Project News

Since 2001, a "Teachers' Guide to Environmental Education" has been used in primary and secondary schools in Panama. These Guides are designed to make it interesting to learn about nature, its value and the importance, or difficulty, in its conservation.  There are 6 volumes, one for each grade, with each volume divided by subject: Spanish, math, natural science, social science, technology, art and civics.

We invited the 18 teachers from the 9 public elementary schools in the Project area to participate in a seminar on the "methodology for using the Teachers' Guide to Environmental Education" from June 25-27, 2008.  The elementary schools in this region have 6 grades with multiple grades per classroom and an average of 30 students per school.  The majority of the students come from the homes of small-scale farmers and half the schools do not have electricity or an accessible road.   Under these circumstances, our intension was to help the teachers make creative use of the Guides in giving environmental education to the students and to contribute to creating greater environmental awareness of the families and communities.

On the first day of the seminar, to "break the ice" with the teachers, we promptly applied the Guide's "Introduction to Environmental Education: practice in physical education" in the school's playground (photo 1).  During the 3 days of the seminar, there were presentations given by the Project, meetings with the administrative office of Chagres National Park and activities taught by speakers from ANAM (National Environmental Authority) and MEDUCA (Ministry of Education).

One of the activities for creating awareness of the diversity of nature was an exercise in making a painting using "natural paint" from environment (photo 2).  For example: rubbing a sheet of paper with teak leaves gives a bright red color.  The teachers found flower petals, dirt, ash and a variety of things with different colors to make paintings of the nature surrounding the school (photos 3 & 4).  At the end of the seminar, the teachers were given the latest version of the Teachers' Guide.  It is hoped that this will encourage more environmental education activities in each school.

(Photo 1: left) "Environmental Tag" is a game that is often played as an introduction. (June 25, 2008)
(Photo 2: right) Making a painting using only natural "paint" found in the nature around us. (June 27, 2008)

(Photo 3: left) Many more colors were found than expected. But they couldn't find a natural color for painting the blue sky. (June 27, 2008)
(Photo 4: right) Each teacher presented his or her painting and then everyone discussed how to improve the natural environment of the communities.

(Mr. Taku MORI, Environmental Education / Farmland Use Plan)