Sustainability in German and Icelandic Kindergartens Erasmus Project

Project Title

Sustainability in German and Icelandic Kindergartens

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: Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills; Inclusion – equity; Early childhood education and care

Project Summary

In this Erasmus+Partnership, 3 kindergartens from a small island south of Iceland (4300 inhabitants) and 3 kindergartens from major German cities want to exchange their respective expertise. Despite the very different framework conditions all 6 have the same goal: to make sustainability & inclusion a matter of course. In terms of content, the 6 kindergartens will exchange views on the topics of languages, mathematics, nature education and participation. In the first project year this will be done by passing on each partner’s own best practice and in the second project year, building on this knowledge transfer, two modules on key competences in nature will be developed together.

In this partnership, sustainability is the “framework” that holds everything together. During the hospitations in the 1st project year, each nursery transfers its previously used methods to the context of “good learning in the classroom nature for all children” (e.g. stacking stones instead of plastic cups) and reflects this with the guests.

Inclusion is the cross-cutting theme that must always be taken into account in the projects, as the 6 kindergartens together have about 200 children of the following categories
– special needs/disabilities
– Children of foreigners/migrants/refugees
– low socio-economic income.

1ST PROJECT YEAR
During 6 mobilities, 4 kindergartens each will exchange information on 2 main topics. By sitting in on classes the visitors can experience the expertise of the hosting Kindergarten live and are thus encouraged to imitate it at home. The partners have identified 4 main topics as an intersection, which they can discuss “at eye level” while each using different methods:

Nature education
– in woods
– by the sea
– Growing herbs in the garden
– Waste collection
– Playing with natural materials

Participation
– open groups
– learn through play
– Gender segregation
– Work with parents/families

Mathematics (STEM)
– Method “Same material in large quantities”
– Country of numbers Methodology
– Pattern and shape methodology
– Math game

Languages
– Bilingual education
– Method ” Listening Learning Reading ”

The collection of information material via Twinspace from the start of the project, the continuous exchange of information via e-Twinning and the on-site visits ensure that all educators will have the same level of knowledge about all methods at the end of the year. This transfer of knowledge directly benefits the 72 travelling professionals, but later also their colleagues who stayed at home and the children in their kindergartens. A total of 147 educators and 578 children and their families benefit.

2ND YEAR OF PROJECT
From October 2021 – June 2022, 2 new modules will be jointly developed on the first year’s basis:
A group of 3 partners will work out a MINT module in the form of a “collection of ideas” of various playful methods for successfully teaching mathematics outdoors. The other group of 3 partners will work with the children to create a travelling exhibition on the topic of sustainability by creatively combining things found during nature walks and rubbish collection activities with many speaking opportunities. For later reproduction, the important methodical steps will be compiled in the form of worksheets.

At the beginning and end of the 2 modules there will be mobilities for a total of 36 teachers; in between, the educators will work together via Twinspace and with their children.

In March 2022, all participants who were involved in the project will be asked to specifically evaluate the course and success of the project using jointly developed questionnaires (see Appendix 3). The results will then be evaluated both individually and jointly. The aim of this evaluation process of educators*, children and families is on the one hand to measure the success and impact of the Erasmus+Partnership. On the other hand, the developed modules are to be improved through feedback before publication. As a highlight, the Lead Partner will travel with 15 inclusion-children to a closing ceremony with all 3 Icelandic day care centres.

The aim of this partnership is to create two concrete results that can be used not only by the 6 project partners and their 215 associated organisations but also by many other institutions in the future. The partnership as well as the 2 modules will be promoted through various dissemination activities on local, regional, national and EU level as well as online and print media and e-twinning by all partners. Thus, the development of key competences (especially multilingualism and mathematics) of pedagogues and children alike will be promoted as widely as possible.

And if this works with such diverse partners as here, then future replication should be possible everywhere in Europe!

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 4500 Eur

Project Coordinator

FRÖBEL Bildung und Erziehung gGmbH – RheinRuhr – Kita Farbkleckse & Country: DE

Project Partners

• FRÖBEL Bildung und Erziehung gGmbH – Bayern – Haus für Kinder Schimmelweg
• Kirkjugerdi
• FRÖBEL Bildung und Erziehung gGmbH – Berlin Süd-West – Kita Augustastrolche
• Hjallastefnan
• Grunnskóli Vestmannaeyja