Is the snail an insect? Learning and valuing biodiversity through an explorative and questioning approach

This poster shows the history of a compelling question. The curiosity of primary IV pupils arose from explorations carried out in close areas , such as Parco Nord and Vivaio-Bicocca (Milan), while using the Biodiversity Education Toolkit developed by the BEAT research group based on experiential, reflective and dialogical learning processes. "Are snails insects? If not, why? And what about spiders?" A research question that gave rise to others. Children formulated hypotheses and developed arguments, broadening the field of investigation to analyze distinctive elements of insects, such as the conformation and characteristics of different parts of the body, the way they move, the methods of feeding and reproduction, the life stages, the perceived danger to humans, and so on. In addition to direct and continuous observation, they used comparisons between different specimens, dialogue with NBFC researchers, and the design of a tool to synthesise the results obtained in order to explore paths of investigation and possible answers. They share knowledge and doubts, they validate and discard hypotheses, reasoning together as a scientific community. Curiosity about the insect's world was the driving force behind the learning process, similar to a naturalistic investigation. This attitude fostered children willing to interact deeply with biodiversity's elements in an outdoor context, promoting a relational posture with those. The poster therefore presents, as an example, one of the many research and learning topics deepened by the students of Class IV B of the Pertini Comprehensive School in Milan with the researchers of the NBFC, from November 2024.