ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : FIELD TRIP 253
to locate and list resource visitors to the classroom, to assist with field trips and surveys and
to develop the Environment programmed generally. Parents’ participation in the school
programmed is also an intrinsically rewarding process for them. They know what is going
on in the school and what is expected of their wards. When the parents of the children in
his charge appreciate the work of a teacher, it gives him encouragement and inspires him
towards better and greater efforts. Thus, parent-teacher associations serve as two-way
channels of communication between school and Environment.
In these associations, parents meet the pupils in the school and relate their experiences.
Their success serves, as mottos and failures as eye-openers for the pupils. When they ‘talk’
to children in the school the gulf between and Environment is bridged.
The experiences from the parents may be used in socio-drama in which children play
the role of parents and other important characters of the Environment. The characters acted
out by the children can be made use of in teaching to give factual information regarding
skills, biographical comparisons, local customs and individual’s peculiarities. It can be a rich
source of conveying social, economic and moral values.
- Social service activities
The school furniture; the rooms, the playgrounds, the school hall, the school gymnasium
and audio-visual aids may be lent to the adult Environment for purposes of education and
recreation. School can be made the centre of social education. Bulletin Boards may be set
up, containing daily news and other useful information about the local Environment in
particular and the country in general..
- Celebration of festivals and national days
Environmental Science teaching can be improved with the help of fairs, festivals and
national days celebrated in the Environment. Every child is told about the significance of
these social events, which provide opportunities for dynamic, interesting and real life learning.
Celebrations of the birth and death anniversaries of great men like Janm-Ashtami, Good
Friday, Easter Day, Shabe Barat, Id-ul-Zuha, etc, make the children familiar with the noble
ideas and deeds of the great men. These can tell the children about the different religions
and the beliefs of India. Familiarity with them can develop in the children a noble ideal of
toleration and a spirit of accommodation. Cultural festivals like Raksha Bandhan may help
to give an insight to the children into Indian culture. Festivals like Lohri and Basant
Panchami, national days and U.N. Day, Human Rights Day and Red Cross Day may develop
international understanding and make the children understand the life of human beings
allover the world. Celebration of Children’s day may enable them to realize their own
charter of rights. Observance of Social Education Day may show them the magnitude of
illiteracy in our country.
- Local fairs and festivals
A number of local fairs and festivals are celebrated in every locality. These can enlighten
the pupils about the local traditions and local customs. Interesting talks may be arranged
on how to celebrate local fairs.