Biodiversity: Tomorrow’s Challenge ! Erasmus Project

Project Title

Biodiversity: Tomorrow’s Challenge !

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: Civic engagement / responsible citizenship; Energy and resources; Environment and climate change

Project Summary

“Reports from international experts have warned us since 2007 about the dramatic consequences of global warming.
These reports are regularly confirmed and one thing is clear: the planet is aware and will experience major environmental problems.

The project leading idea: Our environment is fragile, our students must understand the impact of their actions because they are the citizens of tomorrow.

The study of this problem seems relevant in European primary schools. In all European countries, the analysis is clear.
This project is an opportunity to understand and compare the different threats to certain species in each of the partner countries. This project will also provide an opportunity to share knowledge, approaches, awareness and solutions to safeguard the environment.

Teachers will be trained in a didactic and scientific approach by the organizations associated with the project.
At the end of the project, students will utilise their knowledge to understand issues related to the environment and to sustainable development, and act accordingly to protect the biodiversity endangered by global warming.
We estimate up to 700 students, 90 teachers, 30 professionals will be involved in the activities under the project. Their involvement will be through the project activities during its two years of operation:
During the project’s two years, the students will develop actions relating to:
A Study of the Tree:
Scientific: a living being, its life cycle, modelling
Inventory of species close to schools – planting trees, hedges – making exhibitions involving media (e.g. radio, local TV, press) and events (e.g. fair, exhibition, markets)
Installation of insectariums (e.g. stick insects, ants, butterflies, bees, snails)
Study of the food chain in the habitat that is the tree. – creation of posters for the preservation of species (trees, insects, birds and mammals) – visits to urban and rural natural spaces, protected areas and forest environments.
Social:

Development of rules and responsibilities, formalization and exchange with partners – reviews of meetings with local stakeholders of the project (forest managers, wood craftsmen, gardeners …)
Regular correspondence between classes and between students in English and their native languages.
Assignments within the project (tutoring between pupils, plantation maintenance (trees and hedges); installation, maintenance and observation of different livestock; accounting, report writing, monitoring of activities, management of equipment and inventories …)

Economic:
Visits to sawmills, carpentry workshops, paper factories … –
Realization of a local herbarium of threatened species. –
Co-operative management of project resources assigned to specific educational actions (organization of exhibitions, events and visual productions)

This work will culminate in:
-the writing and dissemination of a “European Charter for the Maintenance of Biodiversity”,
-the creation and distribution of a booklet-calendar summarising and concluding the two years of project (presentation of schools, charter, posters, photos of flagship actions, student work, …)
– the launch of a WEB space (website and online sharing platform).
Approximately 1500 people will indirectly benefit from the activities organized within the project (parents, partners and the general public …). These people will be involved in some project activities (trips, visits, exhibitions …) and will receive publications of the results of our work.
The final evaluation will measure the impact of our pedagogical action. It will consist of a formative evaluation over two years and two collective evaluations at the end of each year.

The formative evaluation will focus on the scientific approach, the social and civic approach and the linguistic approach.
Collective evaluations will focus on the acquisition and/or reinforcement of modern language skills. Awareness of relevant key subjects (science, geography, mathematics, technology, citizenship, language proficiency, visual arts, etc.) and ICT proficiency.
All work will be promoted at the local level (parents, local schools, local authorities, partners in charge of the management of natural areas …) and elsewhere by the site “www.biodiversity-challenge.eu”

This project will enable students to engage in environmental protection and in awareness of their citizenship both locally, in Europe and beyond.
It must enable them to develop respect for the environment and give them a sense of their daily responsibilities. ”

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 64775 Eur

Project Coordinator

ECOLE ELEMENTAIRE PUBLIQUE MIXTE DESCARTES & Country: FR

Project Partners

• Bikernieku pamatskola
• Nachalno uchilishte Yane Samdanski
• C.E.I.P. Ntra. Sra. de la Cabeza
• 1st Primary school of Diavata
• Osnovna skola Gradac