Answer and Grouping

Answer and Grouping
-(Nature Game, Facilitation Technique, Ice Breaker, Grouping, More ESD Activities)-

This is a game that we can use again and again, with only small modification- as an introduction games, ice breaker or energizing game, I prefer to modify, relate it with environment issues. But sure, you can also modify it into mathematic, biology, social science, language game, etc.

Needs
Pencils, papers, questions

Give papers and pencils to participants. The idea is simple: we give
questions (multiple choices are better). The children answer it by
writing answer in paper, and then in count 3 they must find a group
who write same answer with them (by moving,asking).

Purpose - to know each other / environment issues. Questions (sample):
- Which one is your favorite pet: dog, cat, turtle, fish, bird,
reptile?
- Which one is your favorite recreation place: beach, mountain,
forest, garden, lake-river, sea?
- Which one is your favorite social-environment friendly actor / artist: John Lennon, U2, Anggun, Leonardo Di Caprio, Sting, Elizabeth Taylor?

Purpose - to test environment / biology knowledge. Questions (sample):
- Which one doing photosynthesis: zooplankton, phytoplankton, mushroom, fungi, bacteria, and virus?

Purpose - to test language knowledge. Questions (sample):
- What Sundanese (traditional) language is having same meaning with "sit”: diuk, ulin, sare, lumpat?

And more...

Hints:
- Remember, for competition game, add some modification like squat / squat-walking for group who give false answer - until another question offered.
- Don’t forget to tell them to shake hand every time they do grouping,
with other group member. It will cheer the atmosphere.
- Remember, this is only an opening game. Prepare a discussion related with the topic you play.

Harp for the Mist of Atacama

Harp for the Mist of Atacama
-(Shocking Nature News)-

In the Atacama desert in Chili, people sometimes "play" a mist harp. It is a kind of music harp, but it never used to play a song.

Atacama desert have a very low rain intensity, but this desert have a mist, being flown from Pasific Ocean. The mist contains some water ammount and people try to "trap" the water by using nylon line.

Only in one day, more than 10 liter of water can be collected from 1 meter square of line from the harp.

(Story translated freely from "Memperhatikan Cuaca" by David Suzuki).

God and Bread

God and Bread
-(Laugh and Wisdom Story for Educators)-

Mom: “Didn’t you know that God is there when you stole the bread in the kitchen?”

"Yes, I knew."

"And that He is watching you all the time?”

"Yes."

"What do you think then, what He said to you?"

"He said, "Nobody is there, only you and me - take two."

(Story from The Prayer of the Frog, Anthony de Mello, SJ)

Writer notes: creativity and rebellion often come together...

Picture taken from http://kamat1427.files.wordpress.com

Before Christmas Notes

Before Christmas Notes
-(Personal Notes)-

It's already December. It's rainy now in Indonesia and we will celebrate Christmas 2 weeks from now. I start to feel warm atmosphere around me ; the music start to play X-mas song everywhere.

This is my first personal notes after 8 months blogging for these environmental education modules. It does grow older and I still hope it can help many teachers, educators, facilitators to increase their ability and knowledge for environment education.

Well, yes. First time I thought it will become an environment blog only, but in the way I feel that it also become a blog for educators. I feel it's important to include more color, wider spectrum of education to give deeper understanding that nothing is stand alone.

Forgive me for my English. I have only a little time and effort to edit my English since sometimes I found difficulties to find right words with my little pocket dictionary in my home (not in the office cos I lost concentration then).

I also hope you understand that you can always modified the method, not only by translate my writings only - to become a fix guide books :( .

In the future, I dream that we can edit all the post and complete it into a pdf file (to be share) or a book so it can reach more people. In my country, more than 95% (my guess only) of teachers aren't used to surfing the internet.

Hmm... 99% maybe if I think seriously and consider the non-formal educators in the field (remote area) like my friend in the Taa Wana tribe in Sulawesi (Celebes).

Hope this handful of sand can help us build a world wonder one day. Good luck for your activity.

Warm regards,
Indra N Hatasura

Exchange Gift from Nature

Exchange Gift from Nature
-(More ESD Activities)-

This idea came when my organization, RMI try to exchange post card between children from Sumatra, Java and some other islands in Indonesia, as part of program campaign in water and environment issues.

The results are amazing. Hundreds of postcards tell different stories from different kids regarding their opinion, hope and worry. They exchange information from polluted river, illegal logging, to water exploitation by private company, and more.

Well, I have more ideas too...

In RMI postcard exchange program, we used NGOs, teachers, and private network. Basically, it won't be difficult too for these ideas.

Let we try to find some interesting object near our environment. It can be a bird feather, a rock, piece of wood, some sands, a leaf, sketches or drawing or other thing that interesting for different kids.

Yes, every kid must choose their own thing. Then they will write a note to tell their "invisible" friend why they think that thing is interesting for them (you can encourage them to see cultural, economic, environment, biology, art aspect from the thing; help them ^^ expand their imagination and knowledge).

Then help them to pack the thing (with the note). We can use envelope /simple box/ etc for packing.

And then we can start exchange all the things with children from other school. After you get same kind of stuff from kids (from another school) we can open it together and learn about many things.

My suggestions are:
- Use internet and find other teachers that like to join the exchange activity (well, exchange stuff with people from different place is interesting don't you think?).
- Or just do it when you have a meeting with your colleagues. Don't think too complicated, even your neighbors can help you. Sample quantity doesn't matter. How you describe and encourage children to know better is matter.
- Notes are important. While you help children to observe their environment, you also help them to increase their knowledge and write better!

Picture taken from http://valuestockphoto.com

Fish Oil and the Dog

Fish Oil and the Dog
-(Laugh and Wisdom Story for Educators)-

Somebody start to give fish oil in large dose for his Doberman dog, because he heard that it's very useful for the dog. Every day he struggle his dog with his arm and feet, clamp its head, force to open its mouth and force a spoon, full with fish oil into its throat.

One day, the dog is getting free and fish oil was spoiling everywhere in the floor. The man is so amaze, because the dog is then come and lick the fish oil spoon. That time he realized that it was not the oil that the dog rejected, but the way he gave it.

(Story translated freely from "Doa Sang Katak" by Anthony de Mello)

Writer notes: don't you think it also happened in our backyard :( ?

Picture taken from http://rlv.zcache.com

Animal in the Backyard

Animal in the Backyard
-(Nature Game)-

This is a simple game in my mind when I think about garden, a small forest near my house, or a pond near the bridge. What we need is just a simple place to learn. Even we can use our classroom to do this game. Although it is simple and designed for children, we still can do some modification for older age.

Needs
- A small group of children

First, they have to mimic a grasshoper (or other small animals). The main idea of this game is to do some observation in different kind point of view (from small animal point of view). So the participant must act as a grasshoper, they must crawl or in sleep position so their eyes is in the same altitude with the grass or the bush

Let or help the children to find their own spot. Then tell the children to observe with the postion we agreed before.

Ask them this question, and let them answer (as a grasshoper):
- Can you find any food there? Is it many? Which one is your food?
- Can you find any shelter there? Which one is that?
- Do you see any potential predator there? Who is it?
- Is that place is suitable for living? Why?
- Is there any other threaten for you in that place? Mention it...
- Another questions that relevant to describe habitat.

Then in count of 3, let the children pick new spot (with jumping, like a grasshoper). Then repeat the questions again.

If you feel that this game need some modification, try round number 3 or 5 with mimic different kind of animal (frog, chicken, turtle,...).

For older age, you can make some question for reflection:
- After they doin this, how is their feeling?
- What is their opinion regarding biodiversity?
- Why this place is good / bad for the animals?
- How human activity give impact to animal life?
- ...

Picture taken from http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/hd_high-dam-077.jpg