Hands-on project helps students care about nature

In order to help primary school students become more interested in the outdoors and nature, one school utilized a hands-on project to engage their interest with insect hotels and cultivated crops.

Pupils created natural school garden in Michalovce, illustrative stock photo.Pupils created natural school garden in Michalovce, illustrative stock photo. (Source: Jens Meyer)

A natural school garden was created at the primary school on Okružná street in Michalovce, eastern Slovakia, and will be used not only for resting, but also for the development knowledge and improvement of cultivation skills, according to Zuzana Argalášová from the civic association Telekia.

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“Pupils created fields for the cultivation of cultivated crops and helped make outdoor seating from wooden pallets, which they colourfully painted,” Argalášová stated for the SITA newswire, adding that they also created stone walkways and shelters for hedgehogs and birds.

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Visitors to the school may find newly planted trees in the area, a spider made from waste materials, a compost pile or weather station, she said.

In the garden is also an insect hotel - replacement habitat that is used for reproduction.

“Many species of useful garden insects find cover in the modern arranged garden,” Argalášová explained for SITA. “Insect hotels are suitable especially for reclusive species, such as bees, bumble bees, some wasps, butterflies, flower flies or ladybugs.”

All the above mentioned insects help keep biological balance in the garden.

“The insects control pests without the use of chemicals, as well as pollinate some flowers,” Argalášová added.

Through this activity the pupils wanted to show others how to care about nature rather than being indifferent. Children, teachers, school workers, friends and parents help create the garden and school activities were financially supported by the local government.

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