Ilmansuojelijat (‘Air Protectors’) game for schools
The Ilmansuojelijat game, developed as part of the Ilmari project, is intended for 5th–9th-graders. The game can be used as part of environmental, ethics, biology and geography studies. The game focuses on sustainable development and climate change from the perspective of traffic. The game can be used as a tool for phenomenon-based learning.
The game teaches pupils about the impacts of traffic at the local and the global level alike. Locally, traffic is the most significant source of noise and air pollution, while at the global level, traffic is a major contributor to the world’s climate emissions.
The purpose of the game is to get pupils to think about the impact of traffic on not only climate change and air quality, but on people’s wellbeing and health as well. The game is played partially in the school’s surroundings, enabling pupils to see the challenges brought about by traffic in their own living environment through their own senses.
At the end of the game, the pupils will have a good understanding of transport-based climate emissions and environmental impacts, as well as the benefits of sustainable transport.
The game is available in Finnish and Swedish.
Games and other materials
Here you will find materials for the Ilmari – Climate-Smart Traveller activities for free use by teachers and educators.
On these pages, you will find information on climate work in Helsinki, air quality and sustainable mobility, among other things.
Environmental education concerning traffic in Helsinki
Children and young people concerned about climate change often want to influence and act for the benefit of the environment and the climate.
We organise fun and activity-filled workshops that focus on environmental education concerning traffic. In the workshops, we activate schoolchildren with a positive approach to thinking and acting in a climate and environmentally responsible manner in their transport choices. We also aim to have a wider impact on the transport habits of the whole family.
The Ilmari – Climate-Smart Traveller project has received government funding for 2023 from Traficom (the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency) for mobility guidance. In addition, the University of Helsinki is participating in the Ilmari project and providing Ilmari with MegaSense air quality sensors.
School and hobby travel
School and hobby travel is important not only from the point of view of the environment, but also from the point of view of the health of children and young people. The recommended amount of physical activity for children is 1–2 hours a day, but only about one third of comprehensive school-age children are sufficiently active.
There are four good reasons to encourage children and young people to travel from place to placeusing muscle power:
- Walking, cycling, and scooter riding, for example, help you stay healthy
- Exercise stimulates the mind and helps focus
- Fitness improves and so does stamina
- Emissions are reduced!
Tips for moving sustainably
Sustainable mobility is wonderful when you really understand it. Below are some easy tips on how to make sustainable mobility choices in your everyday life.
It is a good idea to choose the mode of transport to the destination according to the situation, taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of the alternatives. The decisive factors may be, for example, the distance of the journey, weather conditions and the need to transport goods and people. Walking and cycling are environmentally friendly and health-promoting mobility choices. Did you know that in the city, for short distances, the bicycle is also the fastest way to travel?
It is not always a good idea to complete the entire journey with one mode of transport. Instead, you can combine walking, cycling or public transport. By leaving your car at a park and ride car park, you avoid traffic jams in the city and the need to hunt for a parking space. Combining cycling and walking during a trip adds important daily exercise to the day.
If you need to use your own car to get around, it is a good idea to offer a ride to other people going in the same destination at the same time. Parents' time is saved when children are transported over a longer distance for their hobbies by carpooling. You can also offer a ride for longer distances in different carpooling groups on social media.
It is a good idea to plan your own and your family's travel in such a way that you try to combine several tasks that require travelling by car on the same route. For example, it is better to drop by the store or gym when heading home from work or school, rather than leaving from home by car again in the evening.
Smart movers may also choose not to make a trip and take advantage of remote work opportunities and remote meetings, for example!
Contact us
Milla Susi
Environmental Specialist
milla.susi@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program)
tel. +358 (0)40 685 0953