The 4th Project Meeting of ETWINET, Erasmus+ project was an event that brought together representative participants from all partner institutions involved in this strategic partnership.

Preparations for the Students’ Exchange held in Latvia, part of the ETWINET, Erasmus+ project took place from May to September, 2017: the Latvian school made all the arrangements for this meeting, such as booking the hotel, finding host families for students, providing information on how to arrive to the school and the meeting agenda. Participant institutions made travel arrangements: booking the flights, buying the insurance, and preparing all the necessary information for the meeting.

Each partner school has done the preparation for the workshops – made the questionnaires, studied about ecological problems and found out the environmental solutions .

Day 1: Monday

The students’ exchange held in Latvia took place during five days. The first day was organised in the form of getting acquainted and working session combined with team building activities.

The Meeting started with the official opening concert prepared by school students and the headmistress gave a welcome speech. At the end of the concert there was an exchange of presents between partners. After was an acquaintance tour of the school.

Later students took part in three different workshops (groups were made by raffle) – Coding (robotics); EcoTwineland (Art); Cooking (national food). In the Coding workshop students were taught how to use Code.Org and introduced with “I do my first App”. Also they could do some robotics – create their own models and do some practise with them. In EcoTwineland workshop students made the 3D models of imaginary Eco Twineland where some of the details were printed on 3D printer. In cooking workshop students were introduced with Latvian traditional food – meat rolls, apple tart and cheesecake.

After lunch there was the Orientation Game combining with sightseeing tour: students and teachers were divided into 3 mixed groups and had the opportunity to discover the city and its main points of interest on foot, they had to interact with locals in order to get directions or to be able to achieve the tasks set by the game.

The next activity was organised in the form of International evening. Each school prepared a stand with some traditional cookies and other local food, flag, brochures, leaflets etc. Latvian students and teachers taught Latvian folk songs and dances to partner schools` participants. After that each school has presented its town and country by doing the questionnaire, singing a song and treating all the participants with their local food.

The day ended with different games.

Day 2: Tuesday

In the morning session students got an opportunity to take part in the lessons – they went to the classrooms with their hosts and got insight in the school`s life. Later they participate in one of the workshop which they have not been before (they worked in the same groups as previous). Some icebreakers and get to know each other games were done during the morning session to help students interact more.

The Meeting at the Town Hall started with the official opening speech from the Mayor of Kandava and roundtable discussions between project participants and some local authorities. It was focused on the objectives of the project and the benefits of implementing it.

The morning session finished with the third workshop for students (all the workshops were realized by our teachers – Antra Petkeviča and Maija Kesenfelde (Cooking); Dace Kalmane and Anita Liepa (EcoTwineland); Jānis Priednieks and Indra Bāliņa (Coding)) and Teachers` meeting to discuss some issues regarding to the project.

In the afternoon session the students and teachers were able to visit Ventspils for educational lesson in the Science and Technology museum Kurzeme Demo Centre which is an interactive centre that offers active, entertaining, educational and interesting adventures about world of technology as a climate project which educate, inform and promote awareness and knowledge of climate change. Without it there was an opportunity to get an insight of the sixth largest city in the country and one of the most important ports in Latvia.

 

Day 3. Wednesday  

This day was spent outside school: a trip was organized to Tērvete National Park which has received the honorary title as the winner of EDEN project or the most outstanding destination of European tourism in Latvia.

There was an opportunity to walk in the Fairytale Forest and Dwarfs’ Forest and enjoy the thematic areas with many wooden sculptures and statues – Sprīdītis (Tom Thumb), giant Lutausis, the Forest King and his court and dwarfs.

As  well everyone could challenge him or her on Skayways of Lucky Land and take a ride on the Fairytale Train.

It was a great way to explore nature and feel the Earth beneath your feet and the touch of the Sun. Hand-in-hand they create a real masterpiece every day, day-by-day, by strengthening the green heart of Latvia – the forests! Everyone was involved in environmental education through various activities in forests of Latvia had an opportunity to become „greener” and develope their ideas about EcoTwineland!

 

Day 4. Thursday  

The morning session was spent at school. During it students took part in the lessons – they went to the classrooms with their hosts and got insight in the school`s life and its traditions.

For teachers was prepared the concert by students in honor of Teachers` Day, and there was an opportunity to exchange the good practice between teachers.

In the afternoon all participants went on excursion to Riga. There was organized the guided tour around Old Riga. It helped better to understand Latvians` history, learnt about Latvian art and architecture, and explore the tastes of Latvian food.

The day finished with the visit to National Library of Latbia, where we showed Latvian Cultural Heritage in many different aspects – the story of the building “Castle of Light”, People's Bookshelf which is one of the central elements of the building and is as high as a five-storey house and stores books donated to the National Library of Latvia, different exhibitions and of course  - the Cabinet of Folksongs (Dainu skapis).

Day 5. Friday

This day was shorter. The morning session started with visiting the lessons and getting in touch with students who weren`t in the workgroups of the project. Later there were a few workshops where were prepared presentations about the visit. Also there was done an evaluation for all activities during the week and made the exhibition of students work “EcoTwineland”. After that all participants have received the Europasses and/or certificates of attendance and have started their journey back home.

 

Next meeting:

 

Students’ exchange in Lithuania in April 2018.

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