Acquisition of Circular Behaviour in Elementary Schools

<< Background >>We applied for this project in response to the urgent need to introduce circular economy principles into primary education in a way that is practical, engaging, and age-appropriate. While sustainability is increasingly present in policy and curriculum frameworks, there was a clear lack of ready-to-use, pedagogically sound materials for younger learners that address circular behaviour in a meaningful way. Teachers also reported the need for simple tools and guidance to integrate such topics into their lessons without extensive preparation or prior expertise. The project responded to these needs by developing a comprehensive set of digital micro-lessons, a micro-certification scheme, and a teacher support package. It aimed not only to deliver content but also to foster behavioural change and build long-term environmental awareness among pupils, while supporting teachers with practical, accessible tools.<< Objectives >>The main objective of the project was to promote circular behaviour among primary school pupils by equipping teachers with practical, high-quality, and accessible educational tools. We aimed to support schools in embedding sustainability and circular economy principles into everyday teaching through engaging microlearning. Specifically, we wanted to: (1) develop a collection of digital micro-lessons tailored for pupils aged 6–11; (2) design a micro-certification framework to recognise pupils' learning achievements; (3) provide teachers with a comprehensive toolkit and lesson plans to facilitate classroom implementation; and (4) build a sustainable online platform to host and disseminate all outputs. By achieving these goals, the project intended to raise awareness of circular thinking at an early age and support the transition toward greener, more responsible educational practices.<< Implementation >>The project was implemented through a structured sequence of activities across four work packages. We began with project coordination and partner alignment, followed by the core development phase. This included the creation of 181 micro-lessons and 32 digital activities, a micro-certification framework, a teacher toolkit, and a web-based training forum. Two LTTAs were held in Spain and Turkey to build partner capacity and test tools. A structured quality assurance process was carried out throughout the project, including peer reviews, internal reports, and evaluations of events and outputs. In the final phase, we launched targeted dissemination campaigns, published 70 news videos, held five national conferences, and organised an EU-level virtual final event. All outputs were translated into seven languages, published online, and promoted through national and international networks.<< Results >>The project produced a complete, multilingual educational package on circular behaviour for primary schools. Key outputs include 181 digital micro-lessons and 32 interactive activities, all available in seven languages, a fully functional micro-certification platform with automated quizzes and badge awards, a comprehensive teacher toolkit, and over 180 structured lesson plans. We also developed and launched a public project website serving as a central repository for all materials. Additional results include two successful LTTAs, over 70 news videos for dissemination, a growing network of 10000+ schools and educators, and six final conferences (five national, one EU-level). The project exceeded initial expectations by transforming a planned assessment framework into a fully operational digital learning platform, significantly increasing its usability, reach, and long-term impact.