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The workshop and lecture “Biodiversity, Plastic and River Protection” marked the beginning of the project “BioAqua Cycle – Cycle of Water, Life and Recycling”.
On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, our school hosted a workshop and lecture titled “Biodiversity, Plastic and River Protection” for fourth-grade students. This activity was planned within the framework of the project “BioAqua Cycle – Cycle of Water, Life and Recycling”, which will be implemented at the school in the coming months. The project is supported by Blue LightS – the 2nd Call for Blue Challenges in European Schools, based on the European Union mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”.
This was an excellent opportunity for an interdisciplinary approach to teaching Biology and Geography, as well as a relevant topic for the Student Community and Education for Democracy classes. In the fourth grade, students study ecology in Biology and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Geography according to the curriculum. The students attended a lecture on biodiversity, with special emphasis on the Vrbas River. They also discussed recycling, students’ habits regarding recycling, and their suggestions for improvement. Students actively involved in the project introduced participants to the life cycle of a plastic bottle and the environmental consequences of improper plastic disposal. As a first step as a school, we have started collecting and recycling plastic bottles, which will be taken to a company specialized in plastic recycling.
For the implementation of this activity, we collaborated with a representative of the Center for Environment, Nikola Kurija, who demonstrated methods for measuring certain water parameters from samples taken from the Vrbas, Suturlija, and Crkvena rivers. Additionally, in February, students actively involved in the project conducted pH measurements of three water samples from the Vrbas River (Rekavice, the city center near the City Bridge, and Priječani).
“The aim of this workshop was to show students how sensitive the balance in river ecosystems is and how changes in biotic factors affect their living world. We also discussed the problems they notice in environmental protection in Banja Luka and how they should be addressed. I believe that students will better remember information delivered through interactive workshops like this one, and the Catholic School Centre is one of the few schools in Banja Luka willing to engage in this type of cooperation.” – Nikola Kurija.
“These activities are of great importance for educating younger generations in order to strengthen environmental awareness, improve their attitude towards the environment, and increase appreciation for the biodiversity of our country. Furthermore, the correlation between subjects that cover similar or related content is an excellent example of how teaching can be made more interesting and creative, while still achieving learning outcomes.” – Tanja Marić, Biology teacher.
At the end, a discussion was held in which students shared their views on the topic. The impression is that they were satisfied with the activity and recommend that more lessons be conducted in a similar way. Several students later reflected on the topic through creative drawings and essays.
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