How to behave when meeting reptiles and why they need to be protected? Students of the 3rd grade of the ЗЗСО І–ІІІІ levels No. 1 of the Yasinyansk village council sought answers to these questions during an eco-theater lesson as part of a new project of the Interreligious and environmental civil forum of Eastern Europe (IRCEF) and the Commission on Ecology of the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Diocese “Promotion of Environmental Values through Eco-theater in Wartime”.
Under the guidance of a primary school teacher with Hungarian as the language of instruction and IRCEF expert Maria Kesler, the children recalled their knowledge about reptiles, watched an educational video from the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, worked with thematic handouts from IERS, and learned about the reasons for the reduction in the number of certain reptile species.
In a separate block, they discussed the rules for providing first aid in the event of a snake bite and examined common mistakes that should be avoided. And during the final reflection, the children consolidated the acquired knowledge in a creative way: through a mini-performance with the heroes of the eco-theater toy set “Discover the World with Us!”, where they were able to recreate real situations and demonstrate the correct actions.
Ecotheater helps not only to better absorb important information, but also creates a space for creativity, communication and emotional recovery. In difficult wartime, getting to know nature and its inhabitants becomes an effective tool of nature therapy, helping children feel calm, confident and harmonious. At the same time, such classes remind us of our responsibility to preserve God’s creation, in which every living creature has its own special place and meaning.
The event was held within the framework of the partnership of the Interreligious and environmental civil forum of Eastern Europe (IRCEF) with the Commission on Ecology of the Mukachevo Greek Catholic Diocese and the nature protection units of the Churches, with the support of the Archdiocese of Bamberg (Erzbistum Bamberg).
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