As part of the children’s day celebrations an awareness program on environment and biodiversity was held at Antharam school on 21st November 2024. More than 100 children participated in this program, which included both primary and secondary school.
The awareness program was jointly conducted with WWF-India with the objective to introduce children to the concept of biodiversity, including the variety of plants, animals,local birds and ecosystems.
The activities were designed based on the age group of the children and were conducted
groupwise. Mr Akbar, Senior Education Officer from WWF-India along with volunteers briefed about the activities to the children.
Activities for primary schoolchildren:
Join the dots and fill in with colours
The first activity for the primary children was “Join the dots and fill in with colours”. Each child was given different birds and were asked to join the dots followed by coloring. As the children were in the age group from 6 to 10 years, the team gave them reference pictures to identify and colour appropriately.
The objective of this activity was to improve fine motor skills which strengthens hand-eye coordination as kids trace and connect the dots.
This also improves control over small hand muscles needed for writing and drawing. This activity also improves cognitive development that encourages problem-solving by figuring out the correct sequence of dots and enhances attention to detail and focus.
Secondly the picture of birds that were provided to trace are some of the common birds like Kingfisher, House sparrow, Egrets, Myna Indian roller etc found in and around the houses and nearby schools. This exercise helped children to identify the birds through their features like beak, tails, colour of feathers, size etc. This task also boosts imagination as the children visualize the final picture before it's complete.
Once the children completed the drawing and coloring the team helped each student to identify the birds and explained about the birds habitat, food habits and importance of these birds in our ecosystem.
Origami
The second activity for the primary students was Origami. Origami is an art of folding objects out of paper to create both two-dimensional and three-dimensional subjects.
The objective of conducting origami for primary school is to improve fine motor skills to enhance precision and coordination through folding and creasing paper. Improves concentration and patience which teaches kids to follow step-by-step instructions meticulously and encourages patience as they work through complex folds.
During this activity children learn to make origami fish and butterflies. The activity for primary children was concluded by discussing the importance of fish and butterflies in nature followed by poems and songs by children.
All the above activities were designed as tools to nurture creativity, ecological awareness, and holistic development.
Activities for secondary /high school children
After completing the program at primary school, the team started the activities with high school children located at the same campus. Mr Akbar briefed about the activities to the children and requested students to form groups.
Jig saw puzzle
In the first activity, children were asked to form five groups and puzzles were given. The students had to solve the puzzle and ring the bell upon finishing the puzzle. Each group was given two puzzles to complete and identify the animal/bird in the puzzle. Upon completion, Mr Akbar explained about the birds and animals in the puzzle.
This activity helped students in remembering shapes, colors, and patterns while identifying where pieces belong and encouraged them to work in teams to complete the task.
A nature-themed jigsaw puzzle is an excellent experiential learning tool. It not only strengthens cognitive and problem-solving skills but also deepens children's understanding and appreciation of the natural world. By combining fun, creativity, and education, it inspires them to become environmentally conscious and engaged learners.
Spot the Animal
The second activity included identifying and listing all the animals, reptiles and birds. Two groups were formed and each group was given a picture/ poster. The poster had Spotten deer or Jinka (Telugu), the state animal of Telangana. Children had to identify and list different animals hiding within the deer.This activity strengthens recall as children identify animals they have previously seen or learned about. When done in groups, it enhances cooperative skills and encourages sharing of discoveries.
The "Spot the Animal" activity is more than just a game—it’s a dynamic educational tool. It combines observation, critical thinking, and creativity, nurturing a range of skills that support children’s cognitive, emotional, social, and academic development while fostering a love and respect for nature.
After completion of the activity, Mr Akbar explained about the different animals and birds listed in the state of Telangana. He also briefed about the various National parks and Wildlife sanctuaries of Telangana. Children were also given the task of finding the difference between cat and wild cat, Monkey moth and butterfly, Wagtail, Bull frog, Golden orb-web spider etc. The children were encouraged to observe the different leaves, spiders, trees, birds and nests.
The program concluded with a briefing for the students on various initiatives they could implement at school, such as composting, plastic recycling, and documenting local plants and animals. The session ended on a joyful note with the team performing a beautiful group song.
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Follow OES on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/organo_et_school/?hl=enAs part of the children’s day celebrations an awareness program on environment and biodiversity was held at Antharam school on 21st November 2024. More than 100 children participated in this program, which included both primary and secondary school.
