little scientists building and design Europe Erasmus Project

Project Title

little scientists building and design Europe

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: Natural sciences; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Teaching and learning of foreign languages

Project Summary

From all over Europe we get signals from the business community that there are too few good technicians,
Too few young people choose the technique. There is a lack of well-educated technical people. At our schools little time was spent on engineering and designing technical skills.
Because we know that young children are open and curious, we designed this project. With this we hoped to make the students enthusiastic for technique.
Through this project we were able to teach them that daily life is full of technical design and development.
In order to achieve this goal, we looked at which already existing method was the most useful,
This turned out to be STEAM. These method is not a ready-made method but is the basis for the construction of lessons.
STEAM is the way to integrate science and technology into the curriculum at elementary school. Not by putting S&T as a subject on the timetable, but by offering S&T in connection with other subjects.
For that reason we also chose Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) next to our English method. CLIL Om dis a form of multilingual education: teaching a non-language subject in a language other than the mother tongue.

There were several goals in this project.
The main goal was to offer technology and science to young children. Our goal was to make this project accessible to all children regardless of cultural background. We especially hoped to reach girls.
Other goals:
-Increasing English proficiency.
-To promote active citizenship and social integration.
-To prepare for an international and dynamic society.
-exchange of as many students and teachers as possible
-combining digital skills and technique-developing.
– to open their minds for all parts in Europe
– teacher exchange of insights about lessons

This project was made possible by seven European schools and their teachers.
Parents also participated to make this project a success. They have welcomed students into their families, helped to organize connecting activities, such as parent, teacher and pupil evenings during the exchange week.But also by making it possible for their own children to experience an exchange.
We experience this as a successful project because students told us about the interesting technique lessons.
Pupils especially called the self-discovery learning a success.
We did discover that for children who have difficulty with understanding and/or struggling with the language, they need extra guidance from a teacher. Making their own research plan was a stumbling block, which takes a lot of time and guidance.
In the case of students who found it difficult to work together, we first discussed: “if someone doesn’t like your idea, how do you deal with it without getting angry or sad?

Parents gave feedback that the students were enthusiastic about the lessons.
The trips to museums and companies were an extra on the regular school trips because of this project. The students were very enthusiastic.
All participating European schools did something about democracy and citizenship, learning how to make a difference for children (and adults) in your neighbourhood through the policies of the school or city.
Some have set up a children’s council in their school.
Others have spoken to the city council and thought about the design of their city or village.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 203117,98 Eur

Project Coordinator

Basisschool De Rank & Country: NL

Project Partners

• 1st Experimental Primary School of Rhodes
• Johannebergsskolan
• Rokiskio mokykla-darzelis “Azuoliukas”
• Fanny-Hensel-Schule
• Scoala Gimnaziala Lunca, Pascani
• ISTITUTO COMPRENSIVO FIGLINE VALDARNO
• Holy Family Primary and Nursery School