TEMA Foundation, in cooperation with the Ministry of National Education (MEB), prepared the “climate change education” portal, a first in Turkey. Climate TEMA Education Portal (iklimtema.org) will enable children to raise awareness about climate change, the effects of which we feel more and more every day, through teachers.
TEMA Foundation, which has been carrying out projects on climate change for all segments of society, especially children, youth and women, is now bringing the Climate TEMA Education Portal (iklimtema.org) together with teachers within the scope of the Climate Change Education and Awareness Project carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of National Education.
The portal was hosted by TEMA Foundation Chairman of the Board Deniz Ataç on Tuesday, May 2, and the Head of Research-Development and Projects Department of the Ministry of National Education Dr. Ayşe Kula and TEMA Foundation Board Member Dr. It was announced to the public at a press conference held at the Headquarters of the Foundation in Istanbul, with the participation of Özgür Bolat.
Educational content on the portal will be open to all teachers
Developed for pre-school, primary and secondary school levels and prepared for teachers on climate change education, the portal is a first in Turkey. Teachers who become members of 'iklimtema.org', which includes content compatible with the curriculum, will have easy access to all educational content and supporting materials.
On the portal, nearly 60 activity instructions that can be applied with children, 15 presentations, nearly 25 posters, 3 educational films and expert articles, as well as 5 e-books will be available to teachers. Teachers who implement the activities will also have e-certificates special to their names.
They will be made to think about climate change.
Deniz Ataç, Chairman of the TEMA Foundation, drawing attention to the importance of ecological literacy, that is, the relationship between human and nature in climate change education, said, “Children are not only responsible for climate change; They need to learn to fight against all ecological crises such as drought, loss of biodiversity, pollution caused by waste, today and in the future. We want children to adapt to these new situations and find solutions to the new crises that climate change will create. For this, starting from a very early age, children can learn how nature works, for example; We need to enable people to understand the water cycle, how a plant grows, the importance of bees for nature, and the negative effects of humans on this process," he said.
Teachers play a key role in climate change education
Stating that the way to the heart in nature education is through the paths opened by teachers, Deniz Ataç said, “It is very critical for teachers to get to know nature closely in order to raise awareness in children about nature education. We can see how great a teacher's influence is in the life of our Founder, Mr. Hayrettin Karaca. He used to say; 'I have loved oak since primary school. Teachers were telling us about trees. Those trees were oaks, and the work started from there…' And this love of trees has led a world-class naturalist to come out of Turkey," and called on teachers who provide education at pre-school, primary and secondary school levels to become members of the portal.