Hobby school classes for english speaking children 2022-2023

We are pleased to announce that the registration for Tartu Nature House hobby classes for the 2022-2023 school year is now open!

Tartu Nature School is a child and environmentally friendly hobby school. We offer the joy of discovery and new knowledge to more than five hundred children and young people each year. We often go and spend time in nature, but we are also active indoors and in the laboratory.

Although the classes are mainly in Estonian, we also welcome non-Estonian speaking children and young adults in our activities and it is possible to participate in some classes on the basis of English. It is a great way to practice Estonian, learn about local nature and find new friends!

HOBBY SCHOOL CLASSES
Class: Little Naturalists

Language: Estonian, but the class is also open for English speaking pupils, teacher will translate activites and assignments

Age: 1.-3. grade, 4.-6.grade

Subject: We will create fantastical inventions and do experiments out of nature friendly materials; discover and analyze the physical secrets of nature; improve our manual skills and creativity

Class: Woodworking

Language: Estonian, but the class is also open for English speaking pupils, teacher will translate activites and assignments

Age: Pre-school (4-6 y), 1.-3. grade

Subject: We will learn about different types of wood and their properties; how to use woodworking tools and techniques; how to design and make models, toys and machines out of wood

Class: Technology and recycling

Language: Estonian, but the class is also open for English speaking pupils, teacher will translate activites and assignments

Age: 4.-6.grade, 7.-9.grade, 10.-12. grade

Subject: We will deconstruct everyday mechanical and electrical items and machines to discover how they work; learn to repair things and find new ways how to use them; build toys and selfmade mechanisms from recycled materials; visit interesting technical facilities around Tartu

Class: Nature and Environmental Studies

Language: Estonian, but the class is also open for English speaking pupils, teacher will translate activites and assignments

Age: 7.-9. grade, 10.-12. grade

Subject: We will discover nature in diverse ways – by our  hands, eyes, noses and mouths; learn how to plan experiments and research; use different methods and equipment to do natural science studies; improve our knowledge about ways to live more environmentally friendly; participate in camps, fieldtrips, fieldwork and science fairs; write natural science student projects and develop them in a national/global scale.

Class: Camping adventures

Language: Estonian, but the class is also open for English speaking pupils, teacher will translate activites and assignments

Age: 10.-12. grade

Subject: We will discover the Estonian nature in all ways and learn teamwork through physical activites; learn in theory and practice how to move and survive in nature and plan a hike; learn how to read animal tracks and navigate with the help of natural signs; prepare food and a campsite; try different styles of hiking like climbing, canoeing, sailing, snowshoeing, etc. Tartu Nature House has hiking supplies for the class that participates can borrow.

General information:

  • IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN UP, please contact the study coordinator: Pille-Riin Pärnsalu, pilleriin.parnsalu@tartuloodusmaja.ee, (+372) 5344 2512. 
  • There are a lot of extra activites beside classes the children can participate in – camps, hikes, excursions, exhibitions, quizzes, nature theatre night, etc. Tartu Nature House is also part of Eco-Schools Global and UNESCO Associated Schools Network and takes part in their program activities.