Hosted by OSOS , contributed by Sonia Barreiras on 9 May 2019
This project arose due to the inexistence of plaques identifying the trees and shrubs of our school garden. In the classroom context was carried out with the students the survey of the problems regarding the outer spaces of the school. Among some problems pointed out, the one that stood out most was the lack of identification plates of the school's plants and the lack of access to this information to entire school community. After discussing some ideas, the students did not want to have just for a mere identification plate, with the name of the tree / shrub. They would like these information to be accessible to other students with some specifics (blind and deaf). In this sense came the idea of building nameplates with sign language (for the name of the tree), QRcode code (with extra information about the plant) and NFC seal (audible program from the mobile phone).
Get to work, the students went out of class room and went into the garden. Using a map of the school and a mobile phone application to identify plants and identification guides, students made an inventory of the existing plants in the school garden and their location on the map. Subsequently, in the classroom context, they researched their characteristics and properties, as well as some curiosities. They decided to make an exhibition for the whole school community, showing the biodiversity of trees on our school grounds.
The main difficulties were the identification of trees / shrubs, however, the parents helped a lot in this sense, as well as the Environmental Department of the City council.
Overcome this problem and with the identified trees and shrubs, students began to think about the layout of the name plate. In partnership with the discipline of Visual Education began the students to work on the image that will accompany the plaque - a silhouette of the plant, illustrated by each student.
In partnership whith one 12th grade class, at Biology discipline and with the School Library team, students will construct a trail, with the choice of certain trees referred to in literary works by Sophia de Mello Breyner and each tree will be accompanied by a excerpt, in order to commemorate the 100 years of the poetess. The trail will open soon, with activities for all school's students.
And so ... we will have a Garden for everyone!
Feel
This project arose due to the inexistence of plaques identifying the trees and shrubs of our school garden. In the classroom context was carried out with the students the survey of the problems regarding the outer spaces of the school. Among some problems pointed out, the one that stood out was the lack of identification plates of the school's plants and the lack of access to this information to entire school community. After discussing some ideas, the students did not want to have a mere identification plate, with the name of the tree / shrub. They would like this information to be accessible to other students with some specifics (blind and deaf). In this sense came the idea of building nameplates with sign language (for the name of the tree),
After identifying the problem, we had to ask for help in solving some of the limitations: to the parents; to the Municipal Council, Environmental Bureau, which provided us with a Forest Engineer to help us identify some trees and teachers of Portuguese Sign Language, the translation of the name of the trees.
Imagine
The students went out of class and went into the garden. Using a map of the school and a mobile phone application to identify plants and identification guides, students made an inventory of the existing plants in the school garden and their location on the map. Subsequently, in the classroom context, they researched their characteristics and properties, as well as some curiosities. They decided to make an exhibition for the whole school community, showing the biodiversity of trees on our school grounds.
They began to imagine what it would be like and what information it should have on the nameplate. They began to search for plant illustrations, but found nothing that was exactly their plant. They then decided to draw themselves and ask classmates from other classes to draw the leaves / flowers / fruits from our school's plants. And then began the work of illustration that will become part of the plates engraved in wood.
Create
Students are compile all the information and draw the nameplates based on all the research done and visits from partners. They think of solutions so that all trees and shrubs can be identified and accessible to all students and the school community. Even people with certain specificities will be able to enjoy various information about our garden. They work on the pages where all the extra information will be included. In the Garden with Sophia - in honor of Sophia de Mello Breyner for the poet's 100 years and who will associate her works with some trees in our garden. These works will also be available on the pages accessible by QRcode.
Share
Students of the activities for younger students and present the selected rail. They distribute maps with rails and invite other students to try it out. Throughout the course students can contact all identified trees and through a mobile phone can opt for more information. At the beginning of next year, we want to invite a group of deaf students to come to the garden and have the experience of knowing more about our garden.
All our project is followed and published through blog and news on the page and facebook of the school. We share our project with the rest of the community by publishing it in a municipal newsletter.