One on the wave of ecological activities under the ERASMUS + project

LTTA meeting in Poland

From 17 to 20 November 2021, as a part of the Erasmus + project "SNIPI", Primary School No. 1 in Ustka hosted teachers from partner schools from Ireland, Iceland, Spain and Norway. For the seventh time, Polish school participates in a European project, this time under the name "Seaways, Pathways of International Learnig", although the name "SNIPI" is used more often, which was created from the first letters of the partner countries and it is the name of the project's mascot, also found in its logo, octopus.

 The tasks undertaken by teachers from partner schools focus on the protection of seas and oceans, developing among students a sense of responsibility for our marine environment and water safety. An important task of the project is to view the sea as our heritage that needs to be protected, but also that we should learn about. The project has been implemented since 2019 and has been extended until August 2022 due to the pandemic period. So far, working meetings have been held in Ireland and Spain. The partners are led by the Principal Coordinator, Kinvara School Principal in Ireland, Mr. Shane McDonagh.

Teachers take part in a variety of workshop activities, while improving their language skills. The main purpose of all meetings is to exchange good practices, learn and share knowledge with others. This time it was Ustka's turn. The visit to SP1 was prepared by Ms Ewelina Pietrzyk - the project coordinator in cooperation with teachers of English, IT, geography, chemistry, biology, art, early childhood education, physical education, music and the school common room.

 All the classes focused on the maritime theme, but each was unique and creative. With the sounds of shanties, in the circle of legends about the Mermaid and the Ustka lighthouse, students and teachers built ships and lighthouses, transferred their ideas about the sea world to paintings and water origami. At the school, you could admire an exhibition of over 60 models of lighthouses and models of the sea in 3D, which delight with their creativity and precision. The project participants learned about the Baltic countries, sea pollution and the chemical composition of water during lessons with children. There were also sea rescue shows. School activities were supplemented by visits to the Harbour Office in  Ustka, the lighthouses in Ustka and Czołpino, the Amber Museum and the Słowiński National Park Museum. The visit was concluded with a performance prepared by the students and teachers of Polish school on the occasion of Independence Day and the 101st anniversary of Poland's wedding to the sea, which made a great impression on the guests from the partner schools.

 All partner countries of the "SNIPI" project are surrounded by the seas and the Atlantic Ocean. Together, we must take care of our future and must not ignore the threat to our environment. The next workshop will take place in Iceland.