Green Bingo – Sixth Workshop of the Eco Patrols.
On May 24, 2025, the sixth workshop of the project “Kornati – It’s Important to Know About the Sea,” which is part of Argonauta’s Eco-Patrol program, was held at the premises of the Vodice Elementary School. This project aims to raise awareness about the importance of nature and environmental conservation and to develop responsible attitudes towards sustainable development among students.
During the activity “How Many Trees Have You Planted?”, students learned about the importance of forests and the role of trees in oxygen production and maintaining natural balance. They imagined and summed up the number of trees they would plant, with the final total reaching 267. Based on this number, they discussed how much oxygen trees produce and how many are needed for a family to have enough oxygen throughout the year.
Through this activity, students discovered that trees provide other essential benefits besides oxygen — they purify the air, cool the space, absorb water, and create habitats for numerous species. The activity encouraged them to think about environmental protection and their own contribution through planting trees. They were surprised by the real oxygen needs and the number of trees required, and enthusiastically expressed their readiness to plant as many trees as they envisioned.
As part of the “Green Bingo” activity, children participated in an educational and fun game that encouraged exploration of nature and caring for the environment. The activity was conducted near Vodice Elementary School, where students collected various natural and discarded items from the surroundings through play. During their search, children eagerly looked for plants, pebbles, leaves, and even litter, which they cleaned up along the way, demonstrating responsibility and care for nature.
They especially enjoyed completing tasks from the green bingo card, and the activity excited them, promoting teamwork and outdoor activity. At the end, they proudly showed the collected items, and some stayed longer in nature because they found it so fun.
In the activity “Green Bingo in Practice,” students made their own compasses and completed tasks related to closed ecosystems and insect models. This activity aimed to encourage understanding of the water cycle, the importance of orientation in space, and awareness of ecological processes. Children enthusiastically made compasses using water, a needle, and a magnet, and were surprised at how accurate their handmade compasses turned out to be. The activity was both educational and fun, showcasing the students’ curiosity and engagement in solving tasks.
During the “Ecosystem in a Jar” workshop, children had the opportunity to learn about ecosystems and sustainability principles through a practical activity of creating their own closed ecosystem in a jar. Using soil, plants, and stones, participants designed self-sustaining systems capable of functioning without external influence.
Throughout the activity, children learned about the water cycle, the importance of sunlight for photosynthesis, and the role of plants in creating oxygen and microclimates within closed systems. They also reflected on the impact of human activities on the environment and learned ways to reduce their carbon footprint through everyday habits.
The workshop stimulated curiosity, creativity, and teamwork. Children built insect models from natural materials and wrote thank-you notes for the houses they made. The activity elicited great enthusiasm among the children, especially impressed by the visual results they created themselves.
Students participated in a photo contest designed to encourage reflection on sustainability and ecology through photography. Using their mobile phones, they took pictures of everyday scenes symbolizing environmental care, community, and recycling. The activity successfully promoted ecological awareness, digital skills, and creativity.
In the final “Evaluation” activity, students expressed their satisfaction with the workshop. Although they are aware they won’t plant the number of trees they imagined in their lifetime, they became more conscious of the importance of forests. Most students successfully made a compass, and their favorite workshops were the compass-making and the ecosystem in a jar activity.
The project is led by the Association for Nature and Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Argonauta, with partners including the Municipality of Murter-Kornati; Vodice Elementary School; the Spužvica Kindergarten in Tisno; the Center for Education and Upbringing Šubićevac Šibenik; the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb; the Kamenčići Association in Šibenik; NP Kornati National Park; the Association for Helping People with Intellectual Difficulties “Latice”; and the “Juraj Bonači” Education and Training Center in Split. The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Science, Education, and Youth.
