Author: Giedre Juskeviciene

Down the River

Kaunas Versvu Secondary School 7th grade students, their parents and teachers participated in the most interesting trip-lesson down the river Dubysa. It was an integration of several subjects: English , Chemistry, Biology and Geography. This lesson was called “Dubysa River – Ecosystem (water, flora, fauna)“.
The main goal of this trip was to analyze the water of the Dubysa, paying attention to its hardness. The students had to find out if it has chlorine, iron, copper, nitrites and nitrates as well. Moreover, the students had to find the geographical information about this river, observe and take photos of the river‘s flora and fauna.The students, parents and teachers were travelling by canoes. After the trip and observations, all of them arrived to the campsite, analyzed the results and learned how to behave properly at a campsite.

 

 

Water Tests in University lab

In spring 2016 students of 10th grades together with the teachers Giedre Juškevičienė and Asta Jakutiene took water samples from Plytuplis creek in Romainiai which is near our school. Water analysis were done in the lab of Kaunas Technology University together with the students from 7 more Kaunas schools that brought water samples from the water bodies near their schools. Working together with the university lectures the students of 8 Kaunas Secondary Schools found out that the longest river the Nemunas is the cleanest while smaller bodies of water are much more polluted. It was a kind of surprise as most people think that the Nemunas is the most polluted. http://www.delfi.lt/grynas/aplinka/istirti-kauno-vandens-telkiniai-keliose-vietose-padetis-labai-bloga.d?id=71442942

Water Tests in Lithuania

In the frame of Erasmus+ KA2 project “Protecting the environment is an opportunity! Not a burden we must bear” in spring of 2016 the students of 5i class carried out water research at Kaunas Versvu Secondary School. Students took water samples from a spring in Kacergine, a village around 10 km away from Kaunas, from a well in  Lampedziai , which is around 5 km away from the school, and from Versvu  creek near the school; from Lampedziai lagoon and the longest river in Lithuania the Nemunas. The research was carried out during science lessons. The students tested water alkalinity, amount of chromium , iron, nitrate , copper ions , water hardness. Students used test strips and colour table. The results showed that only copper ions were found in the water. The water in the sources checked is quite clean.

Importance and Role of Water for the Humanity During Various Periods in History

Trakai castle is situated on a small island.  Such a location was chosen for defensive purposes.  Ancient times not only castles but people settlements were near water as water was a source of life. Lithuanian capital Vilnius is also located on the water, on the Neris. Kaunas is situated on the confluence of the two biggest rivers the Nemunas and the Neris.

Eco Cosmetics

Friday was devoted for body beauty. Teenages , especially girls use quite a lot of cosmetics nowadays. But cosmetics bought at various stores aren’t very healthy as it contains a lot of preservatives and ingredients that are harmful for humans and environment. To avoid this Chemistry teacher Asta Jakutiene taught the students how to make ecological face cream and lip balm by themselves. Everybody was happy with the results of their hard work.

Easter Eggs

Painting Easter eggs in an environmental friendly way, using bees wax and onion shells.

Painted Easter Eggs are considered to be one of the most fragile kind of  Lithuanian folk art. In written sources painted eggs were in 1549. Like all over the world, in Lithuania  painted eggs symbolize life, fertility, awakening of nature. Until 20th century the eggs were painted using natural means, such like onion shells, birch leaves, oak leaves, black alder leaves various plants and flowers.

VARIATY OF COLOURS

Chocolate – 4 spoons of ground coffee, 1 tea spoon of vinegar, water.

Brown– 12 bags of black tea, 1 tea spoon of vinegar, water.

Orange– 4 cups of red onion shells, 1 tea spoon of vinegar, water.

Yellow– 1 cup of chamomile, 1 tea spoon of vinegar, water.

Green– 2 cups of spinach, 1 tea spoon of vinegar, water.

Rose – red beet juice, 1 tea spoon of vinegar.

Levande– violet flowers, 1 tea spoon of vinegar, water.

Golden– 2-3 tea spoons of curry or yellow ginger1 tea spoon of vinegar, water.

Blue– 2 red cabbages (chopped), 2 liters of water,

6 spoons of vinegar.

Sustainable  Consumption from the Past to the Future

On Wednesday early in the morning we left for „Horse museum“  museum near Anyksciai. There we had a workshop about baking bread in the way our ancestors used to do it. As we know, in the past people lived in harmony with nature and used to save all natural resources, including water. Holding hot loaves of bread in our hands we headed to the Treetop walking path near the Sventoji.