Calendar: November 2014

On Nov 18th, in School Complex in Kaletnik, 2 lectures called took place.

The first one, 'Let's get to know amphibians in the nearest surroundings and learn to take care of them', was attended by 2nd and 3rd grade students and their teachers (total of 32 people).

The second lecture, called 'Amphibians protection in Natura 2000 area in north-eastern Poland', was attended by 4th grade students from primary school and 1st grade students from gymnasium, with their teachers (total of 33 people).

Both 3-hours classes were led by Katarzyna Łukowska and Aleksandra Mackiewicz.

The lecture for the younger group was based on a multimedia presentation that represented amphibians as a group of animals with specific characteristics. The students learned about the biology of amphibians and the development cycle of this division of animals.

Basing on models, photographs and drawings, the children learned to distinguish in dividual species. The students got to know the characteristics of fire-bellied toad and smooth newt, as examples of anuran and caudate amphibians. They were complementing species names and locating and sticking photographs of the relevant species. Working in groups, the participants were in venting ways to protect amphibians. At the end, while brainstorming, all ideas to protect these species were written on a blackboard. It showed, they were also the activities undertaken within the framework of the project.

At the end of the lecture, there was a surprise for the children. a quiz to test their knowledge garnered much attention, and for activity during the lecture, the children received T-shirts, mugs, guidebooks and bookmarks.

The lecture for the older group of students was also conducted based on a multimedia presentation.

The classes began with recalling the concept of 'biodiversity'. Biology and ecology of amphibians were thoroughly presented. In order to consolidate the knowledge of amphibians, they were compared with reptiles division. The development cycles of anuran and caudate amphibians was discussed, as well as amphibians systematic division. Special attention was paid to the changes in the naming of amphibians. The differences in the body composition of individual species was appointed, and the students were taught how to recognize certain species on the basis of sounds and the appearance of spawn. Much time was devoted to the need of amphibians protection. Attention was drawn to the participation of amphibians in the food chain.

Math activities, related to the calculation of the amount of amphibians, seemed a very in teresting element of the classes. For solving a crossword puzzle and rebuses, they received prizes in the form of t-shirts, mugs, bookmarks and guides.

The mentioned group of students will be leading environmental monitoring in the future. This meeting allowed for an in itial assessment of students' knowledge and skills in the subject of amphibians protection.