Dinja Waħda is BirdLife Malta’s education for an ecological program. Going across formal education, from kindergarten through primary and secondary school and up to higher education, Dinja Waħda connects classroom learning with outdoor education through nature. The mission of Dinja Waħda is to bond children with nature and prompt behavioural changes that will eventually lead them to future adults who will treat our planet better than we do today. Over 80% of primary state, church and independent schools take part in Dinja Waħda and a growing number of secondary schools are carrying out Dinja Waħda cross-curricular projects. One of these secondary schools is Guardian Angel Secondary Education Resource Centre. The main subjects that are taking part in this program are Literacy taught by Ms. Joanna Psaila, Literacy/Multi-sensory taught by Ms Stephanie Borg and Numeracy taught by Ms. Nadia Marie Sultana. Lessons within Dinja Waħda program are carried out three or four times a month, depending on what subject is being tackled in class.
Maltese Ftira
Class 8 students had an outdoor activity regarding the Maltese Ftira, which was a cross-curricular approach involving ILS, Home Economics and Literacy and also part of Dinja Waħda. Students were aided to prepare their own ftira. They eventually ate their delicious snack, whilst enjoying some lovely summer weather.
Exploring Nature
During the Dinja Waħda lesson, Class 9 students had the opportunity to explore nature through shapes.
Water Games
Now that the weather is warmer, the students of Class 6 enjoyed some time doing water games on the school grounds as part of the Dinja Waħda Program.
Making a Sandwich – Dinja Waħda
During one of the Dinja Waħda Sessions, Class 9 students had the opportunity to learn and make a sandwich and decided to eat it outside the classroom’s beautiful premises, as the weather was nice and warm.
Letteratura – Dinja Waħda
Din l-attività, marbuta mal-programm Dinja Waħda, saret barra mill-klassi. L-istudenti kellhom ifittxu xi insetti fl-ambjent naturali tal-iskola u jeħdulhom ritratt.
ICT – Dinja Waħda
Students of Class 1 during an ICT lesson. They took photos of natural elements, whilst practicing their camera skills. This is in conjunction with the Dinja Wahda project.
Literacy – Dinja Waħda
Class 4 students had the opportunity to explore their outdoor area and take some photos and also saying simple Maltese sentences to encourage the use of the Maltese language.
Dinja Waħda Treasure Hunt
During the month of March, students from Class 9 had the opportunity to do a nature treasure hunt around the School premises.
**This activity was done before the school closure**
Gardening
Class 5’s student Morgan assisting his father by helping him to plant tomatoes.
Design and Technology
After a series of Design and Technology lessons about animals, today was the time that the students of Class 6 go on a virtual outing to the Petting Farm in Ta’ Qali. This lesson was also part of the Dinja Waħda Program whilst making the best of online teaching.
Numeracy
This Numeracy lesson was delivered as part of the Dinja Waħda program. Class 6 students had to collect some twigs which have already fallen from the trees and use them to practice number writing by dipping the twigs in the paint and write the numbers on the paper.
ICT
Students of Class 1 are consolidating their knowledge on camera skills. During this lesson the students were shown fruits and vegetables that are present around the school and then, afterwards, they had to go find them and take a picture of them. This lesson is part of the Dinja Waħda project.
Literacy
Din l-attività, marbuta mal-programm Dinja Waħda, saret barra mill-klassi. L-istudenti kellhom ifittxu xi affarijiet fl-ambjent naturali tal-iskola, fosthom: bebbuxu żgħir, lumija safra, larinġa kbira, werqa ħadra, ħaxix ħażin, fjura safra, siġra kbira u ħamrija niexfa.
Literacy
Class 1 students doing a Literacy lesson. The students identified and explored objects which are found in nature using the Maltese language. Then the session continued outside in the school grounds where they had to find the same objects and name them, thus consolidating their theoretical knowledge into practice. This lesson was part of the Dinja Waħda project.
Virtual Nature Sessions
Birdlife Malta in collaboration with the Directorate for Learning and Assessment programmes is hosting Dinja Waħda virtual nature sessions. These sessions are in replacement of the physical field visits. Yesterday class 1 held their session. Thank you, Ms Desiree, for this highly interesting session about the Maltese habitat, which featured a blend of wildlife photography and footage of animals that live in water, sea and air.
ICT
Class 2 students did an outdoor treasure hunt to look for Christmas related items. Students pressed the big mac to listen to what they have to look for. Then they looked around the classroom area for different items. After collecting all items, students used the construction bot to move from one item to the other.
Science
During the Science lesson, students from Class 9 planted flower seeds and vetches (ġurbiena) in pots, as part of Dinja Waħda.
ICT
During the ICT lesson, Class 3 students participated in a scavenger hunt. They also gave instructions to the Bee-Bot and Ozobot to move towards leaves and flowers. This lesson was related to the Dinja Waħda project.
ICT
Class 1 – Exploring other devices
Using the Bee-Bots and Ozobots, students were encouraged to count the steps needed to get to the plant and then press them on the Bee-Bot. With the Ozobot, students drew lines and then the robot had to arrive at the destination.
This lesson is related to the Dinja Waħda project.
Bee /Truck Bots
Students learning about Bee Bots and Truck Bots. They are experimenting different surfaces such as, concrete, wood, plastic, grass and soil. They are testing the ones that work and the ones that don’t and why. This lesson is party of the Dinja Wahda project.
Number Value
Students had to give the value of a number using some of the material/resources (rocks) collected in the previous activity.
Natural Materials
During this Numeracy activity the students went around the school grounds and collected resources/material that later on would be used in another activity. The material/resources collected were rocks, pine cones, dried leaves and broken branches.
Senses
The environment around us is full of interesting smells and scents. Students were exposed to different smells found in nature. They also smelt different herbs found in the surroundings. This was part of a Science lesson.
Never Give Up
During the Design and Technology ‘Dinja Wahda’ Activity, the students had to cut some wild flowers and leaves and decorated a quote which was used as a decoration in our classroom.
Addresses
Our students ventured out of school to learn how numbers are used for house identification. Students saw how in every street each property is numbered with a different number. This Numeracy session also focused on Life Skills as students learnt about addresses.
Plants
The students were doing some activities outside in the surrounding garden of the school. These activities were related to plants.
Lions & Tigers
This Numeracy session was held outdoors. Students worked on number recognition skills whilst playing the classic game of Lions & Tigers.
Clean up
The PSCD lesson focused on the negative effects plastic leaves on the environment. The students were encouraged to take part in a mini clean up around the school grounds. Small wrappers and plastic were picked up and disposed off properly. The students took care in washing their hands in class.
Dawra ir-Rabat
Bħala parti mill-programm Dinja Waħda morna dawra bil-ferrovija r-Rabat u l-inħawi tal-madwar. L-istudenti kellhom l-opportunità josservaw l-ambjent naturali filwaqt li jisimgħu kummentarju informattiv. Wara mxejna ftit fil-ġnien li hemm viċin.
Texture
This Design and Technology Dinja wahda activity was held at the Family Park Marsascala. After exploring the whereabouts of the park, the students had the opportunity to explore how certain things found in the park can be used for designing. The students had to put a paper with a design against a textured material rub a crayon. The final design was used to decorate the classroom.’
Plants and trees
During the science lesson the students were learning about different plants and trees. They were exposed to different textures found in tree trunks. To support this, they made some bark rubbing using paper and crayons.
Dun Karm Psaila
Fil-ġimgħat li għaddew, waqt il-lezzjonijiet tal-letteratura, tkellimna dwar il-poeta nazzjonali ta’ Malta Dun Karm Psaila u dwar l-imħabba kbira li kellu lejn Malta. Għaldaqstant, minħabba l-ġranet tant sbieħ li qegħdin jagħmlu ħriġna l-lezzjoni barra u l-istudenti ngħataw l-opportunita’ li jpinġu l-bandiera ta’ Malta biż-żebgħa.
Dawra mal-iskola
Waqt din il-lezzjoni morna dawra fl-iskola. Din il-lezzjoni kellha żewġ għanijiet prinċipali. L-ewwel għan kien sabiex l-istudenti l-ġodda jorjentaw ruħhom mal-ambjent il-ġdid li qegħdin fih din is-sena u t-tieni għan kien sabiex l-istudenti kollha jfittxu jew jieħdu ritratti ta’ xi affarijiet fin-natura, ngħidu aħna siġra, frotta, zokk u werqa.
Matching colours
Students had to match each hula-hoop colour to the same colour-coded cone and throw or drop it accordingly. These activities form part of the Dinja Wahda and Active School projects.
Measuring
The students conducted their science experiments in the school’s gardens.They were measuring the volume of a liquid using a beaker and a measuring jug.
Finger Painting
During Numeracy lessons, students had to choose one particular colour and finger paint one box showing that colour name. This is part of the Dinja Wahda project.
Fruit Printing
During the Design and Technology Dinja wahda activity, the students had the opportunity to explore how things, which are found in nature, namely citrus, different leaves and pine cones can be used to design art work. They dipped the cut pieces into the paint and printed on paper. The final design was used for classroom decoration.
Photo Session & Treasure Hunt
In the past few weeks the students practised their camera skills. They took photos of the various fruit trees that are present at our school, these were printed and made into a collage. Online activities to consolidate the concepts were done afterwards. Following that, this week the students participated in a treasure hunt; the students had to find the hidden big macks and the fruit accordingly. These activities were also linked with Dinja Wahda project.
Scavenger Hunt
As part of the lessons about Table Manners, during Home Economics lessons, students did a Scavenger Hunt for pictorial table manners. A discussion and social story about table manners followed.
Vaganza ħdejn il-baħar jew fil-kampanja?
F’din il-ħarġa marbuta mal-programm Dinja Waħda, l-istudenti kellhom l-opportunità jesperjenzaw żewġ tipi ta’ vaganzi: ħdejn il-baħar u fil-kampanja.
BeeBot
After having seen videos of different flora and fauna found around the Maltese Islands and also having worked on various exercises on the Interactive Whiteboard, the students are being exposed to the Bee Bot. This device is useful in aiding students consolidate concepts of directions and numbers. This is part of the Dinja Wahda Project.
Recording messages in Nature
Students are recording messages in the natural environment of our school. Some students used the Big Mac and press on a pre-recorded message and others recorded it live. This experience is part of the Dinja Wahda project.
Plant Collage
During the Design and Technology lesson, the students of class 7 worked together to make a collage made with plant material. The students first cut some leaves from some trees at school and later they glued them on a paper to form the peace sign. This plant material collage was submitted at the Annual Spring show and competition at San Anton Garden.
Mawra fil-gonna ta’ San Anton
Bħala parti mill-programm Dinja Waħda morna l-ġonna ta’ San Anton. L-għan prinċipali kien sabiex l-istudenti josservaw il-kuluri fin-natura ta’ madwarhom. L-iżjed li spikkaw kienu l-fjuri, però l-istudenti kellhom l-opportunità wkoll li jaraw il-kuluri tal-ħamiem, tal-qtates, tal-papri kif ukoll tal-pagun.
Filtering Water
The students are filtering water from mud. They are observing that the muddy water was coming out clear after passing through the filter paper.
Bottle Garden
During a Design and Technology lesson, three students worked together to make a ‘Bottle Garden’. The students used soil and plants found around the school grounds. This ‘Bottle Garden’ was submitted at the Annual Spring show and competition at San Anton Garden.
It’s all about Eggs!
This literacy lesson was divided into three activities. The first activity was an egg hunt; the students had to look for eggs which were previously hidden in the grass. Afterwards they had to use these eggs to decorate a tree. The last activity was to participate in an egg and spoon race.
Measurements
Lately during Numeracy sessions we have been focusing on Measurements. Our students learnt about heights and lengths. For this activity we went outside the classroom to spot examples and distinguish between short and tall / long things around us.
Feelings
An integral part of the PSCD lesson is the time when the students share how they feel. This particular time is done by gathering the students in the form of a circle. We took the opportunity to do our circle time outside and be one with nature.
Easter Wreath
During the Design and Technology lesson, the students had the opportunity to team up and work on an Easter wreath and a ‘Happy Easter’ sign for their classroom. They used various paint colours and some pine cones.
Profile Pictures
The students took photographs of their friends in our school environment which is surrounded by nature. The photographs were then inserted in the power point presentations that they prepared during ICT lessons in the past few weeks.
Il-Haxix u l-frott
L-ewwel attività f’din il-lezzjoni kienet li l-istudenti jagħżlu l-istampi tal-ħaxix mill-frott. Wara kellhom iduru mal-iskola u jfittxu siġar ta’ ħaxix u frott differenti.
More and Less
Students explored the concept of more and less using various material collected from under the trees of our school. They also revised their number value and number recognition while filling up cups with natural objects collected from our walk in the beginning of the lesson.
Time
Lately our students have been learning about Time. Some sessions were done outdoors for the students to enjoy a different environment and some fresh air whilst doing Numeracy.
Taking videos
During ICT students learned how to take videos; focusing on their subjects and learning how to keep the camera steady were key points during the lessons. A cross-curricular approach was applied with Dinja Wahda project as the videos were all taken outside in nature and the end product was a tree collage.
Cleaning water ducts
As part of the PSCD lesson, the student in the photo had to clean the water ducts in a public garden. Special attention was given in relation to the worms and snails which were in habitation there. These were gently placed in the soil and saved from being thrown away.
Organic Waste
Organic waste was taught during Home Economics lessons and used the school green area to collect dried leaves and rotten fruits.
Shapes
During this activity, students used gym mats, a hula hoop and some flashcards to demonstrate some basic 2-dimensional shapes done in class.
Shapes
Students collected some leaves from around the school. They were assigned a specific 2-dimensional shape and had to do it by gluing the leaves to paper and eventually choose the name of that particular shape to go on top of it.
The Heart
The students are learning about the heart . They were asked to do some exercise using the outside gym.
Different sizes
Students walked round the nature paths in our school. They observed the different trees and compared the different sizes. They compared different type of leaves – big/small. They collected leaves while walking and observing. They also compared their own height. Finally they sat down and ordered the leaves they collected in ascending order.
Online Postcard
In this activity the students took pictures of touristic places in Malta and uploaded them online in order to create an online postcard. The students were taken to two different places, San Anton and Argotti gardens.
Il-Buskett
Din il-ħarġa kienet marbuta mal-programm Dinja Waħda. L-ewwel dorna ftit sabiex l-istudenti jiffamiljarizzaw irwieħhom mal-post u wara kellhom sett t’attivitajiet imħejjija għalihom, fosthom jiġbru xi affarijiet (pereżempju għaxar werqiet li waqgħu mis-siġar), jagħżlu l-istampi tal-affarijiet li jaraw madwarhom u jieħdu ritratti.
Counting using pine cones
For this lesson our pupils used pine cones to create a number line that visually shows how each number increases in size. They loved pine cone picking, counting, matching amounts to numbers and placing them in order. Taking this activity outdoors has made learning more fun whilst enjoying some fresh air.
Living and Non-Living things
The students were asked to find living and non living things. They were guided to pick up some leaves and make a chart out of them. These activities were performed in corroboration with the science topic living and non living.
Plants
The topic being studied is plants. The students placed some peat in some seeding trays and then put some sunflower seeds. They covered the seeds with some peat and then watered them. The seeding pots were placed in a transparent plastic bag to create a green house effect until the seeds start sprouting.
Picture Collage
For this activity, the students watched a power point which guided them through a series of pictures regarding living and non-living things which are found around them. After other various hands on activities, the students were taken out and they themselves, using cameras, took pictures of living and non-living things. Afterwards, they were uploaded and every students created a picture collage with the photos taken.
Fejn ser immorru illum?
Bħala parti mill-programm Dinja Waħda morna l-Belt Valletta. L-ewwel dorna ftit il-ġnien sabiex l-istudenti jiffamiljarizzaw irwieħhom mal-post u wara l-istudenti kellhom sett t’attivitajiet imħejjija għalihom, fosthom jagħżlu l-istampi tal-affarijiet li jaraw madwarhom fil-ġnien u jieħdu xi ritratti.
Feeling different textures in nature
At present the students are experiencing feeling different textures. This exercise shows the different textures found on barks and in nature. They also made some bark rubbing.
Numbers
Students collected fallen leaves and using their creativity, they were able to do different images with a specific number of leaves. Then all images were put on a chart in such a way that each image represented a number from one to ten.
Numbers
During this activity, the students picked up various items such as stones, dried olives and leaves from the school environment to form numbers from one to ten.
Counting
For this numeracy activity students went to a public garden to practice their counting skills. They had to look for specific animals and things. The students also visited the outdoor fitness area where they used counting to keep track of their exercise.
Poeziji
Matul il-lezzjoni tal-letteratura, tajna bidu għall-poeżija t’Anton Buttigieg li ġġib l-isem ta’ Il-Ħolma t’Alla. Din il-poeżija titratta t-tema tan-natura, għaldaqstant, l-istudenti ħarġu barra u osservaw il-ġmiel naturali li jdawwar l-iskola tagħna. Inqrat il-poeżija u nfetħet diskussjoni li dan l-ambjent huwa kollu ħolqien t’Alla u rridu nibżgħu għalih.
Letteratura
Din hija attivita’ oħra li saret waqt il-lezzjoni tal-letteratura u li wkoll hija marbuta mal-proġett ta’ Dinja Waħda. Waqt din l-attivita’, l-istudenti ħarġu barra, intalbu joqogħdu fis-skiet sabiex jisimgħu l-ħsejjes kollha li jisimgħu. Wara pinġew tpinġija astratta kull wieħed li twaħħlet fuq ċart bit-titlu: ‘Il-Ħolma t’Alla: Kulħadd huwa artist, iżda l-ikbar u l-aqwa wieħed huwa Alla.’
Number Recognition
Students explored number value though the use of natural material. They used chalk to imitate a flashcard and found natural objects to use as counters. They also played a matching game to increase the number recognition. All this while exploring and enjoying the nature around us.
Number Value
Students explored number value while enjoying the nature environment . Initially students walked in the surrounding nature while reciting the numbers. Then students found objects from the surrounding nature to put as counters. Finally they made flashcards using leaves as counters.
Designing using trees
During the Design and Technology Dinja wahda activity the students had the opportunity to explore how things that are found in nature, namely trees can be used for designing.
Nature printing
During the Design and Technology Dinja wahda activity the students had the opportunity to explore how things which are found in nature, namely citrus, different leaves and pinecones can be used to design artwork. They dipped the cut pieces into the paint and printed on paper.
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Numeracy: Counting through nature using olives and rocks.
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Is-Sillabi: L-għan ewlieni ta’ din il-lezzjoni kien sabiex l-istudenti jagħrfu kif l-ittri tal-alfabett jingħaqdu sabiex jiffurmaw sillabi u kif dawn is-sillabi flimkien jiffurmaw kelmiet. Bħala parti mill-proġett Dinja Waħda, l-istudenti marru ħarġa edukattiva l-Ġnien ta’ Sant’Anton. Huma osservaw x’hemm madwarhom u għaqqdu s-sillabi skont il-leħħiet mogħtija lilhom.
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Din l-attività saret bħala parti mill-proġett Dinja Waħda. L-istudenti ngħataw leħħiet bi stampi differenti u huma kellhom ifittxuhom madwarhom. Wara għażluhom skont jekk jibdewx bil-konsonanti xemxin jew bil-konsonanti qamrin.
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Waqt il-lezzjonijiet tal-Letteratura, iddiskutejna l-poeżija ‘ Ġejja x-Xita’ tal-poetessa Mary Meilak. Sabiex jifhmu aktar il-kunċett tal-poeżija, l-istudenti ġew mitluba jagħmlu tiftixa fl-ambjent naturali tal-iskola għal xi insetti, annimali u oġġetti oħra li jissemmew fil-poeżija.
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Bħala parti mill-proġett Dinja Waħda, l-istudenti ngħataw leħħiet li jinkludu stampi ta’ affarijiet differenti li jinsabu fl-ambjent naturali tal-iskola. L-attivita` prinċipali kienet li jfittxuhom u jqabbluhom mal-leħħiet relatati (plural jew kollettiv).
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Dinja Waħda: Simar Outing
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Students experienced playing in nature with percussion instruments. This multi-sensorial experience was a fun way of learning about different sounds in nature and creating sounds from natural material.
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Dinja Waħda: Directions
The main objective of this outing was for the students to follow directions. It took place in ‘Il-Ġnien tal-Kmand’ in Qrendi as part of the Dinja Waħda project. The van dropped us off at Qrendi parish church and we followed the directions to ‘Il-Ġnien tal-Kmand’. Once we arrived, the students were given a flashcard with the picture of an object which was hidden somewhere in the garden. They had to follow the directions to find these objects.
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Dinja Waħda: Deskrizzjoni ta’ post
Għal din il-lezzjoni morna fi Ġnien Luqa Briffa (Tal-Kmand), iż-Żejtun. L-istudenti ġew ippreżentati b’leħħiet li jinkludu aġġettivi opposti ta’ xulxin. L-ewwel attivita’ kienet li jsibu ż-żewġ opposti relatati u jqabbluhom. Wara kellhom jużaw dawn l-aġġettivi sabiex jiddeskrivu l-ambjent naturali ta’ madwarhom.
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