Students in the Bioregional classes more than doubled.

Valentina Carminati, Field Bioregional Education Manager
Planet Drum Foundation
July 17, 2006

The remaining students each received a card describing a different characteristic of the plant required to assist their friend in getting healthier. As a group they needed to get all the information together and start looking for the exact plant. They also had to find the respective species as soon as possible otherwise their friends were going to get worse. 

The plants I chose were those they had learned (by describing and drawing) in the previous classes such as Moyuyo (remedy for infections), Algarrobo (remedy for diarrhea), Palo Santo (treatment for colds) and Hobo (to heal cuts).

Both groups were particularly quick in finding the exact plants; furthermore they never asked for help! I was pretty proud of them. The kids were excited and got pleasure from the game. Moreover they learned another significant use plants can have, and they realized how important is to be able to distinguish such plants!

Today we started the second topic of the first quarter program: watershed. 

I gave them details about the importance and main characteristics of the Rio Chone estuary (flora, fauna, and islands). Students had the opportunity to express themselves by drawing the estuary in which they are living. We read a bit of history concerning the estuary and I explained some of the problems raised over the years (pollution of the water, deforestation, removing manglares (mangroves) to make shrimp farm ponds…). Finally they completed a questionnaire in order to fix in their minds what they learned. 

Next Wednesday I will take them to El Mirador La Cruz, the high point above the city, where they are going to see clearly what an estuary is! Considering that there is not a lot of information about this second topic, I am planning to cover it in no more than a week. 

Afterward I was thinking to spend the following two weeks covering the Arts and Handicrafts section by making jewelry with seeds and possibly producing seeds ID. Kids can’t wait to start such a funny activity.

Lastly around the second week of August, I thought we could start the mapping activity “Discovering Your Life-place” by using the Planet Drum workbook.

Up to now everything seems to proceed in the right way. At the moment I have 15 students in total (enough for me, I don’t think I could cope with more!) and I believe it’s an excellent group.

Besos.
Valentino