Enhancing intercultural understanding and communication through storytelling Erasmus Project

Project Title

Enhancing intercultural understanding and communication through storytelling

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 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Social/environmental responsibility of educational institutions; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; Early childhood education and care

Project Summary

CONTEXT
Kids have an inherent tale preference. Stories create a mystical universe and a sense of wonder about the world in which children step up to uncover mysteries, discern the good from the bad and thereby gain important life lessons, develop universal patterns that inform them about the effects of their decisions, themselves and the environment around them, follow a positive model of social conduct. Storytelling is a great opportunity for children to gain empathy, admiration and acceptance of other cultures, cultivate positive attitudes towards people of various backgrounds, races and religions. In addition, stories and storytelling promote the education and creativity of children, provide problem-solving strategies, enable them to interact effectively, grow emotional intelligence and cooperate with peers.
The project partnership has collaborated to build the framework for their children and pupils in order to improve the ability to understand the real environment through insights into common life experiences, practice and strengthen language and literacy skills through practical creative learning scenarios, as communication skills are a key component of life success.

OBJECTIVES
O1 To improve the imagination, critical thinking, verbal, communication and teamwork skills of young learners across a variety of practical and inclusive experiences in classrooms.
O2 to develop a collection of powerful storytelling tools and strategies for further use with young learners in educational activities.

O3 to increase understanding, acceptance and appreciation for cultural diversity in intercultural matters.

O4 Providing opportunities for the professional growth and sharing of pedagogical methods at European level for teachers.

O5 Strengthening the European element of education and cross-border mobility in partner schools through exchange projects with Erasmus+.
NUMBER AND PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTS
The target group of young learners that our project is targeting consists of pupils aged 4-11 who benefit from pre-primary and primary education. They will form the core community, with this age group introducing local events. At the collaboration stage, we predict that the total number of direct participants will comprise about 300 pupils who will play an active role in the implementation process of the project. Students must attend and plan local and interactive events, assisted by project team staff, school counselor and psychologist.
The project team will be formed in each country by a total of 10 pre-primary and/or primary teachers; they will apply storytelling strategies, methods and tools learned during training events with direct participants in their organization; they will arrange practical workshops for pupils to develop specific storytelling project materials; they will build their own stories; they will participate in role-play and drama exercises to stage stories;
MAIN ACTIVITIES
C1- Storytelling with realia
C2- Dramatized storytelling
C3- Digital storytelling
C4- 3D Story books
C5- Storytelling with pictures and drawings
METHODOLOGY
The methodology introduced will concentrate of developing creative and personalized storytelling approaches, tools by applying the expertise acquired during LTTAs and past professional experience, incorporating new opportunities with young learners in local and international events, building a rich array of storytelling teaching aids.
RESULT
Concrete outcomes of the project will be: thematic displays, story dioramas, booklet- pre-primary and primary storytelling events, worksheets, models, storytelling card packs, interactive tales, project tale calendar, children’s puppets, exhibits, project website, twin room, effect and input formats, publications, social media account, international conference, certificates. S
IMPACT AND LONG-TERM BENEFITS
“Once upon a time, little storytellers” will provide resources for professional growth, strengthen the image of learning profession among management teams and LTTA participants because of the local and international activities they carry out, attending training sessions, sharing of teaching techniques, expertise, resources and methods they can learn and further pass to institutions.
In addition, the collaboration will promote consistency and multidimensional changes at the school level involved, bringing diversity to the syllabus through creative storytelling strategies and resources applied, focused entirely on immersive learning that will positively influence the outcomes of young learners and empower them with lifelong core competencies.
The project will serve as a model of innovative approaches to drive both teaching and learning growth. Partner company would strengthen the capacity and experience in project management, enhanced awareness and opportunities for extending the international network.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 117880 Eur

Project Coordinator

ISTITUTO COMPRENSIVO I. CALVINO & Country: IT

Project Partners

• Sehit Kamil Balkan
• CEIP RAQUEL PAYÁ
• Palatul Copiilor Deva
• Sredno obshtoobrazovatelno uchilishte”Nikola Jonkov Vapcarov”