Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In primary education, it is important to develop students' statistical literacy. This is one of the most important, but often less-attentioned, tasks of teachers. At first glance, it may seem that teaching statistical literacy in primary education is a complex matter, but consistently, step by step, teaching primary school children statistical literacy achieves positive results. When teaching statistical literacy, critical thinking is developed: statistics teaches children to analyze data, draw reasonable conclusions and make decisions. These are essential critical thinking skills that will be useful to a child throughout their life. During statistical research, children learn to formulate questions, collect data, analyze and interpret them. This is part of the problem-solving process, which can be applied in various life situations. The children were interested in whether there are endangered animal species in the area where we live. We decided to conduct a statistical study and find out which endangered animal species are found in the vicinity of Visaginas city. We called our project as follows: “Get to know us and protect us”. We also created a film based on the project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d22T1SFoQC4 The goal of this project was to conduct a statistical study to determine which endangered animal species are protected in the area surrounding Visaginas. The research took place from June to November 2024 and involved various methods, including analyzing data from the Lithuanian Red Book (2021 edition), going on nature trips, visiting the Lithuanian Zoo and T. Ivanauskas Zoological Museum for educational purposes, listening to a naturalist’s stories, and participating in bird ringing activities. The main statistical approach relied on compiling and analyzing data from the Lithuanian Red Book. As a result of the project, students learned the basics of statistical literacy while creating a detailed list of endangered species in the Visaginas region. A total of 27 protected animal species were identified. To share their findings with the public, the students designed and published three informative posters: one on endangered insect species, another on endangered bird species, and a third covering endangered mammals, amphibians, crustaceans, and molluscs in the area. These posters were displayed on advertising stands at bus stops throughout the city, helping residents learn about the vulnerable wildlife living nearby. Through this project, students developed their research and analytical skills and contributed to raising awareness about biodiversity conservation in Visaginas. The study highlights the importance of protecting endangered species and demonstrates how scientific research can be used to educate and engage the local community. The development of students' statistical literacy skills seamlessly integrated into project activities on environmental protection topics. The activities of the project “Get to know us and protect” were aimed at forming an environmental concept, involving students in active environmental protection activities, arousing their desire to learn, conduct statistical research activities, draw conclusions and present them to the public. Keywords: environmental education, environmental protection, STEAM education, statistical research
Author: Danguole Saviciene
Institutions: Vilnius Academy of Arts, Vilnius College of Design
Language: English
Subfield: Statistics and Probability
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4409868484