Welcome Judges

Nature Keepers: Safeguarding our Earth and its Forests

Nomination Description

Engaging students in real-world issues is paramount for holistic learning. This year’s entry, titled is about environmental protection, with a focus on forest protection. This project is about creating a more sustainable future and its major objective has been to make students informed and empowered agents of change in their communities and beyond.

In today’s world, environmental awareness is crucial, and instilling it in young minds is even more imperative. The terrible memories of last summer’s wildfires all over Greece still linger in our minds. Our school, the 1^st Junior High School of Pefka, is located in a forest area. Considering the above, my third-grade junior high students embarked on a comprehensive environmental project about environmental and forest protection. This project has aspired to offer students a deeper understanding of environmental issues and imbue a sense of responsibility towards nature.

The whole project was hosted on the e-class platform:

https://eclass11.sch.gr/courses/1909018464/

Starting with a YouTube video on pollution, I introduced key vocabulary to support language acquisition. Interactive exercises from a teaching scenario provided structured guidance, enabling students to identify causes and solutions related to environmental issues. Using WordArt Creator, students created word clouds to visually represent key words, promoting visual literacy. They were also assigned a WebQuest for independent research, utilizing my Symbaloo bookmarks to access reliable sources of information. Students delved deeper and articulated potential solutions in a writing task. These were conducted on Padlet, allowing for interaction and feedback exchange. AI-powered tools, such as Twee, generated tailored tasks for the part about forest protection. ChatGPT, another AI tool, facilitated the creation of texts for the blackout poetry task. Students engaged in blackout poetry, reflecting on the beauty of forests.

The project was in tune with relevant school activities, such as events about fire safety and tree planting. The students also visited the Thermi Recycling Park of the Solid Waste Management Agency (FODSA).

Watch an overview of this project here:

https://youtu.be/gdcq7Re6INY?si=9Iva8H326jLmU7GF

The project was recorded and shown at the Student Short Film Festival held in our community. This festival is held under my initiative as Community Councillor of Neapoli of the Municipality of Neapoli-Sykies in Thessaloniki. In this way we managed to communicate our message to a wider audience, comprising students and educators. We’ve also participated in the Annual Bravo Schools Competition for the 17 Global Goals, showcasing our work to a national audience. I’ve also put the project on the global map of World’s Largest Lesson.

This project has been recognized with several prestigious awards, showcasing the positive impact of my work. In 2024, I was shortlisted as a global finalist in the Community Award for Citizenship category at the GESS Education Awards for our project “Fluent in Green: Integrating Sustainability into the EFL Curriculum.”

This joint project combined two interconnected sub-projects on sustainability: one on fast fashion’s impact and “Nature Keepers” on forest conservation. Though distinct, both formed a single initiative to foster responsible advocates for change.

I was also honoured as Educator of the Year at the Education Leaders Awards 2024 in my country and shortlisted as a Top 50 finalist for the 2025 Global Teacher Prize. These honours reflect my commitment to promoting citizenship and social responsibility among my students.

This project has not only honed students’ English language skills but also shaped proactive citizens, equipped to drive positive change in their communities and beyond. Through their engagement students exemplified the transformative potential of education in creating a more sustainable and, ultimately, better future.