as well as teachers and students themselves. The activity utilizes an inquiry-based approach and a formative evaluation process to optimize the materials, which serve as a self-learning kit.

Biodiversity and Agriculture toolkit

Protecting biodiversity while ensuring food security for people is one of the major challenges of our time. Human intervention in nature affects biological diversity, with traditional agriculture playing a central role. Land use change, pesticides and disease control measures lead to a drastic decline in various plant and animal populations.
How can we strike a balance between environmental protection and food security? To bring younger elementary school students into contact with these topics, this toolkit introduces key concepts in biodiversity and agriculture through outdoor learning activities.