Water connects! Erasmus Project

Project Title

Water connects!

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: Research and innovation; Health and wellbeing; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

“There is no life without water. Water is a valuable resource that is essential for all human activity. Water knows no frontiers. It is a common asset that requires international cooperation.” (European Water Charter of 1968)
The rivers that flow through our cities connect us in Europe. Therefore, one goal of our project was to provide water as a connecting element (Water connects!), which is equally essential for all people around the world and throughout Europe. We need to value our water and protect it, we must not waste water. We wanted to use this project in order to increase awareness of the participating students and teachers, and to make aware the importance of water to the public.
Our project extended over three years and included 36 students and 6 teachers (per year) from Augsburg (Germany), Wageningen (NL) and Gödöllő (HU). The pupils were in grade 7 to 10 (13 to 16 years old), an age at which pupils reflect more and more about their future careers.
In the first year of the project we considered the cultural and historical role of water for our cities. The participants explored the role of water and waterways in the development of their cities. Have the rivers changed geographically? Have the rivers been regulated? How was the water supply and the quality of drinking water in the past? How much water did the citizens need on the average?
During the second year of the project the importance of adequate hydration was emphasized and we reacted to specific problems in our partner schools. We encouraged the students to critically examine the “water situation” in their schools. Is water wasted at our schools? Do the schools support their students to drink enough, preferably water and not unhealthy drinks? How is the water quality in our schools? Is there a problem with garbage or plastic bottles that could be fixed?
On the basis of the acquired knowledge students were encouraged to design a recyclable and affordable water bottle in the third project year. This bottle can be purchased at the end of the project by all students of the three participating schools, thereby emphasizing the connection of our schools. In addition, this water bottle might help people to drink more healthy water, both in and out of school. For this purpose, project participants developed concepts (bottle shape, material, logo), got and compared offers, placed orders and customized the product. This practical part provided an important experience for the project participants, as they could put teaching skills into practice. At the end of the process, they could hold a product in their hands, which is the result of their innovation and creativity, including entrepreneurship.
The desired results were achieved by means of group work, independent student work under the guidance of experts, practical experimental learning, out-of-school learning, and through the work on multimedia presentations. The numerous presentations and continuous cooperation with partner schools helped improving and intensifying language skills.
We ensured that all project results were available on our project homepage (https://waterconnects.jimdo.com). Our main product (water bottle with information sheet) and a summary of individual project results were also published on the schools’ websites. Stands, posters, flyers, etc., will find a place in the schools after the public final exhibitions. The project material was adapted for use in the classrooms.

Our project hopefully lead to encourage high-quality learning, which is needed to change students’ attitude towards water and to help them to become healthy responsible European citizens.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 99070 Eur

Project Coordinator

Montessori-Schule Augsburg & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Gödöllöi Török Ignác Gimnázium
• Stichting voor Openbaar Voortgezet Onderwijs van Wageningen en Omstreken