Názov projektu „Dedičstvo pre zajtrajšok – od pochopenia k pôžitku“ vyplýva z jeho hlavného motívu a cieľov: priviesť mladých ľudí k poznaniu, že nemôžeme podceňovať silu histórie a jej dedičstvo v modernej dobe, pretože identita, spoločenský a kultúrny pôvod každého národa má svoje korene v dávnej minulosti. Jedným zo základných kameňov európskeho spoločenstva a kultúry je staroveký Rím, dedičstvo ktorého nachádzame v krajinách EU dodnes v mnohých oblastiach života. Na tomto príklade chceme ukázať, že história nám pomáha pochopiť prítomnosť, že kultúrne dedičstvo spája národy a buduje budúcnosť. Keď si to uvedomíme, budeme si ho vážiť a tešiť sa z neho. Chceli by sme, aby si študenti uvedomili potrebu rešpektovať svetové, európske i národné dedičstvo a uvedomili si, že poslaním každej generácie je chrániť a zachovať kultúrne dedičstvo pre ďalšie generácie. Cieľovou skupinou nášho projektu sú študenti vo veku 15 – 18 rokov a učitelia, ktorých cieľom je spolupracovať a byť rovnocennými partnermi. Cieľom projektu je tiež inovovať učebný proces, spojiť ho s reálnym životom, dať možnosť žiakom byť aj učiteľom. Týmto prístupom chceme posilniť profil učiteľskej profesie a získať pre ňu väčší rešpekt medzi žiakmi, rodičmi, aj verejnosťou. V každej partnerskej škole sa do projektu zapojí 20 – 30 kľúčových študentov, 100 – 120 ďalších študentov sa zúčastní na projektových aktivitách a podujatiach, a stanú sa tak konečnými používateľmi projektových produktov. Na oživenie starovekého Ríma a jeho dedičstva žiaci pripravia prezentácie pre svojich spolužiakov, pripravia putovnú výstavu modelov známych pamiatok starého Ríma, zorganizujú besedy s historikmi, vytvoria mapu najznámejších pamiatok rímskej kultúry, zrekonštruujú gladiátorske hry, vytvoria spoločenskú hru, navštívia múzeá a miesta spojené s rímskou kultúrou s cieľom naučiť sa pochopiť hodnoty kultúrneho dedičstva. Touto cestou ich chceme tiež priviesť k hodnotám kultúrneho dedičstva vo vlastnej krajine a k tomu, aby pochopili poslanie UNESCO a ciele Európskeho roka kultúrneho dedičstva 2018. The title of the project „Heritage for tomorrow – from understanding to enjoyment“ emerges from its main motivation and objectives: to lead young people to understanding that we cannot neglect the power of history and its heritage in the modern times because the identity, social and cultural origin of each nation have their roots in a distant history. One of the foundation stones of the European community is the ancient Rome, whose heritage is found in the EU countries in various fields nowadays. It exemplifies the fact that history helps understand the present, that cultural heritage connects nations and builds the future. After we realise that, we will value and enjoy it. We would like students to consider the need to respect the world, European as well as national heritage and become aware of the fact that each generation´s mission is to protect and preserve cultural heritage for future generations. Our project is targeted at students aged 15 – 18 and teachers whose goal is to collaborate and be equal partners. Moreover, the aim of the project is to innovate the learning process, link it with real life and give students an opportunity to be a teacher as well. Thus, we would like to strengthen the profile of the teaching profession and gain greater respect of students, teachers and public for it. In each partner´s school there will be 20 – 30 core students engaged in the project, 100 – 120 other students will take part in the project activities and events and become the end-users of the project results. To revive the ancient Rome and its heritage students will prepare presentations for their peers, touring exhibitions of famous Roman sights, organise talks with historians, create models of chief Roman sights, play gladiator games, create a board game, visit museums and sites connected with Roman culture with the aim to perceive the values of cultural heritage. Thereby we would like to bring them to the national heritage values, to recognition of UNESCO´s mission and the objectives of European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018.
The aim of the project „Heritage for tomorrow – from understanding to enjoyment“ was to increase students´ interest in historical values left by our ancestors, to learn about the national cultural and natural heritage of their country as well as other European countries and to lead them to the findings that the true values are sustainable. Therefore we have to appreciate and keep them for other generations. We chose the period of the Roman Empire as the example of heritage sustainability as it left its marks in many European countries. The planned activities and project products became a part of the educational process and afterschool activities. The topic of the ancient Rome belongs to the curriculum of the school subject History, so the students prepared presentations, brochures, video, e-books about the life in the Roman Empire. They created the map of the Empire, the dictionary of Latin phrases, a quiz, 3D models of famous Roman sights, which were presented to other students. The learning/teaching process was enriched with learning-by-doing activities when students discussed with members of a historical group and learnt about the life of Roman army, its gear and armament, they could wear it and simulate gladiator fights. Another interesting activity was a discussion on Roman law led by an expert or senior students who presented the Roman Empire´s influence in this field as well. An important part of the project activities was visiting places and sights that belong to the national cultural and natural heritage and those which belong to the UNESCO World Heritage. We visited the places which are unique and reflect the national identity – open air and archeological museums. The students got familiar with the cultural heritage of their own country and during the learning/teaching/training activities in the partner countries they had opportunities to learn about their heritage and see the sights of the Roman Empire, which helped them to apply their theoretical knowledge to practice . The project products can be used in the educational process in the future for some school subjects – history, art and culture, English, IT as teaching aids and additional material as well as examples of students´ creativity, which could be a motivation for increasing students´ interest in the subject or the project topic itself.