🌱 April Activity: Green Inclusive Garden

 

As part of our April activity, we carried out the Green Inclusive Garden activity with our students within our eTwinning project “Inclusion Hand in Hand with Environmental Education / Çevre Eğitimiyle El Ele Kapsayıcılık.”

The aim of this activity was to help our students develop environmental awareness, improve their inclusive thinking skills, and design the school garden as a more accessible, safe, eco-friendly and sustainable area for everyone.

First, our students identified real-life problems related to the school garden. They discussed issues such as the lack of green areas, insufficient resting spaces, the absence of recycling corners, limited play and sports areas, and the need for more accessible areas for all students.

Then, based on their own needs and observations, they developed creative solution ideas. In their designs, they included more play areas, basketball and volleyball courts, resting areas, recycling corners, water-saving ideas, sensory plants, green areas, ramps, wide walking paths and accessible sections for individuals with disabilities. Some groups also added creative ideas such as a swimming pool to their gardens.

We integrated the activity with a STEM approach. While preparing their garden designs, students identified problems, developed solutions, created simple algorithms and flowcharts, drew garden sketches, and made basic mathematical calculations such as area, perimeter and scale. Then, they prepared their own green inclusive garden models using recyclable materials.

Some student groups also supported their work with technology by adding simple sensor ideas to their models. They developed sensor-supported solution ideas for automatic lighting, safety, energy saving and accessibility. In this way, their garden designs became not only models, but also technology-supported, eco-friendly and inclusive learning spaces.

This activity was connected with Mathematics, Information Technologies, Science, Technology and Design, Environmental Education and English. Throughout the process, students used problem-solving, algorithmic thinking, mathematical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, environmental awareness and empathy skills.

At the end of the activity, our students presented the models they had prepared in the classroom. They explained why their designs were eco-friendly, inclusive and sustainable. They also prepared short videos introducing their gardens for our eTwinning project partners and shared their work on our project page.

Thanks to this activity, our students learned to look at the school garden from a different perspective. They realized that it is not enough for a place to look beautiful; it should also be accessible, safe, nature-friendly and inclusive for everyone.

The Green Inclusive Garden activity became a very valuable learning experience in which our students applied their STEM skills to real-life problems and developed environmentally conscious and inclusive solutions.

Together, we are working for greener, more accessible, more inclusive and more sustainable school areas. 🌱💚