2020

JSC "Latvia's State Forests" Offers Forest Education Materials for Distance Learning

In order to give children an opportunity to explore forest by learning remotely during the period of emergency, JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM) has prepared new electronically available materials about forest for schools. The materials complement the wide range of teaching aids, where children of all ages will find lessons suitable for them.

Since 27 April, pre-school students within the framework of LVM's eco-programme “Pigman’s Detectives” (Cūkmena detektīvi) have an opportunity to watch Pigman’s video lessons, where children learn to distinguish between bad and good things in nature, following steps of “detectives”. Every working day, a new video is published on the  Pigman's Facebook page and on the website www.cukmens.lv, with the help of which children can acquire one of the four eco-programme topics together with their parents, additionally using printable worksheets. According to Līga Abizāre, LVM Communication Project Manager, from 27 April to 1 June, children are encouraged to send in photos of their completed “Pigman’s Detective” work to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.%20">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and Pigman himself will draw surprise prize winners from all submitted works, by publishing a special video on 5 June. 

Primary school students have an opportunity to go in nature and do interdisciplinary independent research work, using the improved study material “Tree Passport” (Koka pase). It contains ten worksheets for ten different subjects on tree research and the identifier of ten common tree species “Kokmīļu ABCD” (Wood Lovers’ ABCD). Students can download the material here and print it out, and teachers can also find the methodological instructions for filling in the “Tree Passport” published in the previously prepared methodological tool Explore the Forest. These worksheets are best suited for 3rd–6th grade students, but they will also be interesting for younger children and their parents.

Work has begun on the development of a new digital teaching material for 5th–7th grade students – it will be an electronic guide to safe and responsible recreation in nature “Let's Head to the forest” (Laižam mežā!). With its help, students will be able to complete tasks and receive feedback in an interactive way in the next school year. A new teaching and methodological tool “Forester” (Mežotājs) is being prepared for 8th–9th grade students, using which students will learn the basics of sustainable forestry in the form of a game.

LVM reminds that already now schools can use other electronically available teaching materials about forest in the distance learning process:

1. Interactive cycle of forest management
2. A video story about LVM activities “Forest for People”
3. Video story “Find Your Way” about training and career opportunities in the forest industry
4. Methodological tool for improving students' entrepreneurship about the forest “Bio-economy in Schools”

Students are also encouraged to follow the progress of eagle nesting on-line: https://www.lvm.lv/sabiedribai/web-kameras and relax in nature responsibly. LVM has been practicing education for young people for more than ten years and, together with education experts, implements curricula for children of all ages in schools throughout Latvia – from primary school students to university graduates. More than 20 000 participants take part in LVM school programmes every year. For more information see www.lvm.lv/skolam.