Primary School teachers on Montserrat are now better equipped to introduce the Integrated Science Curriculum for Kindergarten to Grade 6.
This as the Montserrat National Trust hosted a one-day Teacher Training Workshop for all primary school teachers and principals, as part of Ministry of Education’s Teacher Training Week.
The workshop, held on July 19th, formed part of the Darwin Plus Local project, “Youth Biodiversity and Climate Advocate Training and Certificate”, and supported the introduction of Integrated Science Curriculum Framework for Kindergarten to Grade 6.
Developed to strengthen environmental education within primary schools on Montserrat, the framework integrates biodiversity, climate change and the blue economy, while promoting environmental stewardship, advocacy and responsible citizenship among young learners.
During the training, educators were introduced to curriculum support guides and teacher resources, including lesson plans, activities, materials, assessment approaches and reflection exercises for each grade level.
The programme placed strong emphasis on active, inquiry-based and experiential learning, using Montserrat’s local plants, animals, habitats, weather patterns and environmental issues to make lessons more relevant to students.
A key feature of the workshop was a practical “Modelling the Lessons” session.
Teachers were placed in groups according to their respective grade levels, and assigned topics from the curriculum.
These included Plants and Animals Around Us, What Living Things Need, People and Nature, Why Biodiversity Matters, How Ecosystems Work Together, Human Impact on Biodiversity, and Montserrat’s Biodiversity in Focus.
Teachers also participated in live outdoor practical sessions based on their assigned grade-level topics.
These sessions allowed educators to explore how environmental concepts could be taught using Montserrat’s natural environment as a practical learning space.
Teachers engaged in open discussion, shared classroom experiences and provided feedback on how the lessons and activities could be adapted to meet the needs of students at their respective grade levels.
The practical activities encouraged learner-centred approaches, including questioning, participation, observation and hands-on learning.
Local examples discussed included the Centre Hills Forest Reserve, Montserrat Oriole, Mountain Chicken, Montserrat Orchid, Pribby, coastal ecosystems, dry forests, native trees and other local wildlife.
The training also provided teachers and principals with an opportunity to contribute their classroom experience to the continued refinement of the curriculum support materials, helping to ensure that the resources are relevant, practical and suitable for use in Montserrat’s primary schools.
The integrated science curriculum support materials were developed with the involvement of local educational experts, helping to ensure that the content reflects Montserrat’s educational context and local environment.
Through the Darwin Plus Local project, the Montserrat National Trust say it is working to strengthen environmental education and equip children and young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to become biodiversity and climate advocates in their schools and communities, while contributing to greater environmental awareness and ecological resilience across Montserrat.