The Best Practices Collection of the Baltic Sea Project 1989-2019
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THE BEST PRACTICES COLLECTION of the Baltic Sea Project 1989-2019 Tartu 2019 CONTENT Foreword 3 SUSTAINABLE SCHOOL Students´ initiative and green conference 6 Youth and United Nations Climate Change Conference 9 My Choice is a healthy life style 10 The formation of ecological culture in Lyceum No. 179, St. Petersburg 11 Sustainable development plan for schools 12 Theme course about sustainability science 13 Integrating the Baltic Sea Project into formal education 14 The Best Practices Collection of the Baltic Sea Project 1989–2019 WATER Publisher: Tartu Environmental International Baltic Sea summer camp on Årø 16 Education Center Lille 10, Tartu 51010, Estonia The BSP Rivers program 18 Phone: +372 736 6120 Microscopic animals of the Neva River and E-mail: info@tartuloodus maja.ee their role in the ecosystem 20 Home page: www.tartuloodusmaja.ee Editor: Anne Kivinukk, BIRD ECOLOGY Environmental Education Bird watching tours in the coastal Association Etalon Design: Eerik Keerend, nature of Pärispea 22 Neoart OÜ Environmental changes and Cover photo: Katrin Kello bird migration 28 This publication is available at http://www.b-s-p.org Circulation: 200 copies Print: Ecoprint AS, Vabriku 1, Vahi AIR QUALITY küla 60534 Tartumaa, Eesti Impact of road traffic on air quality 31 ISBN 978-9949-01-205-3 METHODS Authors are responsible for the choice and presentation of facts Drawing contest and postcard campaign contained in signed articles, and for the opinions contained therein, uniting the BSP schools 34 which are not necessarily those of ‘The Baltic Sea in Change’ photo contest 36 the BSP organizers. Published texts may be freely Creating artworks under microscope 39 reproduced and translated (except International Web Quiz 40 where reproduction rights are reserved) provided that mention is Crossword puzzle 41 made of the author and source. This publication is published in Estonia with financial support from Coordination Estonia the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research and the Estonian Environmental Investment Centre. United Nations UNESCO The Baltic Sea Project Associated Cultural Organization Schools 2 > THE BALTIC SEA PROJECT Dear reader, n 1989, the Finnish National Commission for UNESCO of the program's activities, the program has expanded over initiated the Baltic Sea Project for the students of the time, also in the context of the internationalisation of the Baltic Sea Countries. Estonian schools have participated in project, and attention is paid to intercultural learning and the project activities since the project was initiated. social dimension of our lives and activities in addition to rais- The country officially joined in 1992, when the ing environmental awareness. Schools’ activities are carried directive of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of out in a spirit of sustainable development and they go hand in IEstonia “Schools of the Baltic Sea Project and their Rules hand with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. of Procedure” was issued on 16 January. By the directive, In order to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Baltic the Estonian Youth Nature House was appointed as the Sea Project, Tartu Nature House collected best project-related coordinating body of the project, succeeded by the Estonian practices from the schools in Estonia and other BSP countries: Youth Hobby Centre “TELO” a bit later and since 2001, by the guidelines for practical work and observations, collaborative Estonian Youth Work Centre. Since 2012, BSP activities are experiences, descriptions of study visits, competitions and coordinated by the Tartu Nature House. All nine countries events, etc. The aim is to share experiences and provide around the Baltic Sea participate in the program and over good ideas for schools interested in environmental education 150 schools are involved in the activities. on how to work more effectively and interestingly for a The UNESCO Baltic Sea Project – BSP aims to raise aware- better condition of the Baltic Sea. The target audience of ness of the environmental problems of the Baltic Sea and the compendium is mainly teachers. Since years have been the links between man and nature, to notice the surround- eventful and there are many events and methods worth ing changes, the role of people in these changes, and to lead remembering in the schools participating in the Baltic Sea young people to act responsibly. When initially, the environ- Project, only a small selection of them is presented in the ment and the teaching of natural sciences were at the heart compendium. THE BEST PRACTICES COLLECTION OF THE BALTIC SEA PROJECT > 3 Foreword upporting the activi- year, environmental camps these years. We are especially thank- ties of the Baltic Sea and in-service training, ful to the former national coordinators Project is important international conferences (Jüri Martin, Tiiu Ots, Maris Laja, Anne Sto the Ministry of Educa- and meetings are organ- Kivinukk, Merle Kerde, Reet Kristian, tion because we consider ised for students. Most of Linda Metsaorg, Sirje Janikson, Kersti international cooperation the activities carried out Sõgel) and to the current coordinator in the Baltic Sea region and within the framework of the Gedy Siimenson. Thanks to their organ- promoting environmental edu- Baltic Sea Project also support the isational capacity, motivation and will- cation important. implementation of national curricula ingness to act, the project has proven Over the years, schools have had the and the diversification of the teaching to be very viable throughout the years. opportunity to participate in seven dif- of natural, social and art subjects and The 30 years of the Baltic Sea Proj- ferent programs. Under the supervision the integration of subject studies. ect have created a solid foundation of teachers, students have conducted Throughout these decades, a whole for both the UN's 2009 vision of “The coast watch, river watch, and bird ecol- generation of environmentally respon- Future We Want” as well as the OECD's ogy programs, phenological studies, sible young people have been raised, 2017 Educational vision 2030 “The environmental measurements, familia- who are building up the Estonian state Education we want”, which supports rised themselves with environmental now and in the future, and stand for students in developing competencies history aspects and contributed to sus- our well-being. We are very grateful to such as creating new value, resolving tainable development activities. Within the schools that have participated and conflicts, and taking responsibility. the framework of the project, method- are still participating in the project, IMBI HENNO, PhD ological materials, guidelines and man- to their teachers and students, to the Chief Expert of General Education Department, uals on environmental issues have been leaders of all the sub-programs that Ministry of Education and Research prepared in English and Estonian. Every have been operating in Estonia during he Bal- tic Sea Project he Tartu Nature Hou- education and provide stu- Tis one of the se has coordinated dents with the experience most impor- the Baltic Sea Pro- of a scientific research pro- tant and major Tject with the support of the cess, comparing nature programs for the Ministry of Education and observations and develop- members of the UNES- Research and the Environ- ing the cloud services for CO Associated Schools Project mental Investment Centre and storing the bio-information Network in Estonia. The Estonian has systematically provided Esto- gathered by students is a dream National Commission for UNESCO nian schools with various opportuniti- of recent years, which will be further appreciates the work of the Baltic es for raising students' environmental developed in the future. In this way, Sea Project partners, teachers and awareness, international tolerance and schools can contribute to nature stud- students, and sincerely wishes to nature-friendly behavioural habits. The ies and students can compile their thank everyone who has helped network's activities support the goals research based on the data gathered, to raise open-minded, respectful of sustainable development and car- asking for help from the BSP program and caring people around the Bal- ry the values of UNESCO in an effort to managers, if necessary. After 30 years tic Sea region. We hope that the link environmental education with glo- of networking, Finland is also planning compendium will help to clarify bal education. The BSP programs teach a number of changes in international what has been done and perhaps you to notice and think about short and cooperation between schools. will guide you to the thoughts long-term changes in nature and emp- I want the compendium to enable that can all be ahead. hasise the need to protect the Earth. 30 us to learn from each other and our We wish you a good experience years is just the necessary time to see partners and to encourage new collab- exchanging and joy of learning! signs of climate change in the light of orative projects. which annual weather data becomes MADLI KUMPAS more and more understandable. GEDY SIIMENSON Coordinator of Education Programmes, Tartu Nature House the Estonian National Commission for Since the aim of the network's activ- National BSP coordinator of Estonia UNESCO secretariat ities has been to support high-quality 4 > THE BALTIC SEA PROJECT Foreword he recently published cli- es subjects only, but the links mate (IPCC, 2018) and between different aspects COOPERAtion biodiversity (IPBES, (ecological, cultural, eco- T2019) reports show us nomic, social) are created And EDUCAtion, quite frightening pictures so that people could see of life on Earth if we do not the whole picture, not only A Good EXAMPLE change our environmen- the fragments. Only a skilful OF WHicH is tal behaviour here and now. vision of such a complete pic- The humankind is on a shatter- ture provides the opportunity that THE BALtic SEA ing suspension bridge over a canyon environmentally conscious behaviour and there are not too many opportuni- is part of a young person's life, that he PROJect WitH ties to cross this bridge.