School meets the geopark and the geopark goes to school: a naturtejo geopark (Portugal) developing educational project

Abstract

Naturtejo Geopark (NG) is a European Geopark located in central Portugal near the eastern Portuguese-Spanish border. Territory schools request field trips to specific geosites within the Geopark which provide students an excellent learning opportunity. Preliminary observation work enabled us to compare strategies to lead visitors to geoscience learning opportunities, with a goal to develop conscious visitors and active citizens for natural conservation and sustainable development. The NG has developed a Geopark Educational Project implemented during 2007/2008 which will be developed in three phases and is addressed to students and teachers from the territory schools and from around the country. The first project phase, already in practice, consists of the preparation of educational programs which are subsequently sent to schools. Educational programs are comprised of 5 interdisciplinary field trips addressed to 12-15 year-old students, which can be adapted to younger or older students as well. School curriculum subjects, such as Natural Science, Physical Education, and even History, make up the pedagogic content for learning opportunities and the children are observed by Geopark monitors during the field trips. Schools belonging to the Geopark territory receive an entrance fee discount and enjoy a special free program entitled Geopark Goes to School. An additional field trip titled - Geodiversity Around Our School - has also been suggested. Schools have requested support to prepare additional activities. In the upcoming second project phase, other pedagogic materials such as films and activities' booklets will be developed for students to use before, during, and after field trips. The third project phase includes the creation of educational programs addressed to Primary School students (6-10 year-old), 2nd grade (10-12) and Secondary School students (15-18). The educational programs fit the students' course of studies and are complemented with pedagogic materials. This way, School Meets the Geopark, and the Geopark Goes to School!