Open Hearts, open minds

Traditional festivals - Happy Valentine’s day; Happy Easter; Merry Christmas

Working on project-based activities students became aware about not only cultural differences but about similarities as well. After the first mobility in Italy, before the traditional holidays (Christmas and Easter) students worked on the annual exhibitions of handicrafts- posters, paintings and postcards- to congratulate the host families from Italy on these occasions via social networking sites.&nbsp;

We were looking forward to walking around Lublin with our Italian and Lithuanian friends to show them some famous and interesting places. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic destroyed the plans so our students decided to make a short film to present some historical and cultural places in Lublin as well as the atmosphere of the city.

Olympics games” Students from the three countries taking part to some sport&nbsp;games at the gym of IC Pacifici

A Day in Rome, visiting the Coliseum and Piazza Di Spagna and other places

When the borders remained closed, our hearts and minds were still open

In June 2020 we were supposed to host our partners from Italy and Lithuania in our city, Lublin. We were looking forward to this event and preparing numerous activities for the meeting. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic destroyed our plans and dreams. We were so sad and disappointed that we weren’t able to build new memories, gain new experiences and meet our friends like we did during our mobility in Italy in November 2019. We couldn’t do anything to change the situation but to cheer up our friends and to show them that they are in our hearts and our minds, we created a short film titled “Lublin is waiting for you”. We really hope that in the future we will be able to meet again and host our Italian and Lithuanian friends&nbsp;in our city

A mural of friendship&nbsp;(photo gallery)

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When the borders remained closed, our hearts and minds were still open.

All Together! Memories&nbsp;at IC Pacifici Sezze-Bassiano (mobility in Italy)

At the Town Hall! Meeting with the Major of Sezze and local Authories (disseminating the project)

Pizza workshop, activity at school, students exchange most important monuments of each country and make their own pizza

Polish- Lithuanian- Italian most common expression; it was written by the students before the mobility in Italy

The “Roman Festival” drama representation: Italian students acting for the birth of The Coliseum

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Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . Our memories about Poland . . . . . . . . . . . Our memories about Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Our memories about Lithuania . . . . . . . . . Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Small dotted paper

Sheet music paper

International song contest "OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS" 2021 

Creating a sustainable product- a mural of friendship&nbsp;

The project team decided to create a modern design and paint the abandoned building in the territory of the gymnasium. Used as a warehouse in the past, after the school renovation the building did not have any specific purpose nowadays, so during lessons the students along with the teachers of arts and crafts brainstormed the ideas and different styles of modern art, investigated techniques, textures, paint qualities, experimenting in various directions. Some revised sketches were selected to create a sustainable product- the Cube- whose new image with bright colours, unique shapes and ideas changed the internal school garden’s view and made it an attractive place. Competences developed Working on this activity students strengthened their communication skills collaborating as a team and with their teachers, developed leadership, independent thinking and learning competences. The activity helped to develop students’ creative potential, and encouraged learning in a non-traditional environment.

We were planning to present some interviews with famous Polish people and organize a culinary event during the mobility in Poland. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the mobility did not take place so our students made short films to present interviews with some famous Polish people and favourite Polish recipes. &nbsp;

“Felicità” as we couldn’t visit our partners, Italian students recorded this typical Italian song to greet their friends, with greeting from headmistress, deputy and administrative Director. It was a really sad moment for the whole world: we were in lockdown in a full pandemic period! We tried to feel a bit closer…..

Trip to the seaside, Sperlonga sightseeing

Started in the year 2019, Erasmus+ project “Open hearts, open minds“ arrived to its final destination. The project involved 3 schools from Poland, Italy and Lithuania and was aimed at assisting students to become open minded, unprejudiced and responsible European citizens.&nbsp; Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the project was extended for 12 months, however the activities in partner schools had to be finished online. This book will give an overview of what we have achieved opening our hearts and minds to culture and creativity, history and knowledge, communication and support of each other.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Participating students increased their awareness of their own cultural heritage as well as the cultural heritage of other European nations. They built bridges among different cultures, learnt about personal realities of students of other European countries in different areas such as science, art, literature, music and architecture. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic only one mobility was implemented, but the meeting at Italian school in Sezze left a long-lasting impression on the students who have been in touch, encouraging and supporting each other so far.&nbsp; A number of technological tools and pedagogical assistance have been used to organize the activities and produce the results that have helped students to reinforce their strengths and improve a range of personal and learners’ competencies.&nbsp; The project has taught the students of Poland, Italy and Lithuania to be open members of European community learning and discovering new horizons together.

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Our memories from the mobility in Italy.&nbsp;

The history of Domeikava gymnasium&nbsp;

In 2020 our gymnasium celebrated a 100 year anniversary. Creating the video aimed at examining the history of the school, evaluating the historical importance of the institution, and improving digital and foreign language skills in order to present the school to Erasmus+ project partners. A target group of students discussed the design and content of the video, shared their responsibilities and worked on&nbsp;the project activity. Firstly, they collected the data (photographs, facts, newspaper articles) from our school museum and library about the establishing the first primary school in Domeikava and different periods in the history of the institution, including the teachers, students and their achievements. They also used information from the online sources, translated the articles into the English language, designed, edited and made sound recording. Competences developed Working on this activity under the guidance of the history, English and IT teachers, the students developed their analytical, critical thinking, translation and pronunciation, IT skills and broadened their knowledge in History.

Dissemination of the project results was implemented following this strategy: First, in order to increase awareness of the opportunities offered by Erasmus the school (teachers, students and their parents) and local communities were introduced to the general characteristics: specific project activities, target audience and outcomes. Second, informing the community during the project implementation, giving and receiving the feedback after each activity. Third, evaluating the impact of the project in its final phase. After the first mobility, the Erasmus+ corner informing the school’s community about the project activities was established. The photo gallery about the project activities is also on display. Our community (teachers from our school and Kaunas region, students and&nbsp;their parents, also our local community) are constantly informed about the project activities via social networking sites, by publishing articles on the school’s and Kaunas region municipality, during staff, parents’ club and students’ council meetings. At the end of the school year teachers and school authorities from Pasvalys region participated in the distance internship. During the internship, the project activities were introduced. Now our gymnasium is involved in other international projects, so the project “Open hearts, open minds” has been also introduced to all partner institutions. This way teachers share good practices and keep the community informed about the implementation and progress of the project as well as the aims reached.

The final project evaluation phase is planned in October, during the last educational activity in the non-traditional environment. The students and teachers who were involved in the project-based work will work as a team cooking ethnic food at the same time being given information about the national cuisine of Italy and Poland and then will discuss all the positive aspects, emotions and competencies improved as well as impact on the educational process at school.

Helix border

The traditional English language song contest is hosted annually in Domeikava gymnasium.&nbsp;During the mobility in Sezze, Italy, the date and the project activities for the mobility in Lithuania were specified, including the requirements for the song festival. Partner schools decided to prepare a song and participate in the contest in order to develop and improve students' foreign language skills as well as their interest in the culture of other countries; develop and foster interest in artistic self-expression and broaden their horizons. In order to promote international and creative cooperation between Lithuanian and foreign students, the song contest within the Erasmus + project was among the main objectives. However, the contest was held online due to the pandemic.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Our partner schools from Italy and Poland participated in the song contest along with other Lithuanian soloists, duets and ensembles this way revealing their creativity, artistic individuality and mastery of performance. The students improved their cooperation, communication, artistic and IT skills as well as&nbsp;socio-emotional competences.

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