AlgoKidz: Bringing the world of algae, the sea, and sustainability to children
Postat den 14th September, 2020, 09:04 av caliac
For several years, researchers in our MPEA group’s Algoland project have researched the ability of algae to clean flue gas from air and clean water from nitrogen and phosphorus. Now, we are bringing the world of algae, the sea and sustainability to children in Sweden and beyond with our new outreach project: AlgoKidz aimed at children aged preschool to grade 3.
This past Friday, 11th September, AlgoKidz was launched in the third grade classes of Lindöskolan in Kalmar, where students learned and sang about Algo, the big little superhero who lives in the sea. They even had the pleasure to taste some green “Algo Shots,” which received mixed reviews from the taste-testers!
The AlgoKidz project is designed to be an educational toolbox for teachers of young children. It includes a homepage with the story about Algo, from which teachers can download coloring books, stories, stickers, a filmed educational program where Catherine teaches about algae in a way children can understand, and even a music video starring MPEA and EEMiS’s very own researcher, Christien Laber! The material is free to use for everyone and completely free of charge.
The idea of integrating art with science is not a new one, but one that we are implementing in a wholly original way, incorporating music, art and digital elements to engender ocean literacy for a new generation of thinkers, researchers and world citizens.
“This was the starting shot and we have a few more school visits planned, but the idea with Algo Kidz is that you as an educator can use the material in your teaching on your own, says Catherine. “Algo Kidz is a good example where science and art work together to increase water knowledge.”
The research that forms the basis for Algo Kidz is conducted within Linnaeus University’s project Algoland, Marine Phytoplankton Ecology and Applications, Eemis, and Knowledge Environment: Water. The project is based on the exhibition “Microalgae – The environmental heroes of our time,” which is produced and curated by the LNU’s The Cultural University.
AlgoKidz is a great way to kick off the UN #DecadeofOceanScience !
See some photos from the AlgoKidz launch party!
Link to Algo Kidz website: https://lnu.se/algokidz
Link to: Christien Laber’s Music of Science webpage
Link to LNU Press release: https://lnu.se/mot-linneuniversitetet/aktuellt/nyheter/2020/nytt-skolmaterial-ska-lara-barn-hur-mikroalger-kan-rena-luft-och-hav/
P4Kalmar Förmiddag med Kalle Johansson, interview with Christien Laber, AlgoKidz launch https://sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/1565071
Time 04.50 till 24.10
Contact and more information about the project
Catherine Legrand, Professor of Marine Ecology, 070-438 06 18, catherine.legrand@lnu.se
Christina Dahlgren, artium director, 070-572 26 56, christina.dahlgren@lnu.se
Caroline Littlefield Karlsson, coordinator, 0732318660
Det här inlägget postades den September 14th, 2020, 09:04 och fylls under Outreach and Sustainability