Down to Earth – Stepping Out of the Classroom an Into Nature Erasmus Project

Project Title

Down to Earth – Stepping Out of the Classroom an Into Nature

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: Environment and climate change; Health and wellbeing

Project Summary

D2E – Down to Earth: Stepping Out of the Classroom and Into Nature

WHY D2E?
All partners have a valuable natural environment in the school locality. Despite this, none of us utilize the potential of these environments in our teaching and learning. We aim to collaboratively plan and implement effective units of teaching and learning that take place in our respective local natural environments.

IN D2E OUR OBJECTIVES ARE:
– to increase curricular learning in the outdoors
– to develop a connection with and appreciation for the natural environment
– to increase physical activity
– to decrease stress and anxiety
Children will experience the proven benefits of active, hands-on learning that encourages access to learning for children of all abilities and learning types.

PARTICIPANTS:
– Iivari’s school, Toysa in the city of Alavus, Finland (100+ pupils aged 6-12 years, 8 teachers – homepage: https://peda.net/alavus/perusopetus/iivarinkoulu)
– Grundschule Reifenberg, Niederreifenberg/Schmitten, Germany ( 150+ pupils aged 6-10, 13 teachers – homepage: https://www.grundschule-reifenberg.de/)
– CEIP Claudio Sánchez Albornoz, Almansa, Spain (350 pupils aged 6-12, 30 teachers – homepage: http://ceip-claudiosanchezalbornoz.centros.castillalamancha.es/ )
– Primary School of Zervohoria Chalkidiki, Greece (95 pupils aged 7-12, 17 teachers – homepage: sites.google.com/view/dimzervochoria )

ACTIVITIES:
Local environmental experts will be working with teaching staff (local and visiting) in the selected local natural environment .
Partners will plan curriculum based teaching and learning activities in the local natural environment.
Partners will create seasonal boxes with guidelines, lesson plans and materials for all participating schools.
Partners will implement curriculum based teaching and learning activities in the local environment in their school program.
All activities will be constantly evaluated and adapted.
The project also includes nature surveillance throughout the year (all seasons).
The project will bring the pupils involved together on-line through joint assignments.

RESULTS AND BENEFITS:
Outdoor education is integrated into pedagogical practice in participating schools – spending time in nature becomes a normal part of our daily lives.

The boxes created during the project are reusable and are easily updated for constant yearly use. The project aims at long-term use and being embedded in the schools’ profiles.

We expect the pupils involved in the project or using the materials made during the project to have health benefits because of being outside and decreasing stress and indoor times. We expect to support the academic, social and emotional development of our pupils by giving them the opportunity to build a connection to and gain knowledge and appreciation of the natural world. We also expect the participating local communities to profit from our project as we will invite them to join us on several occasions in order to get a wider impact of the D2E-project.

Awareness of the value of the natural world is increased. The need to value and protect our natural world is internalized.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 64054 Eur

Project Coordinator

Iivarin koulu, Alavus & Country: FI

Project Partners

• CEIP Claudio Sánchez Albornoz
• Grundschule Reifenberg
• Primary School of Zervohoria Chalkidiki