Raising awareness in the field of climate change adaptation at the elementary school in Rudina by the implementation of the environmental education and adaptive water detention measures.

Slovakia is no exception to the ongoing climate change. Adapting to the climate change affects all aspects of life in our region. Therefore, it is necessary to raise the awareness and expert capacities by the implementation of the project. We focus on the implementation of the knowledge about the climate change into the environmental education at school and implementation of water detention measures in the school area. To successfully achieve the project objective, the most important thing is to address young generation – pupils of schools, who can influence the environment in the future by their way of thinking and actions.

The project will be aimed at the teachers and pupils of the elementary school in Rudina to which the project is directly addressed. Parents of the students and public, volunteers from the regional organizations and institutions, public administration employees will also be involved in the scope of the project’s activities.

Implementation of the project will bring the opportunity to Elementary school Rudina to cooperate with institutions from Norway and Iceland.

The school will help in implementing the project with their own knowledge and experience. The partnership will contribute to transfer of information, knowledge and experience regarding environment. Implementation of the project will bring the opportunity to Elementary school Rudina to cooperate with institutions from Norway and Iceland. Gained knowledge and experience will be spread through the school website, village Rudina and newly designed brochures in both Slovak and English language.

The project was divided into two phrases. The first phrase consisted of developing the methodology of rainwater management for teachers, curriculum modification and their subsequent implementation in the educational process. In each class we taught 4 lessons in selected subjects in which the students approached the teacher plan of the project, theme of rainwater management by interpretation and presentations. The outcome was not only the knowledge of students, but also the development of worksheets and art works which were exhibited in the main hall during the final conference. The Vodníček magazine which is focused on the given issue was also created. 

The second phase – realization of the measures began in May 2015 by Lalima Ltd. Work was carried out gradually (depending on the weather). Results of the project: enrichment of lessons, enrichment pupils knowledge of new information, extension the content of SEP, establishment new partnerships, quality presentation of school in the general public, increase the aesthetic level of the school area, the possibility of practical training in the field of botany, illustrative example of the capture and use of rain water, an increase of the responsibility of students in the area of environment, an interest of the general public about the uniqueness of our rain garden

The outcomes of the project were:

• Development of new curriculum and teaching materials for the environmental education focused on the field of climate change for each grade and class at the elementary school in Rudina.
• Conducting lessons according to the newly prepared curriculum.
• Building a water detention measures to adapt to climate change.
• Building an “eco-class” in the outdoor school area and conducting lessons in the eco-class.
• Exchange experience, knowledge and practice with the partner  institutions in Norway and Iceland.