Kids Teaching Kids
On Tuesday the 10th September, 80 primary school students from eight schools within the Murrindindi Shire came together to share their environmental stories, to teach, to learn, to grow.
Each school had worked for several months planning and preparing presentations which represented the environmental progams running at their schools.
A coordinated effort from ‘Landcare in Schools’ coordinators Nicola Woolford and Cath Olive brought the program to life in honour of well respected and loved local Flowerdale identity Pete Auty.
The concept was about kids teaching each other. Each school presented their projects to another school with topics including composting, edible native plants, developing a butterfly attracting garden, recycling, protecting the Leadbeater’s Possum, how to pot up seedlings, and Pete’s Patch.
With only guidance from their teachers, the kids have developed their presentations themselves and presented in an interesting, creative and mature fashion.
To assist with entertainment on the day, Roberto the ex-tram conductor from ‘the Connies’ was there enthralling the kids with his knowwledge of native flora and fauna and handing out swap cards. Fern Hames from the Arthur Rylah Institute was on hand with some fascinating fish facts and games, Kirsten from Water Watch was there with some invertebrates and the Haven wildlife rescue team came along with a wombat, a python and a macaw, all of which had the kids enthralled!
The Kids Teaching Kids program is a national event which has involved 66,000 students over the last several years. Sponsored by Target and developed by father and son team Richard and Aaron Wood, Kids Teaching Kids is an education model that uses local environmental issues as a theme for learning. This year was the first time the forum has been presented in the Murrindindi Shire. The great success of the day ensures that we will host more forums into the future!
Thank you to all participating schools and teachers and to Cath and Nic for a fabulous event. Well done kids!