Maria Kesler, a teacher at Yasinya Secondary School No. 1, presented an engaging session for 1st-grade students (taught in Hungarian) focusing on migratory and wintering birds of Ukraine with the cooperation of the Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe. The topic was not entirely new to the children, so initially, the teacher encouraged them to recollect the knowledge they had gained in preschool programs. The first-graders eagerly shared their insights during an interview-style discussion on “Migratory and wintering birds,” talking about familiar birds commonly seen in the wild: sparrows, great tits, swallows, and turtledoves.
After that, Maria Kesler delved into more intricate information about birds that are less frequently spotted because they tend to evade human observation. She used educational materials published by the Institute of Ecological and Religious Studies (IERS), such as the vivid didactic game “Let’s Learn Flora and Fauna by Playing” and sizable posters showcasing Red Book bird species. The teacher highlighted the significance of appealing printed materials, expressing concern that in the era of modern technology, distorted images in cartoons are becoming increasingly common.
Following the theoretical part of the session, the first-graders, accompanied by their teacher, visited the local history museum to acquaint themselves with unfamiliar birds. There, the students discovered details about the birds that nest in the region, exploring their habits, diets, and more. They observed depictions of various winged representatives of the Carpathian fauna, including capercaillie, golden eagles, falcons, and owls. Additionally, they learned about the challenges these birds face in the wild and discussed ways to address and prevent these issues. In conclusion, Maria Kesler emphasized the importance of combining the traditional educational process with hands-on observations of nature to help students better absorb knowledge right from their early years of schooling.
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
