The student reflection about the Comenius project

The student reflection about the Comenius project
Pärnu Koidula Gymnasium
By Hanna Stina Sonts and Karmen Kaljula

How many students filled the paper:
In total 124 students answered:
• 19% were from grade 2
• 19% were from grade 3
• 6% were from grade 5
• 17.5% were from grade 8
• 7% were from grade 9
• 31.5% were from grade 10
What have we done in the Comenius project concerning the environment?
• 24.5% kept food diaries and analyzed their eating habits.
• 17.5% took part in a nature conference of Estonia’s environment in our school library.
• 56% listened to Merike Merimaa’s lecture about healthy eating.
• 17.5% visited and took part in a lecture in the Minizoo
• 17.5% worked with work sheets in Koidula park
• 19% drew posters to propagate healthy food.
• 50.5% went hiking.
• 19% got to know and observed birds and bird songs
• 19% drew their breakfast in the computer.
• 17.5% went to the park
• 42.5% went to the beach to see the nature.
• 31.5% did the step counter test.
• 31.5% took part in the GMO (genetically modified organisms) lecture.
• 36.5% took trips and were introduced to the conservation areas of Pärnu.
• 31.5% took a trip to Hiiumaa.
• 31.5% took part in the lecture ‘Life richness in vitality’ by Georg Ahel.
• 7% made posters of countries participating in the project.
• 19% took photos of nature.
• 36% observed trees and snails.
• 36% drew pictures and played games.
• 19% cleaned the beach areas
• 19% were introduced the flora and fauna of certain areas.
• 19% drew pictures on sand.
How do you feel about the project?
The thoughts of different students who took part:
• I think this is a very interesting and educating project. I learned a lot about nature.
• Now I know that I don't get enough needed vitamins and nutrients through my food.
• I like it because I got to know about different exotic animals and now know how to choose the right food for me
• The project is educating.
• It’s useful for today’s youngsters.
• It’s a good because I got to know that my diet contains too many fats.
• It’s a good project because it brings diversity to a normal school day
What is good about the project?
The thoughts of different students who took part:
• People get new information about their eating habits and become more aware.
• Getting to know how to eat healthily.
• Getting to know new information about the environment that surrounds us.
• Getting to know why I need different nutrients and vitamins and what should I eat to get enough of them.
• Now I eat more healthfully and try to pollute nature less.
• Now I know more about myself.
• The best thing is that you can visit different countries and get to know more about their culture and people.
• You get to communicate in foreign languages.
• It widens your world-view and develops your communication skills.
• You get to spend time with your frinds.
• Through the step counter test you get to know how much you really walk and how much energy you use.
• Listening to different speeches widens your view of the world.
• Diverse lessons.
• The trip to Hiiumaa was fun.
• Meeting new people.
• You get to do everything yourself.
• Learning new things.
• Going on hikes.
• I liked everything.
What didn’t you like about the project?
• Because some students go to many trainings, they didn't have much time left for the project.
• Though students saw the eatable plants, they don't think they’ll be able to recognize them in nature.
• Some thought that it consumes a lot of time.
• The purpose of the project wasn't often introduced to the students and some of them took part without knowing it.
• The students were said to wake up earlier that usual to listen to the bird songs, but they could even hear some of them after school.
• Some teachers didn't like that students had to miss some classes because of the project.
• Many students didn't find anything to dislike about the project
• Some students don't like to do it from their free time
• Students would like to have more activities.
• Younger students got tired on the hikes so they didn't like the walking part
• Some students find the project boring.
How can it be improved?
• More outdoor activities.
• More information about a healthy lifestyle.
• More information about nature in different places of the world.
• Making experiments in chemistry and physics.
• More information about the culture and nature of other participating countries.
• Making trips and going to the zoo.
• Introduce the point and goals of the project to students.
• More interesting lectures - there were too many facts.
• Some students would like to know more about eating healthfully when they do lots of sports.
• Teachers should be more understanding.
• To improve the webpage so that it would contain more information about the tests and schools.
• For some activities students didn't have enough time to properly organize them.
• Involve more students.
• Do more tests like the step counter test.
• Make more trips.