Orysia Krechko, a biology and ecology teacher at Turya-Remetivskyi Secondary School, put together an eco-adventure for her students to get them acquainted with the diverse plant life in the schoolyard. She structured the event following the guidance from “Eco-Quest: An Effective Innovative Teaching Technology,” a methodological manual written by Olha Velychkanych, which received support from the Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe (IRCEF).
The reason Mrs. Orysia opted for a quest-style educational activity was due to its growing popularity as a formidable alternative to the allure of computer games, especially among young participants. In this quest, the students engaged in a friendly competition to discover the hidden names of plants and subsequently locate these plants within the schoolyard. One of the biggest challenges they encountered was identifying tree species that were unfamiliar to them, namely the catawba and staghorn sumac. In their pursuit, the students closely examined these species and made some intriguing observations. For instance, they noticed that the seeds of the staghorn sumac emitted a distinct mushroom-like aroma, while the catawba seeds bore a resemblance to small beans. In fact, some of the students were so captivated by this discovery that they decided to take catawba seeds home in an attempt to germinate them. Furthermore, for the very first time, the students were introduced to the fascinating legend of the sakura trees that had been planted around the school by previous graduates.
Throughout this quest, the children not only expanded their knowledge about the school’s eco-path flora but also delved into the intricate relationships between these plants and their interactions with other living organisms. In an effort to solidify their newly acquired knowledge, the students tried to distinguish between trees and bushes only based on their leaves and remembered easy ways to take care of the environment. The youngest participants in the quest even endeavored to craft a wise owl from natural materials they found along the eco-path, whose name was unveiled through a code-breaking challenge.
The event was held within the framework of cooperation between the Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe (IRCEF) headed by Olexander Bokotey) and the German Nature Conservation Union (NABU Bundesverband, NABU International), project coordinators Ivan Tymofeiev (NABU), and Nataliya Kulya (IRCEF).
Informational Service of IRCEF
