Coloured by the Sun, United by the Sea Erasmus Project

Project Title

Coloured by the Sun, United by the Sea

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: Creativity and culture; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

Context:
“Coloured by the Sun, United by the Sea” – no matter what colour skin we have – we all live together under one Sun, and no matter where in the world we are – the Sea connects us all around the globe.
The project “Coloured by the Sun, United by the Sea” tackled the delicate issues of racism, tolerance and successful integration of different peoples and cultures. Setting aside politics and existing prejudices, the planned activities helped children to open their minds and hearts to social integration and acceptance.
Aim and Objectives:
The project innovatively presented the idea of social inclusion through various contemporary music, dance and arts activities. At the same time, it targeted the quality of ECEC services and school education by developing key competences and equipping individuals with skills to contribute to a cohesive society with the help of Erasmus+ and eTwinning. The activities enriched partner institutions’ curriculum and effectively engaged community members in social and civic life, promoted innovation, quality improvements and internationalism collaboratively creating the results: music and dance performances and mosaic mural, all of which speak of tolerance, acceptance, human rights and values. The two staff training events promoted teaching profession, professional development and encourage sharing good practices within the partnership.

Participants:
The partnership consisted of 6 education institutions from 5 countries: Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Denmark and France. All partners were closely connected with target groups – young children, school pupils and local communities. The partners benefited greatly from each other’s experiences, specific expertise and were able to implement innovative practices leading to higher quality education that stimulated social inclusion.

Activities and methodology:
The project focused on three areas – music, dance and art.
The first year pupils explored traditional music and instruments as well as numerous songs that speak about tolerance and unity. Pupils joined the video conference to choose the project song. Teachers took part in creative music and dance workshops with professional musician Kloud Kiavue and hip hop dancer Hubert Lagin. They created chosen song and dance arrangements including all traditional instruments and verses in all partner languages and elements of all national dances.
Pupils practiced the song and dance and made the joint performance during the pupil exchange visit in Denmark.
The second year activities were planned around the dance. Pupils used virtual classrooms to teach partners their traditional dances and learn partner dances themselves. They also practiced the contemporary hip-hop dance. They performed this dance during the pupil exchange visit in Denmark.
The third year was dedicated to the arts. Pupils explored traditional patterns and the symbolic meaning of their elements and colours as well as contemporary street art. Teachers joined Kostas Klimavičius, the professional mosaic artist, to learn the technique of mosaic. To practise the mosaic technique pupils created Christmas decorations using the colours and patterns of each partner. Through the competition the design was chosen for the mural which was created by all participants during the pupil exchange in Portugal.
Through these activities pupils, teachers and local community members engaged in interesting and exciting contemporary arts activities – international online collaboration, workshops including music, dance and visual arts that speak of respect, tolerance, human values and rights which brought a strong social aspect. Participants improved their basic and transversal skills, while the educational institutions fostered children’s curiosity and motivation through a better quality curriculum.

Results and impact:
Working towards the objectives, the project produced tangible and non-tangible results. The activities enriched the curriculum and developed key and transversal competences: supported active citizenship, changed participants’ attitudes towards learning and promoted learning to learn. The main project results were created in collaboration with professional artists: music and dance performances, as well as mosaic mural.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 152740 Eur

Project Coordinator

Kauno m. lopselis-darzelis Rokutis & Country: LT

Project Partners

• SCOALA GIMNAZIALA ION MARES VULCANA-BAI
• Eb1/PE Visconde Cacongo
• Gislev Friskole
• ECOLE ELEMENTAIRE DE GRAND CAMP PARC
• OUI LOVE LEARNING SCHOOL