January 9th, 2026
With the goal of strengthening environmental learning through practical and creative experiences, we delivered the workshop “Shark, Ray, and Marine Animal Crafts” in collaboration with the Shark Club (Cohort 1) from the community of Las Lisas.
The activity brought together 14 young participants (6 girls and 8 boys) in a space designed to reinforce prior knowledge about sharks and rays, with a particular focus on their anatomy and morphological characteristics. Through art and hands-on activities, we sought to promote a more integrated and meaningful understanding of these marine organisms.
Learning by Doing: From Paper to Knowledge
The workshop was structured as a participatory artistic experience. As the main activity, participants created paper shark figures. Each young participant built their piece from scratch: they selected their preferred color and followed step-by-step instructions that included folding, cutting fringes, and assembling the different parts to give shape to the shark.
This process allowed participants to identify and recreate key body structures, putting previously acquired knowledge into practice in a dynamic and collaborative way.
Subsequently, the group created a ray figure following a similar methodology. Through careful folding, cutting, and gluing of the pieces, key concepts related to ray anatomy and morphological features were reinforced, consolidating learning in a visual and hands-on manner.
Results and Key Learnings
The hands-on activities facilitated the practical application of previously covered content, strengthening knowledge retention while encouraging creativity, teamwork, and active participation. This approach demonstrated that environmental learning can be accessible, engaging, and impactful when connected to direct experience.
We are deeply grateful to the Rufford Foundation and the Luis von Ahn Foundation for their continued support. Their trust and long-term commitment make initiatives like this workshop possible, helping us bring environmental education to coastal communities and inspire young people to learn, create, and care for the ocean.
We continue to invest in educational methodologies that spark curiosity, foster a love for the ocean, and promote a culture of conservation from an early age.
Know. Love. Conserve.