Sparkids: Hands-on learning for wildfire prevention education

Educating for fire through tangible experience

As wildfires intensify due to climate change, innovative educational approaches are becoming essential to strengthen prevention and preparedness. Within the SparkleFire projectopens in new tab, the Municipality of Paredes de Coura (Portugal) is piloting Sparkids, a construction-based educational kit designed to promote experiential wildfire learning through play.

Sparkids is part of a broader pedagogical model that replaces passive learning with direct interaction, decision-making and observation of consequences. The approach recognises that understanding wildfire risk requires engaging with the complex relationships between landscape, land use, human behaviour, climate and community preparedness.

Building landscapes, understanding risk

Developed in collaboration with the Portuguese Association for Animal Traction (APTRAN), Sparkids offers a physical and collaborative learning experience. The kit includes wooden hexagons representing different terrain types, building bricks to simulate landscape elements, and guidance materials for facilitators. Initially designed for children aged 8 to 10, it has been successfully tested with primary school students and adapted for wider audiences.

Each session unfolds in four stages: an introduction to key concepts, collaborative landscape construction, fire simulation, and group reflection. The simulation phase is central, as participants observe how their land management decisions influence fire behaviour. Facilitators introduce wildfire scenarios, and participants respond using the elements they have built, immediately seeing the consequences of their choices.

This tangible interaction creates a strong cognitive connection to real-world environments, helping participants recognise risk patterns and understand the importance of prevention measures. The final discussion phase reinforces learning by comparing outcomes and encouraging critical thinking about territorial planning.

Sparkids has been presented and tested in international contexts, including the FIREPOCTEP+ Conference and the European TREX Alto Minho, where feedback from wildfire experts supported further refinement.

By enabling participants to “build” and “burn” landscapes in a safe game setting, Sparkids fosters a deeper understanding of wildfire dynamics. This experiential learning approach supports long-term behavioural change, encouraging safer practices and stronger community resilience.