In this section you will find tips and practical examples for setting up inspiring learning activities in the community garden, following Lesson 3, TOPIC 3: Types of work and activities during the training. In it you have already learned, among other things, the points to consider when planning an activity.
Climate education should be built on active learning methods that not only get participants interested in new topics, but also help overcome environmental anxiety (the psychological response to losses caused by climate change or environmental destruction) and make everyone involved feel that their actions matter. These 4 principles include:
- Let’s be precise and critical. Let’s work with up-to-date and verified information. Let’s develop critical thinking and media literacy.
- Let us be close and tangible. Let’s show how climate issues relate to our surroundings and our lives. Let’s focus on what individuals can change and what role collective efforts can play.
- Include a social and emotional component. Consider the social and emotional dimensions to overcome feelings of environmental anxiety and encourage action.
- Let’s encourage active participation. Let us use methods that are exploratory, experiential, critical and participatory.
How to plan an educational activity? In the additional materials you will find a sample example of a Community garden visit. You need to think about some parameters for your activity in advance and then work out the details:
- Goal: What exactly do we want to achieve? How much detail is appropriate and necessary to convey the knowledge? Will a basic level imparted across the board be sufficient? Is there a need for individual or group follow-up for those who have a deeper interest in the topic?
- Developed area: Growing, composting, working with water,…
- Target group: Students, children, foreigners, company employees, …
- Number of participants: For how many people? In small groups? How many people in a group?
- Length: How much time will be needed in minutes.
- List of activities: Activity 1, 2, 3,
- Location: A specific part of the garden, e.g. the greenhouse, can be used for demonstration cultivation even during the winter months. Is it possible to use the base on site in case of rain or to prepare it in advance?
- Equipment of the place: Type of seating, refreshments required, drinking water source, toilet,…
- Time and season for implementation: What is the most appropriate date, time and season?
- Lecturers: Who will lead each activity? With whom? What level of presentation skills are needed? Is a facilitator to the lecturer also needed?
- Material aids for the activity: A list of everything the trainer needs to bring to the event.
- Materials/worksheets to print in advance: Title, link to store it on the web/computer.
- Technical provision: Equipment of the place e.g. bench, table, flipchart, electricity supply, drinking water, …
- Additional information: Resources on the topic and more detailed information on methods or techniques.
- Description of individual activities: What form of activity should be planned to accelerate the practical application of the acquired knowledge? Can it be demonstrated directly in practice?
Additional Materials:
Examples of inspiring educational activities
Community Garden Visit , Professional Training course for Gardeners, p. 45
Bibliography
Učím o klimatu [online]