The toolbox

Teacher training

Outdoor school, Geopark resources... Every year, the Park, in partnership with the French Education Ministry (rectorats, CANOPE, etc.), offers training courses as part of its Training Plans. You will find below the training sheets (updated each year). Don't hesitate to discuss them with your academic advisor.

Teaching tools for projects with pupils

The geology film

Travel back through 600 million years of history in 8 minutes to understand how the landscapes of the Normandy-Maine Geopark were formed.

Educational pack: I dare geology in primary school

This educational tool for primary and lower secondary school teachers provides a complete geology booklet, firstly to reinforce teachers' knowledge and secondly to provide activity sheets to help pupils discover geology in a fun way. You can borrow the kit from the Park and Geopark Centre or download the contents below.

Télécharger les outils

For further information, please contact:
Laëtitia MARIE +33 (0)2 33 81 75 71

A participatory observatory: Vigie terre

Vigie-Terre has been developed by the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. It is open to all those interested in nature, from beginners to the most experienced, who will form the network of volunteer observers. It aims to mobilise and involve all sections of the public in order to gain a better understanding of the geological diversity of France.

The backpack for the very young

It is designed for early childhood educators and nursery school teachers and includes :

- A booklet explaining the benefits of getting young children out into nature

- 50 activity sheets divided into 4 stages of progression: independent play - taking advantage of a situation - organised activities - nature activities

- The materials needed to carry out the activities

Lily educational pack

The aim of this trunk, designed for children aged 3 to 7, is to help children discover their surroundings (ordinary nature) by using their senses.

They will explore the natural environment by learning about nature. They will discover insects, and more specifically the ant, which uses its antennae as sensory sensors.

The Lily trunk is available at the Maison du Parc et du Géoparc in Carrouges. It can be used on site or hired (free of charge) for a specified period. The activities are designed for groups of 5 children maximum. The trunk can be used independently, thanks to the booklet provided inside.

Participatory science/ School nature watch

Launched in 2010, Vigie-Nature École is a participatory science programme aimed at monitoring ordinary biodiversity. For teachers, it's an opportunity to take part in a research programme as part of a comprehensive scientific approach. As they take part in the protocols, pupils learn more about the biodiversity around them and hone their observation skills.

By encouraging "out of school classes", participatory science offers an alternative teaching method. The teacher does not provide knowledge, but rather a process of co-construction: pupils discover things for themselves.

Several possible observatories: Operation Snails - Garden Birds - Earthworms - Wild Things in My Street - Vigie-chiro - The Spipoll - Lichen Go!

Tree planting: The forest comes to school

Planting in BarentonTrees are a constituent element of the Normandie-Maine landscape, with its forests and hedged farmland, and they are also a landscape of the future for this region. Trees are one of the challenges facing the region, and they also help to anticipate the consequences of climate change. They provide a habitat for biodiversity and help to reduce pollution. Trees are also very much at home in schools, providing a shady area to combat the heat islands in playgrounds that are often too bare.

The "Forest at school" scheme provides an opportunity for educational planting.

Educational planting is a high point in a project involving trees or hedgerows. The act of planting is symbolic for the pupils, enabling them to learn by doing. It's a moment that will stay with your pupils for a long time and is very often the start of a new awareness.

Organise a climate mural

Climate change is a complex collective problem, but one that is still poorly understood by the general public. In just 3 hours, the collaborative workshop "La Fresque du Climat" (Climate Fresco) will help you to understand the essentials of climate issues so that you can take action.

For more information, contact:
Laëtitia MARIE +33 (0)2 33 81 75 71

Clima’kit

The ClimaKit is made up of teaching tools developed by Edu'climat and adapted to different levels. It is designed to enable you to organise workshops on your own, and to provide you with the tools you need to tackle the subjects of energy, the environment and climate change with your pupils.

These workshops are designed to be fun, participative and interactive.

Local policies

Normandie

The Normandy Region offers a regional programme of educational initiatives for schools through various projects:

• Génération demain: An educational programme based on a documentary film, enabling young people to get involved in various issues relating to sustainable development.
• ECHO: An educational programme on the Sustainable Development Goals in Normandy.
• The secondary school of the future: As part of its Sustainable Secondary School Plan, the Normandy Region, in partnership with the Rectorat, supports secondary schools in Normandy that are involved in comprehensive sustainable development initiatives.

Pays de la Loire

The Region wishes to support the success of secondary school students in the Pays de Loire by encouraging their commitment, their spirit of responsibility, their sense of civic responsibility, their entrepreneurial spirit and their creativity, and by extending the educational initiatives of the members of the educational community. The region offers a number of educational initiatives (schools in project mode / young people getting involved)

Département de la Manche

The Classes Planète Manche scheme enables pupils to benefit from the recognised skills of one of the approved environmental education associations that complement public education. The scheme is open to primary schools.

Département de l’Orne

As part of its policy on sensitive natural areas, the département encourages schools and other establishments to discover the wealth of its natural heritage by covering part of the costs of the activities (€30 remains to be paid by establishments in the département).

Département de la Sarthe

Each year, the department launches a challenge for public and private secondary schools based on cooking and sustainable development: "Le DEFI des éco-marmitons sarthois" (The Sarthe eco-marmitons challenge), which also aims to raise children's awareness of the need to preserve sites classified as Sensitive Natural Spaces and their species. Through this call for projects aimed at schools in the Sarthe, from CP to 6ème, the Département is helping children to discover this remarkable natural heritage.

Département de la Mayenne

The departmental council has decided to support public and private secondary schools with a call for initiatives entitled "Découvre la nature" ("Discover nature").

Further information on +33 (0)2 43 59 96 22