ACTIVITIES OF GAMTOS NAMAI, A CLUB OF PUPILS, IN YEARS OF 2002-2005:

PRESENTATION AND SELF-PRESENTATION...

 

By REGINA JABLONSKAITĖ

Biology teacher-methodologist at the Volungė Secondary School of Alytus

 

            One of the purposes of the school education is the developing of ecological culture. It is a long and complicated process, the basis of which is created in the family environment to be continued in the school.

            Studies of nature science subjects should help a pupil in perceiving the complexity of the surrounding world, get knowing oneself, preparing oneself for life and professional activity, understanding and evaluating consequences of the use of technology and natural resources for oneself, society and nature.

            After-school activities are an important component of educational work in the school, which help pupils to consolidate knowledge and ideas obtained during lessons. In my opinion, the after-school activities should not be regarded as only a certain supplement or continuation of studies. Such activities also allow a pupil to discover linkages with the reality. Studies of local environment are particularly important. Knowledge of the nature, love of all the living things, awareness of changes in environment develop in a person sensitiveness, goodness, insistence on higher standards with regard to himself and the other. When being in nature, we can stop, look around and draw some conclusions.

            The club of pupils Gamtos Namai is involved in various activities such as events, projects, camps, tours, actions, educative lectures, workshops and competitions.

            When participating in camps and actions and receiving real life and nature-related lessons that are much more suggestive than words, a child readily adopts moral values, defins his own existance space in the world and have opportunity to know consequences of wrong doings.

Project-reseach work is particularly useful as in this case theoretical knowledge is systematically employed in experimental and research work and information technology practice. The consequential value of project work is enormous in enhancing the scientific turn of mind, experiencing the joy at making a discovery, and stimulating the interest in special literature.

Educative tours and conferences are excellent opportunities for displaying of academic, creative, spiritual, aesthetical and other components. Encounters with scientists, specialists, their suggestive words and subtle humour make a strong effect on pupils.

The Club’s activities give the opportunity to direct contact with the environment and enables to explore it. For participating in our events, we invite supporters of our club, specialists, directors of regional parks or reserves, school curators, pupils and teachers from other schools; our guests share their expierience with the Club members, pupils learn something from each other, probe their ideas and rejoice at discoveries.

The Club’s activities in the field of environment research and ecology result in a real and good work done while interacting of a contemporary pupil and the nature.