Bee Green

<< Background >>The participating organizations felt there is a lot of room to improve our knowledge on the topic of environment and the importance of bees for achieving sustainability. We are all aware that bees and other insects have an important role to pollinate plants and ensure food for the humankind. Although raising awareness and education about this topic starts in our kindergartens/primary schools, there is lack in the adult education, especially in regards of having an appropriate lesson plan. For this reason we decided to research this topic and prepare a lesson plan for a 30-hour informal program. We also decided that art is a good means of raising awareness so we also issued two art calls and prepared exhibitions. We made sure that all of these project activities were shared with wider public and educators. We also wanted to learn from eachother by sharing good practice examples and for this reason we planned three mobilities and visited Slovakia, Slovenia and Italy to exchange ideas, connect beekeepers and strenghten our partnership.<< Objectives >>We wanted to research how much knowledge do adults have on the topic of bees and their importance for the environment. One of the objectives was to prepare a lesson plan to educate adults about this topics. We wanted to research the field with two questionnaires and prepare a survey analysis. We also wanted to research the literature available in project countries and prepare a list of bibliography. We also wanted to raise awareness about the topic through art by issuing two art calls and preparing exhibitions of these art pieces. We also wanted the partners to meet in person, visit each other and see the examples of good practices. << Implementation >>During the project, we successfully implemented six project activities, including visits of good practices in Slovakia, research of the field, teacher training in Slovenia, preparation of the lesson plan, art workshops, art calls and exhibition and handbook. First of all, we researched the field by preparing surveys which were the basis for our lesson plan. Later on, we prepared a lesson plan for a 30-hour non-formal program that can be adapted to the needs of each individual mentor. We issued two art calls and received many beautiful and interesting art pieces that were put on exhibitions. The best art pieces will later be put on display within a bigger Artist Book exhibition in Italy. We also prepare a beautiful handbook A Bee World which can be used for various subjects but with the emphasis on bees. Although not planned within project activites, the Italian partner prepared three childern's books that can be used by teachers when teaching childern about the topic of bee lives. The visits to all project partners were organized to visit good practices in beekeeping and teaching about bees. << Results >>During the project we prepared two questionnaires, one for adults and one for educators and prepared the survey analysis of the replies. Based on this analysis, we then prepared a lesson plan for a 30-hour non-formal program that can be used in adult education. Both of these outputs are written in English, Slovene, Italian and Slovak. We also published two art calls and organized exhibitions of the art work received.We also prepared a handbook which includes various topics that include diverse bee lives. The topics cover Math, langauges, literature, natural sciences, architecture and other.