We must emphasize that the mobility activity C2 has developed normally. Activities were always developed in English language, so students were able to improve linguistic skills since they had to use the foreign language in both, planned and scheduled learning activities but also in social interactions with other children and teachers from the different schools.
Participants who took part in this activity were:
- 3 teachers and 12 students from Andrés García Soler School, Spain.
- 2 teachers and 6 students from Planina pri Sevnici School, Slovenia.
- 2 teachers and 6 students from San Rocco Faenza School, Italy.
- 2 teachers and 6 students from Third Primary School Grevená, Greece.
- 30 Teachers/ Teaching Assistants and 30 students from The Beacon Church Primary School, England. All students in the school were involved in the Welcome and Final Celebration events.
The next lines are devoted to a brief summary of the activities carried out during the week:
Monday, 27th January
- Welcome and introduction. Reception by the English School.
- Guided tour through The Beacon Church of England (V.A.) Primary School.
- Twinning lunch at school.
- Ice-Breaker activities and games to support students and staff to get to know each other.
- Film and Fish and Chip dinner in school with teachers and students from all schools.
Tuesday, 28th January
- Arrival in school. Boat cruise along coast and River Exe and walk around key areas on the way. This activity linked to the technology and computing activities students undertook.
- Twinning lunch at school.
- Learning rotation. Three different groups:
o How has Exmouth changed? (Slider photos using Google maps, Ordanance Survey Mapping historic and current tools etc.)
o Minecraft activity relating to land-reclamation - mapping Exmouth as it is today from a view of historic Exmouth.
o Fossils and the Jurassic coast (computer programming and 3D printing).
- Twinning meal arranged in local restaurant.
Wednesday, 29th January
- Arrival in school. Learning rotation.
- Twinning lunch at school.
- We spent the afternoon on the beach. Sports Coaches led a variety of activities to introduce and teach typical English sports such as tag rugby, cricket. Beach School events such as shelter building, sand sculptures, scavenger hunts. Beach School activities were linked to the digital learning from the rotation of activities.
- Twinning dinner and drumming workshop in school led by a music specialist teacher, using digital learning programme Charanga. Demonstration of Digital Learning Music platform Charanga to teachers.
Thursday, 30th January
- Final Celebration in Holy Trinity Church with the whole Beacon Primary School staff and pupils, parents and carers, Exmouth Town Mayor, Exmouth Town Crier, representatives from the Education Department at the Diocese. The students performed drumming (from the learning the evening before). Other digital music creations were demonstrated.
- Learning rotation.
- Twinning lunch at school.
- Review of the week.
- Final evening celebration: ten Pin Bowling and twinning meal with The Beacon Year 6 children and The Beacon staff team.
Methodology used in all the activities was based in big group oral explanations in foreign language and also manipulative methodology, highlighting the use of technologies during the activities prepared.
Students worked in mixed-country groups at all times.
Teachers joined the activities and UK staff gave demonstrations of the platforms and technologies used.
The timetables for the students were presented using WIGIT alongside English language to support understanding. This provided another opportunity to demonstrate how we use digital resources at The Beacon.
Staff from our European Partner schools were invited to join classes across the school to observe teaching and learning. This is something which was valued by teachers due to the different teaching and learning styles and systems they witnessed.