Let's Join Our Hands

"<< Background >>Participating in an Erasmus project can provide numerous benefits for school students. Not only will they gain valuable international experience but they will also expand their cultural horizons and develop a range of important skills through making body percussion activities together with students from other countries.Body percussion is a holistic way of learning and is seen as an effective method to support more traditional learning methods, not only for special needs students but for all groups of learners in all sorts of education at all levels and in all sorts of subjects.Body percussion boosts cognitive abilities: The rhythmic nature of body percussion stimulates cognitive functions, including memory, attention and concentration. Students must remember patterns, sequences and movements, requiring mental focus and recall. Regular engagement in body percussion can improve cognitive skills and enhance overall brain development.Further to this body percussion is a motivating tool to improve communicative and teamwork skills among groups of students.The project was an opportunity to let students from three different schools and education systems meet and work together and create learning activities. << Objectives >>The aim was to let teachers and students from very different schools and education systems meet and work together with body percussion as the initial tool and method for this cooperation.Through the meetings and the common activities the project supports development of intercultural skills among teachers and students, their ability to get inspired and work together, strenghten their language competencies and create new networks, not only between colleges but also between individuals/groups.Further to experience how the use of body percussion as a tool for both learning and communication can be integrated in all sorts of subjects in education and have a positive effect on both. << Implementation >>Each partner meeting included an introduction and presentation of all participants, individually as well as presentation of the educational background of the group. Introduction was also made through simple ""ice-breaker"" activities allowing especially the students to establish the initial contact to young students from another country and culture.The core activity was body percussion activities presented by the three different national groups of students. The students as well as the participating teachers experimented with different sounds (e.g. clapping, stomping, tapping different body parts), patterns and movements allowing them to not only explore but also to develop their artistic capabilities.After instruction and rehearsing some activities were presented at a larger audience at the college.A part of the meetings was also local cultural activities and visits to learn more about the local culture and traditions. << Results >>The students experimented with different sounds, patterns and movements, allowing them to explore their artistic capabilities. They created their own performances, fostering individuality and personal expression.Students also learned to work together, synchronize their movements and sounds, and to communicate effectively. This promoted teamwork, cooperation and mutual respect among students, fostering a sense of community and shared achievement.Introducing students to different body percussion traditions also allowed them to explore and appreciate very diverse cultural practices. This fostered cultural awareness, empathy and in a broader perspective, promoted inclusion and understanding across borders."