REPORT of the SHORT-TERM EXCHANGES of GROUPS of STUDENTS

                         "Understand the environment: Get to know it, to like it and to respect it"

                                     ESCOLA BÁSICA E SECUNDÁRIA DE CANELAS

                                     VILA NOVA DE GAIA, PORTUGAL 22-26/04/2022

The mobility lasted 5 days and involved 25 teachers (4 from Romania, 3 from Italy, 2 from Lisbon, 2 from Turkey, 2 from Reunion Island and 12 from the host school) and 53 students (8 from Romania, 6 from Italy, 4 from Lisbon, 4 from Turkey, 3 from Reunion Island and 28 from the host school)

DAY 1 After the welcome ceremony the host students  presented the work carried out during the project first year. The Festival included videos about the sea and cultural diversity, water sports, beach clean-ups, booklets about myths, legends and fish recipes, songs and dances about the sea. The students watched a video-report about the overfishing of some species and its effects on the ecosystems.

After lunch the students were engaged in a Science workshop led by Mrs Ana Paula Borges and Mrs André Costa to identify some of the principal pollutants in seawater, distilled water and tap water. They also were engaged in an Art workshop led by  Mrs Paula Varela, to  build a mural recreating a sea landscape with plastic bottle caps. 

DAY 2 Cultural visit to some of the most important historical monuments in the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, on the banks of the Douro River for a better understanding of the connection between the Portuguese and the sea and its influence on local culture, art and commerce.

DAY 3 The students spent the day with their host families. In this way they learnt more about the Portuguese way of life, habits and culture. 

DAY 4 The partners went on a field study visit to the Water Pavilion in Porto City Park and  they carried out interactive activities on various phenomena that occur in the marine environment.

After that, they visited the Sealife Park where they observed a great diversity of marine living beings and watched films about ocean pollution and how to ensure its sustainability. At the end the students answered questions on a kahoot to verify what they had learnt.

DAY 5 Seminar about ocean sustainability guided by the Geography teacher Mr Odete Melo, responsible for the Eco-School project with the support of  Mrs Ana Cristina Fernandes. The seminar aimed to raise awareness of the various types of marine pollution and to motivate students to make a commitment to reduce the environmental problem. 

Then the students created posters and wrote educational messages to alert people to the need to reduce overfishing and stop pollution.

Mrs Rosário Sá, an Art teacher, engaged the students to create a sketch for the decoration of sardines made of recycling materials, clay and a 3D printer.

After that the students presented their works, created the “Heal the Sea corner" in the library where they collected the project outcomes (ocean booklets, CDs and DVDs with poems and riddles, prayers, legends and myths, folk songs, recipes and water sports). 

A closing ceremony followed and the partners were awarded with the LTTA Certificate of Attendance and the Europass mobility with the competences acquired.