Back To The Wild: Non-Traditional Educational Methods in Primary Education

Project 'Back To The Wild: Non-Traditional Educational Methods in Primary Education' (BTW) aims to strengthen the link between children and wildlife by integrating non-traditional methods based o...

The project aimed to strengthen children’s connection with wildlife in general sense (flora and fauna) by developing a holistic ecological thinking, emotional intelligence, strengthening empathy and social skills of primary school pupils through aplication of didactic principles of outdoor pedagogy and experiential learning. To reach this aim, these objectives were outlined: 1. To prepare methodological material for educators, in which the presented methods and tools would emphasize the importance of fauna and flora in our ecosystem, would help to develop holistic ecological thinking, empathy, social skills and work as prevention of cruelty against animals (Output 1). 2. To prepare a programme of 12 lesson plans (3 lessons for each grade, i.e. 1 lesson for different seasons during the school year) based on the principles of outdoor pedagogy and experiential teaching/learning for primary school students in the forest flora and fauna thematic field (Output 2). 3. To create an interactive Virtual Nature Notebook as an educational tool which will include special tasks with instructions and information for pupils to be carried out in the family as well as at the school to stimulate co-education outdoors (Output 3).

• 3 Transnational project meetings throughout the project were organized in Lithuania, Finland and Latvia.; • 1 Teacher training activity in Lithuania for outputs testing purposes. • 1 Pupil teaching/ learning activity in Latvia for outputs testing purposes. • 3 Intellectual output developed and led by Learning in Nature Ltd (O1), Vytautas Magnus University (O2; O3) and co-lead by Lithuanian, Latvian schools (primary education) and Kemeru National park delegated experts. • 1 Multiplier event – an online seminar on outdoor education topic for target groups organized. • Management activities were done in order to ensure project output and activities quality including risk assessment, reporting and monitoring tasks. • Dissemination activities were done for dissemination purposes to share outputs and overall project thematic for target groups.

Outputs developed: a) Methodological guidelines on outdoor learning for primary school teachers and other educators; b) 12 lesson plans based on outdoor and experiential principles were developed (target group: primary school teachers and other non-formal education representatives). c) Extracurricular tasks and an online space for their implementation created (online scrapbook). Dissemination outputs: dissemination plan, registers, report. Management and quality assurance outputs: Project management manual including risk assessment and quality assurance tasks was developed, reports on focus groups, reports on budget and progress of work were done, questionare for quality assurance made, interim report for National Agency was issued, a recognition of participation of project events was ensured by issued certificates. • At least 144 pupils and 10 teachers in Partner countries (including partner schools and associate partners) have tested Output 3; • 60 pupils as direct participants in learning/teaching activity in Latvia; • 50 pupils as indirect participants who were from organizing institution in teacher training event in Lithuania (involved in some separate sessions); • At least 25 teachers and nonformal education specialists in Partner countries tested output 1 and output 2.