SchoolsEstela RomeroDecember 14, 2021

Learning nature in a ludic but realistic way

SchoolsEstela RomeroDecember 14, 2021

THE STORY

“José María Morelos y Pavón” Elementary

“La Cantera” Village

“El Rosario” Sanctuary

Coordinates: 19.5846736 -100.2908739

In our lesson topic delivered this season to schools surrounding the hibernation spots of monarch butterflies, “the importance of trees,” children have been shocked to see at the satellite map shown to them in class. It shows that “El Rosario” Sanctuary and “Sierra Chincua” Sanctuary have the largest Oyamel fir tree forests in the world.

“Wow, now we can understand why so many foreign people visit the Sanctuaries.”

“…and the more trees in our forests, the more they will provide us with resources for living!”

“…and the denser and larger they are, the more rain they will “call” from the oceans!”

“…the better they will regulate the climate and keep it in equilibrium!”

“It is like a large wall protecting us but at the same time it is like a thick and large sponge retaining huge amounts of water and humidity providing plenty of resources to live!”

…students made enthusiastic and really insightful questions!

For a few a couple of years now at the Sanctuaries, we have been observing a very different behavior in monarchs. They occupy areas in December that they usually occupy in February and they appear to be much too active.

“Is it possible that our region, due to global warming, is now undergoing a change in climate conditions after hundreds of years of being a rather very cold and rainy region?”

“How would our life change if this would happen?”

“Is something similar happening in Canada and the United States where monarchs breed?”

“In what way will their habitat be affected by this in the north?

Students were encouraged to formulate these questions at the end of the lesson, having learned several facts and challenges which monarchs are undergoing now. The conservation of our Oyamel fir forests is the most immediate, effective and permanent equilibrium for such a challenge.

The donation of two different titles of books at every single school was made possible by the “Monarch Butterfly Fund.” The content of these books is exclusively on “the importance of trees” and “the function of the forest,” a critical topic to the schools surrounding the monarchs’ overwintering spots.

“These books are of great help to us, since they are exclusively designed for young students illustrating these two topics in a ludic, wonderful way to encourage interest in the topic.”

…teachers express their appreciation for the books at every visit!