Nature detectives Erasmus Project

Project Title

Nature detectives

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 : Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Natural sciences; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

There were 8 partners schools involved in the project ,, Nature detectives ”: Publiczne Gimnazjum im.płk. K. Iranka Osmeckiego in Pstrągowa- Poland ( as a coordinator), Gymnazium Petra Pazmana s vjm-Pazmany Peter Gimnazium in Nove Zamky-Slovakia, SOU “Ivan Vazov” in Sopot – Bulgaria, Scoala Gimnaziala “Samson Bodnarescu” Galanesti in Siret- Romania, Szazhalombattai Szechenyi Istvan Szakkozepiskola es Gimnazium in Százhalombatta -Hungary, Colegio Santo Ángel de la Guarda in Madrid, Spain , ISA13 Istituto Comprensivo in Sarzana, Italy and Primary School of Kouloura-Greece. Our schools are located in different sites: villages like in Poland and Romania and Greece, small towns in Italy, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia and finishing in big cities like Madrid in Spain, they are of a different size and number of pupils but in general the project involved directly about 150 students aged 10-16 and 30 teachers. So there were students and teachers from primary, lower secondary and even vocational schools which was a big logistic challenge especially during mobilities.

The main goal was to increase our pupils’ interest in nature fenomena and making discoveries. We focused on investigating invasive alien plants and animals species in local/regional habitat and looking for impact of those species on environment , marking places of their appearance and informing local community about the influence of growing/having such ,,aliens” around . It has appeared that most investigated animal and plant invasive alien species are common in all partner countries.
The project which included science, geography, allowed to develop numerous skills, especially communication , artistic and IT . The project activities were focused on doing research on specific animals, plants in nearby environment like national parks, street, historic sites etc. All our students and teachers learnt a lot about biodiversity of different places located in such different corners, even edges of Europe. What is more, whole school and local communities had a chance to learn about invasive alien species thanks to open lessons, open days, multimedia presentations and media/publications. It was a a great opportunity to show talents and share knowledge for those who were open , creative and hard-working; the results of our work have been published in local / regional magazines, TV, our project blog (https://naturedetectivesblog.wordpress.com), schools websites, e-twinning space, FB also presented and documented in many different ways. It was also a great challenge for travelling students (during educational trips and mobilities and staying with host families during mobilities) and for those with some specific problems ( learning difficulties, social and economical problems) for developing language skills and improving ICT skills.

In some cases we managed to find institutions like universities, academies of science, national/regional forestry , biology experts who not only gave us science knowledge support but also helped teachers to prepare fantastic lessons based on given materials. It must be said that the lectures given at schools during mobilities were very professional and informative. However, some of our partner schools faced real difficulties looking for mentioned above specialists ( Spain, Poland at the beginning). The topic of our project and investigations had appeared very crucial and up-to -dated due to the fact that invasive alien species issue has been becoming more and more important nowadays and most cooperating specialists and/or intitutions were impressed by our effort and project results. We do have a feeling that we have done something really important for the environment and that our outcomes can be used in the future. On the other hand, some partner schools, especially school coordinators had to deal with the lack of interest in the project from both students and institutional site and had no support of other teachers at school. That led to situations when the same people were responsible for many tasks. Luckily , all those really interested, created a highly motivated, hard working and responsible team ready to move the mountain.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 206370 Eur

Project Coordinator

Publiczne Gimnazjum im.plk. K.Iranka Osmeckiego w Zespole Szkol w Pstragowej & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Scoala Gimnaziala “Samson Bodnarescu” Galanesti
• Gymnazium Petra Pazmana s vjm-Pazmany Peter Gimnazium
• Sredno Obshtoobrazovatelno Uchilishte “Ivan Vazov”
• Colegio Santo Ángel de la Guarda
• Százhalombattai Széchenyi István Szakközépiskola és Gimnázium
• ISA13 Istituto Comprensivo Sarzana
• Primary School of Kouloura