Erasmus + Eupen Belgium23-29/4

Monday 24.4.9 o’clock : At our first day at school we could meet the headmaster and all teachers and studentsfrom the project. We got a detailed explanation about the programm of the week and the rules atschool: no chewing gum, no smoking and no hadwear are allowed at school.

After a foto shooting we started a guided tour of school prepared by students in mixed groups,teachers and students together. As the school had recently been renovated and equipped withprojectors and other ICT material for every classroom, it turned out to be an interesting visit of a realmodern school.

After a swedish « FIKA », we started our first activity, Interactive whiteboard : Lesson and workshopfor pupils by Mrs. Margit Berns and lecture for teachers by Mr. Norbert Hermann. He explained indetails about the tool and gave examples of how it can be used in class. Mr. Hermann recommendedthe interactive screen. He himself uses it especially to help students to find keywords in differenttexts.

Interactive whiteboard with Mr. Hermann

After free time for pupils and a nice lunch for teachers at the school canteen, Liliane Aussems tookthe teachers on a guided tour of Eupen with historical stories about town and country.

Later in the afternoon, all teachers went to Verena’s house for a fika in the garden. “FIKA” became bynow a very European word within this Erasmus project.

Tuesday 25.4. - Daytrip to Brussels We were fortunate to go to Brussels, where we first of all had a guided tour of the city. We discovered a lot of nicebuildings, monuments and places and we were told some very interesting stories about people and areas.

In the afternoon we were lucky to be on a visit at the European Parliament. We had a meeting with Mr. PascalArimont, a European Deputy, who, after a short report about his work at the Parliament, answered all our questions,telling interesting details about the functioning of Europe.

By the way we got a more insight view and knowledge of EU. At least, we left with a very familiar feeling of EU and theawarenes that the main concern of the Union is to keep peace.

We felt that our European project seems to be of even more importance as it has the role of creating closerelationship and friendship between people of Europe. It can help to keep peace and understanding among peoplearound the globe.

Weather report: Truly and utterly windy, also a bit wet but sunshine in between.

A nice way back to Eupen by bus, where parents waited for the pupils to come back.

Grand’ Place Brussels

Brussels

Wednesday 26.4.Teachers were given a lecture by two external experts from«Creative school lab, Liège», Coralie and Vincenzo, about thebenefits of brainstorming, starting with the question “How can Iimprove this situation?”. How can you challenge yourself and yourbrain to become more creative?

Teachers were divided into groups and used post-it notes to makequick associations to different subjects and to come up with brightnew suggestions and ideas. It is vital not to make a judgement inorder to enable everyone to feel free and to developp his ideas.

Another benefit of post-it notes is that you have to, and you reallyshould, stand up when you do this exercise. You tend to performbetter when you also move around.

A parenthese is that quite a few people joined the Swedish traditionto take off shoes when you’re indoors :-) during this session.

The German village Montjoie.The High Fens; awalk on the moors.

Thursday 27.4.

On thursday morning students and teachers attended science workshops. Animated and helped by theirscience teacher, Mrs.Brigitte Nihan, the Belgian students showed different experiments with fire. One ofthe experiments consisted in showing the different colors fire can have acording to the temperature.Another experiement with home-made batteries showed how to produce electricity from copper and sinc. Other experiments with u-v light showed the reaction of different acids mixed with other fluids and thedifferent lights they reflect.

At the same time coordinators from the 6 countries had a meeting about the Final Report and a controlingvisit from the National Agency.

After lunch we went by public bus to Aachen, where teachers had a guided tour with Verena Brammertzwhile Belgian pupils had prepared an interactive and creative guided tour for their guest pupils. The mainattractions of Aachen are the Cathedrale of Charlemagne, the Town Hall and old city center and of coursethe famous « Pinten » , alovely sweet we could taste .

Town hall and cathedral from Aachen

Friday 28.4.On Friday we met at school and students showed their presentations about the differents visits during the wholeproject period. All students performed well, using the innovative ways they learned as powerpoints, films, creativeways… and speeches about what they’ve learned and the benefit they gained from the Erasmus project. We alsowatched pictures and films from Barcelona, Beilngries and Bjurholm.

In the afternoon teachers were invited for a FIKA to Liliane’s place.

In the late afternoon the whole group visited the Parliament of the German-speaking Community of Belgium inEupen. We had an informative guided tour around the place and met the President of the Parliament, Mr. AlexanderMiesen, as well as Mr. Harald Mollers, Minister of Education. Finally the chamber choir « Pro Arte » gave a festiveambience to this visit. The evening ended in an Italian restaurant in Eupen before we all said Good Bye!