Caja de herramientas educativas de incendios forestales en el contexto del cambio climático para escuelas de secundaria.

The consortium identified a gap in fire education targeting secondary school students. We aimed to develop innovative materials linking this topic to climate change using project-based learning methodology and the STEAM approach. This gap existed both in Spain and across Europe, but the main challenge was contextualizing and adapting the content to the specific characteristics of each bioregion. There was a clear need for educational resources addressing wildfires and climate change.

Our primary goal was to raise awareness and improve education on wildfire prevention and management among secondary school students, integrating the climate change perspective. To achieve this, we developed an educational platform with two specific modules tailored to two age groups (12-14 and 14-16), providing tools that both teachers and students could use and adapt to their local context. Additionally, we promoted a participatory approach that engaged the community, empowering students with practical knowledge and skills to tackle challenges related to wildfires and their connection to climate change in their environments.

The project was developed through several key work packages. First, educational resources and participatory activities were designed to be innovative and replicable at the European scale, while also being adaptable to different contexts. A pilot phase followed in each participating country to test the resources, validate their effectiveness, and make improvements based on feedback from students, teachers, and the communities involved. As a result, an open-access resource repository was created, available in four languages to ensure broad accessibility. Project dissemination was carried out through a website, social media communication initiatives, and multiplier events organized by the consortium partners, ensuring that results reached a diverse audience at both local and European levels.

The project outcome includes several resources developed to ensure long-term sustainability. Two modules of educational materials based on Project-Based Learning were created, adapted to the first and second cycles of compulsory secondary education (ages 12-16) and aligned with the STEAM approach competencies. These materials were distributed through educational communities across Europe and made available in four languages. Additionally, a toolkit (open platform) was developed, including a teacher’s guide in four languages, 31 challenge-based activities, 9 content units tailored to each age group, and various materials accommodating different learning styles. This resource comprises content presentations, a collaborative map application for sharing information and collaborating with students from different countries, and audiovisual materials such as an awareness video on wildfires and climate change. Moreover, a methodological framework for implementing community participation activities, replicable in different European regions, was designed. These resources not only address education on wildfires and climate change but are also designed to be sustainable and easily accessible to diverse educational comunities around Europe.