“Latvijas Koks” sparks students’ curiosity through video: new experiment instructions for the “Wood Suitcase” are on the way

The educational kit “Wood Suitcase for Natural Science Experiments in Schools”, developed by the Latvijas Koks Association, has already become an inspiration for both students and teachers across Latvia. To make this experience even more accessible, with the support of the Latvian Forest Development Fund, a new project is being implemented in 2025 to create video instructions for STEM-related experiments included in the “Wood Suitcase.”

Five new video instructions for schools

Within the project, five new experiment video guides will be developed, continuing the work started in 2024, when the first six video instructions were created. These have already gained recognition among both students and educators, as they enable experiments to be carried out in the classroom even without prior experience. Now, the “Wood Suitcase” is becoming even more complete, serving as a visually engaging guide to STEM learning.

To ensure the quality and usefulness of the materials, the videos will undergo pilot testing in schools. This approach guarantees that the content meets real educational needs and provides meaningful learning experiences. The emphasis is placed not only on strengthening STEM knowledge but also on helping students understand wood as a renewable resource and its role in the bioeconomy.

Researchers – science ambassadors for students

A special role in this project is played by PhD Daniela Godiņa, researcher at the Biorefinery Laboratory of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, and Mg. chem. Matīss Pāls, researcher at the Laboratory of Lignin Chemistry. In the video instructions, our researchers build a bridge between science and the classroom, showing that wood chemistry is not only laboratory work.

• They help students understand experiments step by step and explain how, at the molecular level, the structure of wood determines material properties.

• At the same time, they encourage students to think like scientists: to form hypotheses, record observations, and analyze results.

Science made understandable for students

“Students don’t just want to see – they want to understand. Teachers, on the other hand, need support in the form of clear, comprehensible, and high-quality teaching materials. That is why we continue to enrich and expand them,” emphasizes Sigita Alksne, Board Member of Latvijas Koks.

She reminds us that these videos are not just a teaching tool, but a “window to the real world.” They allow students to feel that science is not just theory written on the board but something they can try out, test, and truly understand themselves.

From idea to real experience

With the support of the Latvian Forest Development Fund, the first six video instructions were created in 2024, and they have already received wide recognition. In 2025, these materials are being expanded with new content, making the “Wood Suitcase” a comprehensive and visually engaging guide to STEM learning across Latvia.