Life in Plastic – it’s fantastic?! Everything starts by taking a closer look Erasmus Project

Project Title

Life in Plastic – it’s fantastic?! Everything starts by taking a closer look

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Energy and resources; Civic engagement / responsible citizenship; Reaching the policy level/dialogue with decision makers

Project Summary

“Life in Plastic – it’s fantastic?!” The ironic title of this project questions the throw-away mentality of our time, including the wasteful use of plastic in our everyday life. In the course of this two-year project, 18 pupils and six teachers from three countries (France, Germany, and the Netherlands), supported by their schools and external experts, will deal with this problem and possible solutions for a more careful use of resources and a sustainable future.
Staying with host families during the one-week programs and working in international teams on a current issue underline the fact that this international problem cannot be solved single-handedly, but rather needs multilateral collaborations and a strong, united Europe. By working in multilateral teams for two years, all participants, pupils and teachers, will not only deepen their intercultural competences, but also improve their multilingual competences.
The three participating schools already have initiatives to protect the environment which will be integrated into the Erasmus+ project. The project itself will be divided into four successive components that will be organized by the local teachers and supported by the members of the local initiatives.
A professional filmmaker will be present during the entire project to record its process, results and effects on the participants. This documentary will be made available in German, French and Dutch, so that all schools can use it for further projects or educational purposes.
“Everything starts by taking a closer look”: The first component of the project is organized by the French school in Buchy. Its aim is to raise the participants‘ awareness of the omnipresence of plastic in our everyday life and the resulting problem of plastic waste. The pupils will, for example, collect rubbish on the beach or in cities which will be the basis for a creative performance. The performance will not only be presented locally but via Skype conferences also to the partner schools in Germany and the Netherlands.
“So, what’s the matter with plastic?”: In the second component which will be held in Xanten, Germany, the participants will explore plastic from a variety of different, scientific perspectives. They will, for example, analyze its chemical composition or deal with the influence of microplastics on the human body. This will be documented by the local team, so that the methods, materials and results can also be used in future lessons after the project has finished. Moreover, the pupils will use these new insights to design creative invitations they will issue to local and national politicians for a final panel discussion on this issue.
“No more plastic, please – ways and means out of the plastic world”: The third component in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, will deal with alternatives to our way of dealing with plastic. The pupils will have to explore and test alternatives and try to find own solutions to avoid plastic. Furthermore, the pupils will get an insight into the world of up- and recycling by transforming former plastic rubbish into useful, purposeful objects. The results of this creative approach will not only be presented in a public exhibition, but will also be published in social media and in an open letter to Greta Thunberg to encourage others to follow their example. Like Thunberg, who can be seen as a pioneer and motivator regarding teenage commitment for future environmental concerns, the pupils want to set an example and involve others.
“Living in Europe means constant dialogue”: One highlight of this project regarding democratic participation and fostering active citizenship is the final meeting of all participants in Brussels. At the beginning, the pupils will take part in a simulation game of the European Parliament that deals with European legislation. This playful insight into the backgrounds of European politics and cooperation, combined with a guided tour of the European Parliament is a crucial contribution to democratic participation that traditional lessons cannot achieve. Finally, a meeting with a Member of the European Parliament is planned which will be organized by the Junior Ambassadors of the European Parliament from the school in Xanten. In this meeting the pupils can present their project as well as their results, offering them an opportunity to engage in a dialogue that values them and their contributions and efforts as active, young citizens of the European Union.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 70152 Eur

Project Coordinator

Städtisches Stiftsgymnasium Xanten & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Francis Yard
• Augustinianum