Primary school students participating in the Ecology Summer School have expanded their knowledge of ecology, botany, energy, climate change and technology through alternative and entertaining methods of teaching science.
The Ecology Summer School, co-organized by the Zeytinburnu Herbal Medicine School and Istanbul Technical University’s Science Center, started Monday with 10 students with a passionate interest in science looking for an alternative way to spend their summer vacations.
Aiming to raise environmental awareness of young students through the education provided in the summer school, the program’s coordinator from the İTÜ Science Center, Onur Berk Arslanoğlu, said their activities were designed to stretch the imagination of children. “They create their own ecological houses by learning how to create clean energy,” Arslanoğlu said, adding that children try to create a “green identity.”
Separating activities into themes such as natural resources, energy conversion, greenery creation by recycling and the examination of insects and plants under microscopes, the Ecology Summer School gives the message that all of us have responsibility for our common future.
“In the kitchen science workshop, the children become chefs and learn about chemistry,” said Arslanoğlu, illustrating the fun part of their activities. “We also have theater plays during which students represent ‘crazy’ professors while making the sounds of explosions.” Arslanoğlu said they work with teachers trained in teaching science to young students in entertaining ways.
Stating that the botany portion of the “green” education takes place in the Zeytinburnu Herbal Medicine School’s large gardens, green houses and laboratories, Arslanoğlu said they concentrated on energy technologies at İTÜ. “The children are familiarized with the concept of ecology and have the chance to spend time with nature,” said Fatoş Altuncan, an environmental engineer from the Zeytinburnu Herbal Medicine School. Noting that they had organized the program before in 2006, Altuncan said that they generally accept up to 30 students.
The summer school continues through Sept. 3 and was at the Zeytinburnu Herbal Medicine School on Tuesday. The last two days will be at the İTÜ Science Center.
