While the crucial role of environmental education in forming eco-aware citizens of the environmental challenges we will have to face is now recognized nationally and internationally, the importance of educating the youngest on these issues is still very often underestimated.
According to the European Investment Bank (EIB), it can be challenging for teachers to digest this complex topic in order to clearly explain it to children in a way that makes them aware of environmental issues.
At the same time,
everyone has a role to play, from international institutions, governments, businesses and individuals. The first step is awareness, which starts from an early age.
Integrating Climate Change in Education and Activities, European Investment Bank
For this very reason, the ETHOS project aims to foster in students aged 6 to 11 a sense of responsibility and awareness towards the environment to ensure sustainable treatment of natural resources by disseminating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other related topics to children to help them understand environmental issues and their impact on the ecosystem.
In the initial phase, we are producing a comprehensive glossary that includes 200 crucial terms for environmental education, with the goal of creating a generation of eco-aware leaders. From sustainability to biodiversity, we cover every aspect of environmental conservation. The environmental glossary will soon be tested in elementary school in each country involved in the project.
In parallel, the organizations involved conducted a needs analysis of students and teachers, including questionnaires addressed to teachers and a focus group in each partner country capable of highlighting the preferences of the target groups. From this needs analysis, two manuals will be developed, for teachers and lecturers respectively, which provide practical guidance on how to integrate environmental sustainability education into their teaching and learning activities and include suggestions on how to promote environmental citizenship among students.
In addition, the project includes the creation of a digital game to promote environmental citizenship, which engages students in a fun and interactive way, making them participants in the fight against climate change and advocates for environmental sustainability. The game will be available online to be accessible to students around the world!
If you are a teacher or elementary school teacher interested in taking part in the project, testing the innovative resources created specifically for teaching, you can email the following address for more information: margherita.rosi@impresasocialeland.org. Be part of the change!
ETHOS – THE EARTH HEROES 2030 is funded by the Erasmus+ program, runs from November 2023 to October 2025, and is a collaboration between:
- Lindevangskolen (Denmark)
- A.B. INSTITUTE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT LTD (Cyprus)
- https://impresasocialeland.org/ (Italy)
- Education and Social Innovation Centre of Austria – ESICA (Austria)
- Action for the civil society (Greece)
- Crossing Borders (Denmark)
For more information about the project, please follow us on the project’s Facebook and Linkedin pages!