The students from Greece, Germany and Finland met in Candas at the beginning of April 2022. They stayed with their Spanish friends, which made the trip a different and great experience! The study of energy issues that the students had started at home, continued in international groups Candás. In addition, we got to know local history, nature and livelihoods.
As a result of the week students learned how to how energy production and consumption differs in different parts of Europe and learned about the historical development from the use of fossil fuels to the use of greener energy sources. They also got to know ways to produce green energy. Although there are differences in energy production and consumption in Europe, students learned to understand the importance of European cooperation in energy questions and in mitigating the effects of climate change. Students also learned and experienced some ways to impact to decision makers concerning energy issues.
The students evaluated that the pre-works made before the LTT-week and presented there about the energy forms and special questions about energy in each country were very good. There were different kind of implementations in presentations but overall they were all well-made and very informative, showing more than just basic things.
In the evaluation students also mentioned that the visits to industrial area of Asturias and mining-area were memorable. The industrial area of Asturias is quite impressive and is very visible in the scenery. Huge factories and energy production factories fill up the landscape in many places. The mining-area and the museum created the background and history to energy questions. It´s also important to understand these questions as a background to understand climate change and the necessity to do the changes in our energy production.
As more sustainable life visits to farms using more sustainable methods were done. Visits to the kiwi-farm, milk-farm and local cider factory were given 3/5 points in the evaluation.
Students also mentioned the recycling activity, which German teachers organized, was interesting. The workshop making something from rubbish was introduced with a short movie clip which helped students to be more creative and understand that it´s not the question of rubbish, it´s more the question how you can reuse things.
There are also deeper impacts in the LTT-weeks. The culture night was succesful. Students enjoyed it. The programme was compelling and food from each country was eagerly tasted. To deepen the understanding of the culture, the experience in the host families was kept succesful. All the students also mentioned that they got new friends during the week. "I got more new friends in one week than ever before in one week." The only disappointment the students mentioned in the evaluation was the weather.
During the week several facts, new languages, culture and various social skills were learned. The most memorable part of the trip was of course getting to know the Spanish people and culture and the beautiful town of Candás on the Atlantic coast!
TIMETABLE OF THE WEEK:
Monday
8:30 Welcome to the school, guided tour
9:30 Ice-breaking activities
10:45 Prework presentations (energy)
11:30 break
12:00 Energy and sustainability (Jigsaw activity).
17:00 Guided visit to Candás
Tuesday
8:30 Energy hands-on workshop
9:30 Gymkana about energy sources
11:00 break
11:30 Gymkana results
12:30 Collaborative letters for sustainability
16:30 Tranqueru hiking
19:00 Cultural, musical and gastronomical evening (cafetería del Polivalente)
Wednesday
Cultural visit to Oviedo (Naranco, old city), meeting with the local govenrment
lunch
16:00 Visit to MUMI, information and lessons about minign and energy
Thursday
Workshop in Cabo Peñas and Avilés industrial area
16:00 Visit to local sustainable companies
Friday
8:30 German activities: useful waste
11:30 Departure of German delegation
12:00 Group dynamics
15.00 Time with families, departures