Young Naturalists Research Articles

Обучение детей с ограниченными возможностями здоровья в системе дополнительного образования (из опыта работы МО ДО «Станция юных натуралистов» г.о. Прохладный)

The article reviews the experience of creating and implementing a developing subjects-related and educational environment based on the "Sunny Bunny" program for disabled children studying at the "Station for Young Naturalists" in the Prokhladny city district of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. The program takes into account the characteristics of intellectual and physical development of children. The method of formation of social skills of mentally retarded children through the use of animal therapy and natural therapy is described.

Community science for assessing the vulnerability of freshwater ecosystems: Water quality monitoring, restoration, and outreach by young naturalists in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Community science models that complement formal scientific investigations are valuable tools for addressing gaps in knowledge and engaging the community. Freshwater quality monitoring and vulnerability assessment, for example, are essential for conserving freshwater ecosystems, but often suffer from limited resources. While municipal programs focus on priority areas, community-based models can improve overall coverage both spatially and temporally. As an example of how community science initiatives centered on freshwater ecosystems enhance monitoring capacity, we present the case of the Young Naturalists Club (YNC) in Nova Scotia, Canada. The YNC's Nature Guardians program involves youth aged 10-14 in water monitoring, restoration, and outreach activities within Shubie Park, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Between 2018 and 2021 the Nature Guardians collected water monitoring data at multiple park locations, and shared findings with city authorities and the Atlantic Water Network. In response to high bacteria counts, and concerns over nutrient influxes, the group's 2021-2023 restoration efforts have aimed to improve water quality, focusing on native plantings and outreach signage. This type of community-based monitoring offers several advantages, including local site selection based on community concerns, the potential for low-cost long-term monitoring, and community engagement. While a community-based monitoring model presents certain challenges including data standardization and verification, it offers a broader reach and can produce high-quality data when appropriate protocols are followed. This case underscores the potential of a community-based water quality monitoring approach and highlights the potential for community science to augment existing assessment structures, ultimately contributing to more resilient and sustainable freshwater ecosystems.

Решение вопросов подготовки кадров через популяризацию науки и раннюю профориентацию школьников в области агро- и бионаправлений

The aim of the study is to summarise the experience of working with schoolchildren in the spheres of agriculture and biology, ranging from work of stations of young naturalists to scientific volunteering, using the example of the projects “Academic Class”, “Agricultural Classes”, “Volunteer Naturalist”, “Green Club” and other initiatives being developed in various regions of the Russian Federation. The paper presents the author’s experience in initiating and developing modern career guidance projects for schoolchildren on agricultural and general biological topics to address global issues of personnel training for the fields of plant breeding, biotechnology and the agro-industrial complex as a whole. The scientific novelty of the paper consists in providing insight into the features and summarising characteristics of the existing practices of pre-professional work with schoolchildren, in identifying problem blocks and possible ways to overcome them in order to accelerate the solution of the acute shortage of highly professional scientific personnel in applied areas of agricultural spheres. As a result, the author has substantiated the need to expand the coverage of career guidance and popularisation work among schoolchildren to form a positive image of such professions as agronomist, plant breeder, plant pathologist and others.

From The Yunnatov Station To The Ecostation Of The Future: Where And How The Movement Of Young Naturalists Can Develop Today

From The Yunnatov Station To The Ecostation Of The Future: Where And How The Movement Of Young Naturalists Can Develop Today

Determining the Dependence of the Speed of Sound in Air on Air Temperature Based on Properties of Standing Waves

Standing waves are a naturally arising phenomenon in many situations where sound waves propagate in an enclosed medium. Inspired by problem 17 from the International Young Naturalists Tournament (2021), this investigation aims to establish a relationship between the speed of sound in air as a function of air temperature at constant pressure and humidity. This goal is achieved by exploiting certain properties of standing sound waves in a tube, sealed off at one end. By varying the length of the tube and the temperature of the air inside, properties of the air, such as its molar mass, can also be determined.

Wildlife comics, or the making of young naturalists in late Franco's Spain (1969–1970)

This essay examines a highly popular comic series published in Spain between 1969 and 1970 which focused on Felix Rodríguez de la Fuente (1928–1980), a prominent and influential naturalist and media icon, as main character. These comics constitute a remarkably illustrative example of the use of popular media in processes of construction of natural history knowledge. Situated in the complex final years of Franco's regime, they allow us to probe the combined role of science, media, and celebrity in the construction of a visual environmental culture through storytelling strategies designed to engage young audiences in naturalist-like practices.

Students of Railway College of the Town of Taiga in 1943–1991

The present article introduces a historical analysis of students of the Technical College of Taiga in 1943–1991. The socal analysis involved factorial, structural-systemic, and historical approaches. The Technical Railway College has almost 80 years of history, which makes it one of the leading educational institutions of its branch in the country. Since 1991, it has been the Taiga Institute of Railway Transport, a branch of the Omsk State Railway University. The author identified the changes in the contigent of applicants in 1943–1991. They appeared to be connected with the development of the country and education policy. The revealed characteristics made it possible to clarify the logic of the development of a particular institution based on the changes in the forms and methods of recruitment, payment, age, etc. In this regard, recruitment acted as a set of special methods, e.g.clubs of young naturalists, contests and conferences, material base, promotion of railway professions through alumni, etc. In addition, good working conditions and high salary were important factors that attracted people to the Technical College of Taiga.

Репрезентация омской деревни в путеводителях Всесоюзной сельскохозяйственной выставки (1939–1940 гг.)

The reference to this topic is due to necessity to create the most complete image of the region, as well as to expand ideas about the channels and methods of its formation in the official Soviet culture. The present scientific work describes the participation of Omsk region in the «Great Review», a unique propaganda and cultural and educational Soviet project of the 1930s which aroused great interest not only in the USSR but throughout the world. Special attention is paid to the self-presentation of Omsk region in such pavilions as «Siberia», «Grain», «Cattle breeding», «Rabbit breeding», «Veterinary medicine», «Gardening», «Printing», «Young naturalists». It is shown that the present and future of Omsk village was clearly associated with the scientific achievements: selection work of triticum-agropyrum hybrids carried out by the Siberian Research Institute of Grain Economy led by the Academician N. P. Tsitsin, the method of growing fruit trees in Siberian conditions developed by the doctor of agricultural sciences A. D. Kizyurin. Infotainment, sciencetainment, visualization and media technologies are noted as the main methods and ways of presenting information. Guidebooks on the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition of 1939–1941 are introduced into scientific circulation. They have not been involved in domestic research on the history of Siberia of the Soviet period.

Environmental upbringing: from young naturalists to "green” schools

Environmental upbringing: from young naturalists to "green” schools

DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARCHITECTURE OF NON-FORMAL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN 1917-1940 ON THE TERRITORY OF UKRAINE

The study of the periodization of the development of architecture of non-formal education institutions (hereinafter NFEI) combines the following aspects: pedagogical aspect (is the decisive one, according to the author), social, political, scientific and technical aspects that are inherent in the era. The author investigates the developmental periods of architecture of non-formal education institutions. The time limits studied in the article from 1917 to 1940 belong to the second stage of development of NFEIs and their architecture - the period of development and formation. Many scholars and educators note that in Ukraine the existence of non-formal education covers the following areas: extracurricular education; postgraduate education and adult education; civil education; school and student self-government; educational initiatives aimed at developing additional skills and abilities; universities of the third age that provide educational services to the elderly. Given the modern interpretation and combination into a single concept - "lifelong learning" - all forms of education, this article examines the formation of the architecture of additional education institutions for all ages, i.e. analyzes the conditions that led to the creation of appropriate architectural forms, and the main, according to the author, examples and characteristics. This stage of development of NFEIs and their architectural and typological links is the period after the First World War and the beginning of the Soviet Union era. The nature of functioning remains mainly compensatory and educational. During this period, a unique world-renowned system of extracurricular activities is developed. Educational institutions and institutions of additional education in public houses and public schools continue to function. Various professional associations were born in the Soviet Union, and clubs, houses, and palaces of culture began to be built for them. In addition, during this period in Ukraine, religious institutions are gradually losing their influence, and educational functions are transferred to other institutions: libraries, houses and palaces of culture and so on. The beginning of the youth movement, stations of young nature lovers are created. The organization of seasonal (summer) children's camps takes new pedagogical and ideological forms. At this stage, specialized institutions started to form that carried out extracurricular educational work in one specific direction: stations for young naturalists, young technicians, children's railways, children's theaters and cinemas, libraries, sports and music schools - specialized non-formal education institutions. Institutions of a wide profile continued to function and had an appropriate number of offices and workshops - clubs of various types.

PROFESSIONAL VALUE OF THE SCHOOL GREENHOUSE

The article deals with the professional activity of the greenhouse at school, about the greenhouse development. The greenhouse in the school is not only experimental work in biology lesson and for young naturalists, and is a center for the study of morphology and physiology of plants, and the greenhouse should also become a production laboratory for growing vegetables and crops. Labor education and professional training of the younger generation is an important component in the field of the general education at school. Students realize that in society through work can be achieve great success.

Methodological support of out-of-school education organization (1952–1991)

On the basis of historical and pedagogical analysis the article describes features of methodological support for the organization of out-of-school education in Ukraine in the Soviet period. The author dwells on the main tasks of methodological support of out-of-school education – work with staff and studying, generalization and dissemination of advanced pedagogical experience in the organization of leisure work. The author draws attention to the fact that methodical work with teachers of out-of-school institutions was aimed not only at professional development, but also at the development of analytical thinking, accounting for the educational component of the pedagogical process, creating a friendly socio-psychological atmosphere in the team. The publication analyzes various methodological and pedagogical activities (meetings, seminars, classes, conferences, instructional and methodological excursions, refresher courses) both at the national and regional levels, which were held to share experiences, as well as to discuss activities aimed at for the development of out-of-school education in three specific areas: work with headmasters and methodologists of regional out-of-school institutions; work with teachers, club leaders; work with pedagogical and administrative staff of various bases and camps The author singles out various forms of oral, published and visual propaganda of the achievements of pedagogical teams, in particular: scientific-practical conferences, pedagogical readings, workshops, etc. The article establishes that the centers of methodological work, which have accumulated some experience, were excursion and tourist stations, stations of young technicians, stations of young naturalists, which contributed to the fact that in the early 80’s of the twentieth century. communication between national, regional, city and district out-of-school institutions has significantly improved. Methodological associations of club leaders worked in all districts and cities of the Ukrainian SSR. The system of methodological and pedagogical activities was formed, both at the state and regional levels.

Техногенный ландшафт как средоточие разнообразия редких видов лишайников в Центральном Черноземье

Цель – первое лихенологическое обследование техногенных отвалов Михайловского горно-обогатительного комбината (Железногорский район, Курская область) с прилегающими природными и урбанизированными территориями. Материалы и методы. Сборы материалов проводились маршрутным методом в течение 2017 и 2019-2020 годов, камеральная обработка осуществлялась с применением общепринятых лихенологических методик. Идентифицированные образцы хранятся в гербариях Центрально-Черноземного заповедника им. проф. В. В. Алехина и Станции юных натуралистов г. Железногорска. Результаты и обсуждение. Выявленная лихенобиота включает 88 видов (преимущественно макролишайников, вследствие методики сбора) из 38 родов, 18 семейств. Наиболее распространенные, металл-толерантные виды: геоплезные Cladonia fimbriata, C. coniocraea, эпигеидные C. rei, C. mitis, C. cornuta, C. furcata, C. phyllophora и C. gracilis, эпифито-эпиксильные Evernia prunastri, Parmelia sulcata, Xanthoria parietina, Hypogymnia physodes и Physcia adscendens. Составлен аннотированный список в различной степени редких видов, среди которых 4 новых для Центрального Черноземья (Cladonia cervicornis, Dibaeis baeomyces, Usnea dasopoga, U. lapponica); 5 новых для Курской области (Bryoria fuscescens, Cladonia carneola, C. deformis, Melanohalea septentrionalis, Peltigera extenuata); 6 занесенных в Красную книгу Курской области (Cladonia subrangiformis, C. subulata, Peltigera praetextata, Platismatia glauca, Pseudevernia furfuracea и Usnea subfloridana); еще 5 редки в области или на более обширных территориях (Acarospora veronensis, Protoparmeliopsis muralis, Ramalina pollinaria, Trapelia coarctata, Usnea hirta). Сосредоточение значительного числа редких видов в техногенных ландшафтах, по-видимому, обусловлено рядом причин: наличием крупных выходов редкого в области и Центральном Черноземье субстрата (ожелезненного песчаника); слабой конкуренцией со стороны сосудистых растений на бедных и обогащенных металлами почвах и грунтах; ботанико-географическим положением территории; спецификой локального загрязнения среды, представленного преимущественно «кислыми» поллютантами и частицами металлов. Заключение. Отмечена приуроченность регионально редких кустистых и листоватых эпифитов из экологической группы ацидофилов к насаждениям березы в изученных техногенных ландшафтах. Предложены некоторые меры охраны выявленных редких видов лишайников.

Использование образовательных технологий для реализации проектов в учреждении дополнительного образования станции юных натуралистов города Иркутска

Использование образовательных технологий для реализации проектов в учреждении дополнительного образования станции юных натуралистов города Иркутска

Critical revision of the Myxomycetes collection of Young Naturalists Club of Zoological Museum of Moscow State University

In the present paper, we report the results of a critical revision of the Myxomycetes collection of Young Naturalists Club of Zoological Museum of Moscow State University. The collection consists of 1715 specimens from 142 species in 35 genera, 11 families, and 6 orders. Comprehensive material from Moscow and Moscow Region (1112 specimens), Tver Region (191), and Tyumen Region (112) is presented in the collection. There are also numerous specimens from Irkutsk, Murmansk, Ryazan Regions, and Primorye Territory, and fragmentary collections from Astrakhan, Kaluga, Pskov, Vladimir, Yaroslavl Regions, Altai, Krasnodar, Khabarovsk Territories, Altai and Karelia Republics, as well as Crimean Peninsula and Kingdom of Cambodia (Southeast Asia). During revision we discovered two new species for Russia: Stemonitis uvifera T. Macbr. and Fuligo intermedia T. Macbr. Descriptions and illustrations of these species are presented.

Alfred Wallace's Echoes in the Amazon

This article deals with some aspects of Alfred Russel Wallace's historic journey to the Amazon between 1848 and1852. In it are highlighted the impressions that this naturalist has pointed out about the region, cities, indigenouscustoms and especially about fish of the Black River. More objectively, the article discusses the reasons for the trip,the two trips to the Uaupés River, and the strategic visions Wallace presented about food production in that distantregion. At the end is outlined a profile of the personality of this famous traveler and the lessons he left to posterity,especially to the young naturalists and scientists.

Birds of a Feather: Bowerbirds and Me by Susan L. Roth

Reviewed by: Birds of a Feather: Bowerbirds and Me by Susan L. Roth Deborah Stevenson, Editor Roth, Susan L. Birds of a Feather: Bowerbirds and Me; written and illus. by Susan L. Roth. Porter/Holiday House, 2019 [32p] ISBN 978-0-8234-4282-9 $18.99 Reviewed from galleys R 6-9 yrs The well-known picture-book author and artist takes a quirky look at her own work and some natural history as she compares her collage creating to the male bowerbird's construction of elaborate bowers. Both the bird and the artist incorporate found materials "that we use in unusual ways to create different and unexpected compositions in rather small, defined spaces"; both love color; both value originality; both seek beauty (though Roth does it "to tell a story" and the bird does it "to attract a mate"). Even their manipulations can be compared, with the bird using his beak the way she does her tweezers, and his feet the way she does her hands. It's a clever and intriguing comparison, and the parallel neatly illustrates underconsidered animal/ human similarities without laboring the point. Roth's collages and meta-collages are fascinatingly intricate, at their best with textures of hair, bower, and feathers; more photos of bowerbird construction would have given more clarity on those unfamiliar creations, but there are some verdant collage "snapshots" of the birds' work. Budding artists may be inspired by the inviting maker scenes, while young naturalists will want to hear more about these and other artistic animal creations. End matter includes more facts about bowerbirds and their bowers, more information about the artist and the similarities between her and the birds' creations, and a bibliography of bowerbird information. [End Page 403] Copyright © 2019 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

ІННОВАЦІЙНІ ПІДХОДИ РОЗВИТКУ ТВОРЧОЇ ОБДАРОВАНОСТІ ДІТЕЙ У ПОЗАШКІЛЬНИХ ЗАКЛАДАХ ОСВІТИ

Text of the abstract. The article reveals the problems of development of children's creative talent in out-of-school educational institutions. It has been determined that gifted children (children with special educational problems) are the most vulnerable in society in the modern educational space. They require special attention from teachers, parents, psychologists and doctors in the process of education, training, adaptation, socialization and personality realization in a fast changing world. The uniqueness of the concept of "creative talent" of the child is proved. The work of scientists is analyzed, components and indices of child giftedness are studied. Indicators of giftedness are abilities (intellectual, artistic, musical, choreographic, artistic, technical, sports) to a certain type of activity. Creative abilities form the basis of the development of creative talent of the child. Out-of-school educational institutions in Ukraine have long-standing traditions of teaching and upbringing students according to their interests, preferences, and individual abilities. The principles of their activities allow taking into account the individual characteristics of each child. The multifaceted system of interrelated pedagogical techniques and technologies enables a wide range of content, forms and means of teaching students, provides an alternative to meeting the spiritual needs of the child, her interests, cognitive and intellectual opportunities based on the differentiation and individualization of the educational process. The reseаrch is based on the example of the work of the Vinnytsia regional station of young naturalists. Researchers need further attention to identify early gifted preschoolers, ensuring the continuity of the development of giftedness of children of preschool and primary school age.

THE PROBLEM OF LABOR TRAINING AND INVOLVEMENT OF STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURAL WORK IN THE MORDOVIAN ASSR IN THE MIDDLE 1950s – IN THE MIDDLE 1960s

Introduction. This publication presents the preliminary results of the study of the problem of labor training and involvement of students in agricultural work in the mid-1950s – mid-1960s on the materials of the Mordovian ASSR. The introduction of elements of Polytechnic education into the secondary school coincided with the transformation of the agricultural sector of the Soviet economy, designed to solve the problem of providing the population with food. Materials and Methods. The research is based on traditional methods used in the national historical science: problem-chronological, systemic, comparative-historical. These methods have been successfully tested in the process of determining the regional aspects of socio-economic development. In the processing of quantitative data, the statistical method was used, and for a more detailed immersion in the subject of the study, a micro-historical approach was used. The study is based on a wide range of archival sources and published materials. Results. Proclaiming as its main objectives the introduction of Polytechnic education, party workers and heads of agricultural enterprises of the Mordovian ASSR in the second half of 1950s – early 1960s succeeded in bringing student teams to agricultural work. The possibility of introducing students of each particular school to the modern achievements of animal husbandry was directly dependent on the level of mechanization of the surrounding collective and state farms. Forms of labor training in the mid-1950s – early 1960s become more diverse. Discussion and Conclusion. The practice of involving students in agricultural work in the Khrushchev era was justified by the need to apply the elements of Polytechnic education in secondary school. In reality, child labour was used to carry out regular national economic plans. Forms of vocational training and labor education during the study period gradually improved. Among the innovations of the mid-1950s – early 1960s you should allocate yunnatskih (young naturalists) movement and experience movement, labour camp, and student production teams. At the same time, most farms did not have the material and technical base necessary for vocational training, and therefore the idea of cooperation between the educational organization and the agricultural enterprise of mass development was not received. The effectiveness of labor training significantly reduced the campaign approach to its organization. Keywords: vocational training, school, pioneer, Komsomol, young naturalists, labor camp, collective farm, agriculture.

‘And all our classes turned into a flower garden again’ – science education in Soviet schools in the 1920s and 1930s: the case of biology from Darwinism to Lysenkoism

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this article is to outline the evolution of biology education in Soviet schools in the 1920s and 1930s. After some introductory consideration of the ideological changes taking place in the field of genetics that impacted on the teaching of science and led to botany being favoured over biology in schools, the first part outlines the development of the natural sciences curriculum in the context of the Soviet reform of the school, which, after the October Revolution, abolished traditional teaching methods in favour of the active methods of American schools. The second part reconstructs the evolution of the teaching of biology through analysis of the biological station for young naturalists, ‘K. A. Timiriazev’, a centre created in 1919 by the famous biologist Boris V. Vsesviatskii (1887–1969). The third part illustrates the characteristics of botany education in schools of the 1930s, with a focus on the dissemination of the new scientific anti-genetic conception (known as Lysenkoism) and teaching practices in city and rural schools after the publication of Vsesviatskii’s textbook. The fourth demonstrates a progressive assimilation of the anti-genetic doctrine of Lysenkoism by teachers, with particular attention to the question of the natural sciences school curriculum and teacher training in the field of botany.