Fuengirola City Council and BIOPARC Fuengirola have presented today “Nature in the Classroom”, an innovative educational initiative that proposes the installation of small freshwater aquariums in schools in the municipality. In them, students will care for and observe a real ecosystem featuring neocaridina shrimp, plants and algae, turning the classroom into a living space for experimentation and learning.
A project to transform education from nature
The project is aimed at students in the 2nd and 3rd cycle of Primary Education, with the aim of promoting environmental awareness and respect for biodiversity through active participation in the care of an ecosystem within their own classroom. Students will immerse themselves in an experience that combines science, sustainability, and values, putting into practice the maxim that small gestures generate big changes.
In this edition, more than twenty educational centers in the municipality will be eligible to participate in the first two projects to be launched. They will have until September 30th to submit their proposals. After the centers are selected, the BIOPARC Fuengirola education team will offer specific training to teachers and will continuously monitor the development of the project, ensuring the well-being of the animals and the proper development of the aquariums.
The first edition of the project will be carried out throughout the 2025-2026 school year, structured in four phases:
- Coordination with selected educational centers.
- Initial teacher training and training visit to BIOPARC
- Setting up the aquarium in the classroom and first work session.
- Activities, workshops, and follow-up (starting in the second quarter). Students will carry out classroom activities related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In addition, within the framework of the project and to ensure its smooth progress, weekly online monitoring and periodic visits from the BIOPARC Education team will be carried out.
Commitment to animal welfare and sustainability
Participating schools must be committed to the well-being of the shrimp, ensuring adequate water conditions, tranquility, and food. They must also have a suitable space in the school to house the aquarium and be available to participate in all the proposed activities.
At the presentation ceremony, the mayor of Fuengirola, Ana Mula, pointed out that “Fuengirola is an animal-friendly city. We work hard to integrate animals into our daily lives and into our city. And Bioparc Fuengirola plays an essential role in this concept of environmental integration. Its staff does a fantastic job, not only as one of our main tourist attractions, but also as environmental educators. Therefore, I want to express my gratitude for this initiative they have given us, which is nothing less than bringing small aquariums to the classrooms of Fuengirola schools where our little ones will care for and observe the evolution of a real ecosystem featuring species such as shrimp and aquatic plants.”
For his part, the director of BIOPARC Fuengirola, Francisco de Asis García, has highlighted that "Nature in the Classroom is another step in the park's mission to connect new generations with biodiversity conservation. Through direct experience and care of an ecosystem, children will understand the importance of protecting nature in their daily lives.".
This new project embodies BIOPARC Fuengirola's philosophy: educating through experience and with a real impact on society. It is an initiative that transcends traditional teaching, promoting a living, experimental, and transformative education aligned with the SDGs and the values of respect and care for the environment.
With this proposal, Fuengirola is at the forefront of educational innovation, integrating nature into the classroom and sowing the seeds of sustainability in young people.
