We are glad that we have been given the opportunity through the Erasmusplus Program to transfer the friendship between the schools of the Schulverbund im Heckental in Heidenheim / Germany and the 2nd Primary School of Sykies / Greece onto an exchange program between students. Within the scope of the preceding teacher´s mobility, the wish of an expanding European collaboration in this area arose. The main goal of the innovative collaboration is to encourage and strengthen a number of key competences of the involved children through the scope of raising awareness towards the joint European Cultural Heritage and the devotion to a joint European community. Longterm engagement in literary classics of both nations is the base of our project. By creating bilingual comics and developing theatric scenes to Aesop´s and Lessing´s fables, the children are going to experience, how working together can create greater understanding among nations. The 6th grade (each around 35 - 40 kids overall and 16 kids each in the particular mobility) is the target group. A large group of children from the German school (Werkrealschule) has a weak educational biography and social disadvantages. The children and families of the Greek school (Primary school with grades 1 - 6) are affected by the impact of the economic crisis in their country and the significant implications on private life. One oft he main goals of each mobility is the performance of a bilingual play on the topic "fables". Parallel work schedule for both schools: September / October 2019 • The children´s first project sketches, communication and documentation on the eTwinning-plattform November / December 2019 • Introduction of theatrical education to the play January / February 2020 • Finishing of storyboard and script, communication and documentation on the eTwinning-plattform March / April 2020 • Execution of theatric play, videos and clips on the eTwinning-plattform May / June 2020 • Mobilities and plays July / August 2020 • Exchange experiences, discussion and evaluation September / October 2020 • Multiplication of gained experiences and results in the regional theatre community, overall documentation
At the beginning of the project, the pupils from both schools contacted each other via the e-twinning platform. They were supported by the teachers of the IT classes. The pupils introduced their schools to each other. At the same time, Grade 6 students from both schools explored the theme of the fable and worked on the specific characteristics of this literary genre. At the end of this process, the selection of suitable fables took place. The pupils from Greece and Germany agreed on the structure of the joint production. They were supported in this by the theatre educators, who were also involved in a lively exchange. After the play was chosen, the respective classes began to create a comic strip that would form the basis for the textbook. In the art lessons, work was done on a logo for T-shirts. By designing such a logo, the children were to be made particularly aware of their bond with the Greek children. In addition, these T-shirts always have a strong public impact. The pupils exchanged personal gifts in the course of a small Christmas action. The Greek children had made little foxes out of clay and decorated them colourfully. The fox was supposed to be the connecting element between the individual play scenes in the production. The children from Germany expressed their gratitude with Advent calendars and self-made greeting cards. In January, the printing of the T-shirts was commissioned. Now the textbooks were finished by both the Greek and the German side. At the same time, the theatre educators exchanged ideas about possible sets and props. On 13 March, all agreements made up to that point were suspended by the Corona pandemic. The teachers kept in close contact during the time of the school closure and the possibilities of realisation under the constantly changing conditions were discussed. Unfortunately, we found that a mutual exchange was not possible even after a postponement to October. Both sides decided to shoot videos of the scenes completed by then and exchange them. This is how it was then implemented. The videos were then presented at a small closing event in compliance with the Corona measures. This event provided the children with a framework for the end of the project that, despite all the restrictions, formed a lasting memory. The videos and comics will remain lasting and can be shown at the schools for other classes and will find their way into lesson planning on the topic of "fables". In addition, the project was brought to the attention of other schools at an online conference of the Heidenheim Theatre Network. Despite the unusual circumstances, we can look back on a successful project.