World Heritage Dolomites meets World Heritage Ore Mountains Erasmus Project

Project Title

World Heritage Dolomites meets World Heritage Ore Mountains

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

Project Summary

The Saxon Secondary School Rechenberg-Bienenmühle and its school partner the South Tyrolean Secondary School Klausen are planning the project “World Heritage Dolomites meets World Heritage Erzgebirge”. Behind this idea one can find the building and future continuation of a living and effective school partnership cooperation. Its basic idea is an intercultural approach and exchange between 11- to 14-year-old pupils with the aim of getting to know new people, school life, lifestyles and culture as well as the partner region itself. Personal connections between pupils and teachers can sustainably be built up. Especially “Inclusion” , mining in the mountain regions as well as the World Heritage Dolomites and Erzgebirge are the important topics the project is focused on.
The first contact takes place in October 2020 at the Secondary School Klausen, where 6 Saxon pupils (approximately 14 years old) and 2 teachers introduce their own school , region, culture and history to their school partners. They do powerpoint presentations, show videoclips and invite pupils to participate in discussions. South Tyrolean pupils (approximately 11 – 12 years old) and teachers gain insight into Saxon traditional folk crafts and produce an own “Räucherhaus”. Pupils are prepared for their role as partner pupils.
In November 2020 Saxon pupils make profiles of themselves, where they introduce their characteristic features and interests. They write a personal letter to their unknown friend in South Tyrol. These two documents are being taken to South Tyrol by 6 older pupils and two teachers, where they hand out the profiles to the teachers there who match the profiles with the pupils. After that they get the letters and already in that week the letters in response to the Saxon pupils have to be written. Another focus of activity is on the traditions of the Erzgebirge and pupils get the chance to produce a small Schwibbogen. After that activity the letters will be given to the Saxon pupils. And now the communication prozess starts.
In December 2020 the first coordinator meetings take place in order to get to know the eTwinning platform and the use of it. Therefore an external trainer is invited. The programme also includes the exchange of advantages and disadvantages of both school systems. Since South Tyrol is part of Italy and therefore the pupils here grow up bilingual a small introduction into the Italian everyday language and expressions is planned.
In May 2021 6 South Tyrolian pupils and 2 teachers do 4 different projects with Saxon pupils in Rechenberg-Bienenmühle. The diversified focus is on Geography, Art and Craft, Cooking and Baking as well as in Music and Dance in South Tyrol.
In September 2021 the first student exchange takes place in Klausen where the Saxon pupils live in the host families of their partner pupils and join their way of life. At Secondary School in Klausen project teaching and external excursions take place for instance to the Dolomites in order to explore flora und fauna.The pupils get task sheets in order to fix the knowledge gained. Later they share it in lessons at their own school in Rechenberg-Bienenmühle.
In October 2021 the coordinators meet in Klausen for the purpose of exchange of experiences regarding pupils with behavioral problems and learning disabilities. Discussions concerning inclusion and teaching observations take place.
In November 2021 the activity is very productive. Six pupils and 2 teachers go to Klausen and teach the pupils there Every pupil builds a big “Schwibbogen” and folds a “Bascetta-Star”, both are equipped with Illumination.
The activity of December 2021 is characterised by important training courses in Saxony concerning Silver Mining in Freiberg, Italian language course and teaching observations in connection with inclusion.
The final activity is the second student exchange in Saxony in May 2022. The South Tyrolean pupils find accomodation at their partner pupils families. In the middle of interest Silver mining is the main topic of excursions and project instructions as well as the visit of the local “Flößerhaus” where lessons take place. The production of an own wooden figure in a wood workshop in Seiffen finishes the project.
In the longer term the pupils benefit from the diverse experiences in the host families, of land and people as well as life in the moutaineous region. It is a big chance that a lot of pupils maintain regular contact to their partners. All in all the school partnership will be continuing, new projects are worth striving for in order to broaden the Young people’s horizon.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 65830 Eur

Project Coordinator

Oberschule Rechenberg-Bienenmühle & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Deutschsprachige Mittelschule Klausen / Scuola media in lingua tedesca di Chiusa