June 2026 

At the close of the 2025-2026 school year, a group of secondary school teachers in Cyprus came together for a full day dedicated to one question: how can the EcoStories resources actually work in our classrooms? 

The training in Cyprus was structured as a blended learning experience. Teachers arrived having already explored the EcoStories website independently. The day began with a shared introduction to the project’s resources – the Citizen Science Repository, the STEM lesson plans, the digital modules, and the e-Book – before opening into hours of independent exploration, informal exchange, and a facilitated feedback session at the end of the day. 

What emerged was more than a training. It was a conversation. 

A Room Full of Different Subjects – and the Same Questions 

The group brought together teachers from across the curriculum: Biology, Physics, Mathematics, Languages, Physical Education, Music, Technology and Design, and more. That diversity quickly became one of the most productive dynamics of the day. 

Teachers who would never typically sit together to plan a lesson found themselves discussing how a single Citizen Science activity could cross subject boundaries – a data collection lesson becoming a maths exercise, a biodiversity observation linking to language and ethics, a noise monitoring project connecting Physics and Music. 

The question was not “is this relevant to me?” but “how do I make it work for my students?” 

The Feedback Was Frank – and That Was the Point 

Teachers engaged critically with the resources. The lesson plans were widely praised for their clarity and ambition, but teachers also pushed back: could they be shorter? Could they fit into a single period? Could they come with ready-made worksheets and rubrics so the barrier to use was lower? 

The Repository drew genuine enthusiasm – described as accessible, well-organised, and contemporary. Several teachers identified specific platforms within it that their students could contribute to directly, making the science feel real rather than simulated. 

One biology teacher raised a question about bioethics in activities involving living organisms – a thoughtful challenge that opened a broader discussion about responsible Citizen Science in secondary classrooms. A physics teacher suggested expanding the data tools referenced in the lesson plans. Another proposed adding the Feathered Journeys platform for bird migration monitoring. 

Looking Ahead 

The day ended with a clear sense that EcoStories resources are ready and that teachers are equipped to use them. The feedback gathered will travel back to the full consortium to inform the final refinement of the WP3 outputs before wider dissemination across all partner countries. 

Citizen Science in the classroom works best when it starts with teachers who are curious, critical, and willing to try. In Cyprus, we found a room full of them. 

👉 Explore the resources at ecostories.eu