Senses, Thinking & Education on Action for Mankind

Senses, Thinking and Education on Action for Mankind is an Erasmus+ project, a key action 2 for the exchange of good practices between schools. The project lasted 36 months from 1 September 2018 to 31 December 2021, with the project extended by 12 months due to the Covid-19 epidemic. The project united five partner countries from Slovenia, Finland, Poland, Romania and Turkey to develop relevant and high-quality skills and competences, as well as strengthening the profiles of the teaching profession. The project was coordinated by a Slovenian partner.With the project, we successfully introduced the pedagogical approaches STEAM and CLIL in conjunction with healthy lifestyles, European cultural heritage and ICT technology into the learning process of the partner organizations. We developed critical thinking skills, creativity, problem-solving, collaborative learning, teamwork, self-esteem and communication skills, promoted healthy lifestyles and implemented prevention against obesity, diabetes and dental health. We have introduced innovations in the use of ICT technology in the creation and dissemination of educational and didactic materials and promoted the learning of a foreign language among both pupils and teachers. Through project activities, we created different social interactions of intercultural dialogue and tolerances between pupils and reduced intercultural stereotypes. The project enabled the participants to learn about the culture, cultural heritage and traditional cuisine. It also strengthened the methods of working with pupils with special educational needs. The project activities allowed foreign and migrant pupils to present their culture and cuisine.At the time of the project, the following results were achieved: - pedagogical material on healthy nutrition and cultural heritage with STEAM and CLIL pedagogical methods;- e-material made by pupils;- poems on the theme of healthy nutrition and healthy lifestyle;- different pupils' products related to the project theme;- posters with educational content related to the project theme;- articles published in school and local newspapers;- project website;- project catalogue;- Twinspace online classroom;- e-booklet with examples of healthy lifestyles;- e-booklet with traditional recipes;- exhibitions of creative culinary products;- board games on healthy diets and healthy lifestyles- a calendar representing the cultural characteristics of the partner countries;- exhibition or museum of old objects;- performances of traditional dances;- puppet or school performances on healthy diets or healthy lifestyles.During the project period six learning, teaching and training activities were carried out, of which four were in person and two virtual.The project participants were teachers who were selected with the principle of equal opportunities. The participants were also school management and pupils aged 3 to 15, including those with special educational needs and fewer opportunities. The project also indirectly involved parents and grandparents of the children, as well as representatives of local authorities, experts and specialists, local craftsmen, farmers and food producers, health institutions and the local beekeeping association.All activities carried out were documented and published on the project website, in the Twinspace online classroom and presented in teachers meetings. The most important activities that made the project visible were mainly those planned and carried out by the pupils in cooperation with the local environment. The most resounding was certainly the contribution, which was broadcast on Slovenian national television, where the pupils presented the project work. The main target groups with which we shared the project results were pupils, teachers, parents, grandparents and the local community. Project dissemination was carried out in the following areas:School area (within the collective):- eTwining workshop for teachers;- presentation of work and survey results at teachers meetings;- dissemination of LTT activities;- articles of the project work in the school newspaper.Local area:- articles in the local newspaper;- a healthy stand and raising awareness among the local community about healthy lifestyles.Regional area:- presentation of healthy products at the agricultural and craft fair in the regional community;- presentation of the project work at the meeting of the mayors of the seven municipalities of the Gorenjska region.National area:- presentation of the project work in the Good Morning broadcast on Slovenian National Television;- participation in the Children's Theatre Festival.International area:- presentation of the project at the Valorisation Conference, organised by CMEPIUS;- presentation of the project work on the CMEPIUS social network during the epidemic as an example of good practice;- the project website.