Meeting in Zarautz_Latvia.pdf

Meeting in Zarautz, Spain. October 24th – 29th

First day – 25th October Erasmus + project “ Everything can be recycled except the Earth” gathered teachers from six participating countries in Zarautz, Basque Country from 24th - 29th October. Welcoming concert from this school’s pupils was warming - little ones were singing, older ones were dancing. Afterwards we were introduced with Basque country’s educational system and we observed several lessons - math, geography and music.

Second day – 26th October We visited a puppet museum in Tolosa and participated in a workshop where we made puppets from recycled materials! We were introduced with puppets which could be made from almost everything you can find at house. Just make eyes, think of a voice and the puppet is ready. Making puppets and playing role games help children to see the diversity very clearly- puppets are different and so the people!

Third day – 27th October This morning we visited kindergarten of Orokieta Herri Eskola – this is a place where children start to understand how cooperation with peers can help you to success. In the first day I already mentioned that pupils of this school are working mostly in groups, and the kindergarten is where they start to develop this skill. For example, children who are 5 years old have tree rooms – one for math, another one for science and the last one for language. They can choose to which room they want to go, but all activities can be only done working together with others. Afterwards we participated in a lesson where 5th graders were creating and preparing projects about fossils. This project has lasted for last two months and their science, language and other skills will be evaluated. Next week each group will present their work to others, but not only within the class, but within whole school! One group of children was drawing minerals, another one was creating a large poster, others were searching for information about fossils in the Web, but last two groups were creating fossils by themselves. What a busy class, but all of them were involved and doing their best to achieve the goal of their group. And this is one more thing which I want to emphasize – everyone knows what they are doing and where their group is going.

Last day – 28th October Today we went to museum Tabakalera in Donostia-San Sebastian. There is a huge library – coworking space with 7 different areas, for example, arts, visual, video games. This is a place for everyone where people can make projects, create, be together, share and communicate. People who work here are experts in those different areas. There is also a room for small groups, called Greenhouse, as well as Living room – a place to go when silence is needed. And the best thing – this all is for free! They organise different workshops for pupils as well, so they get to know the place and come back with friends and family afterwards. The main purpose is learning by doing. There's not only literature about different topics but also places equipped with necessary equipment – computers, 3D printers, sewing machines, even work tools to repair and create! They are taking part in several projects. We were introduced with plastic recycling – there are machines which make chairs and tables out of plastic bottles! Another project is REpair café where people gather and try to repair old things, for example, bicycles, clothes, electronics. They generate and share knowledge about repairing process among the community.