Try to Tell a Timeless Tale Erasmus Project

Project Title

Try to Tell a Timeless Tale

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Cultural heritage/European Year of Cultural Heritage; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

To promote internationalization in our schools and to motivate students with exchanges, we decided to make a project related to European Cultural Heritage and we agreed Tales and Legends would be ideal for this purpose. We divided work into two parts: First research of local and national tales and legends and second, creation of our own tales. In both cases we created comics and performed them. Our Airtable database is also one of our main products and a basic tool for our Comparative Study of Tales and Legends across Europe
This project meant a significant change in their lifelong learning education since for most of them it was the first time meeting and working with people from different countries, improving their literacy, English, IT, social, teamwork and leadership skills
This project was intended to promote and incentivise European Cultural Heritage among students, school and community members through the research, study and creation of tales and legends from every participant country. They realised that they should value their cultural backgrounds as well as others’. Cultural heritage broadens opportunities for education and lifelong learning, including a better understanding of history. It encouraged students to become active European citizens with lifelong learning training through the knowledge of their cultural heritage and other European countries. It gave them the opportunity to meet other people and cultures with different backgrounds, enriching their personal experience and making them aware and open minded to world differences. The whole process made them more aware of their cultural heritage and promoted inclusion of students in risk of social exclusion, through the knowledge and participation in the different activities that promoted teamwork, cooperation and advantages of diversity. Social and civic responsibilities were present during local activities interacting with different organisations and diversity of communities to promote inclusion. Creating curiosity through different activities helped them learn about other cultures. Tales and legends celebrate diversity and by experiencing new cultures students could discover valuable insights about other cultures values, practices, customs and beliefs. Activities built strong relationships and cooperation among students. Learning from their peers was more effective and permanent and they gained new perspectives. It also helped students develop critical reading skills of phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension, study positive character traits and discover a love of stories. Students could see the importance of making effective decisions under difficult circumstances. Engaging students in discussions about the outcomes of “good” and “poor” decisions was a good way to raise awareness as goodness, honesty and unity are depicted as important virtues in tales. Mobilities gave the opportunity to participate in perfect activities to enhance all social and civic skills, communication, living the experience of visiting other countries, the real lifelong experience of living with a family from a different culture. It enabled all the participants to present the plays which they had prepared in advance in cooperative mixed groups
We started with Twinspace to make contact among students and set up Erasmus+ corner in every school
For research of Tales and Legends, students asked their older family members for local Tales and Legends and we also visited our libraries and an Elderly Care Centers to listen to their stories. Then students had to complete a form for our Airtable Database. 158 tales were registered and analyzed in the Comparative Study of Tales and Legends across Europe
After researching, we selected different tales for rehearsals and performed in primary schools of every country
During the second year we created new tales did rehearsals but performances were canceled due to COVID-19
Results:
Twinspace and website
Airtable Database
Comics and performances of plays
Comparative Study of Tales and Legends across Europe
Two Booklets of Tales: “European Cultural Heritage through Tales and Legends” and “Tales of the 21st Century. European Cultural Heritage of the future”
Main impact was reflected in students with the acknowledgment of European Cultural Heritage all the skills needed in order to carry them. Personal interactions, English skills, literacy, IT skills, team working. Activities including mobilities improved all those skills significantly and they really changed their lives in a very positive way. Feedback from students and parents were all positive and teachers were highly motivated watching on- site different methodologies and education systems to apply back in their school. In our community impact was also significant with visits to elder places and primary schools
We expect activities will continue uploading more tales in our database and performing tales every year in nearby primary schools

Project Website

https://twinspace.etwinning.net/58115/home

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 143620 Eur

Project Coordinator

IES Miguel Fernández & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Emelwerda College
• Wirral Grammar School for Boys
• Hof skole
• IELEV OZEL ANADOLU LISESI / IELEV EGITIM KURUMLARI A.S