Frequently Asked Questions

Below you can find answers to the most common questions we are asked about Dinja Waħda and the Dinja Waħda website.

We have more than one class per grade. If classes belonging to the same year group do the same topic, do they all receive the points, or will the school only get the points once?

The school will receive the points obtained by all classes. For example, if a completed topic provides 600 points and the topic has been successfully completed by 5 classes, the school will receive 3,000 points.

Can two classes do the same Dinja Waħda activity together?

Yes, but please make sure to take different pictures and upload the activities separately.

Our school doesn’t have any soil / green space. What should we do?

Don’t be discouraged and always strive to find ways of greening your yard. Food chains don’t happen on their own but need out active input. If you have absolutely no options, organise an outing to a nature-rich place like Buskett, nature areas near your school, or BirdLife Malta’s nature reserves where you can combine various Dinja Waħda and curricular learning outcomes.

But bear in mind...even in the schools made entirely of concrete, there are nature components, just look closely! However, it would be nice to try to increase green areas. You could install planters and, perhaps, ask the students to bring some soil. Even without planting any seed, some plants will spontaneously grow. Have a look at this resource for detailed information and tips.

I’m a Kindergarten teacher and in my school we follow the emergent curriculum. Can I still follow your Kindergarten suggested activities?

Yes! Even in the emergent curriculum, children need stimuli. Expose the students to some of the topics and start creating excitement! You will be surprised by their curiosity and involvement in nature topics! You can also build on the activity depending on children’s interest or ideas you might have linked with the topic.

I’m a music teacher and I would like to get involved in Dinja Waħda. Is there a way?

Yes! Reach out to the Dinja Waħda coordinator and let her know. You could support the class teachers in the Nature’s Voice and other topics.

Why should I prioritize completing a topic rather than selecting activities based on my preferences?

Each topic has been carefully designed to trigger three elements in young students: comprehension of the subject (mind), connection to the subject (heart), and action taking (hands). If a topic is not completed, students will miss some of these key aspects and ultimately our main goal: connecting children with nature could be jeopardized. Also, in many topics there is the final activity that is done outdoor which is very important.

Do I get penalized if I don’t manage to book a nature reserve visit?

No, it will not affect your schools’ commitment to achieve the award. There are plenty of topics you can choose instead.

Can I start an activity from a topic and another teacher finishes it?

No, because this means that the children in the class where the first activity took place won’t do all the activities in that topic. This would translate in a jeopardized effort to connect them with nature. See question 6.

What do we do if we cannot find insects? Or hear any birds?

It happens sometimes, especially on very windy days. Insects can be hard to find also when it's very cold. On such days, you can focus on the sound of the wind and the rustling of the trees' branches. The wind blows in gusts of different speeds, so the children can use their hands as a sort of speedometer, raising and lowering them to indicate the variable wind strength. Children can also be asked to lay on the ground, facing up to watch the movement of the clouds and the swaying branches, if trees are present. Or they can concentrate on flowers, leaves or whatever nature provides.

Can I carry out a topic when I visit a nature reserve?

At the moment, no. Visits at the reserves fully consist of activities that are led by our field teachers. However, exceptions can be made for the schools with no soil. Please notify during the booking process of your intention to complete the Dinja Waħda activity that requires to be outdoors, so that the field teacher is notified. 

Where can I find the seeds I need for the activities?

Watch the following videos for information on how, when, and where to collect different seeds:

Can I choose a topic from a year group that is not my own?

The Dinja Waħda topics are designed to be progressive from one year to the next, aligning with the learning outcomes of the respective year group. This ensures that students cover all topics and stages throughout the school cycle without repeating the same activity.

Therefore, you should choose topics from your year group.

The Dinja Waħda platform is also designed so that once users in a school are added, they will be assigned to a year group and will be able to upload activities for evaluation corresponding to their year group.

There is one topic that is common to all year groups, called “Nature School”, which allows teachers to conduct their own nature-based activities (a minimum of 8 per term per class) following specific criteria. For the “Nature School” topic, it is also essential to watch the 90-minute online course before planning the activities.

I’m getting an error or unable to submit my activity. What should I do?

If you are experiencing an error or your activity is not submitting, it may be due to one of the following reasons:

·        Temporary server load or slow internet: During peak times, the system might take longer to respond. Please wait a few minutes and try again.

·        Browser or device issues: Try switching to a different browser (like Chrome or Firefox) or using another device.

·        Large file uploads: If you are uploading a large image or file, this might cause the submission to fail. Taking a screenshot and uploading that instead can help.

If the problem continues, please send us a screenshot of the error or the screen you are seeing. This will help us better understand the issue and assist you more effectively.

I need to remove teachers and add a new one to our school. How can I do this?

To remove teachers, follow these steps:

  • Go to View School Users

  • Find the teacher you wish to remove and click the + symbol next to their name

  • Under Actions, click on the broken chain icon to unlink the teacher from your school

If you are trying to add a new teacher but receive a message that they are still linked to another school, please send us the educator’s full name and email address. We’ll need to unlink them from their previous school before you can successfully add them to yours.