International GIS Day Celebrated at First Primary School Čakovec

International GIS Day was traditionally celebrated at the First Primary School Čakovec through a day of exploration, collaboration, and discovery in the world of digital maps. This year’s event brought together seventh- and eighth-grade students from Petar Zrinski Primary School Šenkovec, accompanied by teachers Dunja Novak and Lidija Matoša, along with our own seventh- and eighth-grade students, who jointly took part in a series of engaging activities.

A special highlight of the programme was the inclusion of the school’s humanoid robot NAO, introduced by teacher Ivana Ružić. The robot’s capabilities and live demonstration of its functions particularly impressed visiting students and sparked great interest among participants.

Professor Valentina Pirc-Mezga presented an activity focused on measuring soil temperature. Students then moved outdoors into the school surroundings, where they collected data, entered it into a digital application, and visualised the results on a map, gaining hands-on experience with real GIS-based research.

Through ArcGIS StoryMaps prepared by teachers Renata Najman and Maja Hižman, students explored the biodiversity of the area along the 45th parallel and the 16th meridian. Their newly acquired knowledge was then tested through an interactive and entertaining quiz. The overall programme was designed and coordinated by geography teachers Silvija Martišek and Danijela Perenc-Jaušovec.

With a strong emphasis on curiosity, teamwork, and the development of new digital skills, the school once again successfully marked a day dedicated to geography, technology, and exploring the environment around us.