Home of the Blue Lily

Discussions on ecology and biodiversity which were once rooted in local, lived experiences are slowly being replaced by generic curricular learning. Bringing the complex ecological web indoors as constructs and theories has made formal instruction of ecological science very abstract and cumbersome. 

In 2020, we had an opportunity to work with SwedBio, a programme of the Stockholm Resilience Centre and Beyond Built Trust, on a project aimed at inculcating a sense of scientific curiosity and appreciation for ecosystems. As part of the project we were tasked with curating a teaching-learning module on wetland ecology. The teaching-learning aid compiled in collaboration with pedagogy experts, ecologists, landscape architects and social scientists is meant to serve as an introductory primer for students to understand the various dimensions of ecology and nature-culture based solutions. 

Given that the focus is on making ecology and environment studies engaging, relevance of the concepts detailed and appropriateness of examples used assumes great significance. While ecology textbooks are aplenty, what sets the module apart is the locally relevant content. Picking examples that are appropriate to the landscape aligned with the everyday realities of a South Indian child. Pertinent section-wise activities, introductory exercises, tasks that involve investigation and decision making have been incorporated to encourage inquiry based learning 

A considered choice, the child-friendly layout and illustrations help break the monotony of text one usually encounters in formal text books.  The colour-in illustrations spread across the book, the font family and fluid layout were deliberately chosen to hold readers’ attention without losing the seriousness of the issues being discussed. You can find pictorial charts of prominent local wetland flora and fauna for classroom teaching and outdoor referencing, illustrated maps of the landscape, and an illustrated glossary to end with.  

The module briefly discusses the following themes: ecology and ecosystems; biodiversity; wetland ecology; culture and heritage; and, nature based solutions.     

If you’d like to own a copy of the ‘Home of the Blue Lily’, do write to us at education@careearth.in