Inquiry-based science learning in primary school: Ηuman and environmental impact of a potential natural disaster in an urban habitat

Outdoor Science Education in primary school is a pedagogical approach that promotes experiential learning, collaboration, and the development of environmental awareness. The poster presents a school project based on inquiry-based education that was implemented in a public garden in the local area where the students live. The activities focused on investigating biodiversity, with an emphasis on insects and small animals, birds, as well as the study of sound.

Contemporary urbanization constitutes one of the most intense forms of human intervention in the environment, often leading to phenomena such as urban heat islands and severe noise pollution.

One of the key scientific findings concerns the creation of “shadow zones” by trees, which significantly reduce the intensity of sound (decibels) originating from human activity. Although the sources mainly focus on sound, this scientific concept is directly linked to microclimate regulation: the garden not only absorbs noise but also functions as a cooling system that mitigates the urban heat island effect in the city center. Special emphasis was placed on understanding the school garden as a micro-ecosystem that provides benefits both to living organisms and to humans.

Students were asked to answer the question: “What would happen if the garden did not exist?” Their responses highlighted the role of the garden in improving quality of life, preserving biodiversity, and serving as a space for learning and social interaction, as they recognized that the loss of such a space would have negative consequences for both biodiversity and humans.

The loss of an urban garden can be viewed as a small-scale representation of the impacts of natural disasters that affect vegetation and ecosystems, such as wildfires and extreme weather events (heatwaves and drought).

Although the activities did not directly focus on natural disasters, they highlighted the human impact resulting from environmental degradation and the loss of urban green spaces—phenomena that often accompany natural disasters. In conclusion, the Municipal Garden is not merely a recreational space but a critical infrastructure that regulates the microclimate and protects urban life.