A new educational material for primary school pupils — “Let’s Discover Tree Alleys!” — has been developed in the Green Guardians project. Its aim is to encourage children and teachers to go outdoors, explore tree alleys, and discover both natural and cultural-historical values. The material is designed as a practical and engaging tool for nature studies and environmental exploration lessons for grades 1–4.
What is included in the educational material?
The learning set is freely available electronically in Latvian and in Lithuanian, and consists of two parts:
Teacher Materials
- recommendations on how to prepare for an outdoor lesson;
- explanations about alleys, their formation, and their historical role;
- advice on seasonal observations and children’s safety in nature;
- active outdoor games (relay races, “Guardian of the Alley,” acorn run, etc.);
- creative tasks — determining tree height, exploring natural objects, the Story of the Spirit of the Alley, and creating artworks;
- recommendations on how to link stories and learning content with natural sciences, history, and everyday observations.
Student Worksheets
The worksheets are intended for use directly outdoors — in an alley, park, or near the school. In these worksheets, students:
- learn the parts of a tree;
- color, explore, and compare tree crowns;
- learn about the conditions trees need to grow;
- count the trees growing in an alley and measure distances between them;
- conduct alley research — measuring tree circumference, identifying species, making bark rubbings;
- take part in “Alley Bingo,” searching for natural objects.
The material is designed so that children learn, move, listen, observe, and think — experiencing the learning process through all their senses.
As the authors of the material emphasize — caring for nature begins with getting to know it. By visiting alleys, children learn to appreciate, notice, and protect them.
We invite teachers to use the educational material “Let’s Discover Tree Alleys!” in nature studies and environmental exploration lessons, going outside the classroom and allowing children to experience nature in real life — to see, feel, hear, and explore it.
The material is an excellent resource for fostering interest in the environment, spending time in fresh air, and strengthening children’s curiosity.
