Emotional and Social Skills in Primary School pupils, Resilience and Love for nature: a Psycho‐pedagogical Approach

Abstract

The project My mate is green... and yours ‘has a tail’! was implemented in four primary schools with eleven‐year‐old children (the total number of children enrolled in the project is 42, including 5 pupils with IEP – Individualized Educational Plan ‐ and 5 pupils with PDP – Personalized Didactic Plan‐). The children participated in Outdoor Education activities for five hours a week during 2021/2022 school year. Agricultural activities in the school premises and the presence of a dog inside the classroom created special atmosphere during the learning process. The methodology of mediated learning was used to improve knowledge, emotional and social skills and meta‐reflection on ecological issues (e.g., climate change). The aim of the project was to improve biophilia, empathy with nature and social skills among classmates. The teachers’ diaries were used to collect qualitative data on the children's social, cognitive and emotional growth during the back‐to‐school period after Covid‐19.