Mali Sup is a chatbot that makes it easier for students to learn content related to “Priroda i društvo” .

 Third-grade students in primary schools of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (PGŽ) struggle
with understanding blank maps, as this is their first encounter with such a
learning tool. Additionally, they are expected to learn about endangered
animals from their region—animals they rarely see and know little about. As a
result, this content is challenging for teachers to deliver and often perceived
by children as uninteresting and distant.

The problem goes even further: we believe it is essential to educate children from
an early age about the issue of endangered species and the sustainability of
life on Earth. We consider sustainability important enough to take every
opportunity to raise awareness and educate children about it, while also
developing and strengthening their sense of empathy for the world around them
and the meaningfulness of taking action.

 Young students, who may feel that the learning material is too difficult due to its
complexity and a mismatch with their developmental stage. This can lead to a
loss of self-confidence and interest in the subject.

Teachers, who face the challenge of making this content accessible and engaging for young
learners.

Society as a whole, as children's early experiences shape their values, interest in
learning, and connection with nature.

 The education system, which sometimes sets standards too high for a specific age
group. While this can motivate some children, it can also have the opposite
effect.

Society at large, which is responsible for the endangerment of animal species due to
lifestyle and environmental impact, including climate change and habitat
destruction .

 It affects all third-grade students and their teachers, influencing how children
perceive their own abilities and sense of self-worth. The issue of
endangered species is a societal concern, impacting everyone.

The inflexibility of the current education system, which is slow to adapt content
to children's developmental needs.

The issue of endangered species is even more complex, influenced by factors such as
individual or collective negligence, failure to enforce animal protection laws,
and lack of financial support for promoting or assisting organizations
dedicated to protecting endangered species.

 Last year, one of our school colleagues found a young griffon vulture in the sea
while on vacation and saved it by calling 112. Emergency services responded and
brought the bird to the rescue centre in Beli.

The colleague was accompanied by his younger brother, a third-grade student, and
the vulture was named after him.

You can watch the video here:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=831923032007029&rdid=ZjTiypgjSWLYd2Ol

This event gave us an idea of ​​how to connect the elementary school curriculum with our project.

We wanted to be useful, meaningful and original and contribute to the preservation of nature through our actions. We connected topics that are vital, applicable and affect the world around us.

We hope that our knowledge will continue to serve to make the world around us better in the future.

 The chatbot "Mali sup" makes it easier for students to learn content
related to “Priroda i društvo” (Nature and Society) by allowing them to
explore a map and learn geographic terms and the locations of significant
places in the Primorsko-Goranska County through a game.

In addition, students learn the importance of rescuing endangered animals and are
introduced to all the endangered species of their region. The entire
conversation is written in a relaxed and friendly tone to help develop and
nurture positive emotions among students related to ecology and sustainability as well as a positive attitude towards learning.

This chatbot is designed as an app where children rescue a griffon vulture that got
lost on the map. If the children recognize the correct location, they have
saved the vulture; if not, they receive help. Only the locations that children
need to learn are included. During the use of the app, children are introduced
to endangered animals of their area, and in the end, they can learn more about
each species and watch a short video.

The project covers several learning outcomes in the subject of Nature and Society
for 3rd-grade primary school students, as well as recommendations for achieving
educational outcomes.

Learning outcomes prescribed by the Ministry of Science and Education:

PID
OŠ C.3.1. The student discusses the role, impact, and importance of their local
environment in the development of identity and the impact of individuals on
preserving heritage.

Outcome breakdown:

The student discusses their role and connection to their local area through events,
interests, and values. The student names and describes a protected local plant
and/or animal species and suggests ways to preserve it.

PID
OŠ B.3.1. The student acts responsibly toward plants and animals in their local
area and beyond.

Recommendations for achieving educational outcomes:

The student finds digital traces about themselves and their family members on the
internet to raise awareness about the responsible use of ICT.

With the teacher’s help, the student self-assesses their participation in various
projects that promote intercultural dialogue, volunteerism, and foster
tolerance, empathy, kindness, humanity, responsibility, etc.