École Montessori Les Mimosas

Dulse Vita: Algae Services in Our Coastal Ecosystem

Larmor-Baden, France

1st FUNDING CALL

Project Overview
In an innovative, low-cost project of just €2,000 over nine months, “Dulse Vita” aims to raise awareness about edible algae in their local intertidal and subtidal coastal habitats. With the involvement of local algae experts, this hands-on project focuses on algae’s biological and ecological aspects as well as their culinary potential.

Objectives and Activities
The École Montessori Les Mimosas project was designed to immerse students in the study of algae to broaden their understanding of this versatile marine resource. Through workshops and educational outings led by algae specialists, students explore the biology, historical significance, and ecosystem services algae provides in the coastal environment.

One of the central objectives is to encourage the students and the wider school community to see algae as a potential food source. This aligns with the school’s focus on sustainable living and environmental stewardship.

Key Activities Included:

• Educational Outings: Local experts guide students during visits to the nearby shore, where they learn to identify various species of edible algae. These excursions help them understand the algae’s ecosystem role and their sustainability as a food source.
  
• Algal Guide Creation: Students create an illustrated guide featuring different types of edible algae, with descriptions, artwork, and algae-based recipes that they’ve developed. This guide will be shared with other schools and organizations, contributing to community education about the sustainable consumption of algae.
  
• Algal Herbarium: The students collect, preserve, and display different algae species in an herbarium. This exhibit will be a key feature at the local sea festival, where students will share their knowledge and insights with the broader community. The herbarium not only showcases the beauty and diversity of algae but also highlights their practical uses.
  
• Montessori Materials: To further support learning, a unique set of Montessori materials will be created, allowing students to explore and differentiate between various algae species. This tactile, hands-on approach fits seamlessly with the Montessori method, encouraging students to engage with their environment.

Connecting with the Local Community
A central element of the Dulse Vita project is its outreach efforts. By involving the local community and other schools, the project fosters a sense of shared responsibility for sustainable practices. The algal herbarium exhibit at the local sea festival offers students a perfect opportunity to showcase their work and share the knowledge they’ve acquired with their families, local residents, and other educators.

Inspiring Other Schools to Dive In
“Dulse Vita” is a fantastic example for other schools looking to engage students in hands-on environmental education with limited budgets. At just €2,000, this project demonstrates that impactful and educational activities can be carried out on a small budget, using local resources and expertise.

Schools not situated near large marine ecosystems can take inspiration from this project’s use of local resources to teach water and environmental literacy. Ecole les Mimosas shows how even small-scale projects can contribute significantly to environmental education and community engagement by focusing on coastal habitats and integrating edible algae into the curriculum.

In its final phase, the ProBleu project is focused on creating educational materials about marine biology for children aged 6 to 12. The materials include illustrations of seaweeds commonly found along the Breton coastline, showcasing their unique characteristics and edible qualities. Among the resources is an algae reproduction wheel, highlighted in yellow, designed to engage young learners with artwork created by Alice and Aglaé.

These resources aim to inspire curiosity and deepen understanding of marine ecosystems and their importance.

The “Dulse Vita” project is not just about algae; it’s about building connections. By teaching students to value and engage with their local environment, they develop a deeper sense of responsibility toward nature and sustainable living. This initiative not only equips students with knowledge about marine ecosystems but also teaches them the importance of taking action to protect their local coastal habitats.