The Rativtsi Gymnasium organized a series of eco-lessons focusing on primroses, where 5th-grade students studying in Hungarian explored the first flowers of spring. Through engaging activities, the students delved into the world of these early blooms. They watched informative videos, learned the names of plants in both Ukrainian and English, identified spring signs through pictures, “signed” their names under the images, played flower-themed dominoes, and completed interactive tasks using smartphones and printouts. These tasks included matching flower names with their corresponding pictures, coloring plants, and solving a crossword puzzle.
Throughout the lessons, gymnasium teacher and IERS eco-activist Krystyna Solanska enlightened the children about primroses, often referred to as the first sign of spring. These delicate and fragile plants are among the first to bask in the not-quite-warm but already pleasant rays of the spring sun. They are essential food for butterflies, bees, and other insects that have just come out and need nourishment to carry out their duties as forest caretakers. Primroses captivate everyone with their vibrant colors thanks to the ample moisture from melting snow.
The discussions also touched upon the reasons behind the decline of primroses in the wild. The teacher explained how human actions, like picking spring flowers for commercial reasons, gifts, or temporary enjoyment, lead to their destruction. The students were made aware of the various types of primroses listed in the Red Book of Ukraine and brainstormed ways to preserve these species. In conclusion, the students promised not to pick these flowers again and committed to teaching their friends, parents, and acquaintances about the importance of protecting these fragile blooms.
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
