Implementation of “Garbage Museum” (SOI-TR-290)
Author: Emine KALE, Science Teacher
School/Organization: Müjdeci İmam Hatip Secondary School
The scenario of the Garbage Museum (LS-TR-734), created by İnci Ayrancıoğlu, offers the opportunity to increase the environmental awareness of students within the scope of Sustainable Development Goals and to convey this to the individuals in the environment. The main reason we chose this learning scenario is that it overlaps with the topic of Household Waste and Recycling in the 7th-grade Science curriculum. The fact that this scenario is different from the usual procedures based on the textbook, and museums, which are one of out-of-school learning environments, are the reasons why we apply this scenario. Museums, which are one of out-of-school learning environments, have a very important place in terms of education. However, students studying in many village schools with transportation problems graduate without experiencing the atmosphere of a museum. With this learning scenario, students and individuals living in this environment will have experienced this atmosphere, and we will have increased environmental awareness.
The implementation context
I applied this scenario to 25 students in the age group of 12 studying in a village secondary school in Türkiye. I first explained the Eurapeana project to the students online. Then I introduced the Europeana portal and its content. The students examined the content of the Europeana portal with their families at home, and thus their families got to know the Europeana portal. Some of the activities were done online and some of them were done face-to-face. The durations were generally suitable, but there were minor problems in the internet-based parts since the application was in the village school.
The narrative
First of all, we examined the changes in the world such as Carbon Dioxide, Global Temperature, and Sea Level on NASA’s website with the students. The state of the danger facing our planet has been revealed. Students brainstormed on what can be done to save our planet from this situation and offered solutions. They got some ideas on this topic by examining the Europeana portal at home. Students presented their design ideas to create a museum. They used their STEAM skills while making their designs. To create our museum, we collected garbage, which is our main material, both from the school garden and around the school. In this process, they became aware of how polluted our environment is and the most discarded waste. We created art using the shadow effect from the garbage we collected. To create a better effect on this art, we created a story concert that tells the life process of garbage. We added this story recital to this code by creating a QR code. Visitors to the museum will be able to visit the museum with this story by having this code read on their phones. Thus, they experienced the atmosphere of the museum both visually and musically. In addition, game-based activities were held to increase environmental awareness. Students gave information to the younger age groups about the importance of recycling both inside and outside the school and how to use the recycling bins to create this awareness. In the last part of the application, the students wrote letters to nature, promising to protect it and use it cleanly, and exhibited these letters in the museum.
Photos taken during activities
Learning outcomes
Students developed their 21st-century skills with this scenario. They also supported these skills by using STEAM domains. The objectives of the scenario were fulfilled and the students learned how to use the Europeana portal and how to access information. By bringing the museum into the school, they enabled many people to experience the museum atmosphere. In addition, since this practice took place in a village school, the people of the village became acquainted with an artistic atmosphere. This made them realize their artistic skills. It has increased the environmental awareness of both themselves and their relatives. In short, they both saw and showed how to create a treasure out of garbage.
Outcomes for the educator
This scenario was different from the usual textbook-based procedures, and it was extremely exciting and motivating for me as well as the students. Europeana activities were used frequently and students saw the difference and efficiency of researching different portals. Using the art and science digital heritages of the Europeana portal in the lesson has taken the lesson out of the ordinary and made the lesson more quality. My other colleagues at the school got acquainted with the Europeana portal and started to use it as a resource in their lessons.
Did you find this story of implementation interesting? Why don’t you read about the related learning scenario? Garbage Museum created by İnci Ayrancıoğlu
Did you find this story of implementation interesting? You might also like:
- Take aim at climate change, by Emine Ertas
- STEAM in the Water Cycle by Anna Maria Gauci
- Implementation of ‘Take Aim of Climate Change’ by Marcin Jablonski
Do you want to discover more stories of implementation? Click here.
Public Domain 1.0: the featured image used to illustrate this article has been found on Europeana and has been provided by the Rijksmuseum.