Water is the main source of life
Aims
The purposes of this REC are: to introduce school children to international organizations interested in the subject of water, to strengthen tolerance to other cultures, to interest children in technological, natural, environmental, and biological sciences; to teach children to find the proper examples in nature for water analysis, to gather them and to make chemical analysis; to prepare school children for successful further studies.
Argument for inclusion
The geography of this Project is very broad. Holland, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Polish, and Lithuanian school children were analyzing water suitability for meals. It was possible to compare results between different countries
Relevant information in short
Main Research Partners |
Kaunas University of Technology, Secondary schools of Lithuania, Holland, Belgium and Great Britain, college in France |
Educational partners |
Ministry of Science and Education, Ministry of Environment Lithuania |
Other partners |
Druskininkai municipality, Grutas park |
Age classes |
From 14 to 18 |
Thematic orientation |
Biology, nature, environment, science & technologies |
Main Focus |
To teach school children to analyze water importance in everyday life, health strengthening, and cultural heritage. |
Rersources |
Sponsorship of Kaunas University of Technology, Educational Ministry, municipality of Druskininkai, teachers offer their voluntary work |
Years of activity |
Since 2002 |
Website |
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Contact person |
Loreta Silanskiene |
Context and conditions
The project “Water is the main source of life” started when Environment Ministry gave the money for the research of water quality in the ponds, lakes, rivers, and wells of Druskininkai region. The principal of Druskininkai “Atgimimas” Secondary school Danute Casiene was the initiator of the project. Kaunas Technological University as the partner of this REC gave the bus – chemical laboratory. The other partners thought about the possibility to strengthen the research and collaboration using less popular languages, such as: Dutch, Polish, and French and to educate multicultural competence.
Activities and contents
The rubbish dump in Druskininkai region
REC consists of several research stages. At the first stage, drinking water wells are registered during the expedition and described from the position of cultural heritage. At the second stage school children with laboratory equipment go to the expeditions and perform chemical research of drinking water in the wells and prepare the reports. The comparison of water in drinking water wells is made at the third stage and the children leading their teachers make conclusions about the influence of natural pollution on water.
Methodologies
The exact sciences (chemistry, mathematics, and physics) are combined together with cultural heritage not only of Lithuania, but also of the other countries. Professors of KTU teach school children how to perform the research and to analyze their results taking into account the influence of the pollution to the environment.
Curriculum relevance and Mutual benefits
The REC raises the status of chemical science among school children and enables them to study chemistry and environment sciences more thoroughly. The quality of chemistry and nature sciences knowledge improves distinctly. Motivation for studying technological sciences increases. Children learn how to forecast the influence of pollution to nature. School children learn to collaborate and to express their scientific ideas during the conferences and in the debates during videoconferences.
Limits and possibilities
The project was based on money from the Education Ministry, as they were the only source of financing. After one year of financing the money was cut and the project was not finished. The idea was brilliant, but because of short term vision of municipality, good ideas for further experiments and acquaintance with research for clean drinking water were not fulfilled.
Pictures from the project webpages