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About silvanajbinova

I am math teacher from Republic NMacedonia, with 13 years teaching experience. Graduated math on Faculty for Nature science and math- Skopje in 2003, and Master degree in Theory of informatics from Faculty of informatic, University Goce Delcev Stip. Scientix ambassador and passionate teacher to offer equal opportunity for STEM learning to all students, especially to students in rural area.

Let’s step closer to less waste habitats

by Silvana Jakimovska Binova (#TerraMission scenario)

The activities Let’s step closer to less waste habitats were realized with 6th grade (10 years old) students in Primary School Straso Pindzur Karbinci, North Macedonia.
The aim of the activities was to learn about waste and waste management, to research the problem of waste in the local community and to get acquainted with the idea of reducing waste by reuse and recycling. Engaged in activities such as paper recycling, designing and creating new products by reusing materials students were introduced to the importance and opportunities for its practice in everyday life.
They are based on my TerraMission scenario. The main motivation and resource for realization of the activities was the interactive presentation Terra Mission Theme 3 – Waste (8-11).
For wider interaction with local community and parents the Facebook group “Less waste habitats” was created.

Our activities

Plastic soup – introductory activity

As introductory activity, four students from 9 grade organized special event – preparing a soup with an irresistible taste similar to the taste of the largest soup in the world. They sheared recipe and prepared it in front of 6 grades students in our school.

Ingredients needed:
PLASTIC SOUP PACKAGING that contains the right amount of multicolored disposable plastic that a person “throws” in the ocean for 1 month and clothing material according to the latest trend; as well as pieces of various other non-degradable materials;
Residues of used liquid chemicals for the preparation of PLASTIC SOUP
User guide:
Mandatory preparation with residues of used liquid chemicals.

The video from preparation can be seen here.

Would you try this soup? Why then do we prepare it every day?

The Plastic soup was served in the school hall during the big break, so as all student were informed about start of our project activities. The students were warned to ask for ingredients of the soup first.

By analyzing the infographic What a waste 2.0? students were introduced to the basic facts about the challenges of waste in the world:
The world produces 2 trillion tons of waste annually.
If appropriate actions are not taken, the amount of this waste will increase by 70% to 2050.
Most – 44% of the waste is food waste.
In underdeveloped countries 90% of waste is not managed.

Students played the Kahoot quiz for checking the knowledge about this facts.
We all agreed – THERE IS A WISE WAY TO USE WASTE!

Lection from terramission resource – part 1

With the interactive resource from the TerraMission project (slides 1-20, translated into Macedonian) students were encouraged to think critical and took part in a useful discussion: What is waste and what is garbage?; What is plastic?, What are its advantages and disadvantages?, How do we use plastic products every day?;
How much plastic is produced annually and how much of it ends up in nature?;
How plastic reaches rivers, lakes, oceans and how it returns to our food?;

Students are aware of the presence of plastic waste in nature but were amazed by the fact that the same plastic returns to the food we eat.

Visit of landfill of our vilage

As part of the activities on the Day of Ecology – 21 March, with a group of students we visited the landfill in Karbinci, a place where the waste of the inhabitants of the village Karbinci is taken.
Our goal was to analyze what kind of waste there is the most – the answer is: different types of PLASTIC.
What we have noticed is that the necessary products for Plastic Soup are ready for its preparation and the preparation is in progress !?!That worried us all.

Analysis of waste in our homes

For a period of one week, March 21-25, as activity before math lesson, the students filled the Daily Waste Diary every day. They analyzed what kind of waste (food scraps, plastic, paper, glass or metal) and how much they have in their home waste bins. They worked with their parents on this task.
During the math classes working in groups students prepared summative table and diagram using the online Excel document Analysis of homemade waste. The conclusion is that plastic (37%), paper (18%) and food (19%) take the biggest part of students household waste bins.

Analysis of waste in our school

For a period of one week, March 21-25, two 6 grade students analyzed the waste in the classrooms bins. Every day they took pictures from classrooms waste bins.
The analysis showed that the boxes contain paper or plastic bottles and bags.

Lection from terramission resource – part 2

With the Terra Mission Topic 3 – Waste lesson (slides 20 -37) students were challenged to think about solutions and changing their habits for waste. Activities included short tasks and discussion on questions: Can you imagine life without plastic? What else can we do to reduce the waste problem? What else can we do with our garbage?
They watched the video: How Sweden turns garbage into energy so as to get informed about smart way of using garbage.
To summarize ideas and potential for changing habits students filled the table questionnaireWhat we do with the waste? / What we plan to do? / What we can not do?
Here are their answers.

The situation with waste in our municipality – a survey of parents

Parents and their opinions and habits about waste were very important to us. That is why we asked them to answer our questionnaire. From their answers we concluded that plastic and paper waste is the biggest challenge for them.
Regarding the selection and reuse of waste, most of them have selected and reused plastic and glass bottles as well as old clothes.
Most parents are willing to sort the waste, not use plastic bags and disposable plastic and clean the nature.
All parents responses can be seen here.

Who and how can help us

Dealing with the waste challenges is the task of all citizens. But, it is the task and responsibility of the institutions within the municipality. The students prepared a Mind Map with institutions that can help, as well as opportunities for mutual cooperation and solving the problems and challenges with waste.
Students expect care and support from the mayor of municipality, the director of the utility company, eco NGOs and utility inspectors. They concluded that is important to be informed about the problems, to jointly seek solutions, to be informed about the latest knowledge on waste management, to organize joint actions for the development of awareness, etc.
The map (on Macedonian) can be seen here.

practical activities

Motivated by the video Reuse, recycle, reduce for better lifestudents focus on practical work. In mixed groups they worked on tasks for recycling and reuse of waste:
paper recycling and making 3R eko brooches from recycled paper;
– making kinetic origami from old paper;
– reuse of plastic bottles for making Easter baskets and art making art of bottles cups;
– reuse of old clothes for making new products.

Each student choose the topic of the practical work according to the interest. The students from the upper grades were mentors. They guided and helped the students from the lower grades during the work.

Reflection on activities

The activities Let’s step closer to less waste habitats were realized within the STEM Discovery Campign 2022 and the #TeraaMission challenge according to a scenario that was created during TerraMission MOOC.
The TerraMission resource – interactive presentation Theme 3 – Waste was especially useful. All of the activities were inspired and realized according to it. The gynzy.com platform on which the presentation is created, allows the adjustment of the existing resources so that it was translated into Macedonian and through the FB group “Habits for less waste” was shared with other teachers in the school.
The combination of short lessons, videos and simple interactive tasks was rewarding.
all 6th grade students were motivated and actively involved in all activities.
Through a questionnaire, joint activities and the FB group and parents were involved in the activities. The visit to the landfill in the village of Karbinci was of special importance for the students, where they did find a real picture of the problem with plastic waste. Through the practical activities, the students practiced ways to reuse old paper, plastic bottles and old clothes. We plan to expand the waste reuse activities in the next period, because students are asking for.
The brochure and activities were presented to the mayor and the wider community.

The brochure can be seen here (on Macedonian language).

WE STEPED CLOSER TO LESS WASTE HABITATS AND WE WILL GO ON!

Is 100euro = 100euro always and everywhere

by Silvana Jakimovska Binova, #Scientix Repository Resources

The set of activities “Is 100euro = 100euro always and everywhere” was the set of hybrid realized activities with 9th grade (14-15 years old) students from Primary school Straso Pindzur Karbinci, North Macedonia. They are based on and inspired by STATISTICS IN THE CLASSROOM – PRICES resources from Scientix Resource Repository. It was an opportunity for students to work as STEM professionals and to get closer with the one of very important profession now days and in the future – Data Analyst. Also, it was an opportunity to highlight the importance of STEM employability skills.

The activities were implemented during the Math classes. The learning goals were to practice percentage calculations and statistic in real context – Inflation.
We used video and presentation, collaboration and creation through online documents and apps, interactive tables and diagrams. Students gained knowledge and skills about calculation with percentages, analysis of data presented with interactive tables and diagrams, critical thinking about prices and value of money, creativity etc. Also, during the activities students were directed to developing STEM skills like initiative and self-motivation, ability to learn and adopt, team work, ITC skills etc.

Our activities

intoructory activity

As introductory activity, students were challenged by the quote of famous rapper French Montana – “In school my favorite subject was math. That’s where I learned to count money.” The meta goal of this activity was to present the importance and power of Math for deeper understanding of phenomena – not only for “counting money”.
By the article Beginners:Inflation from Statistics 4 beginners students learned: What is inflation? How is measured? What is needed to calculate it? What are the challenges?
They played a Kahoot quiz to check their understanding about the main concepts connected with Inflation. In the last question from the Kahoot students agree that 100euro≠100euro always and everywhere.

Simulating the calculation of inflation rate in our country

If the 100euro≠100euro, then where/when is more or where/when is less? – this was the main challenge for next activities. In groups, students simulated the calculation of inflation rate for 2021 year in our country.

First, individually each student fill the table about importance of specific products/services for their family – according the amount of money their families spend it on it. Then, working in four groups in each class, students calculated the “group weights” as average. The result of each group was contributed for calculation of WEIGHT of product/service for our simulation presented in online Excel document. The most valued products/services are from category 01 Food and drinks and 04 Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels.

Second, each group: 1. Selected some products/services from ‘basket of goods/services’; 2. Created the index for each by observing the price in the latest period compared with prices in previous periods.
Collaboratively, the students from all groups in two 9th grade classes created the tables with price indices for different products classified as in EU classification of individual consumption by purpose. The results from each group were collected in Index by category – another online Excel document. Later, by combining with the weight students get the inflation rate for our country in 2021 which is 10.75.

analyzing the inflation in EU countries

Motivated to learn what is going on with inflation in other European countries, students were supported by interactive graphs and diagrams from Eurostat. Students investigated about inflation rate in EU, especially during 2021. Collaboratively, they created the Padlet map with Value of 100 euros in EU from 2000 to 2021 through facts and аssertions. With the data presented in interactive diagrams, students formulated assertions, supported with facts about inflation rate by category in countries across Europa. Here is the Padlet map:

creating infographic – “a story about 100euro in …”

With creativity in focus, students created the Infographic “Story about 100 euro…” about changing the Price index of specific product in specific country (chosen by students) with Genially app. Students work is collected in following interactive image

Stem skills for employability 

Lessons gained from the realized activities “Is 100 euros = 100 euros always and everywhere?” realized during the regular math classes served as a basis for the realization of the activity “Top STEM skills for employment”. The activity aimed to increase students’ awareness of the need to develop skills for employment and emphasize the possibility of developing them through the implementation of activities within the subjects.
Through discussion and short presentation, the students were introduced to the 10 most important skills. After that, hey were directed to identify 3 skills that they consider to be their strengths and 2 skills that they consider to be their weaknesses and should be further developed.
The students reflected on the realized activities and assessed how they contributed to the development of important STEM skills through short online survey (question 2). Two skills that were recognized by most students are teamwork and the ability to learn and adapt.

The pedagogical value

The realized activities “Is 100euro = 100euro always and everywhere” are a set of activities that offer achievement of teaching goals through quality contextualized STEM teaching with high quality teaching materials based on Eurostat resources and Scientix repository resources. The Eurostat resources were high inspiration and motivation for me as teacher in creating the activities and facilitating the students learning. Also, they were motivation for students active and engaging learning. Students developed their Math knowledge about calculating percentage and statistic, problem solving and critical thinking skills about the prices and value of money across EU, team work and collaboration skills by working on shared documents to a rich common goal. They developed creativity through the creation of an interactive map and an infographic.

The highlighted moment of these activities is the hybrid realization and the use of mobile phones as a tool for learning. The students were challenged to learn in a new way and to adapt. This was very important for my students from two main aspects. First, in terms of preparation of students for different ways of learning, having in mind the challenges that we have during the last year with online teaching. Second, in terms of challenging the students to use mobile phones for learning, not just for playing games.

Teaching and learning while connecting the subject content with tasks appropriate for STEM profession (Data Analyst) and highlighting the STEM employability skills, in an engaging way is a good strategy for motivating students for STEM careers.

The students reflected on the activities and the average grades up to 7 are: about how interesting were the activities – 5.8, and about usefulness – 6.4 (through the short online survey question 1.

Let’s act local – Green solutions for our city

Teachers Silvana J Binova and Julijana Popovski

Sustainability is a crucial factor through which we can ensure quality and long life on our planet Earth and all its inhabitants. Therefore we must enable our students to be aware of the importance and readiness to lead societies towards sustainable development – “development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” [Brundtland Report of the World the Commission on Environment and Development (1987)].
Education is one of the strongest tools fostering sustainability at the individual level and in the daily life of each and one of us. Education oriented towards sustainability topics create empowered students that will become engaged citizens and active change-makers in shaping sustainability solutions. 

The set of activities “Let’s act local – Green solutions for our city” is motivated by SDG13. The aims of activities were to introduce the students with Nature Based Solutions (NBS), to promote importance of knowledge, awareness and respect for green spaces and to analyze, plan and share the idea for implementation of a practical case in their local community. Students were motivated to be active citizens in implementing NBS in their local community. 
By different activities like solving jigsaw, watching short videos, discussion, making Mind-maps and writing essay students were motivated to understand the need to be active citizens and to start acting local. Students were challenged by facts about climate change and urbanization. They were introduced in NBS and motivated to go outside, to find critical points in their city for acting and to find and to plan appropriate green solutions for it (planting threes, green wall or vertical garden). 
The Learning Scenario for our NBS activities can be found here.

The resource Statistics in the Classroom – Sustainable Development Goals can be found here.

The activities were realized as two workshops (on 9 and 16 April) and final event (on 22 April) for promoting the outcomes, online via MS Teams. In the workshops took part students from 8th and 9th grade in our school Straso Pindzur, Karbinci – N Macedonia.

Climate change (1st workshop – 9 April 21)

The aim of the first workshop was to to raise awareness of climate change, its causes and consequences.
The workshop started with solving jigsaws. Students working in three groups, had a task to solve one of the jigsaws. After solving it, they analyzed the graphic on images and prepared short oral presentation about it.

Jigsaws – introduction to the topic Climate change
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The secret power of special numbers

The story of numbers starts with Natural numbers (1, 2, 3, 4 …) and goes with negative numbers (-1, -2, -3, …) and Rational numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, ..), and so on. In our activities realized during the STEM Discovery Week 2019 students from Primary school Straso Pindzur Karbinci, NMacedonia got the closer look to the secret power of two very special number: π and φ.

Fixing the broken solution of NASA math problem

The aim of this activity was to introduce the students about use of math and π in real life problems – especially in astronomy and to develop critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration and presentation skills.

Introduction in the activity was the celebrating of π day on March 14 in our school, as a part of eTwinning project “π is traveling Europe!” with schools from more than 12 countries. Through art works, game competition, music and a lot of fun students were introduced with number π, it’s digits and application for calculation of perimeter and area of circle.

The main activity “Fixing the broken solution of NASA math problem” was based on resources from NASA .

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