It’s easy to participate in the contest La Palme verte. Just follow the steps below to get your project underway, and to guide you in drawing up your activities report.
Also, see The school program to learn about the educational goals of the contest, and the skills the students will develop as a result of the project.
Lastly, take a few minutes to visit these interesting sites. They may inspire you.
1. Find an original idea
What can I do to improve the environment in the class, the school, or the community? How can I contribute to sustainable development? What actions can the students and I take to improve our living environment?
Every project begins with a brilliant idea, and the best ideas are often the simplest! Talk with the students, find an idea that promotes respect for the environment, whose main goal is to change or improve your living environment and that of the students.
2. Register
To register for La Palme verte, you must fill out the on-line registration form. You have until April 15, 2010, 5:00 p.m. (contest deadline) to register and submit your activities report and poster. Your registration will be confirmed by e-mail.
However, we would appreciate your registering as soon as possible to let us know that you intend to participate.
3. Get started!
It’s time to put your project in action with your group of students. At this stage, you’ll need reinforcements: the students have to get involved!
The report is divided into three sections: before, during, and after.
“BEFORE” section: Describe the initial situation
 More information
The first step involves drawing up a profile of your environment before beginning the project. Describe the initial context or environment. Explain what you would like to change or improve with your project this year. What are your goals? What results would you like to achieve during and by the end of the project?
You must include with your presentation one or more photographs of the area in question, or of the object or layout to be modified, or a sketch or other relevant visual depicting the situation before your intervention.
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“DURING” section: Complete the report
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Take notes throughout your project. You must keep a report of your activities in completing the project. How did you set up your project? Who helped you? How? Did you encounter any obstacles? If yes, how did you get around them? Did you achieve your goals? How were the activities incorporated into the educational process?
You may also include with your report any photographs, sketches or other visuals illustrating the work involved in carrying out your project. The more complete the file, the greater your chances of winning!
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“AFTER” section: Present the results
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In this third and final section of the Activities Report, present your project’s final results. You should explain how these results contribute to sustainable development, and describe your efforts to inform others in your school and community of your project.
A few questions to ask yourself
What did the students learn about science and nature? How many people or classes has my project reached? Has it raised people’s awareness? Is my project “transferable” to other classes? How can I inform other colleagues and students in the school and school board about it? How can it be made sustainable? Will these activities continue in the medium and long term?
In your final project, include one or more photographs of the area in question or of the object or layout that has been modified, or a sketch or any other relevant visual illustrating your results.
AN ADDED BONUS
This year, the contest is showing off. In fact, all the projects will be exhibited at the Biodome. Simply summarize your project by presenting, on a poster, each of the three steps (before, during and after), using your best photographs, sketches or relevant visuals and a few words to describe them. The goal is to show visitors the enthusiasm of young people in the school community and their willingness to do something concrete for nature. Your posters may inspire visitors to do something positive in their own environments.
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 Please note:
- Your project must be related to the nature sciences in at least one of the following disciplines:
- Entomology: The study of insects.
- Ecology: The study of the environment of living things and their relationship with their environments.
- Astronomy: The study of celestial bodies (including the Earth) and components. E.g.: the ozone layer.
- Horticulture: The study and cultivation of vegetables, flowers and trees.
- Botany: The study of plants.
- Your project must be carried out over the school year. Although it may be a continuation of activities begun in previous years, only the part of the project carried out during this school year will be considered. When the report is submitted, on April 15, two-thirds of the project must be completed. The project activities to be completed by the end of the school year should be described and will be considered in the evaluation.
Also, please let us know if you intend to continue the activities in future years.
The Activities Report you must submit to have your project evaluated will act as a guide throughout your project.
4. What to send
At the end of your project, you must send to the Montreal Nature Museums Foundation:
The deadline for submitting your entry by mail (postmark date) or by e-mail is April 15, 2010, 5:00 p.m. Please send your project to the following address:
By mail:
Montreal Nature Museums Foundation
La Palme verte
4101 Sherbrooke Street Est
Montréal (Québec) H1X 2B2
By e-mail:
info@fondationmuseums.qc.ca
Important note:
You may use e-mail if your report contains only a few visuals (other than the poster). Your photos, illustrations, sketches or graphics must be saved in jpeg or PDF format.
If you plan to include more than five (5) visuals (photographs, illustrations, sketches or graphics), or if your file is larger than 3 Mg., please use regular mail.
GOOD LUCK!
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