BARMERA Primary School managed to find ways around COVID-19 restrictions and keep its Environmental Expo tradition afloat this year by going virtual.
The school’s year 4, 5 and 6 students take part in the event annually, by developing workshops around researching local and national environmental issues.
Staff member Glenys Matthews said the Environmental Expo has been a strong asset to the school and it was important the event went ahead.
“This made it the twelfth year that the school had participated in the Expo and the children love it,” she said.
“We had 14 groups of students this year who researched different topics and came up with their own workshop and presentation.
“Usually we have students from other schools come to our school and our students present their findings with others.
“This year because of COVID, other schools weren’t able to come to Barmera, so all presentations were filmed by Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board’s education officer Cindy Kakoschke and will be placed on YouTube for other schools to view.”
Ms Matthews said the program is a great way for children to learn from each other.
“The point of the Expo is to have kids learn from kids,” she said.
“When students are teaching other students it’s easier for them to understand because they’re at the same level.
“Sometimes when children are learning from adults, information goes straight past them because they find it difficult to understand, so when children are learning from peers who speak at their level, it’s enriching.”
Ms Matthews said going virtual was a “great experience” for the students.
“Providing our students with a different format was fantastic because they acquired skills they hadn’t used before,” she said.
“Even though they missed that face-to-face interaction with other schools, they still got to present to the younger students here at Barmera.
“The students learnt great media skills and how to handle a tough situation.
“COVID has been hard on everyone but all the staff at Barmera are proud of what the students have achieved.”