Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest Educational Programme
Following last weekend’s activities, the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest, one of our Role Models, continues its educational programme. On the weekend of 19th and 20th of September, children from the local communities will have another opportunity to explore the island’s natural heritage and be inspired by it.
On Saturday 19h September, children will become young researchers and study both the fossilized and the present-day plants of Lesvos island by participating at the educational programme “Discover the plants of Lesvos”. They will explore the plant fossils of the Lesvos Petrified Forest in the museum’s permanent exhibition halls and afterwards visit its outdoor botanical garden to observe the plant species that grow today in the island. They will collect information, record it on the educational sheets, process it and draw their conclusions about the past and current vegetation of the island and the climate changes in the last 20,000,000 years. Then, they will get to know all the necessary steps to start their own Plant Collection and learn how to dry plants and flowers and create with simple materials a herbarium to store and protect their collection.
On Sunday 20th September the educational programme “Land Art” will be implemented at the museum’s facilities. During the educational programme children have the chance to discover the art movement called Land Art and its main representatives. Land Art, also known as Earth Art or Environmental Art, refers to art works made of natural materials or made in the outdoors as part of the landscape in order to interact with nature. It is associated with the environmental movement as it highlights the relationship of humans with nature. After discovering Land Art pieces and the different materials that can be used at this art form, children explore the island’s landscape walking around the Museum’s outdoor space in order to be inspired by it and gather a variety of natural materials (rocks, leaves, flowers, branches, sand, shells). Afterwards, they will create together their own artworks using these materials. All their artworks are photographed and then all the natural materials used are returned to nature. At the end of the programme, children discuss environmental issues and what they can do during their everyday life to protect the surrounding nature.
Both the educational programmes are addressed to children from 6 to 12 years old. During their implementation all the health protocols for Covid-19 are strictly followed!
