Jolly Farm
Jolly Farm is a place where students learn how to protect nature and be part of it through experience. It is a specially prepared environment for the development and education of lower secondary students at Private Primary School Jolly HOMESCHOOL. It is a place where students are an integral part of every project, contributing with their own hands under the guidance of adults.
Exploring and implementing ecological solutions is the future of education.
Project: Ecological Mobile Unit for Outdoor Education
The mobile classroom forms the base of the school farm, benefiting everyone—students, animals, plants, soil, and the community. The structure is built using ecological and recycled materials, utilizes solar panels for lighting, waste separation, composting toilets, and rainwater collection.
The scent of wood and the effort of hands, mind, and heart have created a beautiful interior and exterior of our mobile classroom.
At Private Primary School Jolly HOMESCHOOL, we believe that education is the key to a better future. Therefore, our educational program focuses on areas of great societal importance and applies the latest knowledge and insights into the learning process.
Agriculture is one of these key areas, and the school farm model we are developing supports children in building economic independence and responsibility.
Project: Fundamentals of Active Agriculture and Development of Entrepreneurial Skills in Cooperation with the Slovak Business Agency
Private Primary School Jolly HOMESCHOOL joined the Slovak Business Agency initiative for the development of entrepreneurial skills with the project “Fundamentals of Active Agriculture in Primary School” in the 2021/2022 school year. The project was designed for children aged 6 to 12. Its aim was to transfer knowledge from the classroom into the prepared environment of Jolly Farm—our agricultural land and mobile classroom. The goal was to introduce children to both traditional and modern agricultural practices and to design a school farm model that generates economic, ecological, and social value. It was designed to benefit everyone—students, animals, plants, soil, and the community. In addition, students in the third cycle are given the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills through a project called Production & Exchange. Through specific tasks related to cultivation and animal care, they gain experience and prepare for their own economic and social independence.
The project began in mid-February. It consisted of three main phases and concluded in mid-March. In the first phase, children explored various models of agriculture—from conventional to regenerative. In the second phase, they designed a permaculture plan for the school farm. Based on shared preferences, they decided which agricultural activities they wanted to pursue. In the third phase, they focused on the financial aspect of the project and learned basic economic concepts and processes. These acquired knowledge and skills were incorporated into the final design of Jolly Farm, including a budget and business plan, which we will continue to develop in the coming years.
Project: First Collaboration with Roots & Shoots – The Colorful Waiting Area
Roots & Shoots is a global educational program founded by British primatologist Jane Goodall. Currently, the program operates in 130 countries with more than 8,000 groups. Its main goal is to encourage young people to engage with issues in their surroundings and lead them toward compassionate leadership, enabling them to create a better world through their actions. All activities are focused on creating meaningful outcomes that benefit the local community. The program allows students to gain awareness of current issues in their town or city and develop key competencies needed to address them (such as strategic thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and more). Roots & Shoots uses the service-learning methodology, which guides students through four steps (1. Taking on the challenge, 2. Mapping the community, 3. Action steps, 4. Celebration and evaluation) to implement their own community projects.
Through the story of Dr. Jane Goodall and other inspiring public figures, students gradually gain an understanding of sustainable development. They discuss current societal challenges, analyze local issues, and conduct surveys, based on which they select relevant topics for their projects. The entire learning process takes place through teamwork, supported by teachers and the local community (parents, libraries, senior clubs, various organizations, companies, etc.). Local authorities also play an important role by providing feedback, official permissions, and material or financial support.
Our first project within Roots & Shoots is the Colorful Waiting Area at Jolly Farm, aiming to combine beauty with functionality—a bench in the meadow that brings not only aesthetic value and peace but also serves those who come to rest there.
