Students at Farsund Primary School have been part of the Alcoa W5 project for several years now, so this year, they decided to get everyone involved! To kick-off their Environment Week, a whole-school Action Day was organized for all 340 students to participate in.
Sitting between two fjords, Farsund Primary School is part of the Farsund Municipality located in the south of Norway. The surrounding landscape is made up of peninsulas, islands, fjords and straits, with several nature conservation areas nearby. Inspired by Farsund Secondary School, students at Farsund Primary School decided to launch their school’s project week with a whole-school day of action on World Environment Day on the 5th of June.
Their Action Day started with a celebration and the raising of the school’s Green Flag. Throughout the morning, there were several activities including throwing seed balls, smoothies made by the Eco-Committee with surplus fruit from the local grocery store, and group art project and several games made from recycled waste products. This kicked-off each grade’s projects for the week.
"A fantastic kick off to a whole week with "environment". The Environment Week creates a unique sense of unity in the school. It feels very meaningful that the whole school works together for a good environment". – Teacher, Farsund Primary School
The 1st graders learned about insects and made an insect hotel from old milk cartons and various natural materials they had found on a walk. In 2nd grade, students learned about wind energy and created a wall newspaper together. The 3rd graders learned about different bird species, including endangered ones and how to protect them. They also studied the connection between littering and threatened birdlife. The 4th graders participated in national fundraising campaign ‘The Battery Hunt’. They successfully collected 185 kilos of batteries and landed in 17th place in Norway! In 5th grade, students learned about flora and fauna found along the beaches, while the 6th graders learned about bees, and even got to visit a beehive and taste some honey. Lastly, the 7th graders learned about renewable energy and wind power, paying a visit to the local windmills.
Through their Action Day and Environment Week, students learned about a variety of topics, with these activities serving to strengthen students’ action competence. It also allowed them to develop a greater appreciation for the richness of nature surrounding them, prompting them to find out ways in which they can help preserve it.
The Alcoa W5 project of Farsund Primary School supports the following SDGs:
