People of LAND

"<< Background >>Over the years, several projects have been developed with the aim of contributing to the continuous training of children and young people who are more responsible and concerned with preserving the environment and Planet Earth, maintaining the quality of life, but without compromising the future of the next generations. The core motivation of the project is perfectly described in the title: People of LAND. We wanted students to know their realities effectively, to analyze their actions critically, and become aware of the need to ""Think locally in order to act globally”. Throughout these two school years, activities were carried out to promote values and change attitudes and behaviors towards the environment, in order to prepare our students to exercise a conscious, dynamic, and informed citizenship towards current environmental issues. The reality of the schools involved in the project is very different and it was very interesting to see how the students assimilated the different realities, how they critically analyzed these realities and even how they tried to incorporate the most interesting things they had learned from the other countries into their schools.<< Objectives >>Environmental Education in schools is an indispensable and structural tool to promote responsible and conscious behavior of children and young people towards the environment and nature conservation. The “People of LAND” main objectives were: Making pupils (future active citizens), aware of environmental, sustainability issues and climate change, in order to develop eco-friendly habits; Promoting the environmental citizenship of young people by identifying situations that should be improved from an ecological point of view; Development of student and teacher cooperation in environmental causes, namely those close to them, involving them directly in their resolution and building the foundations for a more democratic and ecologically healthy society; Understanding the link between 'sustainable food' and its significant impact on the environment, health and food waste; Improving the students green skills; Improving the English language and Increasing ICT skills. In general terms, we wanted our students to become young people who are active in environmental causes and citizens who are aware of the need to develop Green Skills. << Implementation >>During the project's implementation, we aimed for the students to organize, promote, and carry out a set of diversified activities which will allow them to identify local problems of environmental sustainability, seeking to present solutions that can be applied. All activities refer to the particular needs of schools, teachers and pupils according to the need analysis which took place at each partner school. All schools worked on integrating the project activities in school curriculum and preparing lesson plans, based on the best experience. Some activities took place outside the classroom, where materials were built and concrete examples of how to teach various topics related to agriculture, food, environmental sustainability and the development of green skills in the different subjects were given. These materials were created not just among the students of each school but also in cooperation with their new international classmates. Pupils visited some interesting foreign places and discover the environmentally friendly farming methods. Activities included responsible behavior, promoted equality, equity and tolerance and include methods and forms such as cooperative learning, peer-learning, manual practice and social learning. << Results >>We learned and shared innovative methods and forms of teaching and learning about environmental and sustainability issues, climate change and food waste. Pupils have learned skills needed in society and will be able to continue in their future studies and real life. We gave everybody the opportunity to participate as they are and make progress according to their own abilities. We used the local environment to create shared experiences for all and to make products children can be proud of. Pupils felt they are a significant part of their own society and a part of a bigger European community. We combined school subjects and took care of following each country's curriculums. Pupils became more empathetic and supported international partnerships, friendships and shared culture. Concrete results are being documented, recorded, shared outdoor activities, fairs and exhibitions. Some of the pupils became more active in their school community. We did encourage pupils to take part in the planning, participation in activities and evaluation. Pupils became more enthusiastic and determined to get educated. They also want to participate in Erasmus+ -program again. Teachers in our schools are now more motivated in international projects."