Remember when, as children, we dreamed of having classes outside instead of counting clouds through the window? Well, someone finally turned that dream into reality, because nature isn’t just for walks, it’s also for quality learning!
On October 2nd, as part of the International Scientific conference 14th days of primary schools – from science to the classroom, the workshop “Eco-awareness – outdoor classroom activities” was held at the Faculty of Humanities. The workshop opened participants’ eyes and took them back to childhood, where learning through play and exploration was the only real learning. The workshop was part of the VolonTERRA – Active schools initiate change project.
Who led this adventure
The workshop was led by Margita Radman, m.sc. in biology and ecology, Head of the Education and Information department at Sunce, and Vedrana Šilović, m.ed. in biology and chemistry, a biology and chemistry teacher at Osnovna škola Brda.
Their mission? To convince teachers and students that nature is not just a place for school trips and Instagram photos, but a real treasure full of knowledge, ideas, and… insects! And believe us, once you see how excited everyone was to build insect hotels and participate in educational games, it becomes clear that this workshop was not only educational but also a mini adventure to remember.
Why insects?
Before building the mini insect hotels (yes, you read that right!), it was important to understand why insects are so important. Insects are the “invisible superheroes” of nature: they pollinate plants, including many we consume, feed birds and other animals, and participate in decomposing organic matter, keeping soil fertile and healthy. Without them, ecosystems would be severely disrupted, and many food chains broken. Insects are neither good nor bad—they are simply essential to life on Earth, making their protection truly valuable.
Workshop plan: building insect hotels
The workshop lasted only 45 minutes, but it was 45 minutes filled with knowledge and fun. Through an introductory presentation, Margita and Vedrana quickly explained the project activities: educational modules for educators and the goals of the workshop: how to use nature as a classroom and why outdoor activities are so important.
Teachers and students divided into small groups to create their mini-insect hotels using natural materials like twigs, leaves, reeds, and pebbles. All materials were collected by volunteers from Sunce through the European Solidarity Corps.
One of the frames for the hotels turned out to be quite challenging, giving participants a good workout as they struggled to hammer in the pins—proving that the workshop was also a mini arm-strength training session!
Sorting game and learning through play
After building their mini-hotels, teachers and students engaged in a “sorting” game where they had to categorize animals and insects by the number of legs! Professor Bulić shared a helpful tip for easier memorization: insects have 3 pairs of legs, spiders have 4, and crustaceans have 5. There was no shortage of ideas for adapting this simple game for students of different ages.
At the end, everyone reflected on how to apply the learned concepts in their teaching and received digital educational materials from the VolonTERRA – active schools initiate change project. Now they have everything at hand for inspiration and practical use.
Impact and takeaways
Teachers and students agreed that this was a refreshing and highly successful experience. They took home not only practical teaching ideas and activities but also new energy to create “living” classrooms in harmony with nature. This workshop demonstrated that small, thoughtful actions—like building insect hotels—are actually big steps toward preserving our planet.
Why this workshop matters
In a time when environmental issues are front and center, such workshops not only raise awareness but provide concrete tools for action. Empowered with new knowledge and ideas, teachers and students can better connect students with nature, encourage exploration, and instill responsibility for the environment. Most importantly, it shows that learning can be fun, creative, and active. You too can take part—perhaps build your own mini insect hotel this weekend in your yard or local park. Nature and insects will thank you!
The workshop is part of a larger project funded by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU), implemented in cooperation between Sunce and the Regional Center for Education in Hollen – RUZ Hollen. Other project participants included Osnovna škola Brda, Permakultura Dalmacija, the Faculty of Humanities in Split, the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy in Split, and the School of Design, Graphics, and Sustainable Construction.
