Life in, on and with water Erasmus Project

Project Title

Life in, on and with water

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 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Environment and climate change; Natural sciences

Project Summary

In times of increasingly scarce resources, the pupils working in the Erasmus+ project “Life at, in and with water” were made familiar with the facets of the sensitive substance water as a basis of life for humans, animals and plants. In the course of the exchange program they learned about cultural traditions, regional differences and peculiarities. In the subprojects they worked on the following topics in the context of living with water:
– biological, chemical and physical examinations of water
– groundwater and soft water – resources for life
– Living at and in the water – human influence
The project group’s students of the Weiltalschule Weilmünster acquired scientific competences working on experiments, going on field trips and taking part in the exchange program. In the course of the project the students produced a manual for elective science lessons. Through the dissemination of the material, many students were able to improve their language abilities as well as their scientific skills. The Slowakian students could improve their competences in acquiring the German language by taking part in exchange activities, video conferences, preparation of presentations and through exchange via social media.
The German school drew on the multiple experiences of the partner schools in water- and chemical analysis (training of laboratory assistants in the Italian school, Slovakian upper secondary school) and made them available for the students of the ninth and tenth class in Weilmünster.
During the project significant differences quantity of the water resources in terms of quality and quantity in all three countries became clearly evident. Those differences were prepared and made aware for the school communities in all three partner schools. The topic of the consequences of the summer of 2018, climate change and plastic waste were also addressed. The avoidance of plastic waste and the critical examination of the problem was also addressed in all three schools. During the course of the project the actions of “Fridays for Future” also contributed to raising awareness and sparked discussions.
The results of the Erasmus + Project led to the participation in the energy-saving contest by co2 online. The results of the Erasmus+ projects led to the certification of the Weiltalschule as “Umweltschule des Landes Hessen” by the state of Hesse. A total of 56 people, including nine teachers, participated as travelers in the exchange activities. 3000 people were involved in the project by taking part in the dissemination activities.
During the first transnational meeting arrangements concerning responsibilities, deadlines and evaluations were made. Through personal descriptions the students got to know each other and started to communicate over a variety of channels. The students could apply at all schools for the exchange program. At the Italian and Slowakian schools, learning German as a foreign language was a requirement for participating in the program.
In the German school the elective course “Erasmus+ project-sciences” with three hours a week was established. The participating students worked intensively on the project for two school years. In the Italian and Slowakian schools study groups with the goal of working on the project were set up. All other students were involved in the project through the dissemination activities. Results of the subprojects were exchanged and differences identified.
The German school took part in a reintroduction project of salmon in the river Weil and took over continuing sponsorships for salmon fishes. All presentations were prepared in German and English by the German students. The students received the Europass mobility as well ass the Europass CV which also includes language skills. During the last meeting in Weilmünster a joint project charter was voted on and handed over to the mayors and the government president. A handbook in German as a basis for the elective science course and in multilingual form with Slovakian and Italian translations for the teaching of German as a foreign language is available for Italian and Slovakian school. All results are available on the homepage of the project.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 68020 Eur

Project Coordinator

Weiltalschule Weilmünster & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Gymnazium Ludovita Stura
• IPS F.S. CABRINI