Educational programs for children and families
The educational programS entitled "The young ones bring the adults to the museum" are specially designed for children aged 6 to 13 years and their parents.
The goal of these programs, in which children and adults participate together, is to make the Museum a meeting place not only for schools but also for the family, turning a family visit to the museum into a special experience.
Discovering the Petrified Forest through a game
The program begins in the audiovisual media room where, children and parents get to know the plant species of the Petrified Forest through a special presentation. Impressive representation of the forest and the animals that lived in it, with the help of digital multimedia, transports them millions of years ago and gives the the opportunity to have a glimpse at the creation of this unique monument of nature.
Then in the permanent exhibition halls of the Museum the participants get in touch with the processes and phenomena that led to the creation of the forest and become familiar with the species of plants that lived 20 million years ago in Lesvos. Through the impressive finds of the Museum's collection and the fossilized trees that are in their natural position in Sigri Park, children and parents discover the secrets of the Lesvos Petrified Forest.
Young Paleontologists
The aim of the educational program is for children to get acquainted with the methods and purposes of paleontological excavation, to get to know the fossilized plants that lived in the past in the Petrified Forest and to spot their similarities and differences with the present-day plants of Lesvos. It also aims to raise awareness on issues of protection and promotion of the Petrified Forest, natural monuments, geological and natural heritage of Lesvos, thus combining knowledge and experience with science.
For the implementation of the program, a special educational discovery site GEORAMA has been created, which includes an excavation site, divided into grids, thus simulating the educational excavation activity with the scientific paleontological excavation research.
The young paleontologists, along with their parents, take part in the excavation of fossils at the excavation site using the special excavation tools, as well as in the research work of identifying the fossils they excavated and comparing them with present-day plants of Lesvos.
Educational programs for groups of children
During the summer months, the Museum implements on its premises educational programs for its young friends. The themes of the summer educational programs vary and are based on the Petrified Forest of Lesvos, the collections of the Museum, the Lesvos Unesco Geopark and in general the rich natural heritage of the island.
The programs are implemented by Museum educators and the Museum’s scientific staff and include presentations in the audiovisual room, tours and exploration in the exhibition spaces, experiential activities, games, participation in experiments and artistic activities. Their goal is for children to live unique experiences and creative moments, to have fun and to make new acquaintances during their summer vacations.
During these programs the children discover all the secrets of the Lesvos Petrified Forest, the plants and animals that existed in the area 20 million years ago, learn about the seismic and volcanic activity in Greece, understand the evolution of life, the meaning of the Geological Time and the climate changes of the past, they explore the natural wealth of Lesvos and become aware of issues of protecting the natural environment.
The Summer Educational Programs are addressed to children aged 6 to 12, adapted each time to their age (minimum number of children: 5). Their duration is 2 hours (10:00 - 12:00) and the participation cost 5 €.
For more information and registrations, parents can contact the Museum of Natural History of the Lesvos Petrified Forest at 22530-54434.
